IMPORTANT: This installer configures existing Windows95 components, shipped on the Windows95 set-up CD-ROM / diskettes. You must have a full copy of Windows95 (or Windows 3.1 to Windows95 upgrade) available on CD-ROM, diskette, or factory pre-installed on your machine. It is essential that you have these before continuing. If you do not have these then this installer will not work. Contact your hardware / software supplier and request a copy of the Windows95 disks, and have your Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity ready.
Please note that Direct Connection cannot supply these components if they are missing, they are Microsoft Licensed Products, and an integral part of the Windows95 Operating System.
Please have your Windows95 install diskettes or CD-ROM, and your Direct Connection account details ready during the install.
Installation
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Start up your Windows95 PC and ensure that no other programs are running (including toolbars or other utilities that run in the "background") before starting the installation program.
Assuming you have the ms95inst.exe file downloaded to your hard disk:
Go to the "Start" button, and select "Run...".
In the box, type "c:\<temp>\ms95inst.exe" (where <temp> is the location of the install file on your hard disk), and click "OK". This will start the install program, and the install files will be set up your disk.
A box will now come up "Install Microsoft Explorer" - Click "Yes" to continue.
Files will be copied from the disk to your computer's internal disk drive, and the Microsoft Internet Explorer Licence Agreement will be displayed.
Choose "I Agree" to continue with installation.
If this is the first time Internet Explorer has been installed on your computer, you will be prompted to "Choose a folder for Installation" We suggest you use the "Program Files" folder, as suggested.
Note: if you do not see this prompt, please don't worry, Windows95 will already have selected the appropriate directory.
Once this file copy is complete, you may be prompted to re-start Windows95. Windows95 will now re-start and automatically launch Internet Explorer, with the "Welcome to Direct Connection - Windows 95 Setup".
Choosing your Access Numbers
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- 0845 0798200
This is our nationwide local call-rate access number for ALL customers,
except for Videotron cable phone subscribers located in London (see
below).
- 0181 2652211
Should be used ONLY by Videotron telephone customers in London.
Once installation is successful you will see a box "Internet Set-up Successful" - You are now ready to connect to the Internet".
Click "OK".
Now restart your computer. You may be prompted to "Restore file types to ActiveMovie", answer "Yes" to this, or many features of the World Wide Web may not work properly.
The basic Installation is now complete.
You should now have the following icons either on your desktop or in Programs in your Start Menu:
The Internet This is the World Wide Web browser: Internet Explorer
Internet Mail Email package - you can send messages to other users on the Internet
Internet News You can take part in discussion on a wide ranging number of topics
There are now only a few screens which need to be filled in to complete and personalise your installation.
Your First Connection
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Double click on "The Internet" icon and the following box will appear
Simply type your Network ID and Password in the box, ensure your modem is switched on and plugged into the line, and to the computer. Finally click the "Connect" button. You should then hear the modem dial, and after a short pause a box will appear on the screen titled "Connected at...." This also displays the length of time you have been on line.
If you get any other error messages, or a connect failure, check your modem is set up correctly and that your phone line is working by plugging your telephone into the line.
Otherwise, read the "Troubleshooting" section at the end of this document, and if your questions are not answered there, then please do contact our Helpdesk for further advice.
Once you are connected, the Internet Explorer web browser will start up, and after a short delay, the Direct Connection Home Page should be displayed. Good starting points for exploring the Internet are linked to this page. You can look at our "Technical Support" area: you may find that many of your questions are answered there.
Mail and News
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Click on the "Internet Mail" item, found either on your Desktop, or in the "Programs" start menu.
A "Set-up Wizard" will appear, and will ask you for some personal information from your account details, simply answer the questions as follows:
Click "Next"
Real Name - You choose this value, it can be your real name, or maybe a nickname
Email Address - Insert your Mail ID (detailed on your Direct Connection joining form), before the @ symbol.
Click "Next"
You can leave the settings in this screen as they are, they have been pre- configured by us.
Click "Next"
Email Account - Your Mail ID (lowercase letters)
Password - The password allocated to you in your joining instructions (lowercase letters)
Click "Next"
Select "I use a modem to access my email, and "Direct Connection".
Click "Next"
Click "Finish"
Both of these programs include good online help facilities, and the best way of learning is to by sending some messages, either to yourself, to a friend on the Internet, or if you need any more advice to the Helpdesk. It you want to try test posting a news article, we recommend you try posting a brief message to the newsgroup tdc.test.
Downloading Extra Software
The Windows95 installer is supplied with the basic software, but you may wish to obtain some extra software for the Internet. This can be downloaded from our web site. To access this go into your web browser, Internet Explorer and in the white bar at the top of the window type in the following location :
http://www.dircon.net/support/software.htm
These will list general instructions on how to download and unpack software, and the "Windows95" link will take you to a table of programs available for download. To download then simply click on the program you desire and it will transfer the install program to your machine. You will then need to unpack the file / run the install program to setup the software on your machine.
Troubleshooting (applicable to all users)
If you experience difficulties in making a connection please see the details below:
*Problem* - The modem doesn't dial or make a connection
Check that your modem is correctly connected to the phone line. Remove all other equipment from the line in case it is reducing the power of the line.
Open the Control Panel and select "Modem".
Check that your make and model of modem are showing in the installed modems window. If the window is showing a generic modem setting, EG: "Standard 14,400 FAX modem" then Windows 95 does not know about your particular modem and it has just loaded a set of basic defaults. The defaults are not likely to accurately configure or control your modem. You should initially contact your modem manufacturer or reseller to get a configuration file specifically for your modem that can be loaded into Windows 95. Please note: some modems also need extra settings to work properly with Internet services.
*Problem* - The message "Unable to establish a compatible set of protocols" appears while trying to connect.
This can sometimes be caused by failure to connect properly, often due to poor modem configuration. Check your modem settings as for "The modem doesn't dial or connect".
If you have software and configurations from another other Internet provide or on your system, clashes can occur. If you also have a Local Area Network (LAN) already installed, the network features may need some extra configuration, and you should contact your LAN administrator, and possibly the Helpdesk to seek guidance.
*Problem* - When I bring up the 'Connect To' box ready to dial in. The 'Save Password' box is greyed out and I have to type in my password each time.
Go into 'Control Panels' under 'My Computer' and select 'Network'.
Ensure you have 'Client For Microsoft Networks' listed, if you don't, use the 'Add' button to include it in the list, this will activate your local password cache. You can also directly type in your password into the connection script within Dial-Up Scripting Tool (this was installed by the diskettes) - i.e.: edit the script file and replace the line transmit $PASSWORD to transmit "abcdefg" where abcdefg is your actual password.
*Problem* - "I can dial up and I get the Connected box but I can't go anywhere, Internet Explorer or other Programs can't get any sites (DNS Failures)"
This will either be a modem problem, in which case, make sure the modem selected is your actual make and not a 'Standard modem', or more likely it is a problem with the DNS set-up, (this is particularly possible for LAN users) Contact the Helpdesk for advice, and the LAN administrator where applicable.
*Problem* - "I get the 'Verifying User name and Password' message but it simply sits there or eventually times out"
The dial-up script provided on the diskettes may not have installed or configured correctly.
Your modem may be having problems getting connected.
You may have typed your Network ID and password incorrectly in the "Connect to.." box. Our network is run on UNIX systems, which means that the login process is sensitive to whether you type in upper or lower case .
Please note that your Direct Connection user IDs and passwords should always be in lower case.
You may also be getting a Login Incorrect message. To see if you are, remove the tick in 'Start Terminal Screen Minimized' in the 'Dial-Up Scripting Tool'. This should show you what is happening when you try to log on, and where the script is stalling.
If you cannot solve the problem please email/FAX/call the Helpdesk. Please have the exact error message(s) to hand. If you are not beside your PC, please note down your settings, error messages and modem type, and be ready to note down the technical engineer's directions.
Support e-mail : helpdesk@dircon.co.uk
Fax : 0181 297 0399
Helpdesk : 0181 297 8833 - 9am to 9pm Weekdays, 10am to 5pm Weekends.
