Where can I find programs to download
?
Where can I find programs to download
?
For shareware, you can look in the Yahoo directory, but most go directly to the Download.com site, which has fast access to almost all Mac software -- but slow web page loads because of all the ads. The motherload of Mac shareware and freeware remains Info Mac, which is the largest archive available, and is searchable.
I only have one phone line. How can I disconnect from the Internet
?
If you have a control panel named ConfigPPP, open that program and press the "Soft Close" button. To have the Mac hang up automatically after ten minutes of inactivity, select 10 from the "Idle Timeout" popup selection.
If you have a control panel named PPP, open that program and press the "Disconnect "button. To have the Mac hang up automatically, choose the Options menu from PPP, and select the "Disconnect if idle more than 10 minutes" option.
I always successfully connect to the Internet the first time, but must restart the Mac before it will work again.
You're probably not disconnecting from the Internet properly; use one of the options described in the section above. It is also likely that you're using "classic networking," which means the older system that includes MacTCP. Far more reliable is the Open Transport software, which is described below.
Do you have a Global Village modem? If so, you might see a "Disconnect" option when on-line. Do not use this to disconnect to Monitor! Instead, use one of the options listed above to quit your Internet session.
Should I be concerned about computer viruses
?
Serious damage from viruses are a constant problem for Windows users; about 2,000 new viruses appear every year. But Mac viruses are rare -- the last damaging one was spread in 1994.
In the summer of 1998, however, a new virus (really a "worm") has infected several Macs in our area. Only PowerPC- type Macs are affected; the symptom is that the computer pauses every half-hour for a minute or so, making it impossible to type or select anything with the mouse. This is called the "AutoStart 9805 Worm" or "Hong Kong Virus." To learn more about it -- including ways to remove it from your system -- read this special report.
If you use Microsoft Word version 6 or later, you should also be concerned about macro viruses. Further information and tools to stop macro virues are available from Microsoft.
Why does Netscape sometimes crash with Type 1 or Type 11 errors ?
These are generic errors that could indicate many different problems with your Mac. Send e-mail to support@monitor.net and we'll send a help page on this topic, complete with useful suggestions of ways to fix it. Most of these problems, however, appear to happen with version 2 and 3 of Netscape. We recommend using a later version, which you can download from our Mac software page.
Why does my iMac have trouble connecting to the Internet?
The iMac offers the V.90 industry standard for higher speeds with its built-in modem, but early versions of the computer need to be updated. Please visit the official Apple iMac support page
for additional changes to the modem scripts, plus newer iMac printer drivers and other enhancements.
Some users with very poor phone lines still have difficulty, however, and Apple offers a v.34 only script that they should use instead. Although it will never achieve speeds faster than 33.6, at least the connections should be more stable.
What version of the Mac System should I use?
For best performance from your Mac, we recommend using System 7.5.5 or later. Versions of these Systems are not free, however.
But any Mac currently on the Internet can upgrade to 7.5.3 without cost.
If you have System 8.5, you should update to 8.5.1.
What
PPP software should I use ?
For most people, the best
choice is Open Transport PPP. This requires Apple's "Open Transport," which replaces the (often flaky) MacTCP control panel. Apple began installing Open Transport with system 7.6.1, but anyone with system 7.5.3 or newer can use Open Transport. (If you have a system earlier than 7.5.3, see the question above.)
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Click below to download either Open Transport or Open Transport PPP software installers. (If you don't have Open Transport, you'll need both.)
Open Transport 1.1.2 When clicking on either of these items, Netscape will probably show an alert. Choose "Save File," then save it on your desktop. If you have Stuffit Expander, the files should be automatically expanded when the download is finished. If you do not have Stuffit Expander:
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Why doesn't my 56k modem connect faster than 33.6
?
First, be sure that your modem is capable of true V.90 connections. Modems purchased before September, 1998 were usually "V.90 Ready" only. This means you must find the brand of your modem from this list of manufacturers and visit their web page. Follow the instructions there to download a program that will upgrade your modem, if needed. (Here's the link just for owners of US Robotics Sportster modems.)
Most other problems are usually easily solved by choosing a different script from the modem control panel. This is only available to users with Open Transport, however. For more stable connections, we continue to recommend Open Transport to all Mac users with System Software 7.5.3 or later. (More info on Open Transport, including how to download a copy, can be found above.)
Many users report that problems disappear when they select the "3Com Analog 14.4" script. This does not mean that your modem will only connect at 14.4 -- you'll still get the fastest speed possible. Others have good results selecting the "Farallon Netopia 56k" script. Try them both. If you have a Global Village modem, however, you'll probably have to download and install a new Global Village modem script from the company. (Here's the high speed script for US Robotics Sportster modems.) Place the script in your system folder / extension / modem scripts folder, then select it in the modem control panel. Close the control panel to save it.
qa_mac / 10-18-99 je