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?
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!
Access America © 1998-2007
673 Emory Valley Road
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
865-482-2140
800-860-2140