Using Account Setup

This chapter explains how to use Account Setup, the software component of Dial-Up Edition that helps you set up your access to the Internet. Account Setup uses the information you provide to either create a new Internet account (if you don't have one) or set up your existing account to be used with Dial-Up Edition. This information is stored in the appropriate files so that, after you've completed Account Setup, you can connect to the Internet with just a few clicks. As you're going through Account Setup, you can get detailed instructions by clicking the Help button on each Account Setup screen.

Note: If you're upgrading from a previous version of Netscape Navigator, your account information will be automatically transferred to the new version. You do not need to go through Account Setup.

 Before using Account Setup you need to know two things:

Checking out your modem

Your modem is a vital part of your dial-up connection. Your modem software must be installed and connected before you use Account Setup. Be sure your modem is up and running and is not being used by any other communication software. For more information, see the documentation that comes with your modem.

Write down the following information before you begin Account Setup in case you need to enter it during the Account Setup process:

Determining if you need a new Internet account

If you can currently access the World Wide Web, email, newsgroups, or other Internet services using your computer and modem, then you've got an Internet account. Go to the next section, "If you currently have an Internet account," for instructions on using Dial-Up Edition with your account.

If you don't have an Internet account, skip to "Before creating a new account"  to learn more about setting up an Internet account. 

If you currently have an Internet account

If you are a new user and have an existing Internet account, you use Account Setup to set up Internet access using your current account. The first time you use Dial-Up Edition, you'll need your account information to complete Account Setup. It's best to gather this information now, so that you'll have it ready when you begin Account Setup.

Copying your account information

If you have an Internet account but have not previously used Netscape Navigator or have used connection software other than FreePPP (Macintosh) or ShivaRemote (Windows 3.1), use this worksheet to copy down your Internet account information. To make your dial-up connection work (including your email), you must enter exact information in Account Setup.
 
What you need to know  What it is  Write it down here 
User name (also called a login name or user ID)  The name you use to log in to your account (for example, jdoe).   
Password The password you enter after entering your user name.  
Whether or not you need a login window If you must type a login name and password each time you connect to your account, you need a login window.  
Email log in and password  You might be required to enter a different login in name and password for email. Most of the time, you use the same user name and password for email that you use to log in.  
Account access phone number The local phone number that your modem dials to connect to your Internet account.  
Domain name and server address The IP address for the Domain Name Service (DNS) server (for example, 198.95.251.30). Your might also have a second backup DNS address.  
Mail and news server names (you might have two servers for mail, one for incoming mail (POP3 or IMAP), and one for outgoing mail (SMTP) The IP addresses or host names of your mail servers (for example, 198.0.0.0 or mail.isp.com) and news server (for example, news.isp.com).  
Publishing location The location (URL) where you publish your web pages.  
 

Replacing your current connection software (Macintosh)

The connection software that your current Internet account uses to connect to the Internet is stored in your system folder. When you install Dial-Up Edition, these existing files are moved out of your system folder into a folder called Old Communications Files, located on the desktop. FreePPP Dialer, the dialer software used with Dial-Up Edition, is then installed in the system folder. To be sure you have the information from your old files, fill in the worksheet above before you begin installation. 

Restoring your old connection software

If, after you've installed Dial-Up Edition, you decide you'd rather use your old connection software and preferences, you can restore them by following these steps:
  1. Remove the dialer software installed with Dial-Up Edition by dragging the FreePPP Config Plug-in and FreePPP extensions from the Extensions folder and the FreePPP Dialer from the Control Panel folder in your system folder.

  2. Open the Old Communications Files folder and drag the contents of the folder to the correct locations in your system folder. If you're not sure where the files go, consult the documentation that came with your old connection software. 

    3.  
Important: Dial-Up Edition is not intended to be used with SLIP software. Since Account Setup requires FreePPP software, you must upgrade your connection software to FreePPP by installing the dialer software included with Dial-Up Edition. You won't be able to use Account Setup unless the FreePPP Dialer software is available. 

Using an existing account

Before you run Account Setup, it's very important to make sure your modem software is installed and the modem is connected properly and turned on. For more information, see "Checking out your modem". Also, quit any other programs you may have that use the modem. The modem must be available to Account Setup.

When you have an Internet account but have not previously used Netscape Navigator, you need to run Account Setup to enter your account information. Be sure you have filled out the information in "Copying your account information", then follow these steps to run Account Setup:

    1. Do one of the following:
      2. Note: The opening screen of Account Setup provides two short previews: one for the Internet and one for Netscape Communicator. If you want to view these previews before beginning Account Setup, click the i button next to the preview name. At the end of the previews, you'll return to the opening screen. If you prefer, you can view these previews at a later time by selecting them from the Reference Library.

    2. Click the Start Account Setup button.

    3. Click Next to move through the opening information screens.

    4. When the Welcome screen appears, click the "I already have an Internet account. I want to set up Communicator to access my account" button.

    5. Continue through the rest of the Account Setup screens, entering the requested information. If you don't understand what information Account Setup is asking you to provide or aren't sure what action you should take, click the Help button.You can leave Account Setup at any time by clicking the Exit button. Later, when you return to Account Setup, you will find that it has retained all of the information you entered.

    6. Click Connect Now.

      7.  
    When you click Connect Now, Account Setup opens your connection software and dials your modem to establish a connection with your Internet account. This may take a few minutes. When the connection is established, Account Setup opens a Netscape Navigator window.

Before creating a new account

An Internet account is your means of gaining access to the Internet--paid for by you and registered in your name. Your Internet access is provided by your Internet Service Provider, who completes the dial-up connection between you and the Internet. You can choose from several Internet account plans provided by your ISP.

Tips on choosing an account plan

When you use Account Setup to select an Internet account plan, you get to look at and compare a number of different account plans. This section provides some tips to help you choose the account plan that best meets your needs.

Local access in your area code

Most account plans give you a local access number that lets you connect without incurring any additional telephone charges.

Payment plans

Different account plans offer plans for different needs. For example, you might want to choose a plan that offers a low monthly fee for a limited number of hours and then charges more for additional hours (Hourly Rates). If you know you'll be using the Internet for only 10 or 15 hours a month, this might be the best plan for you.

Other account plans offer unlimited connection time for a higher monthly fee (Flat Rates). If you think you'll be using the Internet for more than 20 hours a month, unlimited access probably makes more sense for you.

Some account plans allow you to save money by prepaying for six or twelve months. This option lowers your monthly charges. Others allow you to bill the charges to your phone bill.
 

Publishing accounts (web page hosting)

Another major consideration when you're choosing an Internet account plan is its ability to let you publish your own web site. All Internet account plans offer browsing services (where you can look at existing web sites). If you're going to be creating and publishing your own site, be sure you choose an account plan that provides web page hosting.

Gathering your billing information

Using Account Setup to create a new Internet account takes only a few minutes. Once your modem is installed and connected, the only other information you need is your billing information. Write down the following information before you begin using Account Setup:
 
  1. Your credit card type (for example, MasterCard or Visa)

  2. The name on the card

  3. The credit card number

  4. The credit card expiration date

    5.  
Note: Some account plans allow you to bill your connection charges to your telephone number instead of to a credit card account (just in case, be sure and have a phone bill handy). 

Creating a new account

Before you run Account Setup, it's very important to make sure your modem software is installed and the modem is connected properly and turned on. For more information, see "Checking out your modem". Also, quit any other programs you may have that use the modem. The modem must be available to Account Setup.You will use Account Setup to connect to the Internet account server which lets you choose from a variety of Internet accounts.

After you've installed Dial-Up Edition and restarted your computer, you're ready to use Account Setup. Follow these steps to run Account Setup:
 

    1. Do one of the following:

      2. Note: The opening screen of Account Setup provides two short previews: one for the Internet and one for Netscape Communicator. If you want to view these previews before beginning Account Setup, click the i button next to the preview name. At the end of the previews, you'll return to the opening screen. If you prefer, you can view these previews at a later time by selecting them from the Reference Library.

    2. Click the Start Account Setup button.

    3. Click Next to move through the opening information screens.

    4. When the Welcome screen appears, click the "I want to create a new Internet account" button.

    5. Continue through the rest of the Account Setup screens, entering the requested information.

    6. If you don't understand what information you should enter or aren't sure what action you should take, click the Help button on the Account Setup screen. You can leave Account Setup at any time by clicking the Exit button. Later, when you return to Account Setup, you will find that it has retained all of the information you entered.

    7. When you the Connect to Server screen, you're ready to connect to the Internet account server, where you'll choose your account plan.

Choosing an Internet account plan

The Internet account server allows you to compare many different account plans. To connect to the Internet account server, Account Setup uses Netscape Communicator to display the Internet account server screens. This may take a few minutes. If the connection can't be established, Account Setup will let you know. Keep trying or quit Account Setup and try connecting later. If you still can't connect, see Appendix A, "Troubleshooting and Error Messages."

For more information on choosing an account plan, see "Before creating a new account"   or use the Account Setup help.

     Follow these steps to choose an account plan:
     
    1. Click the Connect To Server button.

    2. Follow the instructions on the screen to choose an account. Browse through the screens and compare the services and pricing for several plans. You can look at as many options as you want before making your decision.

    3. When you've finished choosing your plan, a screen appears showing you the account plan information (your login name, password, support number, and so on).

    4. When the screen asking if you want to save this information appears, click Save Account Information. If you do not want to save the information in a text file, be sure and write it down so you have it in case you need to run through Account Setup again.

    5. When you reach the final screen, click Done. You're now ready to start Netscape Communicator.

Working with user profiles

User profiles store personal information for individual users. These settings include email information, your address books, saved email messages, bookmarks, and other preferences.

If this is the first time you've used Netscape Navigator, you will create your user profile when you go through Account Setup. If you've used Netscape Navigator before, a profile is automatically created for you using your previous settings when you complete the New Profile Setup process.

Using a single user profile

As long as you are the only person using Netscape Communicator and you always use the same Internet account plan, you don't need to worry about creating or choosing user profiles.

Creating multiple user profiles

Dial-Up Edition allows you to have multiple user profiles. You'll want to create multiple user profiles in the following situations:
  1. Several people will be sharing the same copy of Dial-Up Edition from the same computer. Separate profiles allow each user to have separate email, newsgroup account plans, bookmarks, and address books.

  2. You want to use more than one Internet account plan. Setting up different profiles lets you choose which Internet account plan you want to use each time you make a connection using Dial-Up Edition.

  3. You want to create a non-dial-up account for connecting to the Internet using a local area network.

    4.  
Once you have created multiple user profiles, you'll always choose a user profile before you begin using Netscape Communicator. For complete instructions on creating multiple user profiles see "Working with Multiple User Profiles" in the Reference Library.

What's next?

Now that you're connected, it's time to learn how to use Netscape Communicator--for correspondence, research, business, global publishing, and more. For information on using Communicator, see the online documentation or visit http://help.netscape.com for troubleshooting tips. Either now, or after you've done some exploring, you may want to install the additional Dial-Up Edition plug-ins. Turn to Chapter 4 for information on using and expanding the features of Dial-Up Edition.