Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

We have developed this page a long time ago in order to answer some of the commonly asked questions about the Access America Internet Service and Microsoft Internet Explorer. Most of this stuff doesn't apply because we don't provide dial-up or DSL service anymore.

General

1. What are the DNS (Domain Name Server) Numbers for Access America Internet?

The Primary DNS is: 207.65.0.25
The Secondary DNS is: 216.153.0.25

2. What is my e-mail address at Access America Internet?

username@accessam.net

3. What are the mail and news server names at Access America Internet?

The SMTP (Simple Mail Transport Protocol) Server is: 216.153.4.28 (or you can use mail.accessam.net)
The POP3 (Post Office Protocol) Server is: 216.153.4.28 (or you can use mail.accessam.net)

Microsoft Internet Explorer software installation

Access America no longer supplies disks with Microsoft Internet Explorer because most computers come with MSIE pre-installed. Microsoft Internet Explorer version 3 is now obsolete, most computers now have Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 pre-installed on them. Please see the instructions below for setup of the pre-installed Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5. For those of you who want a little more information, please see the instructions below for the more hands-on method of setting up your computer without using the Microsoft Internet Setup Wizard.

Hands-on method

1. How do I set up Internet Explorer for Windows 95/98?

Follow these steps in order:

IMPORTANT: Restart your computer to get a clean boot and close any Windows programs.
Make sure TCP/IP Networking is installed on your computer. Go to My Computer...Control Panel...Network. The following should be listed under "The following networking components are installed": Client for Microsoft Networks, Dial-Up Adapter, TCP/IP Dial-Up Adapter. If none of these are installed, click Add...Client...Add...Microsoft. Make sure Client for Microsoft Networks is highlighted, then click OK. At the Network dialog box, Click Add...Adapter...Add...Microsoft. Make sure Dial-Up Adatper is highlighted, then Click OK. At the Network dialog box, Click Add...Protocol...Add...Microsoft. Highlight TCP/IP, then Click OK. At the Network dialog box, highlight Adapter, then Click Properties, then the Bindings tab. Make sure TCP/IP > Dial-up adapter has a check next to it. Back at the Network dialog box, make sure the Primary Network Logon is Client for Microsoft Networks. Click OK. Restart your computer.
Create a Dial-Up Networking Connection. Go to My Computer...Dial-Up Networking. Double-Click Make New Connection. Name the new connection "Access America Internet." Make sure the correct modem in your computer is selected, and that the settings are correct. Click Configure. General tab: maximum speed should be 115200 and Only connect at this speed is NOT checked. Connection tab: Data bits-Parity-Stop bits = 8-None-1, Checks should be next to Wait for dial tone before dialing and Cancel the call if not connected within 60 seconds. Click Advanced. Checks should be next to Use error control, compress data, Use flow control, hardware. Options tab: Check next to Display modem status. Click OK...Next. Fill in the Area code and Telephone Number (see your account setup information page), Click Next...Finish. Go to My Computer...Dial-Up Networking. Right-Click on Access America Internet and Left-Click on Properties. Click Server Type. Make sure Type of Dial-Up Server is PPP: Windows 95, Windows NT 3.5, Internet. Make sure Enable Software Compression and TCP/IP are checked. Click TCP/IP Settings. Click to place a bullet next to Server Assigned IP Address, and Specify Name Server Addresses (enter the Primary DNS and Secondary DNS numbers from your account setup information page, or see the FAQ page above). Checks should be next to Use IP header compression and Use default gateway on remote network. Click OK...OK...OK.
Right-click on the Internet Explorer icon on your desktop. Left mouse click on properties. Click the Connection tab. Make sure a check is next to Connect to the Internet as needed. Check and un-check this 3 or 4 times and leave it checked (Windows sometimes forgets if things are checked or not). Make sure the Dial-Up Networking connection you just created is listed under Use the following Dial-Up Networking connection. Click the Navigation tab. Make sure Page: is Start Page and change the Address: to http://www.accessam.net Click the Programs tab, make sure Mail: is Internet Mail. Click OK.
Make sure your modem is connected to a phone line and Double-click the Internet Explorer icon on your desktop. Internet Explorer will start and a dialog box will appear asking for your username and password. Enter these, check Remember password, and click Connect.

2. How do I set up my Internet Mail program to send and receive my mail?

Once Internet Explorer is started and you are connected to the Internet, Click Mail...Read Mail. Microsoft Internet Mail (Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express) will start. Or if you want, there may be an icon on your desktop for Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express and you may start it from the desktop by double-clicking the icon on your desktop. If this is the first time you have run Internet Mail, the program will ask you a few questions. Please refer to your account information sheet. The SMTP and POP3 servers are given on your account information sheet, or can be found on the FAQ page above. VERY IMPORTANT: Before sending any messages, please also do the following: Click Mail...Options. Click the Server tab. Make sure your POP3 account name and password are correct. Click Advanced Settings. Delete anything in the Reply To: field (anything in this field will override the settings on the Server tab), Click OK...OK.
Remember, if you need to change the options in Internet Mail (for instance change your name that appears on your e-mail). Click Mail...Options. Click the Server tab.
Click Send and Receive to check your mailbox

3. Why can't people reply to me at my e-mail address?

VERY IMPORTANT: Before sending any messages, please do the following: Click Mail...Options. Click the Server tab. Make sure your E-mail Address is listed correctly. Make sure your POP3 account name and password are correct. Click Advanced Settings. Delete anything in the Reply To: field (anything in this field will override the E-mail Address settings on the Server tab), Click OK...OK.

4. How do I create an e-mail message to send to someone?

Click the button New Message. In the To: field, enter the person's e-mail address. Under Subject: Enter a short description of the subject of the message. In the large box, type your message. Click Send. Remember with Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express, this action may simply place the message in your Outbox. You may also have to click Send and Receive to send the e-mail message from your Outbox to the intended recipient.

5. My son/daughter has an account with America On-Line on our computer. They were on-line this morning and now I can't get on-line to Access America Internet. What happened?

Apparently AOL's dialer program (AOL's TCP/IP winsock) loads into memory and refuses to let other winsocks (such as Internet Explorer's) into the operating system. In order to log on to Access America, you may have to restart your computer. This action unloads the AOL winsock and clears the memory, allowing the Internet Explorer winsock to load. After your computer has re-booted, you will be able to double-click Internet Explorer and log on to Access America Internet as usual.

6. How do I change the settings in my browser (Microsoft Internet Explorer) or in my e-mail program Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft Outlook Express?

Please refer to the help files within the specific software program. Click Help and choose an option from the drop-down menu. Also, refer to Microsoft's website at (http://www.microsoft.com) for additional information. also, check Microsoft's website for updated versions and security patches.

Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 (MSIEv5) and later

1. Do I need new software if MSIEv5 is already installed on my new computer?

No, simply answer the questions asked by the internet setup wizard. You generally can start the wizard by double-clicking the large blue E on the desktop, if you have never run the wizard before. If you have run the wizard before, then right-mouse click on the big blue E and left-mouse click on Properties and change the properties that you need to modify. Use the information on your account setup information sheet from Access America Internet in order to set up MSIEv5. The setup of MSIEv5 on a new computer (1998-present) was simplified considerably versus MSIEv3 which required software from Access America. The newer versions of browsers do not require a CD-ROM from Access America.

2. How do I change my e-mail settings?

From MSIE, Click Mail...Read Mail. From the desktop, click the icon for Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express. Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express will start. Click Tools...Accounts (or Services)...highlight the name of your account...Properties. Click the General tab and change your name and/or e-mail address. Click the Servers tab to change the SMTP or POP3 servers or your login name and/or password.

Microsoft Internet Explorer

How does the internet work?

The internet is composed of a whole bunch of computers hooked together allowing them to communicate in various ways to allow you to do different things like browse web pages or send and receive e-mail. There are the personal computers at the outside edge (like the one you are probably sitting in front of now) and it is connected by a telephone wire, cable connection or wireless method to a router. The router sends information back and forth from the computer you are sitting in front of, to/from the computer with which you are communicating (which may be in the same room with you or could be across the world). The language that allows computers to communicate with each other is called TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). It is this common language that allows different computers running different operating systems (like Windows or MacOS or UNIX) to all talk to each other. Before the internet there wasn't a widely used protocol (or "language") that everyone used. It is this common language that makes the internet so special. For more information about the internet, you can view a short animated explanation here: http://www.learnthenet.com/english/animate/animate.htm. Have fun!