Riverland Internet

Login Settings

(How to make your dial-up connection more easily)

The good news...
Setting up a new connection
Turning OFF the old settings
Logging in without the script
Password security
What if it doesn't connect?
Using the Terminal Windows (troubleshooting)

The good news...

Setting up your connection has got easier. From October 1998, you don't need a login script OR a terminal window to connect to Riverland Internet. Instructions for setting up a scriptless login are below.

If you're happy with the script or terminal window that you already have, there's no need to change, it will still work.

Note, These setup instructions are for Windows 95 and 98. If you're using a different operating system, like Windows 3.x, or a Mac, things will work slightly differently on your system. If you can't get it to work, please ask the Riverland Internet staff, we may be able to help.

Setting up a new connection

These instructions are for setting up a new Dialup Networking connection. If you already have a working connection, it's quicker to just turn off the terminal window or login script - use these instructions instead.

Run the "Make New Connection" wizard in Dialup Networking:

Open the Dialup Networking folder. (If it's not inside My Computer, then you'll have to install Dialup Networking through the Add/Remove Programs control panel.)

Double click the "Make New Connection" icon.
The first screen asks for a name for the new connection - we usually call it "Riverland Internet" or something similar. It also checks which modem (driver) you want to use - if you only have one, like most people, it will already be selected there.

Click the "Next" button and type in the phone number you want your modem to dial. Our modem access numbers are:

Renmark 8580 4444
Waikerie 85 410 410
Anywhere that's not a local phone call
from Renmark and Waikerie		 0198 333 613
(Don't use the wrong one, or your phone bills will be bigger than they have to be.)
You don't have to type in an area code or select a country - those will be turned off in the next step anyway.

Click the "Finish" button. You've finished with the wizard, but it won't work yet - continue below:

Setting Dialup Properties:

In a few seconds, a new icon should appear in the Dialup Networking folder, with the name you gave above.

Click on the new icon with the RIGHT mouse button, then on the small menu that comes, up click "Properties" (with either mouse button).

Remove the tick from "Use country code and area code". (Click on it to remove it.)

There will be either a tab or button called "Server Type". Click it.

Remove the ticks from Windows Logon, NetBEUI and IPX.
There should be ticks for Enable Software Compression and TCP/IP ONLY.

Click OK until you're back at the Dialup Networking window.

Set the new connection as your default connection:

Open the Internet control panel. (Click Start - Settings - Control Panel, then double click the Internet icon.) Click the Connection tab. If you have a newer version of Windows, you will need to click the "Settings" button next to "Connect to the Internet using a modem".

Look for "Use the following Dialup Networking connection:". Set it to use the connection you've just made, then click OK until the control panel is closed.

You've finished setting it up. Click here to read about logging in without the script.

Top

Turning OFF the old settings

All you have to do to use the scriptless login is turn off the terminal window or script that you've been using. It isn't necessary to turn on or install anything new. (What a bargain.)

If you have been typing your username and password into the small black screen (the "terminal window") when you log in, read below. If you don't, use these instructions instead.

Turning off the terminal window:

Open the Internet control panel. (Click Start - Settings - Control Panel, then double click Internet icon.) Click the Connection tab. If you have a newer version of Windows, you will need to click the "Settings" button next to "Connect to the Internet using a modem".

Click Properties button under the name of the dialup connection. Click on the Configure button, then the Options tab.

There is probably a tick in the checkbox for "Bring up terminal window after dialling". Remove the tick by clicking on it, then click OK twice to get back to the Dial-Up Networking window.

You've finished setting it up. Click here to read about logging in without the script.

Top

Turning off a login script

You don't have to turn off the script. The scriptless login does the same things, although a little quicker, so unless the script is causing problems, you can leave it running. Here are the instructions in case you need them.

There are two possible places you might find the scripting setup, depending on which version of Windows you have.

First, click Start - Programs - Accessories. If you see the Dialup Scripting Tool there, click that. If not, continue here.

In the Dialup Scripting Tool, on the left side, click the name of the connection you use to call Riverland Internet. On the right side there will be a filename (on my computer it says C:\WINDOWS\ISP.SCP). To turn off the script, delete this filename, leaving the textbox empty, then click OK.

That's all. Click here to read about logging in without the script.

Top

If you have a tab in Properties for scripting

Open the Internet control panel. (Click Start - Settings - Control Panel, then double click Internet icon.) Click the Connection tab. If you have a newer version of Windows, you will need to click the "Settings" button next to "Connect to the Internet using a modem". Click Properties button under the name of the dialup connection. You should see a tab called Scripting.

In the Scripting tab there will be a filename (on my computer it says C:\WINDOWS\ISP.SCP). To turn off the script, delete this filename, leaving the textbox empty. Then keep clicking OK until you see the window with all the control panel icons.

You've finished setting it up - read below about logging in without the script.

Top

Logging in without the script

If you've been logging in with the terminal window, this will be a lot easier, but a little different.

When you want to connect, start the connection the same way you always have. The "Connect To" dialog box will come up, asking for your username and password. With the new setup, these MUST be filled in. (When using the terminal window, you didn't have to.)

When you click the Connect button, the modem will dial the number, and make squawking noises while connecting to the other modem, just as before. Then it should log in without showing the black terminal window. It still takes about 30 seconds to do the whole thing, but you don't have to type anything.Once it's connected, things should work exactly as they did before.

If there was a problem, you should read the section below, "What if it doesn't connect?"

Top

Password Security

It's not a good idea to let the dialup software save your password. (Some people have the option to do this in the Connect To dialog box.) If you do save your password, the computer can dial up without you being there. Also, anyone who can get their hands on your computer can use your Internet account.

The best way to control who uses your account is to require the password to be typed in each time. Then, only tell the password to people who you will allow to use it. It's like giving someone a key to your door. If you let the software save the password, you're leaving the key in the lock!

Top

What if it doesn't connect?

First, check your username is correct, re-type your password into the Connect To dialog box, then try again.

Remember to check that the Caps Lock light on your keyboard is not turned on. Both your username and your password are case sensitive. Usernames must be typed in lower case, and passwords exactly the way they were set up - usually lower case.

If you really can't get it to connect without the script, and you're sure the password you're typing is the right one, you can try with the terminal window (see below) - it does give you more information. If your modem is not making a good connection, you'll see lots of garbage characters in the terminal window. Also, if your password is wrong, it will say so - "Authentication failed" - and give you two more tries.

Top

Using the Terminal Window (for troubleshooting)

(Note - this is the hard way to log in, only do this if you have a reason to!)

To activate the terminal window, open the Internet control panel. (Click Start - Settings - Control Panel, then double click Internet icon.) Click the Connection tab. If you have a new version of Windows, you will need to click the "Settings" button next to "Connect to the Internet using a modem". Click Properties, then Configure, then Options. Put in a tick for "Bring up Terminal Window AFTER dialling". Then keep clicking OK until you see all the Control Panel icons again.

If you do need to do this, here's what should happen when you log in with the Terminal Window:

When you start the connection, you'll get the usual "Connect To" dialog box. Click the Connect button. If you listen carefully you will probably be able to hear your modem dialling (sounds the same as a normal phone call) and connecting to the remote modem (which sounds like those squawking noises a fax machine makes). If you hear anything different or unusual, that might be a clue that something is going wrong.

When the modem has connected and the squawking noises stop, a small black window should open, possibly with "Welcome to Riverland Internet, etc. ... Username:" in white text.

If there's NO text, try pressing the Enter key to see if that brings it up. If the text is garbled, missing characters or filled with strange symbols, then you've probably got a modem / connection problem: try simplifying the modem settings, or get expert help.

At the Username prompt, you have to type your username (lower case, remember) then press the Enter key. Then you'll be asked to type in your password (usually lower case, and it won't display on the screen) and press Enter. If all that worked, you'll get a short menu with four choices. Take the second choice - type 2 on the keyboard - then click "Continue". After a few seconds, your connection should be complete. If not, take note of the error message - it's your best clue about what's wrong.

Summary - logging on with the terminal window - ALL these steps are required:


Top of this page
Config details page
Home page