The following is a brief set of instructions to setup your Internet connection under Windows 95/98. Actual screen captures are used as examples only! The images are not designed to use alone, Please read the text! Items in parenthesis are descriptive terms to tell you what should be placed in that area. Most text shown in the text boxes are the actual information you should enter. Please keep in mind that for example purposes the information shown in the images reflect the setup for Poplar Bluff users. Dexter users should substitute dexter.net in place of imsinternet.net where appropriate.

Please have all windows and programs closed and your desktop (where you see "recycle bin, my computer, etc..) showing when you begin.

Start by opening "my computer" (double click on the icon), then find and open "control panel", then find and open "network". Inside "network" you will see a large window with items such as TCP/IP, DIAL-UP ADAPTER, and maybe others.

IF you see BOTH the Dial-up Adapter and TCP/IP as shown in the picture, you may proceed. If you do not see BOTH you will need to have the missing items installed before you can proceed with your Internet configuration.

Next, click on the TCP/IP and click the Properties Button. (If you have Windows 98 you will have to click OK on a warning screen)
In the (DNS CONFIGURATION) image, it should be set to DISABLE DNS.

If your system was already set on DISABLE, just click CANCEL and then CANCEL again.

If you had to set your system on DISABLE then click the OK button Then, click OK again. It will attempt to copy files and possibly ask you to insert your Windows CD ROM (or disks). When it finishes copying and you get back to the "Control Panel" window it will probably ask you to restart your computer to complete the settings. Click OK to restart and let the computer shut-down and restart itself.

After your computer has restarted and you are back to your desktop "Control Panel" will probably be showing. If so, you may close the "Control Panel" and go back to the "My Computer" window.

If you see an existing icon for IMS, skip to the row of "***" below, otherwise continue.

If you do not have an IMS connection, or only have one icon that says "Make New Connection" then double-click the icon to create an IMS connection.

(*) Follow the instructions given throughout the procedure. It will ask you for a name for your new connection. Name it "IMS". Make sure the modem you want to use is shown in the box at the bottom. If it is not listed click the button to the right of the white box to bring up a list of installed modems and select the correct one. (If you don't see any modems listed or do not see the correct modem, you cannot proceed with your Internet configuration until you have the correct modem installed into your computer.) Then press "NEXT". Then enter the AREA CODE and PHONE NUMBER you are dialing. (For Poplar Bluff, enter 573 as the area code and 776-1592 as the number. For Dexter, enter 573 as the area code and 624-7165 as the number.) Then click NEXT. It will then show a closing screen verifying the name you gave for the connection (IMS). Click FINISH. You will then find that NEW CONNECTION icon called "IMS" in your "Dial-up Networking" window.

*************

Next, RIGHT-CLICK (use the secondary mouse button) on the IMS icon and a Pop-Up Menu will appear. In the menu at the bottom you will see "Properties"; click on "Properties". It will look similar to the picture below. Make sure the correct phone number is showing, remove the check mark in the "Use Country Code" section, if there is one. Unless you must dial the area code to reach a Poplar Bluff number (COS plans or long distance dialing). Your modem should appear in the lower white box.
Next, click the "Configure" button. After you click the "Configure" button, it should look similar to the picture above. Image May Look Different.
 

The "Maximum Speed" at the bottom should be set according to your modem speed. If you have a newer and faster modem, you can probably set it to a faster speed (if your phone line quality will support that speed). If your modem is slower and older (or the phone line quality is poor), you may want to set this setting lower. You can always go back to this setting later and change it. Generally, the speed will be already appropriately set. However, speeds above 57600 are not recommended. Speeds higher than 57600 can produce unreliable connections or prevent connections entirely due to phone line conditions.
 

Click the "Options" tab at the top and it should look similar to the picture below.
These settings should be exactly the same with the exception of the "Display" modem status. This is optional. When it is checked, it will display a modem icon in the Windows 95 "System Tray" (by the clock on the task bar at the bottom of your screen.) Newer versions of Windows 95 show two blinking monitors after connection is made.
 

After the settings are made to this screen, click "OK" to proceed to the next step. After you click "OK" it should take you to the screen with "Configure" and "Server Types" at the bottom. Click on the "Server Types" button or tab and it should then look similar to the picture below.
These settings (in server types) should be set just as they are in the picture above. After you have made your setting to this window, click the "TCP/IP Settings" button. It should look similar to the picture above.

After you have made these settings match the picture, click "OK". You will return to the image to the left. Then, click "OK" again and you will return to the window with "Configure" and "Server Type" on it. Click "OK" again and you will return to the "Dial-up Networking" window showing your "IMS" connection.
 

Next, Double-Click the IMS connection (with the left mouse button) to open a Connect Window. Like the one shown below. Verify that the correct phone number is listed in the box. (573) 776-1592 Poplar Bluff --- (573) 624-7165 Dexter.
 

Click the "Dial Properties" button and it should look like the picture up and to the right.

If you are dialing from a location that requires dialing a number to get an outside line, such as some office buildings. Indicate that number in the space provided. If you have call waiting, "check" the small white box (left side) indicating you have call waiting and select "*70" in the box (right side) beside the "Call Waiting" section to disable it temporarily (while connected to IMS).

After the settings have been made, click "OK" and you will return to the "Connect" window. Enter your username (log-on name) and your password in the spaces provided. Then click "Connect". You will hear the modem pick up the phone line and begin to dial. (Assuming that the phone line is working and the line is connected to the correct place on the modem.) A box will pop up and display "Dialing.." Then the modem will make some strange sounds briefly while connecting. You should then see "Verifying user name and password" on your screen, then it should change to "Logging on to network", (this is sometimes so quick you may not see it) then it should say "Connected at (speed) bps" and "Duration 000:00:01" It will look similar to the next picture.
 

(Newer versions of Windows 95 and 98 will usually shrink down before you see this message box. Look at the system tray or task bar to see if you have the "blinking monitors" icon, or a button displaying "connected to IMS.)

If you get to this point, your connection is working. Then, if you have the "blinking monitors" icon, double click it to bring up the "Connected to IMS" box and press "Disconnect" and it should close the phone line connection. If you have a "Connected to IMS" button on your task bar, click it to bring up the "Connected to IMS" message box and click "Disconnect".

After you have disconnected, close the "Connect" window (if it's still open).

You now have an Internet connection and are ready to set up your browser if it isn't already setup for you. If it is setup and working, you are finished.

NOW, when you start Internet Explorer, (With Windows 98 sometimes there is no Internet Explorer Icon.. it sometimes only has "Internet Setup Wizard" If you have NO Internet Explorer icon on your desktop in Windows 98, use this icon instead) if it starts the connection wizard and asks you whether you want to configure your Internet connection "Automatically, Manually, or Use Current", pick USE CURRENT (or "I already have an account with my current provider"). Otherwise, all this work you have done will have been done for nothing and it will attempt to take you through a setup wizard to do all this over again.

Thanks!
IMS Technical Support
support@imsinternet.net