This page Will be to help with configuration and with navigating the Internet.
Still very much under construction.
Troubleshooting Terms Defined
Below are some terms used on The Internet.
Use the following email address as an example for all email-related terms: cat@bmic.net
Use the following host name for all network/Internet-related terms: bmic.net
- Domain name
- This is the unique name that identifies an Internet location. The segments of the domain name are separated by dots. Example: bmic.net
- Email address
- The information needed to send email to a user through the Internet. Example: cat@bmic.net
- FAQ
- Frequently Asked Questions. A compilation of often-requested information.
- FTP
- File Transfer Protocol. A way of transferring files from one location to another by logging into another site.
- DNS Server
- Serves as a focal point for WWW, telnet, ftp, and sometimes Gopher information requests from local users. Routes requests to other hosts.
- Host name
- This is the information after the @ in an email address and the address you would need to telnet to a remote location. Example: www.bmic.net
- IP Address (number)
- Numeric representation of a host name. Example: 209.37.136.17
- Login
- Entering user ID and password to gain access to a computer system.
- Login information
- Generally user ID and at least one password.
- MAILER-DAEMON
- A program used to detect mail problems. Provides error messages in the form of email to the sender with information.
- Remote host
- A host you are trying to login to or send mail to.
- Site
- Can refer to a web page, or a location of information such as a telnet or ftp site.
- System administrator
- Usually the person responsible for maintaining the systems used for Internet connectivity, identifiable by the dark rings under his eyes, omnipresent coffee cup, and the perpetual "deer in the headlights" look.
- TCP/IP
- Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. The protocol used for communications on the Internet.
- URL
- Uniform Resource Locator. A standard for locating information on the World Wide Web. Example: http://support.bmic.net or http://www.bmic.net
- User name
- Often the first part of your email address before the @. The name with which you login to your email or Internet system.
Troubleshooting E-mail
Before you begin troubleshooting, always try to send the message at least twice. If you begin troubleshooting before attempting to send it twice, you could end up troubleshooting a very temporary problem (e.g., low disk space or network lag).
Are you connected to the Internet? Obviously you are (or were) when you found this page. But the #1 problem encountered with sending and recieving e-mail is simply not being connected to the internet. Check to make sure you are connected, then continue
Is your E-mail Client configured correctly?
Find your error or symptom on the chart below, then follow the links to the tools to troubleshoot the problem. When you are having trouble sending email to someone, try to verify the email address with the recipient personally before beginning any troubleshooting. Often finding two transposed characters in the email address will save you hours of trouble.
Check your configuration if your client appears below. Then continue with the steps laid out to see if you can resolve the problem.
Eudora Light E-Mail Client
Netscape Communicator 4.x Client
Microsoft Internet Mail E-Mail Client
If a mail message is returned to you, the error message will often be addressed from MAILER-DAEMON. Be sure to read the entire error message. You will often find more detailed information than simply 'undeliverable mail' if you sift through the message. If so, go through the other errors in this chart until you find the appropriate one.
Error Possible cause Tools & Tips Undeliverable mail (no other errors listed) Possible incorrect user or host name. Use Finger, and Whois to verify the user's email address. Local configuration error. Problem with recipient's mail account. Finger the recipient to see if there is another email account to which you can try sending email. If not, only the recipient's local mail administrator can help. You could try emailing to ROOT at the recipients host (root@other-domain.com). Looping message detected. Usually occurs when two or more mail systems disagree as to the correct location of a user's mailbox. Finger, and Whois can help verify the correct email address. Sometimes the problem can only be resolved with the mail administrator at your recipient's site. System timeout during mail transfer. May occur during network traffic problems, system overload, or network error. Use the following utilities to determine whether the network at your recipient's site is 'live.' Traceroute and Ping. Bad host name. This can mean either a) you may have incorrectly entered the email address, or b) your system does not recognize the host name. Ping will show whether the host name can be reached from your system. If not, check with your system administrator. You can also try using Finger or Whois to verify the host name portion of the email address.
Useful quick commands Download Sam Spade to use the following Command Usage Description Ping In Sam Spade, type the host name or IP Address you want to check and click ping. This command sends a small packet out to the remote host and if it recieves it back, reports the time it took in milliseconds. Traceroute In Sam Spade, type the host name or IP Address you want to check and click trace This traces from your computer to the host you are checking to determine if there are any bottlenecks along the way. If so, it will display where the bottleneck is occuring.
Q: How do I change my Home (Start) Page location?
A: It depends on the Software you are using for a browser. Here are examples of the 2 most popular browsers.
For Netscape Communicator 4.x
Start Netscape.
Click Edit
Click Preferences
Click Navigator
In the section that says Home Page, type the address of the page you would like to use, if it is BMIC.Net's home page, that is http://www.bmic.net
For 3.x Internet Explorer
Double Click on the Icon "My Computer"
Double Click on the Icon "Control Panel"
Double Click on the Icon "Internet" in control panel
Click on the Tab Navigation
Under Customization where it says Address type the address of the page you would like to use, if it is BMIC.Net's home page, that is http://www.bmic.netFor 4.x, 5.x, 6.x Internet Explorer
Double Click on the Icon "My Computer"
Double Click on the Icon "Control Panel"
Double Click on the Icon "Internet" in control panel
Click on the Tab General
Under where it says Start Page Address type the address of the page you would like to use, if it is BMIC.Net's home page, that is http://www.bmic.net
A: The problem you are describing is a quite common bug in Windows 95/98.
To fix this there are two things you need to turn off.
Double Click on the Icon "My Computer"
Double Click on the Icon "Control Panel"
Double Click on the Icon "Internet" ("Internet Options" for win 98) in Control Panel
Click on the Tab "Connection"
There will be a check mark in Disconnect if Idle for ## minutes
Uncheck that Item. It is buggy and can cause your system to randomly disconnect.
Click Apply then Ok
Close Control Panel
In "My Computer" Double Click on Dial-Up Networking
Click One time with your Right Mouse Button (Right Click) on the Bay Mills Computers Icon
This will bring up a small menu. On this menu, click on "Properties"
Click on the "Configure" button
Click on the Connection Tab
There will be a check mark in Disconnect if Idle for ## minutes
Uncheck that Item. It is buggy and can cause your system to randomly disconnect.
Click Ok
Click Ok again
Close "Dial-Up Networking"
Close "My Computer"
Shut Down and Restart the Computer. That should fix the disconnect problem
Q: How do I send an e-mail attachment using Netscape Mail?
A: Connect to the internet
Start Netscape
Click on File
Click on New
Click on Message
Enter the E-Mail Address of the person you are sending it to on the To: line
Click the Paper Clip "Attach" Icon
Click on File
Change the look in box to the Drive the file is located in Open each successive directory until the file is located
Example: If I wanted to send a file named baby.jpg located in c:\cat\pictures\misc,
- I would Change my look in to the C: drive
- Then Double click on the folder cat
- Then Double click on the folder pictures
- Then Double click on the folder misc
- Then Double click on the file baby.jpg
Repeat these steps for each file you wish to send
Once all files are included, make sure to add a subject in the subject line and a short text in the message body to indicate what the attacments are.
Then Click Send.
NOTE: Most people have a very limited mailbox size. Be nice and don't send too much at once. (3 jpg pictures of your children is ok, a CD image of Microsoft Office 2000 is not).