Install Jump-Start Windows 3.1 Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000 Windows XP Typical Problems
Important: You are responsible for choosing the proper dial-up number to connect to the Penn State Access Network and you are responsible for any long distance charges that you may incur.
Penn State recommends that you contact your telephone company to confirm that the numbers you've selected for your modem to dial are local numbers. Penn State is not responsible for and will not reimburse you for long distance charges.
Continuing changes in the structure or rates of telephone service companies may cause dial-up numbers to change from local to long-distance calls without warning. You are responsible for understanding the options and rates provided by telephone service companies.
Click here to see a list of PSU dial-up numbers.
One step, "drop-in," dial-up connection package for students, faculty and staff of The Pennsylvania State University.
- If you already have a previous working version of the Penn State Connection, there's no need to install a newer version. They all do the same thing, and except for Credit Card dialing rules in the newer versions, they all work the same way. (If it's not broken, then don't fix it!)
- Click HERE for detailed, step-by-step instructions. NT4 systems must be at Service Pack level 3 or newer.
- Launch the Dial-Up Connection Installer.
- Exit these pages and launch the Penn State Connection by clicking on the desktop icon that it creates.
- Supply your Penn State Access Account AccessID and Password in the proper input boxes.
- Avoid long-distance charges by carefully choosing local Penn State Access 'phone numbers.
(If you plan to use a telephone number that's not in the provided list, just type it in the Phone Number input box. This technique also comes in handy if the 'phone company changes your local Penn State phone number.)- Click [Connect] to start the dial-up connection. If you have not previously installed needed components (a modem and dial-up networking support, for example) you are prompted automatically for the required components when you launch the Penn State Connection for the first time.
The automatic Internet connection package (Penn State Connection) does not work reliably with Windows XP. You'll need to create a connection manually.
Click to install the Penn State Connection using the <cd:>\windows\dialup\psc3.exe on the latest PAC-ITS CD, or download the latest version from Penn State's FTP site. During installation, the Installer creates the Penn State custom dialer and it also creates a Penn State icon on your desktop.
The first time you click the Penn State Connection icon on your desktop, needed components may also be installed. If not initialized, your modem is automatically set up during this process, so be sure you have your modem plugged in, turned on and connected to your 'phone line before you launch the Penn State Connection. If not previously installed, dial-up networking support is automatically set up as part of this process, so be sure you have your original Windows distribution files available on your hard disk (usually found at C:\i386) or on the CD that came with the machine. If you're not sure, contact your departmental technical support or your computer vendor before proceeding.
BEFORE installing the Penn State Connection on a Windows NT 4 system, be sure that Service Pack 3 (SP3) or newer is installed.
Once you're satisfied with an existing connection, you can set it to dial automatically when you launch the Penn State Connection. You do this by <checking> Remember password. Once you do this, a new Dial automatically checkbox appears. <check> this additional option. Now, when you launch the Penn State Connection, it will dial the 'phone immediately. To return to manual control, launch the Penn State Connection, and while it's still dialing the 'phone, <click> [Cancel]. This will allow you to <uncheck> the options.
<Double-click> on the Penn State Connection icon in the system tray, then <click> on [Disconnect].
Windows 2000 or Windows NT4
If you're installing the latest version (v3) of the Penn State Connection on a Windows 2000 or Windows NT4 system that has a previous version of the PSC dialer already installed, you may encounter a message box similar to the following:
This is just a complicated way of telling you that you need to uninstall (or delete) the previous version before the newer version can be installed. Very old versions are uninstalled by finding Penn State Connection in the Add/Remove Programs list in Control Panel. Newer versions are removed by <right-clicking> on the Penn State Connection on the desktop and then selecting Delete from the shortcut menu.
Windows 95 or Windows 98 with AOL or CompuServe Dialers
There are a few cases where a Windows 95 or Windows 98 user has previously defined a Dial-Up Networking connection to an ISP such as AOL or CompuServe in which the initial install of PSC fails because the DNS entries aren't properly recorded in the PSC "connectoid" in Dial-Up Networking. This causes the Internet clients to "hang" as they try to resolve friendly names (fully qualified domain names) such as "www.psu.edu". Until the problem is fixed, use the following workaround . . .
- <click> [Start] > [Programs] > [Accessories] > [Communications (for Windows 98)] > Dial-Up Networking
- When the Dial-Up Networking window opens, locate the connectoid labeled Penn State Connection.
- <Right-click> on the Penn State Connection connectoid. Select Properties.
- <Left-click> on Properties. From the window, <Click> the Server Types [tab] at the top of the window.
- Then, near the bottom right, <click> the [TCP/IP Settings...] button.
- Fill in the Primary and Secondary DNS server IP addresses as specified in Step (4) of the Windows 9x Dial-Up Instructions.
- <Click> [OK]. If asked to reboot, wait 'till later.
- REPEAT these instructions for the connectoid named "Penn State Connection Backup (for advanced use only)" if it exists.
- You may have to reboot before the changes become active.
If you run into other problems using the Penn State Connection when installing your dial-up connection, you can always refer to the detailed, step-by-step Dial-Up Connection Instructions for manually configuring a modem and the Microsoft Dial-up Networking software.
Other Windows 2000 Problems
If you get an error message that tells you the profile is damaged and you must rebuild it, uninstall (or delete) the current version, then <click> HERE to install the latest version, or you can <click> HERE for step-by-step instructions to install a special Windows 2000 version.
Neither Windows 3.1 nor Windows 3.11 is supported by the Penn State Connection package.
Since everyone may not have the same level of experience and familiarity with computers and the Internet, these tasks can be daunting for some. If you need assistance, there are places to get help:
- If you are dialing-in, you can find detailed, step-by-step instructions on the CD or in the printed Internet Access Guide.
- If you are at a campus other than University Park, contact your campus support staff.
- If you still have questions, contact the Help Desks at 814-863-1035 or 814-863-2494 or send email to helpdesk@psu.edu.
This distribution contains commercial software licensed for use by Penn State students, faculty and staff. Do not give it to anyone who is not a registered student or employee of Penn State.
The documentation on this CD is limited to information to help you get connected to the Internet and install the software on the CD. Much more information can be found on "the web" after you get connected, and you are urged to consult "on-line" documentation for current information. Start at http://its.psu.edu for links to related information.
Finally, there are a number of general documents on this CD.
Given the pace of changes in the computer world, some of the contents may be out-of-date by the time you receive the CD. After you have your connection working and a web browser installed, see the online version of the CD for the most up-to-date instructions and software -- or browse directly to the software manufacturer's web site for information and updates.
J. Forkner / Center for Educational Technology Systems / Penn State University
