W31 / W95 MSIE Toolkit Installation

This software installation assumes that you have a properly configured Windows installation and that your modem hardware has been previously installed and tested, and is known to be working. If you have a non-standard modem, or your modem does not recognize standard modem commands or initialization strings, you may need to customize your installation or install TCP/IP using the manual installation method. Consult your modem's owner's manual or contact your modem manufacturer for additional information.

Because there are many possible hardware and software configurations available for PCs, there is no guarantee that the pre-configured Toolkit will run on your system. If your system is not configured correctly or has hardware conflicts, or is configured in a non-standard way, it is possible that you may not be able to use this standard installation toolkit. In this case, you will need to install TCP/IP on your machine by configuring necessary IP address information using a manual installation method.

Due to the somewhat technical nature of this undertaking, if you are not familiar with your system's hardware components or operating system, you may want to have your TCP/IP programs installed and configured by a friend with experience in setting up TCP/IP or by your computer shop. If you'd still like to go ahead yourself, you can obtain many helpful books at your local bookstore.

CAVEAT: Many books about Internet which you can purchase have a CD on the back cover with "Freeware" or "Shareware" software included. Some advertise "Free Netscape", etc. We strongly recommend that you avoid installing any versions of FAX software, Netscape, SPRY, Chameleon, Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Eudora, or any other TCP/IP programs from a CD (especially a DEMO). Additionally, to avoid confusion, avoid software provided by other Internet Services, as once this software is installed, it will cause much confusion concerning your connection.

Be sure that all copies of FAX software, Netscape, Microsoft Explorer, Mosaic, Spry, Juno, GNN, AT&T, Netcom, AOL, Compuserve, Eudora, Pegasus, as well as old FOURnet software, etc, are completely removed and uninstalled from your machine prior to attempting to install the FOURnet software. If you choose not to uninstall this other software, then your best method of setting up TCP/IP for FOURnet is to use the manual installation method.

In addition, once you have verified that your FOURnet connection is up and running, if you subsequently install any of the above software, and your FOURnet connection no longer works, then suspect that these other programs have overwritten your FOURnet configuration files, and the FOURnet software will need to be re-installed from the beginning. If you require separate simultaneous TCP/IP access to more than one Internet Access Provider, we recommend keeping your different connection configurations on separate computers, or that you have your operating system configured to use separate boot partitions for each provider, unless you are an advanced user.

Although it is not usual necessary, if you're having difficulty, you'll find that the easiest TCP/IP installation can be accomplished with a "clean" (brand new) installation of Windows in which no other modem communications or FAX software has been installed previously. This assumes a Windows machine which has a properly installed standard modem and mouse (ie no conflicts), sufficient disk space, RAM, and properly configured Windows SWAP space.

The minimum system configuration for acceptable performance (with graphics) is 14,4kbps, 4 megabytes of RAM (more is better), and a minimum of 40 megabytes of free disk space.

Be sure that your Windows SWAP is properly configured. If you do not have enough free disk space, then you may possible receive "out of memory" errors as your disk runs out of cache space from downloaded files. If you have a 286-386 computer with 9600 baud or less modem and insufficient memory/diskspace, you can still access the Internet, email, and the World Wide Web via FOURnet's Unix/Menu shell access system, which is a text based (non graphical) gateware to the World Wide Web.

You are not required to use the FOURnet Installation Toolkit to configure TCP/IP on your PC, and you are free to use the software of your choice. If you choose to use other TCP/IP compatible software which you may have purchased, then you will need to know the correct IP address information specific for FOURnet so that you can configure your software manually.

We recommend that you install the latest version of Microsoft Dial-Up Networking on your computer. To update your Dial-Up Networking software, go to http://www.microsoft.com/windows95/info/dialup.htm and follow the instructions to download and install the latest version of Dial-Up Networking.

NOTE: You can obtain the latest version of the FOURnet Internet Toolkit from the following ftp site:

The files are large, so be patient during the download. Be sure that you have adequate diskspace available on your PC's hard drive. We recommend keeping a copy for your operating system available on disk in the event of a hardware failure. Be sure to download a copy of the Windows 95 version in advance if you plan to upgrade. If you are unable to download, you can order a copy online at minimal cost to cover postage, handling, and production costs. The files are shipped on 3.5 inch media and consist of 3-5 HD disks, depending on your operating system.

2. A Microsoft License agreement appears. Read through and click Accept to continue.

6. Upon reboot the software will inform you that you may need access to your Windows '95 CD. Any system components missing from your machine will be installed at this time..

8. Next, the software will check and see if you have any Modems configured on your system. If it finds that none are listed, the Modem Wizard will appear. Otherwise, it will display your modem list and ask you to select which one you intend to use with your outgoing connection.

[ Windows 3.1 / Modem wizard will always appear since 3.1 does not have a modem control panel ]

Summarize: Skip to section 12 if you have a modem installed and configured in Windows. Otherwise, follow the displays.

13. After your machine reboots, A FOURnet screen will appear with a square marked INSTALL. Click this INSTALL button to continue the configuration process.

14. After the configuration completes, you will be notified that you are ready to connect. The suggested method of establishing your connection is via the Browser Icon on your desktop.

16. When you double click on the icon, the 'Connect To' screen will appear. Make sure you check the 'save password' option to automate future connections. Enter your username and password as previously provided, ensuring that you type in lower case as both username and password are CASE SENSITIVE. By default, the system will dial the 28.8/33.6 access number. If your call is not local to our NOC in Wareham, or you are normally required by NYNEX to dial a prefix to call this area, you can add this prefix (ie 1508) to the box labelled "Phone number". If you are using a 14.4kbps or less modem, enter 2911774 in the Phone number box.

17. Clicking on 'Connect' should establish a connection with FOURnet. Initially, the browser will display the FOURnet homepage. You may modify this to default to whatever page you wish. At this point, you are all setup to access the Web. You now want to setup the mail program. You can launch the mail program by either clicking on the Mail Icon within the browser screen or running 'START/PROGRAMS/INTERNET MAIL' from your START menu.

18. The first time you run the Microsoft mail software, you will be given the opportunity to configure the program. You only need to provide 4 items of information: Your fullname, username, password and e-mail address. All items must be entered exactly for programs to function correctly. In the event that you receive an error message such as "Authentication Failed", "Login Incorrect", or "Password Incorrect", check to ensure that your username and password combination are entered correctly.

19. Enter your full name and e-mail address. Your email address can be derived by appending '@FOUR.NET' to your username.

20. The Next screen is your POP3 / SMTP configuration. This screen has been setup for you, so the defaults should be left as-is. Click Next.

21. Now enter your FOURnet username and password. This the same information that you used to connect with. Be sure to use all lowercase letters in the box marked "Email Account:". Your FOURnet username is eight characters or less in length, and contains no spaces. Be sure that you have a valid FOURnet login account before you attempt to login.

22. This screen has been pre-setup for you and you should not modify it. Keep the defaults and click NEXT.

24. The mail program is designed to allow you to work with your mail while you are offline. Any responses or new mails are placed in a queue which you can transmit once you connect. The 'Send/Receive' menu dialog box which is detailed below is used to send your queued mail and check/download any of your new email which is waiting.

25. Don't forget to close your connection when you are done! The system displays your connection status on the system tray, either as a program block, or next to the clock. Select the 'disconnect' or 'hangup' options to close your connection. Or, close your Internet applications. The system will ask if you are done.