Setting up a Connection to Microgear.net in Windows 98

This page will walk you through the entire process of setting up Dial-Up Networking and a connection to Microgear.net with Windows 98. If you already have Dial-Up Networking installed and your network protocols configured properly, you can skip to the Dial-Up Connection part of this page.
If you do not already have Dial-Up Networking installed, go to the Add/Remove Programs Control Panel and click on the Windows Setup tab. You should see something similar to the window on the right. Select Communications and click on the Details button near the bottom of the window.
Make sure that the Dial-Up Networking box is checked. Other components, such as Microsoft Chat, are optional - install them if you want. Click on OK, and on OK in the previous window, and follow the computer's instructions to install Dial-Up Networking.
Open the Network control panel. If it has all the components listed in the window to the right (Client for Microsoft Networks, Dial-Up Adapter, and TCP/IP) then go on to the Dial-Up Networking section. If not, follow these procedures to add whatever components you are lacking.
Click on Add, then select Adapter. Click on OK.
In the Manufacturer pane, select Microsoft. In the right pane, select Dial-Up Adapter. Click on OK to add this adapter.
Click on Add, and select Client. Click on OK.
In the Manufacturer pane, select Microsoft. In the right pane, select Client for Microsoft Networks. Click on OK to add this client.
Click on Add, and select Protocol. Click on OK.
In the Manufacturer pane, select Microsoft. In the right pane, select TCP/IP. Click on OK to add the TCP/IP protocol.
If you are not using any other network or dialup service, the only items you need are the Client for Microsoft Networks, the Dial-Up Adapter, and the TCP/IP protocol. So any other items that were added may be removed by highlighting them, and selecting Remove. The network control panel should look like the one to the right.
Bring up My Computer, and double-click on Dial-Up Networking.
Double click on the Add New Connection icon, as shown to the right.
Enter a Microgear.net under the connection name. Make sure that your modem is selected in the modem list. Click on Next.
Enter the area code and phone number for Microgear.net's dialup, (318)213-2490, in the boxes shown. Click on Next.
Click on Finish to complete the creation of your connection.
Right-click on the Microgear.net icon that you just made. Select Properties from the menu that appears.
Make sure that the only settings that are checked are the ones shown in the window to the right: Enable Software Compression, and TCP/IP. Then click on the button that says TCP/IP Settings.
Make sure that Server Assigned IP Address and Server Assigned Name Server Addresses are turned on. Additionally, ensure that the two checkboxes at the bottom of the window are checked. Click on OK, and then OK on the previous window.
Now you are ready to connect. Double-click on the Microgear.net icon to bring up the Connection dialog. It is also a good idea to drag the Microgear.net icon out to your desktop to allow easy access to your dial=up connection to Microgear.net. At the connection dialog, enter your username and password in all lower case. Click on Connect and your computer will dial in.