Where do I get your service?
AltaVista’s free Internet access is available at http://microav.com/.
It is also available from several partners as a CD,
bundled with their products, or as a download from their
web site. Click here
to find out where else you can get (or demo) Free Access.
It will soon be available by calling Free Access Customer
Support (1-877-584-5551). A CD can be sent out to you
for $4.95.
How long does it take to
download?
This depends on your modem speed:
On a 56.6 modem, downloading takes about three
minutes.
On a 33.3 modem, downloading takes about
five minutes.
On a 28.8 modem, downloading takes
about five and a half minutes.
On a 14.4 modem,
downloading takes about eleven
minutes
Note: Speeds may vary depending on
the quality of your Internet connection. Therefore,
downloads may take up to 20 minutes.
Can I receive your service on CD-ROM?
It is available now from several partners as a CD.
Click here
to find out where you can get Free Access CD.
It will also soon be available by calling Free Access
Customer Support (1-877-584-5111). A CD can be sent
out to you for $4.95.
What configuration requirements are necessary to
access your system?
Currently, AltaVista FreeAccess works with Windows
95, Windows 98 and Windows NT operating systems.
You must have a copy of Microsoft Internet Explorer,
version 4.0 or higher, to access the free Internet system,
but you may surf with any browser. Click on the following
link to download the latest version of Internet Explorer.
(To find out what version you are using, open Internet
Explorer, click on "Help" in the browser toolbar and
select "About Internet Explorer".)
You must also have a copy of Dial-up Networking, version
1.1 or higher. Click on the following link to download
the latest version of Dial-Up Networking.
Windows 98 users have all the necessary
software. All Windows NT users will need to
have Remote Access Services installed before
using Free Access.
Can you walk me through the download and setup
procedures?
Download (for
Netscape Navigator):
- Click on the AltaVista FreeAccess link to download
the application.
- When the "Save As" screen appears, choose a
convenient location on your hard drive (C:). AltaVista
suggests your "Program Files" folder. Please note the
location where you save the file. To download to
diskette, choose the floppy disk drive (A:).
- Click "Save."
- At this point, the file (FreeAcessSetup.exe) will
begin downloading as indicated by the blue meter in
the "Saving Location" window. This process should take
between 3 and 20 minutes depending on your connection
speed.
Download (for Microsoft
Internet Explorer):
- After clicking on the AltaVista FreeAccess icon to
download the application, choose "Save this program to
disk."
- Click "OK."
- When the "Save As" screen appears, choose a
convenient location on your hard drive (C:). AltaVista
suggests your "Program Files" folder. Please note the
location where you save the file. To download to
diskette, choose the floppy disk drive (A:).
- Click "Save."
- The file (FreeAccessSetup.exe) will begin
downloading as indicated by the blue meter in the
"File Download" window. When the download is complete,
the window will read "Download Complete." This should
take between 3 and 20 minutes depending on your connection
speed.
To Install:
- When the file has completed downloading, right click
on the Windows "Start" button, and select "Explore."
- Locate your C: drive and the folder where you saved
the file. Open the folder. (If installing from a floppy
disk, insert the disk and select your A: drive in
the left column.)
- Double click on the "FreeAccessSetup.exe" file.
- On the "AltaVista--Welcome" window, click "Continue."
- On the "Install AltaVista FreeAccess" window, click
"OK."
- On the "Dialog" window, choose "FreeAccess with
MicroPortal" if you want to use AltaVista's free Internet
service. Choose MicroPortal if you want to use the
navigation software over your existing Internet connection.
(This window only sets your current default. Both
options will be available to you.
- On the "Installation Complete" window, click "OK"
again.
Dialup and Login:
- Disconnect from your current Internet Service Provider
if you haven't already done so. This will hang up
your modem.
- The software automatically created a FreeAccess
icon on your desktop, the screen that appears when
you log in to Windows. Double click on the FreeAccess
icon on your desktop:
- On the "Connect to" window, click "Settings."
- Select your area code and nearest city on the "Change
Phone Number" window. If your telephone requires a
dialing prefix (e.g. 9 for an outside line) or an
area code, fill in or check the appropriate box.
NOTE: You are responsible for
any long-distance telephone charges incurred while
dialing into the FreeAccess network. Please check
with your local phone company to ensure that these
are not long-distance calls from your area.
- Click "OK."
- Enter the username and password that you selected
at the beginning of the signup questionnaire.
- Click "Connect." Your modem will dial into the system.
After login is successful, your web browser will open
and the AltaVista FreeAccess system will appear. The
first time you log into the system this process may
take up to four minutes. Once this is complete, you
can begin surfing the web for free.
How do I determine local
access numbers?
Before downloading the application, you can search
the cities where FreeAccess is offered by area code
or by state/province on our welcome page (http://microav.com/).
If you have downloaded the application, click on the
AltaVista FreeAccess icon on your desktop. On the
"Connect To" window, click the "Settings" button. Select
your area code and nearest city on the "Change Phone
Number" window.
Please keep in mind the numbers shown here may be
toll calls from your area. Check with your phone company
to find out which number is the least expensive to use.
NOTE: You are responsible for any
long-distance telephone charges incurred while dialing
into the FreeAccess network. Please check with your
local phone company to ensure that these are not
long-distance calls from your area.
What if I have a dialing prefix
or have to dial the area code first?
After clicking on the AltaVista FreeAccess icon,
click "Settings." On the "Change Phone Number" window,
enter the prefix into the "Dialing Prefix" area.
To change the area code, check the "Dial Area Code?"
box.
What if I want to use pulse
dialing?
After clicking on the AltaVista FreeAccess icon,
click "Settings." On the "Change Phone Number" window,
enter a "P" in the "Dialing Prefix" area.
Should I disable call
waiting?
This is up to you. If you disable call waiting, your
web-surfing session will not be interrupted by other
phone calls, and anyone who tries to reach you will
receive a busy signal. *70 is the common prefix for
disabling call waiting, but you may wish to check with
your local phone company to make sure *70 is appropriate
for your phone service.
What if I forget my password?
Please visit http://microav.com/ and
click to download the application again. Your username
and password should appear on the screen. If they do not
appear, please register for AltaVista FreeAccess under a
different username.
An error that reads "username and password invalid on
this domain" may be a result of temporary problems. Try
dialing a different access number if possible or try the
same number at a later time.
What should I do if I'm getting
busy signals when I dial in to your system?
If your area code has more than one access number,
you can change the access number you are using to dial
into the system. On the "Connect To" window, click the
"Settings" button. Adjust "Select your city" or "Select
phone number" as there are more than one access number
for some cities. This will select a new access number if
one is available. If you still receive a busy signal or
there is only one access number for your area code,
please try again later.
When I try to log in, a
window appears on my screen asking me to install "av
microportal data control." What should I do?
Click "Yes." The "avmicroportal data control"
installation is necessary to run the MicroPortal and
must be downloaded to use AltaVista FreeAccess.
Can I still access my paid
account?
As long as you continue to choose pay for Internet
access, you can access your paid account.
What is the essence of the
membership agreement?
You must read the membership agreement and agree to
the terms before you can use AltaVista FreeAccess.
What are the minimum and
maximum lengths of a username and password?
The minimum password length is 8 alphanumeric
characters and the maximum password length is 16
alphanumeric characters. Usernames cannot be more than
16 characters.
Are there any character
restrictions for the username / password?
The username and password must be composed of
alphanumeric characters and can also include an
underscore symbol (_) or a period ( . ).
Does AltaVista FreeAccess have
parental control software available?
You may download an exclusive version of CYBERsitter,
one of the most advanced Internet filtering products
available. CYBERsitter is especially designed for use
with AltaVista FreeAccess and users will receive $10 off
the retail price when they download the application.
Click on the following link to download CYBERsitter and learn more about its
key features.
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FREE ACCESS
