NetAssist Utility

The Prodigy NetAssist Utility is designed to help you resolve any communications connection problems and/ or conflicts your computer may be experiencing. By using this utility, you will be able to access all communications settings originally configured by the Windows95 Operating System.


Why Do I Need to Reconfigure My Communications Settings ?

Usually you will not have to change your communications settings; however, depending upon the type of hardware and software installed on your machine, you may not be receiving peak performance from the Prodigy Product. Therefore, it may be necessary to change some of the communications settings to obtain optimum performance.

CAUTION: Windows95 has no facility for backing up your original factory settings, should you need to reconfigure your computer with its original manufacturer’s settings.  Therefore, before changing the default settings as indicated in the NetAssist utility, we recommend first writing down all factory settings  you wish to change.


Getting Started

By accessing the Prodigy NetAssist Utility, it is safe to assume that you have either:

•	Received an error message from a connection setting

•	Received an error message from the Prodigy Internet service

•	Have not been able to successfully log onto the Win95 or your Internet Browser.

Depending upon which of the previous conditions you’ve encountered, you will have to access one of the following NetAssist Components:

  Win ’95 Settings

  Connection Settings

  Browser Settings

  Internet Service Settings

Click on the pushbutton next to each of the previous items to see a description of that component or click the forward browse button (>>) located on the toolbar of this Help file to see a complete description of all components of the NetAssist Utility.

In addition, the following two selections also appear on the NetAssist menu.

  Help

  Exit


The Win '95 Settings component of the NetAssist is used to add /or configure communications accessories which allow you to connect to other computers and online services.


The Connection Settings Component is used to verify a server address and to make sure that a server is available. In addition this module allows you to see how your traffic is sent to the Internet server.


TheBrowser Settings Component is used to configure settings for your Internet browser.


The Internet Service Settings Component is used to set or change Internet Addresses.


This component displays NetAssist Utility Help.


This component allows you to Exit the NetAssist Utility.


The Prodigy NetAssist Utility contains four major components which allow you to configure settings on your computer to receive optimum communications performance.


A software program that allows you to view graphics and visually communicate over the Internet.


Win '95 Settings

The Win ’95 Settings component is used to add /or configure communications accessories which allow you to connect to other computers and online services. Although your Windows 95 software does provide for basic communications services, it is often necessary to supplement your software with additional changes in your configuration to guarantee optimum communications performance.

This component gives you a choice of utilizing either of two communications protocols:

Install Dial-up Networking

Install TCP/IP

Click on the pushbutton next to each of the previous items to see a description of that sub- component.

In addition to setting the proper communications protocol, it may also be necessary to access the third item on the menu:

Disable the Global DNS

To exit this portion of the NetAssist Utility, click on the arrow button to go back to the Main Menu.


Installing Dial-up Networking

The Installing Dial-up Networking subcomponent is located under the Win ’95 Settings Group on the main window of the Prodigy NetAssist utility. It enables your computer to connect (via your modem) to various networks as well as Internet services.


Installing TCP/IP

TCP/IP is a type of protocol computers use to communicate. There are many types of communications protocols, however in recent years, TCP/IP seems to be the most popular one used to connect to the Internet and to wide-area networks. This pushbutton allows you to configure TCP/IP addresses and properties for Prodigy Internet.


Disable the Global DNS

Computers are referenced using an IP (Internet Protocol) address containing more than two sections separated by periods. This address is also called a Domain Name Server (DNS).

In order to connect with the Prodigy network, it may be necessary to disable your current global DNS so that the Prodigy software can set new settings in order to gain optimum connectivity.  By clicking this pushbutton the Disable Global DNS component will pop up and allow you to disable the global DNS.


Protocol is a type of language that different computers use to communicate with one another. For two computers to communicate, they must use the same protocol.


Using Connection Settings

The Connections Settings component of the NetAssist Utility is used to Add, Change, Remove, and or view various computer communications settings. This component allows you to check:

Modem Settings

Ping a Server

Test all of these Things

Server Routing Information

Web Address Lookup

Click on the pushbutton next to each of the previous items to see a description of that sub- component.


Modem Settings Sub-Component

The Modem Settings sub-component is located under the Connection Settings Component. The Modem Settings sub-component is used to Add, Change, Remove, and/or check modem settings.

Once your modem has been added and configured you can use this sub-component to modify how your calls will be dialed. Or, if you are just adding a modem to your system for the first time, you can step through the add procedure to initially configure your modem.

Prodigy Internet supports both internal and external modems. We recommend that a 28.8K modem (or faster) be used. If you are using a 14.4K modem, you will experience slower data transfer rates when uploading and downloading information to and from the Internet.

When you click on the Modem Settings pushbutton, the Modem Properties screen will be displayed and the modem type will be highlighted. If you have more than one modem, each modem will be listed individually. Verify that each modem on your system is listed, then click the appropriate action button:

•	Add

•	Remove

•	Properties

Or, click:

•	Dialing Properties

if you want to view your current configuration.


A modem is a device that converts information to a form that can be transmitted via telephone line to a similar receiving device. A modem can be either internal (computer board) or external (standalone unit plugged into your COM port).  For more information on modems and data transfer rates, refer to your modem manufacturer’s User Guide.


Pinging a Server

The Ping a Server sub-component is used to transmit a signal to the server(s) to which you’re connected. Usually there will be a series of servers that transfer and pass data from the specified server to your individual computer. These servers work hand-in hand to send data from point A, to point B, to point Z. These servers are transparent to your normal utilization of the Prodigy Internet.

However, if you ever fail to get on the network, click the Ping the Server pushbutton to send a signal  from your computer to the specified server. Each server, in turn will pass the signal along to the next one. When the ping signal is received at the specified server, a signal will be sent from that server to your computer.


Testing all Connections Settings

When you click on the Test all of these Things pushbutton, the Prodigy NetAssist Utility will display the Host Connection screen. All test function radio buttons will be pre-highlighted.

•	Route Trace

•	Ping

•	Name Server Lookup

The NetAssist component is used to make certain that the servers to which you’re connected are online.

To do this, the NetAssist utility first traces the transmission route that your data normally takes. Next, it automatically pings each of the servers in your route. Each server sends a signal to the next server. And then a return signal is sent to your computer. All servers that respond (as well as those that do not respond) to the ping will be shown in a server lookup table which is displayed automatically upon completion of the test.


Server Routing Information

The Server Routing Information Screen is used to trace the server route or data path used to send and receive transmittals (mail messages, logging onto the Prodigy network, etc.)  to and from your computer. Ideally, this test should be performed whenever you are experiencing difficulty sending or receiving data to and from the Prodigy network. When you select the Server Routing Information pushbutton, a test is performed to trace the data route from your computer to the Prodigy network of computer servers. After the test is completed, a listing of the server name and status (whether online or offline) will be displayed.


Web Address Look-up

The Web Address Look-up provides a listing of the servers in your data transmittal path.


Browser Settings

The Browser Settings component is used to customize your basic Prodigy Internet services. You can specify mail options (i.e., the outgoing and incoming server name, as well as the maximum size of received messages), news group options (i.e., the newsgroup server name and the maximum number of newsgroup messages to be downloaded at one time to your computer during the session), and proxy setting used by your network browser when receiving and displaying data.


Internet Service Settings

The Internet Services Settings component is used to customize your Prodigy Internet messaging services. You can customize features for your newsgroup services (i.e., the news group server name and Internet address) , file transfer services (i.e., the file transfer server name and Internet address), Web content (i.e., the Web site server name and Internet address), your post office box (i.e., the electronic post office server name and Internet address), and your postal drop box (i.e., your outgoing  mail server name and Internet address).