How do I...?

1. Use my mouse correctly?	7. Where do I put my homepage?
2. Keep from getting lost?	8. Make gwe.net my homepage?
3. Manage my e-mail?	9. Configure my DNS numbers?
4. Configure Netscape?	10. Configure my "reply to" address?
5. Configure Microsoft's browser?	11. Check my e-mail from a different computer?
6. Create my own web pages?

1. Know where to click my mouse on a web page?

You will notice when you move your mouse around the screen that the arrow cursor symbol will change to a little hand symbol every time you move the cursor over a "hyperlink." Most browsers will also tell you, at the bottom of the screen, the address the hyperlink is pointing you toward.

2. Keep from getting lost on the Web?

The "Back" button on the toolbar located at the top of your screen will always take you back to the previous site visited. Keep clicking the "Back" button and you will retrace your steps. Also, you can click the "Home" button on your toolbar to get back to where you started when you turned your computer on. Also, you may want to check out our page of Internet terms to avoid getting lost in the mental sense.

3. Manage my e-mail account from my web browser?

From the address line at the top of your web browser, type:
http://63.172.161.2:81 (..or just click here). NOTE: Under normal circumstances, you will never need to use this function.
From here, you enter your e-mail address and password. You can then
change your password, forward your mail to another e-mail address, or
type a vacation message that will be sent to anyone who contacts you by
e-mail (it is sent only once to each person who contacts you). You can get
help at any point by clicking on an underlined topic.

4. Set up Netscape for Mail and News?

Netscape 3.x

With your Netscape browser running, click on the options menu at the top. Then click "mail and news." There are a few blanks to fill in:

for SMTP server, type gwe.net
for POP3 server, type gwe.net
for POP3 user name, type the name you are using for mail (mine is faulkner)
Click Okay and you're set! You can now click on the little envelope at the bottom of the page to check mail, then click the "to mail" button at the top of the mail page to start a letter of your own.
If you are signed up for Usenet News, we will give you the information you need to set up your newsreader... by calling us at 249-6266 (we should have given you the information when you signed up for news).

Want to see some screenshots and instructions for the Netscape 4.x-6.x mail configuration?

5. Set up Mail and News on Microsoft's browser?

As you click on the GO menu at the top of the browser, and then click on either Read Mail or Read News, a wizard will start and ask you all the questions it needs to get you going. You will need the same information as is available under question #4 above. This is the procedure for Microsoft's version 3.0. If you like, go to our start page, click on "Software," and get it! It's free. If you are signed up for Usenet News, we will give you the information you need to input into your newsreader. Alternately, you can download the very latest version of Internet Explorer by surfing to Microsoft's web site.

Want to see some screenshots of the Internet Explorer mail configuration?

You can also take a look at our Outlook Express how-to page for Internet beginners. Just follow this link.

6. Create web pages of my own?

Unfortunately, we cannot teach you how to construct a web page. There are, however, dozens of good web sites that devote themselves to teaching you how to write html pages. One such site is Webreference. Another excellent starting point for new or experienced html writers is A Beginner's Guide to HTML. Need more suggestions? Try Yahoo's list of suggested sites.

7. Where do I put my own home pages?

We provide web space for our advanced users who wish it. You are expected to know how to use a file transfer program (FTP) and know how to create your own web pages. While we don't mind answering the occasional quick question, we cannot walk you through every aspect of the operation. Please follow the instructions below:

The first step, if you want to have a home page, is to let us know by filling out the form below. (You will need an ftp program to upload and download files to your directory. We recommend CuteFTP). We will then create a directory with your username. When you set up your FTP program to transfer files to your home directory, you must type in your username and password into the appropriate fields. Using FTP, you log on normally, which should be the default selection when you enter in a username. The ftp address of our FTP server is ftp.gwe.net. You must name your default home page default.html or index.html (please use all lower case)- to be able to view it using your web browser at the address: www.gwe.net/~username ("username" is the name you use to log on with). So, for example, if your username were BOB, then you could view your web pages by surfing to http://www.gwe.net/~bob

p.s. We like CuteFTP, which is available by going to our Home Page, then clicking on "Software." Or, you can click on this link to begin the download.

Summary (setting up your ftp defaults):

1. Name the link "my home page" or something catchy.
2. address to connect to: ftp.gwe.net
3. Initial/Default local directory: Whatever directory you want on the computer in front of you (I use c:\).
4. Initial/Default remote directory: blank.
5. Enter User Name and Password into appropriate fields and make sure "Normal" login is selected.

Want to see some screenshots of the CuteFTP configuration? You can also check HERE for even more advice on FTP.

p.p.s. Unfortunately, we cannot afford to spare the time over the phone teaching you how to make or maintain your web pages. We can provide the space on our servers on which to place your homepages and the bandwidth necessary to display them to the world, but we cannot act as a teacher for you. If you are truly serious about becoming an html author, you will have to invest some time reading and learning at least the basics of web page creation on your own. Check out the links under #6 above for starters.

The GWE web server also runs on a Unix-based operating system, which means that the case of your filenames and HTML code is extremely important. For example, on a Unix-based server, the lower case letter "m" is completely different from the upper case letter "M" and so on, while on a Windows-based server, the two letters would be interpreted as the same. In practice, all this means is that you must be careful about how you name your files and link to those files in your HTML code. Another example: if you want to display a picture called "BabyBoy.JPG" on your web page, then in your HTML code, you must call this picture exactly, "BabyBoy.JPG" -- take note of the caps. If you tried to call the picture, "babyboy.jpg" or even "BabyBoy.jpg" in your source code, the picture would not load on your page. This applies to directory names as well. So, if you want to display a picture stored in /joe/Images, then you must be absolutely certain that you link to the picture with the path, "/joe/Images" -- take note of the upper case "I" in Images.

If you would like us to configure our server to allot you some space for your web page, please read through the following statement, fill out all the fields, and click on the "I Agree" button. Doing this will dispatch an e-mail to us, and we can begin the setup process. Your home directory should be setup within 24 hours of our receipt of your e-mail request. As described above, your username will be your regular username here at GWE, and your password will be your regular password used to log on to the Internet...no surprises here. However, if you would like to use a different username or password for the purpose of logging in to GWE via FTP, you have but to let us know by phone (249-6266), and we will make the necessary changes.

I understand that GWE will allot me up to 2 Mb of space on their server so that I may construct a web page, but that in so doing, a certain level of computer/technical expertise is expected of me. Programming in HTML (the language with which most web pages are created) and using an FTP program are not especially difficult, but nevertheless, GWE can not be expected to teach me how to do these things. Web page creation is for intermediate and advanced Internet users who already have a good grasp of what is involved in this process, and thus if I am a beginner in this area, I will endeavor to rectify this by perusing resources on the Internet, reading books, taking classes, or otherwise learning how to go about creating and maintaining my own web page. By filling out the form below and clicking on the "I Agree" button, I am stating that I understand that creating, modifying, and maintaining my web page is my own responsibility. I also understand that, if the directory for my homepage remains empty and unused for over a month, it will be deleted from the server.

8. How do I make www.gwe.net my home page?

We recommend that you do just that if gwe.net is not currently your home page. The reason is not ego, rather the page will load immediately without having to go out on the net somewhere through possible traffic congestion and slowdowns. Also, you can check Bulletins that will keep you informed regularly from our home page.

To make www.gwe.net the home page using Microsoft's browser (version 3.x), click on "View" - then "Options" - then "Navigation" -- if you are currently on www.gwe.net's home page you can simply click the "use current" button, otherwise you need to type it in as the "start" page.

With Internet Explorer 4.x, click on "View" - then "Internet Options" - then fill in the Home Page Address field with "www.gwe.net" (without the quotes). In Internet Explorer 5.x, click on "Tools" - then "Internet Options" - then fill in the Home Page Address field with "www.gwe.net" (without the quotes).

With Netscape 3.x, click on "Options" - then "General Preferences" - then "Appearance" -- you can then type in "www.gwe.net" (without the quotes) in the box for "start page." In Netscape 4.x, click on "Edit" - then "Preferences" - and then find the Navigation section and enter "www.gwe.net" (without the quotes) in the box for "Location."

Want to see some screenshots to help in setting your homepage for Internet Explorer 4.x-5.x and Netscape?

9. How do I change Primary and Secondary Name Server Addresses?

For Windows 9x users,

Open "My Computer"
Open "Dial-up Networking"
Highlight (left click your mouse once) "My Internet Connection" or whatever you named your dialup service, then
right click your mouse and choose "properties."
Pick "Server Types", then click the "TCP/IP Settings" button. Now fill in the proper blanks for "Primary Domain Name Server" or "Secondary DNS" as appropriate. Generally you should leave these as "Server Assigned."

For Windows 3.1 Users,

Click the "Properties" button on your "Connect To" screen (the screen where you enter your username and password).
Click the "TCP/IP Settings" tab at the top of the "Connection Properties" screen.
The "Domain Name Service" box contains spaces for a "Primary" and "Secondary DNS."
Enter the proper numbers you have obtained from us in the appropriate spaces.
Click "OK." When prompted to save changes made to your setting, make sure you do.

For Macintosh Users,

Open the Internet Explorer folder.
Open the Internet Connection Wizard folder
Double click on the Internet Connection Wizard 1.0 icon.
Begin the Set-up using the "Manual" setup option.
Proceed through the setup by clicking "Next" until you see the "DNS Server Address" screen.
Enter the appropriate numbers you received from us in the Primary and/or Alternate DNS.
Continue clicking "Next" until you have finished.

10. How do I configure my "Reply-To" address?

Internet Mail Users (provided with IE 3.x):

Open Internet Mail

Choose the "Mail" menu

Under the "Mail" menu select "Options…"

Click on the "Server" tab

Click on the "Advanced Settings" button at the bottom of the "Server" tab

Here you will see a text box labeled "Reply-To"

Enter your email address in the "Reply-To" box

Click OK - (make sure you’re clicking OK in the active window (i.e., the "Mail Server Advanced Settings" window)

Click "Apply" in the Options window, then click OK

Exit Internet Mail and you’re done! The next time you start Internet Mail, the changes will take effect

Outlook Express Users:

Open Outlook Express

Choose the "Tools" menu

Under the "Tools" menu, select "Accounts…"

Click on the "Mail" tab

Highlight your gwe.net account and click the "Properties" button

Click on the "General" tab (you’re probably on the General tab by default)

Within the User Information section, there is a text box for the "Reply Address"

Enter your email address in the "Reply Address" box

Click Apply, then click OK

Click Close to close the Internet Accounts window

Close Outlook Express

Want to see some screenshots of the "Reply To" configuration?

11. How do I check my e-mail from a different computer?

There are basically two different ways you can do this. The hardest way is to change the mail program around on the different computer to reflect your account information here at GWE. You probably don't want to do this because there is an easier way. If you surf to GWE's WebMail page, you will be able to check your e-mail right over the web from any Internet active computer in the world.