The Microsoft Network: The Issues

Before installing The Microsoft Network, consider the following issues:

• When users double-click The Microsoft Network icon to sign up for an account, The Microsoft Network automatically dials a toll-free number to download price and billing information. After users fill out the billing information, The Microsoft Network automatically dials a second local number to provide access to services on The Microsoft Network.
• If users have problems connecting, first try to resolve them by using the signup troubleshooting information in online Help. One troubleshooting topic tells you how to change the access number for a location

  If problems persist with signup, contact The Microsoft Network product support using the telephone numbers in online Help in The Microsoft Network or in msn.hlp in the Windows directory. If problems persist with using The Microsoft Network, post a message in the bulletin board in Member Assistance in The Microsoft Network.

• Certain types of PBXs restrict users from accessing an outside telephone line or from dialing toll-free numbers, both of which are required to sign up for The Microsoft Network. If the user tries to sign up for The Microsoft Network from such a PBX, the user might see the error message "No carrier detected," or might hear a busy signal or operator message. To correct this problem, you must configure the PBX to allow users to dial toll-free numbers and access an outside line.
• If you need to create more than one account with The Microsoft Network on a single computer, you must run Signup for each account. Click Start, click Run, and then type signup.exe to run the Signup utility.
• Members should invent secure passwords to protect access to their accounts. They can use the same passwords as their network logon passwords or create a different ones. It is not possible to pass through an electronic mail name and password from the Windows 95 Registry. Members who want to can invent a nickname that protects their identities on The Microsoft Network.
• If your company decides to become an ICP on The Microsoft Network, you will need to provide a forum manager for your service area. Microsoft provides information about the responsibilities of a forum manager with other information about becoming an ICP. For more information, see "Becoming an Independent Content Provider (ICP)" later in this chapter.