MSN Support in Windows NT

• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, and 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, and 4.0

NOTE: MSN, The Microsoft Network, is not currently supported with Windows NT. Although the information in this article should work as described, use this information at your own risk. There is no formal product support available from Microsoft for using MSN with Windows NT.

SUMMARY

This article discusses the following topics concerning support for MSN in Windows NT:

• Does the MSN Software Work in Windows NT?
• Can I Access My MSN E-mail from Windows NT?
• Does the Internet Connection Wizard Work in Windows NT?
• How Do I Sign Up for an MSN Account Using Windows NT?
• How Do I Configure Windows NT to Use an MSN Account for Internet Access?
• How Do I Troubleshoot Connections to MSN in Windows NT?

MORE INFORMATION

Does the MSN Software Work in Windows NT?

Currently, the MSN software is designed for use only in Windows 95. The Classic MSN client software (version 1.x) comes preinstalled in Windows 95, and the New MSN software (version 2.0) is available on a CD-ROM that you can order from MSN. Microsoft is currently developing a version for Microsoft Windows NT 4.0.

Although the MSN software does not currently run in Windows NT, you can still use your MSN account to access the Internet from Windows NT (see the section titled "How Do I Configure Windows NT to Use an MSN Account for Internet Access?" in this article).

NOTE: Although you can access most normal Internet resources, you may not have access to specific MSN sites that require the Windows 95 MSN browser. For example, you can connect to http://www.msn.com, but you cannot connect properly to http://onstage.msn.com.

Can I Access My MSN E-mail from Windows NT?

You can access your MSN e-mail from Windows NT when you have migrated your MSN e-mail account to the MSN POP3/SMTP mail servers. You cannot access your MSN e-mail from Windows NT if you are using the Classic MSN mail servers. You can migrate your MSN e-mail account using MSN version 2.5 on a computer running Windows 95. Once the account has been successfully migrated then you can access your MSN e-mail from Windows NT using an Internet mail program. Future versions of MSN may be compatible with Windows NT.

For additional information about migrating your MSN e-mail account, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q176276
   TITLE     : Frequently Asked Questions About Mail Migration on MSN

The Internet Connection Wizard (ICW) is part of the Internet Starter Kit (ISK) and is also included with some versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer for Windows NT. The ICW included with the ISK does not work in Windows NT 4.0. For information about running the ICW in Windows NT 3.51, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q159686
   TITLE     : How to Use the Internet Connection Wizard in Internet
               Explorer

How Do I Sign Up for an MSN Account Using Windows NT?

MSN accounts can be obtained or established using the MSN software that is available in Windows 95, or by calling The Microsoft Network Customer Service at (800) 386-5550 and requesting that an account for Internet PPP access be set up manually.

How Do I Configure Windows NT to Use an MSN Account for Internet Access?

The following information is for users who already have an MSN account. MSN offers direct dial-up Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) support for accessing the Internet. The following steps describe how to access the Internet using the Windows NT Remote Access Service (RAS) to connect to an MSN PPP server.

To connect to an MSN PPP server using Windows NT 4.0, use the following steps:

1. Install RAS as a network service using the Network tool in Control Panel.

2. Double-click My Computer, and then double-click Dial-Up Networking.

3. Click OK (or the New button) to add a new phone book entry. Configure the entry as follows:

   a. Type a description in the "Name the new phone book entry" box, and

         then click Next.
   

   b. Click the I Am Calling The Internet check box to select it, and then

         click Next.
   

   c. Click the Use Telephony Dialing Properties check box to select it,

         type your local MSN access number, and then click Next.
   

   d. Click Finish, click More, and then click Edit Entry And Modem

         Properties.
   

   e. Click the Server tab, and then click the Enable PPP LCP Extensions

         check box to clear it. See the "How Do I Troubleshoot Connections to
         MSN in Windows NT?" section in this article for more information
         about this step.
   

   f. Click the Security tab, click "Accept any authentication including

         clear text", and then click OK.
   

4. Click Dial.

   a. Use "MSN/<your MSN user ID>" (without quotation marks) as your user

         name. See the "How Do I Troubleshoot Connections to MSN in Windows
         NT?" section in this article for information about user name
         requirements.
   

   b. Use your MSN password as your password.

   c. Leave the Domain box blank.

1. Install RAS in Windows NT.

2. Start the Remote Access client software (Rasphone.exe).

3. Create a new RAS phone book entry, using the following steps:

   a. Click Add to create a new entry.

   b. Type the entry name, phone number (same local dial-up number

         normally used to access MSN, and a description.
   

   c. Clear the "Authenticate using current user name and password" check

         box and then click Advanced (if you have not done so already).
   

   d. Click Network.

   e. Click the PPP and TCP/IP check boxes to select them. Clear the

         NetBEUI and IPX check boxes if they are not already cleared.
   

   f. Clear the "Request LCP extensions (RFC 1570)" check box.

   g. Click TCP/IP Settings, and enable the Server Assigned IP Address and

         Server Assigned Name Server Addresses options. Also, make sure the
         "Use default gateway on remote network" check box is selected. Click
         OK, and then click OK.
   

   h. In the Add Phone Book Entry dialog box, click Security.

   i. Enable the "Accept any authentication including clear text" option.

   j. Accept these settings by clicking OK. Click OK in the Add Phone Book

         Entry dialog box.
   

4. Click the new phone book entry, and then click Dial.

   a. Use "MSN/<your MSN user ID>" (without quotation marks) as your user

         name. See the "How Do I Troubleshoot Connections to MSN in Windows
         NT?" section in this article for information about user name
         requirements.
   

   b. Use your MSN password as your password.

   c. Leave the Domain box blank.

   d. Click OK to dial.

How Do I Troubleshoot Connections to MSN in Windows NT?

"Access Is Denied" Error Message:

If you have incorrectly entered your user name or password when you are dialing in to MSN, you receive the following error message:

   Error 5: Access is denied.

"Bad IP Address" Error Message or No Connectivity:

If Windows NT Dial-Up Networking attempts to negotiate the Multilinking Protocol (MP) with the MSN PPP server, you may receive the following error message when you try to connect to Internet resources:

   Bad IP Address

   ARTICLE-ID: Q161368
   TITLE     : Service Pack 2 May Cause Loss of Connectivity in Remote
               Access

   ARTICLE-ID: Q161986
   TITLE     : Troubleshooting Internet Service Provider Login Problems

If you are dialing an MSN phone number that supports calls only for the "The Microsoft Network" service type, you may receive one of the following error messages:

• Error 629: The port was disconnected by the remote machine.

  -or-

• Error 718: Timeout waiting for valid response from PPP peer.

1. In Windows 95, use the right mouse button to click the MSN icon, and then click Connection Settings.

2. Click the Access Numbers button.

3. In the Service Type box, click Internet And The Microsoft Network, and then click either Change button.

4. Select your country and state or region to view available access numbers for this service type. Or, you can call The Microsoft Network Member Support Line at (800) 386-5550 for a local access number for your area.