Dialup FAQ

Getting Started

1 . I'm getting a new machine. What should I do ?

Phone lines

2 . What if my line has Call Waiting ?

3 . A second phone line won't connect

4 . Windows erases the Area Code

5 . It fails before it even checks username

Connecting

6 . I don't want to click a shortcut

7 . Netscape won't dial for me anymore

8 . I'm with Galaxy, but I get to MSN, AOL, Dell

9 . It rejects my username and password

10 . My machine connects by itself

11 . It's slow to get online, but works okay once it's on

The modem

12 . The store installed a new modem. It doesn't work !

13 . How do I re-install my modem ?

14 . My modem doesn't come close to 56k speed

15 . What init string does my modem need ?

The PPP connection

16 . I get Illegal Operation

17 . It connects, but email and web pages fail to show

18 . How do I re-install Dialup Networking ?

TCP/IP on the Internet

19 . I get online and immediately disconnect

20 . Windows won't save my password

21 . Where do I input my DNS settings ?

22 . How do I re-install my network drivers ?

Explorer and Netscape

23 . It disconnects if I don't do anything for 5 or 10 minutes

24 . Email works fine, but web pages crawl

25 . Content Advisor cuts me out of Web sites

26 . My banking site says I have the wrong encryption

27 . There are too many sites on the Address Field

Outlook and Netscape Mail

28 . Outlook keeps disconnecting. Everything else works

29 . My Outlook 5 on the Mac returns Error-16999

30 . What is a Dat File ?

31 . How do I back up my mail files ?

32 . I can't read my old Outlook files

33 . A message in my Netscape Inbox won't delete

34 . A message in my Outlook Inbox won't delete

Mail server

35 . Can I forward my mail ?

36 . Can I get a second mail box ?

37 . Mail won't send. Everything else works

38 . Some people can't send to me

39 . Can I telnet into the mail server ?

40 . I keep downloading the same emails

Virus and hacking

41 . Everyone is sending me klez, Norton reports

42 . I get bounced mail I never sent

43 . I clicked "new photos from my party"

44 . The Netbus Trojan is scanning my ports

45 . I took the teddy bear out of my systems folder

Uploading to the web

46 . What FTP programs are available for Mac OS 9 and OS X?

47 . Where do I get WS_FTP ?

48 . How much file space do I have left ?

49 . Do you support Front Page Extensions ?

50 . My *.exe files can't download

51 . Web access still goes to my old server

52 . I get failed data channel errors

 
Getting Started

1 . I'm getting a new machine. What should I do ?
We no longer publish a setup CD because current machines have all the software they need. You just need to create a dialup connection and setup email to go online. You can print out all the instructions before you disconnect the old machine. See Dialup Support and Email Support . Internet Explorer and Outlook Express are included with Windows, or Netscape can be downloaded at netscape.com
 
Phone lines

2 . What if my line has Call Waiting ?
Call Waiting doesn't work when you're connected, and it should be disabled with *70, (star seven zero comma) in front of the telephone number. This guarantees that callers will hear the busy signal while you're online. Without the *70, the response is unpredictable. The caller might hear a busy signal or the call might disconnect you.

There are companies that can monitor your calls and put a note on your screen when someone is trying to contact you. For instance, http://www.internetcallmanager.com/ , http://www.callwave.com/ and buzzme.com. Also, your phone company might offer voice mail for about $4.00 per month. Its like an answering machine, but it's on their end and responding while you're online.

3 . A second phone line won't connect
A new phone line? Make sure it still works on your other line. If so, only two things could be wrong. You may have Call Waiting on your old line, and of course, you wouldn't have it on your dedicated connection line. If you still have *70, (star seven zero comma) in front of your phone number that will stop the connection.

Also, your new line may have a limited calling area. Check your GIS access number with your phone company to make sure it's included.

4 . Windows erases the Area Code
Take the check mark out of "use area code". It grays out the Area Code field, and then you put the area code in the Telephone Number field.

With a MAC, you write it into Remote Access, PPP, ConfigPPP or FreePPP in Control Panels.

5 . It fails before it even checks username
First, make sure it's dialing the right number. Even if you set the right number with all ten digits, Windows might have removed the area code for you. Make sure to look at the number when the username and password dialog box pops up.

Make sure your line is connected to the wall jack and the other end is plugged into the modem and not the phone socket.

If it's the right number, with connected phone lines, there could be something wrong with your PPP software. Re-install Dialup Networking.

We have had problems with phone lines at our end, but that is rare and doesn't last more than a couple of hours. If the problem persists or happens often, re-install your modem. You might need a new modem.
 
Connecting

6 . I don't want to click a shortcut
Go to My Computer/ Control Panel/ Internet Options/ Connections Tab. Click once on the dialer, and use the Set Default button if your connection isn't already the default. Make sure there's a dot in "always dial my default connection". To make sure Outlook dials the right connection, click Tools/ Accounts/ Mail Tab/ Properties/ Connection Tab. Put a check in "always connect to this account using", and select your connection to Galaxy.

7 . Netscape won't dial for me anymore
Your dialer must have been renamed. Once Netscape loses your dialer it's hard to show it the way. It might find it again if you make sure no other dialer is in My Computer/ Dialup Networking. You can get another chance to tell Netscape which dialer you want if you create a new profile with Profile Manager. Click Start/ Programs/ Communicator/ Utilities/ Profile Manager. On a Mac it's in the Netscape folder. It's a lot easier to just create a shortcut to your dialer and get in that way. Just right-click and select Create Shortcut in computer/ Dialup networking.

8 . I'm with Galaxy, but I get to MSN, AOL, Dell
If your dialer shows one of our access numbers when you connect, you're online with GIS. The first page you get to is a setting in your browser. Here's where you change your start or home page:
For Explorer:
Click My Computer/Control Panel/Internet Options.
Inside Netscape:
Click Edit/Preferences/Navigator

...and write in the start page you want. Ours is start.gis.net .

9 . It rejects my username and password
If you opened your Galaxy account the day before, after 4:00 PM, it won't be enabled until 10:30 PM the day after. If you opened on a weekend, it's enabled after 10:30 PM Monday.

If we can't run your credit, card we attempt to phone you, and disconnect your account if we can't reach you within a week. Please phone us to update your account.

If you're prepaid for six months or a year, we need your OK to continue it when it's due. We send two email reminders and attempt to phone you a week before we disconnect your account. Please phone us to update your account. Please send a note to support@gis.net if you want the reminders emailed to an address other than your GIS mail account.

If your account is up to date, go into My Computer/ Dialup Networking, and double-click your connection icon. Username and password must be lower case, and do not write @gis.net after the username.

If that fails, maybe your password file got corrupted. Delete all your dialup connections and setup a new one as as shown here: www.gis.net/support/dialup.html .

10 . My machine connects by itself
You just have to find the program that's making it connect.
1. Look for "Bonzai Buddy" or other unwanted programs in My Computer/ Control Panel/ Add & Remove Programs.
2. Make sure your Explorer or Netscape starting page is start.gis.net and not an unwanted web site, or an an address starting with file://.
3. Check the connections shown in My Computer/ Dialup Networking, and remove any you don't use on purpose.

Or the unwanted program might be in your Startup folder. Click Start/ Programs, and then double-click Startup to make it show the startup programs in a window. Some of them might be wanted or necessary for your system. If in doubt, you can drag them to your desk top, and you can always put them back.

Or click Start/ Run, and type MSCONFIG. Every startup program is listed under the Startup tab. You can check them off and on until you've found the one you're after.

As a last resort, Windows lists every running task if you click the CTRL/ALT/DELETE keys. This gives you some hints. In Windows 95 and 98 you can safely click the End Task on every process except Explorer and Systray.

If there's still a problem, your machine is out of your control. Maybe it has a virus or worm, or you bumped into a web site that monitors your connection. Run your virus checker and find an expert to hunt through your machine.

11 . It's slow to get online, but works okay once it's on
Often, that happens if you have a check mark in "log on to network". Click My Computer/ Dial-up Networking. Right-click on your connection icon and click Properties/ Server Types Tab, and remove the check mark. That page should have only two check marks, on "enable software compression" and "TCP/IP". System setup details are here: gis.net/support/dialup.html .
 
The modem

12 . The store installed a new modem. It doesn't work !
GIS connections work with every new modem. The store tech will sometimes neglect the last installation step. Click My Computer/ Dialup Networking. Right-click on your connection and click Properties. Windows will object that it can't find your modem. Click OK. Click the Down Arrow on the Connect Using box, and select the new modem driver the store tech installed.

While you're there, click the Configure button and make sure the previous modem wasn't set to run at a low speed. Click Connection Tab/ Advanced Button, and make sure there is nothing in the Extra Settings box. Anything there was specific to the old modem, if the store tech wasn't there. New modems don't usually need a string.

13 . How do I re-install my modem ?
Most new modems are Plug and Play. Remove the modem driver, restart the machine, and Windows will show you the New Hardware Found dialog box. The driver is listed at My Computer/ Control Panel/ Modem. Select it and click the Remove button.

If Plug and Play doesn't happen, click the Add button in Control Panel/ Modem, and Windows will say "Would you like to select it from a list ?". Follow instructions from there.

If you're not sure it will be Plug and Play, then click the Diagnostics tab in Control Panel/ Modem to find out which Port it's on. Then click the Add button just to get a look at the list and make sure it's on there. If it isn't, you'll need the disk or documentation the modem came with.

14 . My modem doesn't come close to 56k speed
If it's an older X2 modem, it can't do better than 33.6k on our lines. If it was upgraded to v90, this may or may not work.

If it worked well for a while and now suddenly fails, try re-installing it.

Mid forties to low fifties are about par for the course with 56k modems. Low forties can happen unavoidably because of line conditions between your 56k modem and ours. It's worth trying other numbers listed here: www.gis.net/dialup/index.html#service_areas.
See www.56k.com for a good discussion of these issues.

15 . What init string does my modem need ?
Most new v90 and v92 modems need no extra settings. They come with drivers set for standard PPP internet connections such as ours. And if there is low line noise in your area, any modem will work without a tweak. But there are a few exceptions.

Write the string into My Computer/ Dialup Networking. Right-click on your connection and click Properties. Click Connection Tab/ Advanced Button, and the Extra Settings field is on the bottom of that page.

If you have Windows ME, you might get error 630 on some connections. This happens most often if you have an HSP or PCTel based modem. Try ATN0S37=14S34=9. This usually works, though it will slow your connection to 40k. You can try to tweak the "=9" up towards "=18" to bring the speed up to 52k. You may have to bring it down towards "=3", which runs at 32k. If you have an HCF or Connexant modem with the same problem, try AT&F+MS=V22B,0,2400,2400 or ATZ+MS=V34 .

If you have a Lucent LTWinModem that disconnects often, try AT&FX. Set Flow Control to Software (xon/xoff) on that same Advanced Settings page. Or try AT&F1&K0, leaving Flow Control on Hardware.

If you have an older USRobotics or 3COM modem designed for the obsolete X2 56k standard and upgraded to v90, you might have random disconnection problems. Try turning off one or both protocols. Strings are different depending on whether it's a Sportster or Courier.
X2 off, V.90 on Sporster AT&S32=34
X2 off, V.90 on Courier AT&S58=1
Both off Sportster AT&S32=98
Both off Courier AT&S58=33

Sportsters may slow down during the session and suddenly disconnect (spiral death).
If it's a v92, try these:
ATS15=128S10=200S27=64
AT&F&B1&H1&R2&A2&K2X4S11=50s15=128s28=0s19=0s27=64s32=16
AT&F1&K0&I0S33=32
AT&F1&K0&I0S33=32S15=128S27=64
If it's an X2, try
ATSS15=128
If it's 33.6, try
AT&F1E1V0&C1S13.0=1
AT&A0&B1&H1&S0&Y2

If you have a Gateway computer with a GTW V.92 PCI modem, you may need these:
AT&FS50=23S51=31 Force V34 (disable x2/v90/v92)
AT&FS50=23S51=63 Force x2 (disable v90/V92)
AT&FS50=23S51=95 Force V90 (disable x2/v92)
AT&FS50=23S51=95

If there is a lot of line noise, lots of modems will work with ATS10=255 .
Modems vary greatly, depending on which manufacturer used which chip set, and when it was made. Visit the manufacturers web site to see which modem you have, and which driver upgrades are available.

If the modem is old, consider getting a new one. New v90 and v92 modems are cheap, easy to install, and almost always work. Cheap or expensive, they are fast. More money only buys extra features.
 
The PPP connection

16 . I get Illegal Operation
Does the Illegal Operation happen when you log in, or only while you're already online ? If it happens as you log in or right after, there's something wrong with Dialup Networking or your network drivers. Re-install them.

Try both Explorer and Netscape. If only one has problems, the browser is to blame. Or try to ping. Click Start/ Run and type "command". Type "ping gis.net". If that works, your browser caused the Illegal Operation.

Try clearing Explorer's temporary folders or Netscape's cache. For Explorer, click Tools/ Options/ Delete Files Button. For Netscape, click Edit/ Preferences. Double-click Advanced and click Cache.

If that doesn't work, the browser should be re-installed or upgraded. You can get Explorer at microsoft.com/windows/ie and Netscape at Netscape.com .

17 . It connects, but email and web pages fail to show
Disconnect and reconnect a few times. You reach a different modem each time. If it works only some of the time, there could be a problem with our modem banks. Please send a note to support@gis.net.

Try different access numbers, listed at gis.net/dialup . If only some work, it's a problem on our lines. Occasionally, it works from our Newton office and not your location, and then it's a problem with the telephone system outside GIS. Please send a report to support@gis.net.

Try to ping an IP and then a domain.
Start/ Run, and type "command", and in the DOS screen type

ping 208.218.130.20
or
ping gis.net

If it gets the IP and not the domain, check your DNS settings.

If it pings both the IP and the domain, the problem is your browser and email software. You'll have to re-install or upgrade them.

If it pings neither IP or domain, try restarting your machine. Maybe that fixes it or maybe it used to fix it and no longer does so. That means it's a problem with your connection software. Re-install dialup networking and your network drivers.

18 . How do I re-install Dialup Networking ?
Click My Computer/ Control Panel/ Add & Remove Programs. Click the Windows Setup tab. Double-click Communications, and take the check mark out of "dialup networking" . Click OK and OK 'till you're back in Control panel, and wait for Windows to prompt you to restart. Sometimes that's a minute or two.

Then go back in and put the check mark back, and restart when prompted.
 
TCP/IP on the Internet

19 . I get online and immediately disconnect
A connection uses PPP to dial in and then TCP/IP to exchange packets on the internet. Does it have TCP/IP ? Check your Network Components in My Computer/ Control Panel/ Network. If it's missing, click the Add button, select Protocol, click Add, select Microsoft as Manufacturer, select TCP/IP and click OK. If TCP/IP is listed, it might be corrupted, so remove and re-install it anyway. If TCP/IP is listed more than once, re-install them all. They all represent the same software driver, and will pop back in when you add one back.

If that doesn't work, re-install all your network drivers.

20 . Windows won't save my password
Is the "save password" box grayed out when you dial in ? That happens if you don't have Microsoft Client for Networks or Microsoft Family logon installed. Check My Computer/ Control Panel/ Network to make sure it's there. If it's not there add it. Click Add/ Client/ Add. Select Microsoft from the list of manufacturers, and select Client For Microsoft Networks in the other box.

You get a Windows logon box when you start up the machine, and just click Cancel to get past it ? Then Microsoft Client isn't running and that's why your "save password" is grayed out. If Windows wants a password you don't have, then click Start/ Find/ Find Files. Look for *.pwl files and delete them. This gives you a new start. Restart and give Windows a username (any name). Give it a password if you want Windows to keep asking for one. Otherwise, leave the password field blank. Confirm when it asks again, and you should be able to put the check mark in "save password".

21 . Where do I input my DNS settings ?
For details on all machines see www.gis.net/dialup.html .
These are essential on Windows 95 and Macintosh up to System 9. Put them in on any system if it seems to have trouble finding web sites or mail servers.

On windows 95/98, Click My Computer/ Dialup Networking. Right-click on your connection and click Properties. In the Server Types tab, the check should be on TCP/IP and not NetBEUI or IPX/SPX. In TCP/IP settings put the DNS numbers into "Specify an IP Address"
208.218.130.4
208.218.130.5
Make sure "use default Gateway" is checked.

22 . How do I re-install my network drivers ?
If you've had your computer a year or two, or it's had virus experiences, it's worthwhile to uninstall and reinstall all your network components in Control Panel/ Network. Just use the Add and Remove buttons. Remove, restart, then add them back, and restart. But don't do the restarts until it's finished copying its drivers and prompts you to restart.

On a single user machine, there should be three Network Components -- Microsoft Family Logon or Microsoft Client for Networks, Dialup Adapter, and TCP/IP. If you have an Ethernet card or other extra hardware, there can be a more instances of TCP/IP. You can't re-install TCP/IP unless you remove every instance. They all point to the same software driver, and when you put one back, they'll all pop back together. When adding TCP/IP or Dialup Adapter, it will ask you which manufacturer. Scroll down the list to Microsoft.

If you have a Virtual Private Network connection to your office's NT server, there should be a VPN Adapter and Dialup Adapter#2. Otherwise remove them and anything else you don't use or have hardware for. Dialup Adapter doesn't need NetBEUI or IPX/SPX.

NOTE: During re-install, Windows may ask you for your Windows CD. If you don't have one, make sure you have *.cab files. Look them up with Start/ Find/ Files or Folders, as you may need to tell Windows where they are.

NOTE: On Windows ME, the Dialup Adapter can only be re-installed at Control Panel/ Add & Remove Programs. Double-click Connections and take the check mark out of Dialup Networking. Restart and put the check mark back.

If your machine crashes right after you removed the components, that means the components really were corrupted, and your connection problem will be fixed after you re-install them.
 
Explorer and Netscape

23 . It disconnects if I don't do anything for 5 or 10 minutes
Our server isn't set to cut you off, but sometimes Windows is set to time you out. Go to Control Panel/ Internet Options/ Connection Tab. Double_click your Galaxy connection. Click Settings/ Advanced Button. If it's check-marked at "disconnect if idle" for 5 or 10 minutes, change it back to the default 20 minutes. You can take the check mark off altogether, but that's not advisable nowadays. You don't want hackers scanning your ports all day and night.

If that doesn't do it, try setting your email to check for mail every 10 minutes. That keeps the connection active. In Outlook, click Tools/ Options/ General. In Netscape that's in Edit/ Preferences/ Mail&news/ Server/ Edit Button/ Pop Tab.

24 . Email works fine, but web pages crawl
Try clearing Explorer's temporary folders or Netscape's cache. For Explorer, click Tools/ Options/ Delete Files Button. For Netscape, click Edit/ Preferences. Double-click Advanced and click Cache.

If that doesn't work, the browser should be re-installed or upgraded. You can get Explorer at microsoft.com/windows/ie and Netscape at Netscape.com .

25 . Content Advisor cuts me out of Web sites
You can reset Explorer's Content Advisor at My Computer/ Control Panel/ Content Tab/ Settings Button. It demands a password you don't have ? The only way in is to contact Microsoft Support:
support.microsoft.com/support/contact/default.asp .

26 . My banking site says I have the wrong encryption
If it still says that, you have an old browser. The latest Netscape and Explorer both have 128 bit encryption for financial transactions online. For email encryption you need Digital ID. Verisign is one provider of that service. See www.verisign.com/products/class1/index.html .

27 . There are too many sites on the Address Field
That's the History List. In Explorer go to Tools/ Options/ and click the Clear History button on the first page. In Netscape go to Edit/ Preferences/ Navigator and click the Clear History and Clear Location Bar buttons.
 
Outlook and Netscape Mail

28 . Outlook keeps disconnecting. Everything else works
Maybe Outlook expects a different connection than the one you are using, so tell it to use whatever connection is running. Click Tools/ Accounts/ Mail Tab/ Properties/ Connections and take the check mark out of "always connect to this account using".

If it goes offline whenever you've finished Send and Receive, click Tools/ Options/ Connection and take the check mark out of "disconnect after sending and receiving". Nobody knows how that check mark gets there. It's not a default setting. We get several calls a day from people who think our server shoves the mail in their faces, kicks them out and slams the door.

29 . My Outlook 5 on the Mac returns Error-16999
That happens when there is no mail waiting for you. The software doesn't understand our server's "no mail" response. But it will work as long as there is at least one message there. This bug may have been fixed in the latest download available at microsoft.com/mac/products/oe/ .

30 . What is a Dat File ?
Outlook (full office version) email clients send a *.dat file when the sending mail format is set to "Rich Text". Only other Outlook clients can read this. Supposedly it also sends a plain text copy that any mail program can read, but we've had callers who get nothing but *.dat. Perhaps the sender has an older Microsoft mail program than yours, or vice-versa.

Make sure your mail is set to HTML or Plain Text. Usually the setting is under Tools/ Options/ Mail Format tab. Or look up "Rich Text" in Microsoft Help.

31 . How do I back up my mail files ?
Right-click on the folder you want to save and click Properties. It says "this folder is stored in the following file". Double-click in the filename and take care to select and copy the entire filename. Close Outlook. Click Start/ Find/ Files or Folders, and paste the whole long filename into its Name field. After you've found the file, copy it to a backup folder, floppy disk, or network drive. Outlook Express mail folders have a .dbx extension (for example, "Sent Items.dbx"). Then you import it into the new machine with File/ Import/ Messages.

To find your Netscape files, look at Edit/ Preferences/ Mail&News/ Servers, and the info is at the bottom of that page

32 . I can't read my old Outlook files
If you ran your Restore Disk, you probably returned to the original Outlook Express 4 you got with the machine. If you ever upgraded Explorer/Outlook, the old one can't read your new Outlook 5 or 6 files. You can get a new Explorer/Outlook at microsoft.com/windows/ie . If that's not it, try using File/ Import in Outlook Express. You might have to do a Find for Outlook mail files to see which folders they're in. Click Start/ Find/ Find Files and put *.dbx in the Named box.

33 . A message in my Netscape Inbox won't delete
When Netscape gets corrupted, most people just go to netscape.com and download a new edition.

But here's something you can try if you like messing with files. First just try to move the corrupted message to the trash. If that doesn't work, you can remove the Inbox and its corrupted contents and let Netscape create a new Inbox. First, transfer all your uncorrupted emails into another folder. Then find out where your mail files are. The info is in Edit/ Preferences/ Mail&News/ Servers, at the bottom of that page. Just go to that folder and delete Inbox and Inbox.snm. Restart Netscape and it will have a new and clean Inbox.

34 . A message in my Outlook Inbox won't delete
This could be a virus that tried an exploit on your Outlook 4 or 5, or just a corrupted message. Upgrade your Explorer/Outlook at microsoft.com/windows/ie , and the new software might fix the problem.

Also, there might be a program called Outlook Inbox Repairer in Start/ Programs/ Accessories/ System Tools.

If you can't delete the file, you can sometimes just drag it into the Deleted Mail folder. Or try this. You can remove the Inbox and its corrupted contents and let Outlook create a new Inbox. First, transfer all your uncorrupted emails into another folder. Then right-click on the Inbox and click Properties. It says "this folder is stored in the following file". Double-click in the filename and take care to select and copy the entire filename. Close Outlook. Click Start/ Find/ Files or Folders, and paste the whole long filename into its Name field. After you've found the file, drag it away to your Desktop or Recycle Bin. Restart Outlook and it will have a new and clean Inbox.

 
Mail server

35 . Can I forward my mail ?
Please phone us to have your email forwarded. If you've canceled your account, forwarding stops at the end of your monthly prepayment period. But you can keep a Mail-Only account open for just $5.00 per month.

36 . Can I get a second mail box ?
Additional email boxes cost $4.00 per month, with a one-time setup fee of $5.00.
The mail address would be username@mail2.gis.net . To make a second account in Outlook Express you click Tools/ Accounts/ and do the setup described here: gis.net/support/email.html . But incoming mail should be mail2.gis.net.

37 . Mail won't send. Everything else works
If you dialed in through Galaxy, Outgoing Mail should be smtp.gis.net. But our server won't work if you're connected through your office lan, cable connection or other provider. In that case you need to use the smtp server from your other provider in your email setup. We had to impose this restriction to prevent use of our servers by spammers. In Outlook, click Tools/ Accounts/ Mail Tab/ Properties/ Servers. In Netscape, click Edit/ Preferences/ Mail&News/ Mail Servers/ Edit Button. Galaxy email is accessible from any connection at astromail.gis.net .

38 . Some people can't send to me
If you can get mail from everyone except a few specific addresses, then we may be blocking the servers. By default, smtp mail servers have "open relays", which allow mail to be passed along from server to server. Spammers exploit this feature and most providers have decided to close their relays. We check lists of servers known to have open relays and forbid access.

To see if a server is on a list you can input the smtp server's IP at samspade.org (the Black Hole field at the bottom of the page). Currently the lists we use are relays.osirusoft.com/ and spamcop.net/bl.shtml . Send a note to the mail admin. and usually he can close his relay and have have his server taken off the list.

39 . Can I telnet into the mail server ?
Host is pop.gis.net port 110.
Just click Start/ Run, and type "telnet pop.gis.net 110". Preferences have local echo at "on". Type user yourusername, and pass your password. The list command lists all messages. The top command shows the header, and dele deletes. See www.freesoft.org/CIE/RFC/1725/8.htm .

40 . I keep downloading the same emails
If your mail program can't read one of the messages in your file, the session breaks off, and then when you re-connect, it reads the same messages all over again. One way to deal with this is to go to astromail.gis.net to look at your mail. Delete the letter that seems to be blocking your mail program. Astromail will leave the rest of your messages on the server so your mail program can download them. Or else, you can telnet to the pop server. If your mail program regularly gets stuck on emails you probably need to re-install or upgrade it.
 
Virus and hacking

41 . Everyone is sending me klez, Norton reports
Nowadays, it's essential to run an anti-virus program while checking mail.

We do filter viruses. You don't see Sircam, Magister, My Party, and others any more because they have headers that can be efficiently parsed. If we have to search the body of the message, that puts a strain on a server with 40,000 users. Klez has a highly variable header, and there are millions of infected machines around the web, so some of its messages have been getting past us.

More info:
vil.mcafee.com/dispVirus.asp?virus_k=99455
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.klez.h@mm.html

42 . I get bounced mail I never sent
That's very likely the Klez virus. There's been quite an infestation in the last few months. It may have infected you, but probably it's on someone else's machine. The virus found your address on his address book and is using it as a return address. It sits on the infected machine mailing out to every address in the book, and if the address is false, the mail server bounces it back to the return address, you. We can't filter out letters from Postmaster or Mailer Daemon because usually they're legitimate. But this problem shouldn't last long. The infected machine will crash or its owner will have it cleaned.

Whether you're infected or not, it's a good idea to go to Norton.com or Mcafee.com and have your machine checked.

More info:
vil.mcafee.com/dispVirus.asp?virus_k=99455
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.klez.h@mm.html

43 . I clicked "new photos from my party"
The My Party virus visited quite a few of our clients this spring, before we caught on to it. If you have Windows 2000 or Windows XP, it may have tried to install a worm. It couldn't infect any machine unless you clicked the attachment. But if you did, please visit Norton.com or mcafee.com to have your system scanned.

More info:
http:/www.sophos.com/virusinfo/analyzes/w32mypartya.html
vil.mcafee.com/dispVirus.asp?virus_k=99332&

44 . The Netbus Trojan is scanning my ports
The Netbus Trojan is an older trojan that usually doesn't affect PCs because of its rarity, although it can't be ruled out. The port number that was used by Netbus Trojans, 12345, is the same one used by the current 'ITalk' standard. It's not unusual for an ITalk program to scan for that port accross its current subnet, looking for ITalk programs running on other computers. It's unlikely that this is an attack.

Here's the website with more information regarding ITalk:
italk.sourceforge.net

45 . I took the teddy bear out of my systems folder
As everyone knows, if you get an email about a virus, it's almost always a hoax. But the so-called jdbgmgr.exe hoax catches lots of people. It's compelling because the jdbgmgr file has a teddy icon that just doesn't look like it could belong in the C:Windows/Systems/ directory. We've been hearing about it for a year.

Here's how you put the teddy bear back.
see vil.mcafee.com/dispVirus.asp?virus_k=99436

 
Uploading to the web

46 . What FTP programs are available for Mac OS 9 and OS X?
Two popular ones are Fetch or Transmit

47 . Where do I get WS_FTP ?
Any download site, or at the source:
wsftp.com/Products/WS_FTP/

48 . How much file space do I have left ?
You can check your disk usage here: cp.gis.net/account/diskusage.html . Extra space is one dollar per megabyte per month. If you need lots of space, it often pays to upgrade to the next hosting level. See gis.net/webhosting .

49 . Do you support Front Page Extensions ?
We do have Front Page Extensions, with our Domain Hosting accounts. Economy Hosting is only $12.95 per month in addition to your dialup access account. See gis.net/webhosting .

50 . My *.exe files can't download
For frontpage compatability .exe files aren't downloadable by default. To make them downloadable you can put a .htaccess file inside your website folder where the .exe files are. Edit the .htaccess file to contain just one line:

AddType application/octet-stream exe

Doing this will disable the frontpage extensions ability to use that particular folder and subfolders on your website - so do not put this file inside of your toplevel public_html folder if you require frontpage extensions to work. If you are having trouble with this, email webmaster@gis.net and they can add this into your site where needed.

51 . Web access still goes to my old server
The account is enabled on our server, but you need to go to your registrar and tell them to transfer the domain to gis. This is something you can do online. It sometimes takes a couple of days for the new Domain Server address to propagate through the web.

Here's all the info they will ask you for:
Primary Hostname: ns1.gis.net
Secondary Hostname: ns2.gis.net
Primary IP Address: 208.218.130.4
Secondary IP Address: 208.218.130.5
Tech information for domain hosted accounts is here:
cp.gis.net/

52 . I get failed data channel errors
Are you uploading from a network or through a firewall?. Make sure you're in Passive Transfer mode. See www.ipswitch.com/Support/WS_FTP/guide/wsftpug7/03transfer.html