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Internet FAQs | |
How can I find an individual's e-mail address?If you have the latest version of Netscape Messenger or Navigator you can use the Find People option to locate someone's e-mail address. Or if you have Internet Explorer you can choose Start/Find/Find People. You can also use a variety of web-based search engines, some of which are listed here: Four11, at http://www.four11.com WhoWhere, at http://www.whowhere.com Internet Address Finder, at http://www.iaf.net Switchboard, at http://www.switchboard.com (SwitchBoard allows you to search not only for e-mail addresses but also for phone numbers) Yahoo's People Finder, at http://www.people.yahoo.com BigFoot, located at http://www.bigfoot.com How do I convert existing Netscape Navigator bookmarks to Internet Explorer's Favourite sites?From the File menu in Internet Explorer, click Open, and then click Open File. Locate the bookmark.htm file in your Netscape folder and click Open. Use the right mouse button to click a bookmark in the Internet Explorer window, and then click Add To Favourites on the menu that appears. Repeat for all bookmarks you want to convert. You can also use the Bookmarks Converter tool to automatically convert Netscape Navigator bookmarks to shortcuts on the Favourites menu in Internet Explorer for Windows 95. The Bookmarks Converter tool is a file named WINBM2FV.EXE. You'll find WINBM2FV.EXE by searching Shareware.com's index, located at http://www.shareware.com Why can't I save my password in Windows 95 Dial-Up NetworkingPassword caching only happens if you install a Windows 95 network client or enable User Profiles on a stand-alone computer. By default, the Internet Setup Wizard only install the TCP/IP protocol and the dial-up networking components, which are all you really need. To save your password, first make sure you have Client for Microsoft Networks listed when you double-click the Network icon in the Control Panel. If it's not listed, select Add/Client, then select Client for Microsoft Networks. Or, in Control Panels/Passwords, simply set a password for the Windows logon. If you type in a password when Windows starts up, the password will be saved on the Dial-Up Networking screen as well. How do I send an e-mail message to a group of people without having their names listed on the message?Most e-mail software programs offer a cc: option, which stands for "carbon copy". This feature lets you send a single message to multiple people. However, the Blind cc: option, which stands for "blind carbon copy", is not always displayed in the standard "compose e-mail" window. In Netscape, click the To:Mail button, then select Mail Bcc from the View menu to display the bcc:option. With Microsoft's Internet Explorer, click the Bcc: field and include the e-mail address of the recipient you want to sent the message to. America Online requires that you place parentheses around any addresses that you want to hide. Is a 56Kbps modem really twice as fast as a 28.8Kbps modem?No. Because 56Kbps modems use digital-to-analog technology, the 56kbps speed only works in one direction - from your ISP to you. Going the other way, from you to your provider, the speed is about 33.6Kbps. Overall, you should get a combined speed of between 40 and 50Kbps. What do all those blinking lights on an external modem mean?Those lights are giving you indications of what is happening behind the scenes between the phone and the telephone line. Here is a quick rundown of what they mean:
What should I look for when I buy a modem?You should look for a brand name, such as U.S. Robotics, Zoom, or Supra, to name a few. The modem manufacturer should have a web site where you can download updated modem drivers. The modem should also be flash-ROM upgradable, meaning you can boost the speed and capabilities of the modem with software instead of a hardware fix. You should also buy at least a 33.6Kbps modem. How do I find out how fast the connection is between my modem and my ISP?Simply move your mouse pointer over the connection icon in your System tray (located in the lower right-hand corner of your task bar), then double-click. The number of bytes sent and received along with the current connection speed will be listed, as shown here:
Is there a place on the web that gives me info on modems?One of the best places that has links to virtually every modem manufacturer, along with technical notes, reviews, and tips is Modems, Modems, Modems, located at http://www.rosenet.net/~costmo/. I've tried to install my modem, but am having all sorts of problems getting it to work, including getting Windows to recognize it. Have any suggestions?If you have problems with your modem installation, the best thing to do is to simply start the installation process from scratch. But before you do that, check the Control Panel/Modems/General option and make sure you remove all previous modem installations. Next, in the Control Panel/System/Device Manager window. Make sure you remove the COM port installations. Then, in the Control Panel/Add New Hardware option, have Windows 95 detect new hardware. If Windows still can't find your modem or picks the wrong modem, select the modem manually from the list of modems presented. Once installed, restart your machine and try again. How do I stop the Dial-Up Networking window from appearing and making me click the Connect button every time I want to log on?Open the Dial-Up Networking folder, then click to select the connection you want to configure. Select Connections/Settings and check Redial. This will automatically prompt the software to redial if the connection is lost. Next select "Don't prompt to use Dial-Up Networking", and click OK to save the changes. Now each time you go to use your Dial-up Network connection it will automatically dial without asking you to connect. Why does it take so long for my Windows 95 system to connect to my service provider?Most likely your system is set up to allow too many network protocols, thus slowing down the login process. If you are only using the dial-up networking and your computer is not connected to another network, select Dial-Up Networking, then click the icon for your ISP's connection. Select File/Properties, then click the Server Types tab, and uncheck the boxes next to NetBEUI and IPX/SPX compatible. Since you are only using one protocol, TPC/IP, you don't need to have the others checked. Why does it say "No Dialtone" when I try to connect to the Internet?It could be that you don't have the telephone line connected to the proper plug in the back of the modem. Many modems have two plugs, one that goes directly to the telephone wall jack and another that you can connect a handset to so you can take voice calls when you're not on the Internet. Another problem might be that an extension in your house is off the hook. What is an e-mail alias?An e-mail alias is basically a fake e-mail address that diverts mail sent to the alias address directly to your real e-mail address. E-mail aliasing is also called "e-mail forwarding". E-mail aliasing/forwarding lets you change service providers without having to change e-mail addresses. Services such as BigFoot http://www.bigfoot.com , Iname http://www.iname.com , RocketMail http://www.rocketmail.com , PoBox.com http://www.pobox.com , and MailCity http://www.mailcity.com offer free and fee-based e-mail forwarding services. In some mail programs, "aliases" also refers to nicknames you give people in your Address Book. Why is there such a difference in the amount of time it takes to send and receive messages?Some mail sites only connect to the Internet periodically, while others connect every few seconds. The traffic one site may be experiencing can slow down the transfer of e-mail, especially if the site has only limited bandwidth capacity. Also the site you are trying to send to may be down for maintenance or it may be improperly configured. |
What is the cc: field for? Why not just use the To: field instead?When you are sending a message that you want the recipient to act on, you type his or her name in the To: field. When you want to send a carbon or courtesy copy to other people, you include their e-mail addresses in the cc: field. Can I set my mail program to check for messages automatically?Most e-mail programs allow you to check for messages every so many minutes and alert you of new messages by either playing a sound file or displaying an icon depicting new messages. You can find the settings for checking email every X minutes either under you Mail and News Preferences or Configuration in the Edit or Options menu. How do I send an e-mail message to a fax machine?If your company or service provider does not offer e-mail to fax gateways, you should check out the many free and commercial services for sending emails to fax machines listed in the E-mail to FAX FAQ, found on the web at http://www.northcoast.com/savetz/fax-faq.html What is Mailer-Daemon?Mailer-Daemon is the program most e-mail systems use to interpret error messages. It also supplies a more English-like "translation" of the error message to the sender. The Mailer-Daemon program can help you isolate specific problems you may encounter when sending e-mail, including "Host Unknown" and "User Unknown" alerts. What does MAPI stand for?MAPI stands for Microsoft's messaging application interface. This programming interface lets Windows applications interact with other mail systems. Applications such as Word, Excel, or Office 97, which allow you to send e-mail messages, interface with MAPI-compliant servers, allowing you to send files as attachments to other users across networks. What does MIME stand for?MIME stands for multipurpose Internet mail extensions. E-mail was originally intended only for sending text messages; MIME extends the capabilities of text-based e-mail by allowing you to attach pictures, sounds, and binary or compressed files to your mail messages. MIME encodes, then decodes all the nontext-related information and identifies the content type to the computer. What does POP stand for?POP stands for post office protocol. POP servers are the incoming mail servers. POP is a protocol designed for handling requests to get mail from client mail programs. Therefore, you really receive your messages from a POP server and send your messages using an SMTP server. Are the messages I send private?No. Never ever assume that any e-mail message you send is private, even it it's within your own company's network. Not only could someone forward your e-mail without your knowledge, but since your messages are stored and then forwarded from one computer system to the next, it would be possible for anyone along the way to read them. Also, remember that computer system tape backups can also store e-mail messages. In addition, any messages you post to a newsgroup or mailing list are open to the public, and oftentimes are stored on publicly accessible archives such as DejaNews. How do I send secure, private e-mail that no one but the intended recipient can read?The best way to ensure your email is read only by the intended recipient is to use some form of encryption. The best encryption program is one called Pretty Good Privacy. You can find PGP at http://www.pgpi.com PGP is a computer program that scrambles then unscrambles the information you send using what are called encryption keys. Is there an easy way to create a fancy type of signature file?The best place to go is a service called Figlet, located at http://www.inf.utfsm.cl/cgi-bin/figlet You type in the text you want turned into an ASCII masterpiece, and Figlet does just that. What does SMTP stand for?SMTP stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. SMTP is a set of rules for transferring e-mail messages from the source to the destination. Each host wants to receive e-mail set up an SMTP server. When a host receives an e-mail message from a user and wants to send it to another server, it contacts the SMTP server. The SMTP server then responds with either a confirmation, an error message or specific requested information. You send your e-mail messages using SMTP and receive your messages using the POP3 protocol. Can I get a virus through an e-mail message?Because viruses require you to "run" or "execute" them, yes you certainly can receive viruses through e-mail attachments! However, unless you execute the attachment the actual process of retrieving the e-mail message will not cause your system to become infected. To ensure that you do not infect your system, follow the guidelines:
Tips for Effective Business E-Mail Communications
Check out A Beginner's Guide to Effective E-mail on the Internet if you need more help on e-mail etiquette. The Guide is located on the Web at http://www.webfoot.com/advice/email.top.html What does this mean: "Undelivered Message - Message not delivered in four hours. Will continue to try"?This error message simply means the system has tried to deliver the e-mail but hasn't successfully delivered it within the time set up in the e-mail program. The system isn't giving up, just letting you know there may be a delay. The delay maybe caused by a power outage, a downed e-mail system, or problems with the network link. As with any e-mail message, you should look past the subject header for more detailed information in the body of the message. The mailer-daemon or the automated e-mail administration program usually will specify exactly how many hours or days the system will continue trying to deliver the message. You should not resend the message. Can I copy a hyperlink directly to a floppy drive?You can send a hyperlink to any type of device or location available from the Send To shortcut menu. Simply choose File/Send To. From there you can elect to use this feature to send URLs to your e-mail account, a floppy disk, your briefcase or a fax. Can I copy a Web page without having to go directly to that page?You can copy any page by just clicking a link that points to that page. First right-click on the link, then choose Save Target As from the shortcut menu. This will copy the page along with all the links. Can I take an image I see on a web page and use it as desktop wallpaper?If you come upon a graphic image you'd like to turn into desktop wallpaper, simply right-click the image and select Set as wallpaper from the shortcut menu. Is there some way to display a web page more quickly without turning off the graphics entirely?You can have Internet Explorer load a web page quicker if you press a key, such as the SPACEBAR. This makes Internet Explorer jump to Fast Text mode, display the text immediately, and work on loading the graphics later. Do I have to wait for a file to download before continuing to surf other pages?No, you can continue to surf while a page is downloading. That's the beauty of the later versions of Internet Explorer (versions 3.01 or above) and the capabilities of the TCP/IP protocol. Together, they allow you to do more than one thing at a time, such as download a file and surf a web page. Simply open another window or minimize the download dialog window to continue your surfing. How do I keep my Favourites on my desktop in synch with my laptop? I want to make sure when I travel I have my Favourites handy?You can use the Briefcase option to keep your favourites in synch. First make sure your two machines are connected through the network, or insert a floppy disk into your desktop computer to save your files to disk so they can be quickly be transferred to your laptop. From Internet Explorer, choose Favourites! Organize Favourites on your desktop computer. Right-click the background on the file list and choose New/Briefcase. Drag the briefcase icon to the Favourites Folder of your laptop. When you select Add to Favourites and click the Create In option, make sure you select the briefcase and click OK. Now as you add Favourites, you will synchronize them with your desktop. What are all these files in this History folder?Internet Explorer saves files and graphics of the web sites you've visited in the c:/windows/history folder. Specify the number of days you want kept in the History folder by selecting View/Options/Navigation. For the number of days you choose, a history of the sites you have visited will be kept in the History folder. Can I use the History folder to return to sites I've visited previously?Yes. Select Go/Open History Folder and find the site you want to view again, then double click the title to open it up. |
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