We have compiled the following instructions to help you set up totalusa.net Internet services on your computer.  Please select the information that relates to your setup or scroll down to the desired information.

Quick Reference Information
Setup for Windows Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000 & XP Using Internet Connection Wizard
Manual Setup For Windows 95 & 98
Manual Setup For Windows ME & 2000
Setting Up Internet Explorer
Setting Up Outlook Express For E-Mail
Connecting To totalusa.net
Additional troubleshooting of Your Dial Up Connections (ADVANCED SETTINGS)

Please note that your Account Name and Account Password are case-sensitive. Be sure your "Caps Lock" key is not on before proceeding with the setup process. 

Quick Reference Information

• Account Name: username@totalusa.net
• Account Password: password 
• E-mail Address: username@totalusa.net 
• Primary Domain Name Server: 209.63.0.2
• Secondary Domain Name Server: 209.197.0.2
• Outgoing Mail (SMTP) Server: mail.totalusa.net
• Incoming Mail (POP3) Server: mail.totalusa.net

Setup Using Internet Connection Wizard (For Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000 & XP Computers)

If you want to set up your network connection and have installed Internet Explorer 5 or newer please use the following Internet Connection Wizard. The Internet Connection Wizard quickly and efficiently sets up your Internet connection and e-mail client. It creates a new DUN connection and makes it the default connection. This means that Internet Explorer or Outlook Express dials up automatically when launched.

1) Starting the Internet Connection Wizard:

2) Click Start, then Run.

3) Type the word inetwiz in the Open field of the Run dialogue. Click OK.

4) The Internet Connection Wizard Appears. Click Next.
5) Select Connect using my phone line. Click Next.

6) Select Create a new dial-up connection. Click Next.
NOTE: If there are no other connections set up in the DUN, INetWiz will skip this next screen.

7) In the Area Code field, remove any numbers.
8) In the Telephone number field, type in the local-access number for TotalUSA.net.
(This is NOT your telephone number. It's our number in your area.)
9) Remove the checkmark from Dial using the area code and country code.

10) Click on the Advanced Tab. Nothing on the Connection Tab needs to be changed. The default settings of PPP and None are correct.
11) Click the Addresses Tab. The IP address should be left as "Internet service providers automatically provides one" for the selection. Under the DNS server address at the bottom, select the option for "Always use the following." The Primary DNS Server is 209.63.0.2 and the Alternate DNS Server is 209.197.0.2.
12) Click OK when completed.

13) After clicking OK, you will be returned to the phone number screen. Click Next to continue.

14) Put in your username and password that you've already registered with us. Be sure to add @totalusa.net to the end of the username. Passwords are case sensitive so be careful and make sure that your Caps Lock key isn't activated. Click Next.

15) You can leave Connection name as it is or you can change it to something more descriptive, such as "connect To TotalUSA.net".

16) You have now successfully set up a Dial-Up Networking Connection. Click Next to set up your email.
17) Click Yes to set up your email account and click Next. If you prefer to not set it up now, click No

18) Choose the first option, Create a new Internet mail account, and click Next.
Note: If there are no existing email accounts in Outlook Express, INetWiz skips this screen.

19) The Display Name is your real name (i.e. John Smith, Smith Family, etc.). Click Next.

20) Enter the full E-Mail address and click Next.

21) The incoming mail server is mail.totalusa.net. The outgoing mail server is also mail.totalusa.net.

22) Enter the email Password. You can select Remember Password if you like. The Account name should already be entered.
23) Do NOT add @totalusa.net to the end of this.
24) Do NOT check Logon using Secure Password Authentication.
25) Click Next.

26) Click Finish to complete the Internet Connection Wizard.

Your Done!

Please follow these instructions to manually set up 1)  Turn on your computer and wait until you are at your “desktop screen” (the screen with all the little icons).

2)  Once your computer is finished loading, double click on “My Computer” located on the desktop screen.

3) When “My Computer” is finished loading, you will see an icon called “Dial-Up Networking”.  Double click on it.

4)  Once in “Dial-Up Networking”, double click on “Make New Connection”.

5)  A window will come up that will ask for a connection name.  You will see “My Connection” filled in the white box.  Erase “My Connection” and fill in “totalusa.net”, and click on the “Next” button.

6)  It will then ask for an area code and telephone number.  Fill in the area code and the local dial-up number for the telephone number which is provided above.

7)  Click on “Next”, and then click “Finish” at the bottom.

8)  Right Click (With the right mouse button) on your new “totalusa.net” icon.  A menu will appear.  From the menu select “Properties”.

9)  When the new window appears, the second tab over to the right at the top will be called “Server Types”.  Click on this tab.

10)  When the tab appears, you will see a list of various options.  If the following items are checked, please uncheck them.  (Log on to network, NetBEUI, IPX/SPX Compatible).

11)  Click on “OK” at the bottom.  Proceed to again Right Click (With the right mouse button), your “totalusa.net” icon.  A menu will appear.  From the menu select “Create Shortcut”.

12)  A window will appear that says “Windows cannot place the shortcut here, would you like it placed on the desktop instead?”  Say “Yes” to this window.

13)  You can now close out of everything that you are in so that you are back to the “desktop screen”, which is the screen with all of the little icons.  You should see an icon called “Shortcut to totalusa.net”. 

14)  Skip to the  Internet Explorer Homepage Setup section below to finish your set up. 

Dial-Up Connection Setup (For Windows ME & 2000 Computers)

1)  Turn on your computer and wait until you are at your “desktop screen” (the screen with all the little icons).

2)  Once your computer is finished loading, double click on “My Computer” located on the desktop screen.

3)  When “My Computer” is finished loading, you will see an icon called “Dial-Up Networking”.  Double click on it.  If you do not see “Dial-Up Networking” listed there you may need to go into the “Control Panel” and look for it there.

4)  Once in “Dial-Up Networking”, double click on “Make New Connection”.

5)  A window will come up that will ask for a connection name.  You will see “My Connection” filled in the white box.  Erase “My Connection” and fill in “totalusa.net”, and click on the “Next” button.

6)  It will then ask for an area code and telephone number.  Fill in the area code and fill in the local dial-up number for the telephone number which is provided above.

7)  Click on “Next”, and then click “Finish” at the bottom.

8)  Right Click (With the right mouse button) on your new “totalusa.net” icon.  A menu will appear.  From the menu select “Properties”.

9)  At the top you will see a series of tabs.  You should see on called “Security”.  Left click on this once.  It will ask for your username and password.  Fill in your username and password which are provided at the top of this instruction sheet.  Make sure you put them in all lowercase letters.

10)  Click on “OK” at the bottom.  Proceed to again Right Click (With the right mouse button), your “totalusa.net” icon.  A menu will appear.  From the menu select “Create Shortcut”.

11)  A window will appear that says “Windows cannot place the shortcut here, would you like it placed on the desktop instead?”  Say “Yes” to this window.

12)  You can now close out of everything that you are in so that you are back to the “desktop screen”, which is the screen with all of the little icons.  You should see an icon called “Shortcut to totalusa.net”.

Windows XP Setup

Windows XP gives you the option to view the Control Panel in "Category View" or "Classic View".
Click on "Switch to Classic View" on the left side of the Control Panel.

Click on Network Connections Icon.

Click Create a new connection to set up an Internet connection.

The New Connection Wizard appears. Click Next.

Select Connect to the Internet and click Next.

Choose the Set up my connection manually option. Click Next.

Click to choose the Connect using a dial-up modem option and click next.

Name the connection TotalUSA.net. Click Next.

Be sure to include the area code if your area uses 10-digit dialing (you should already know if you do). You can disable call-waiting if necessary by adding "*70," to the beginning of the number. Click Next to continue.

Choose the Anyone's Use selection and then click Next.

Put in your username and password to connect to TotalUSA.net. Be sure to add @totalusa.net to the end of the username so that it looks like an e-mail address.

Putting a checkmark in the first box is generally preferred. It helps programs like Internet Explorer and Outlook Express to connect automatically when launched.

A checkmark for the default Internet connection is strongly encouraged unless you connect to more than one ISP on a regular basis. Do not put a checkmark in the last box for using a firewall. This can prevent you from connecting to most ISPs. Click Next when finished.

The next screen is a confirmation of the connection. A handy feature is the checkbox for adding a shortcut to your desktop. If you want to do that, add a checkmark to that box. Don't forget that you will still need to open your e-mail program to do e-mail and your browser (such as Internet Explorer or Netscape) to surf the Web.

Click Finish and you are ready to connect to the Internet.

Internet Explorer Homepage Setup
 

 1)       You should see an icon called “Internet Explorer” located on the desktop screen.  The icon picture will either by a big blue “E” or a globe.  Once you have located the icon, double click it with the left mouse button.

 2)       If at any point internet explorer asks you to connect to the internet, cancel out of the window with the “X” in the right corner.  If at any point it asks if you would like to make Internet Explorer your “Default” browser, say “Yes”.  If neither of these items appears, continue on at step 

 3)       The window should say that the webpage could not be found, or webpage unavailable offline, or something along those lines.  Locate the menu called “Tools” at the top.  If “Tools” cannot be found, find “View”.  Whatever menu you found, click on it, and select “Options” located at the very bottom.

 4)       When the Internet Options window appears on the screen, at the very top you will see a white address bar.  The address that is currently there should be highlighted.  Click on the “Backspace” key on your keyboard to erase this address.  Fill in "www.totalusa.net"

 5)       Once you have the address filled in exactly like the address above, click on “OK” at the bottom.  You can then proceed to close out of Internet Explorer.

Outlook Express Email Setup
 

 1)       You should see an icon called “Outlook Express” located on your desktop screen.  The icon will be a little mail icon with two blue arrows around it.  If you do not see it on the desktop screen, it may also be down by the “Start” button.  Double click on the icon once you have found it.

 2)       If at any point it asks you to connect to the internet, close out of the connection window by clicking on the “X”.  If it asks you if you would like to make Outlook Express your “default browser”, you can say “yes”.

 3)       Once Outlook Express is fully loaded, click on “Tools” located at the top.  A menu will appear.  About half way down the menu you will see an option called “Accounts”.  Left click on this item once.

 4)       An “Internet Accounts” window will appear on the screen.  When this window appears, you will see a series of tabs at the top.  The second tab to the right will be called “mail”.  Left click on this tab once. 

 5)       Click on the “Add” button in the top right corner.  A menu will drop down and you will see “Mail” as the first choice.  Left click this once.

 6)       It will ask for a “Display Name”.  Fill in your full name there.  It does not have to be small letters; it can be any way you want it to be.  Click on “Next” at the bottom.

 7)       The next item it will ask for will be your “email address”.  Fill in your email address which is provided at the top of the instruction sheet.  Click on “Next” at the bottom.

 8)       It will ask for your Incoming Mail Type.  It should read “POP3”.  Leave it at that.  It will then ask for your “Incoming Mail Server”.  Fill in "mail.totalusa.net".  It will ask for your “Outgoing Mail Server”.  Fill in “mail.totalusa.net”.  Click on “Next” at the bottom.

 9)       The computer will ask for an “account name”.  It will all ready have your account name filled in, so simply type your password in the provided space.  Make sure to use all lowercase letters.  Click on “Next” at the bottom ignoring any windows until you see the button that says “Finish”.  Click on it.

 10)   You will be taken back to the “Internet Accounts” window.  Click on the “close” button in the bottom right.  Once you are back to the main outlook express window, close out of it. 

Your internet account should now be all setup. Let’s connect! 

Connecting to totalusa.net

 1)       Double click the “Shortcut to totalusa.net” icon we created on the desktop screen.  It will ask for a username and password.  Your username is provided at the top of the instruction sheet.  Make sure to fill in your username and password in all lowercase letters. 

 2)       Make sure the telephone number reads the same telephone number provided at the top of the instruction sheet.  (You are responsible for making sure the number is correct.  We cannot be held responsible for long distance phone charges if the number is filled in incorrectly.)  If the telephone number has a “1” or an area code before the telephone number, click on “Dial Properties”.  Make sure the area code at the top reads  and make sure it is not set to dial as a long distance call.  Click on “OK” and see if that corrects the problem.  It will not work if you have an area code before the telephone number.

 3)       Make sure you have your telephone line hooked up to the computer, and make sure no one is on the telephone.  You can click on “Connect” at the bottom”.

 4)       It will go through a series of noises, and after about 1 minute you should be connected to the internet.  To tell you that you are connected to the internet, an icon will appear in the bottom right corner.  It will be two little computers which will blink green at times.

 5)       Once you are fully connected, to browse the internet you double click the “Internet Explorer” icon on the desktop screen.  It will load the totalusa.net homepage.  To check your email, double click the “Outlook Express” icon on the desktop screen.

 6)       When you are ready to disconnect, you can reverse the process.  Close out of any active programs you are in, and double click the “Shortcut to totalusa.net”.  You will see a “Disconnect” button.  Click on this.  When you are ready to reconnect, just simply follow steps 1-4.

7) If you have any trouble connecting, or you can't get your mail or browse to web pages,  review the instructions under Additional troubleshooting of dial up connections below.
 

Make sure to check your email on a regular basis.  We send out global announcements of information pertaining to the totalusa.net system, scheduled upgrades, etc.

If you have any trouble connecting, or you can't get your mail or browse to web pages, the following instructions will help you obtain a better internet connection for your Windows 95/98 personal computer.

     1. Have your Windows 95/98 software handy. (On some computers the software is preloaded on
         your system, so you will not have to locate your disks or CD ROM.) 

     2. Click "Start," then "Settings" and choose "Control Panel." 

     3. Double-click on the "Network" icon. 

     4. Verify that you have the following components installed.  If you are a home user, you may remove any
         additional components that may be listed

• Client For Microsoft Networks
• Dial Up Netwiorking
• TCP/IP 

     6. If the TCP/IP protocol is already present, you may skip to step 8

     7. If you need to add the TCP/IP component, Click the "Add" button; click the "Protocol" icon, 
         then click "Add." 

     8. Choose the "Microsoft" icon, then choose the "TCP/IP" protocol. 

     9. Click "Ok". 

    10  Double click on the TCP/IP component

    11. Select the DNS Configuration Tab.

    12. Click on the button that says "Enable DNS so that it is enabled.

    13. Enter your username in the Host box.

    14. Enter 209.63.0.2 in the first box (the one with periods in it) under DNS Server Search Order
         and click the Add button to add it into the list in the larger box.

    15. Enter 209.197.0.2 in the second box (the one with periods in it) under DNS Server Search Order
         and click the Add button to add it into the list in the larger box.

    16. Leave the suffix search order and the Domain Boxes blank.

    17. Click "OK" and "OK"

    18. Your computer will then either ask you for your install disks/CD ROM for Windows 95/98, or find
         the software it needs already located on your computer to install the TCP/IP protocol. 

    19. You will be prompted to reboot your computer. 

Try to connect to totalusa.net again (see above)
 

     1. Have your Windows 95/98 software handy. (On some computers the software is preloaded on
         your system, so you will not have to locate your disks or CD ROM.) 
     2. Click "Start," then "Settings" and choose "Control Panel."
     3. Double-click on the "Add/Remove Programs" icon. 
     4. At the top of the window that opens are three tabs; choose the "Windows Setup" tab. 
     5. Double-click on "Communications." 
     6. Click the "Dial-up Networking" check box. 
     7. Click "Ok," then click "Ok" again. 
     8. Your computer will then either ask you for your install disks/CD ROM for Windows 95/98, or find
          the software it needs already located on your computer to install the Dial-up Networking utility.