Ask Juan - Question and Answer
New ISP and No Where to Go
Question:
I hope you can help me, Juan. A couple of months ago I signed on with another ISP. Then I got a new computer and I don't know how to get back online with my new provider. How do I get to my ISP on my new computer? Thank you so much.
Answer:
Most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that have a dial-up service offer a setup utility that will prime your modem to dial-them-up. You can download that particular program from the respective ISP's web site. The likelihood that you will find this program under the links: Support or Downloads is very great. Assuming you have an Internet connection to connect to them.
The other solution to this problem is to contact them by email or phone if you do not have Internet access, and requesting a CD with their dial-up program. Now, if you want to rough it, you could connect to your new ISP without the specialized dialing program. Most but not all ISPs allow you to connect to their modems by simply dialing one of their listed numbers via your modem, and supplying your username and password. You can accomplish this operation by following the following steps.
Click on Start, Control Panel, Network Connections (in classic view) or Start, Control Panel, Network and Internet Connections (in category view.) How do you know if you are in category or classic view? Don't worry. If you follow the steps you'll know when you get to either Network Connections or Network “and Internet” Connections. Both of these links take you to the same window.
Once in Network Connections follow the first word in each heading from the top down. You will see: (starting from the title bar) Network, File, Back, Network, and finally Create a new connection. Did you follow? If not, as long as you found the “Create a new connection” option you are okay.
Click on it. New connection wizard, step by step. As a person who knows how to follow directions, or at least decode my broken English, you should have arrived at the New Connection Wizard. Now you are on easy street.
- Click Next. "What do you want to do?" Select - Connect to the Internet.
- Click next. "How do you want to connect to the Internet?" Select - Setup my connection Manually.
- Click next. … Select – Connect using a dial-up modem.
- Click next. In the “ISP name” field, type anything you want (The name of your ISP is fine.)
- Click next. In the “Phone number” field, type the number you would use to dial-up to your ISP (You would find this number by going to your ISP's website and clicking on access numbers, for example, and selecting one that is local to you.) Make sure you include an area code if necessary – a “1” is not necessary.
- Click next. The next screen is self-explanatory. Just make sure you use the user name and password assigned to you by your new ISP and not your former. Leave the boxes that are checked – checked, unless you understand what it means to uncheck either of them.
- Click next. In the last screen you can choose to put a shortcut to your desktop for this new connection.
- Click finish.
Now, all you have to do to connect to the Internet with your new ISP is to double click that new shortcut. To see if you are online, look at the twin computer icon on your taskbar by the clock, place your mouse over it and look for the word connected. To disconnect, right click that icon and click on Disconnect. Once online, open your favorite web explorer and happy surfing!