FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. How do I get 56K connect speeds (I have a 56K modem)?
This is our MOST often asked question since most all new systems are delivered with 56K modems.  First and foremost, your phone line MUST be capable of achieving high speeds (above 33.6K).  Click on this link to determine if your neighborhood phone lines are part of a Digital Switching Systemand is within distance requirements.  If your external phone line meets these tests, let's look at your House Wiring next.

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2. Why doesn't my modem connect at its maximum speed?
A 56K modem will never connect faster than 53.3K...nor will a 33.6K modem connect faster than 31.2K or 28.8K, etc...  The major factors in achieving maximum speed are your phone line conditions and having the most current drivers installed for your modem.  Even if your house wiring is perfect and you have the latest drivers, you still have the external phone lines to deal with and the phone companies will only guarantee speeds of 19.2K.  You can call the phone company to have your phone line tested.

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3. Why am I not receiving any email or getting the same email messages over and over?
If you have never gotten any E-mail, recently changed computers or email programs, your settings are probably incorrect.
Click on the Setup Info button in the left frame and then click on the Email link, find your email program and set it up.  If you suddenly can't get any mail and were receiving it previously, see the next paragraph.

If you are getting the same messages over and over, but the program says you have more mail and can't get to it, someone has sent you a large file/attachment or corrupted message and your email program is "timing out" before it can download the message.  ALL Microsoft email programs (Exchange/Windows Messaging, Outlook and Outlook Express) have a 'timeout' setting and you can find out how to increase the time by clicking on 'Help' in the program and searching for "timeout".  Your modem speed and amount of RAM also have a bearing on receiving large mail and the timeout setting may not help.

You can use our Web Based Email to receive your mail using any Web Browser and Clear those messages from your mailbox.  Or can either call us or email us (make sure you can tell us the time and date of the last message you received) and we'll try to clear it.  If you get a lot of mail and it's backed up a couple of days, it may take a couple of times to clear things up.

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4. Why am I suddenly unable to connect/it keeps asking for my password?
If you were connected earlier in the day, a few things can cause this.  One of the most common things is that your computer has run low on memory/resources it needs.   This is especially true if you leave your system on all the time (you really should completely shut down your system if it won't be using it for several hours or overnight) or if you have opened/closed a lot of programs.   Simply re-starting the computer will probably get you connected again.

If you have not been paying your Northwinds bills, it may have been suspended for non-payment. You have approximately 75 days before your account is shut off for non-payment. Your account will need to be paid in full before it can be re-activated. Service fees and re-activation fees may also be applied to the account if not paid within 15 days of suspension.

Other possible problems:
Your phone line suddenly has trouble (noise, phone co working in the area, bad weather)
Somehow, your dial-up settings have changed (we've seen this before and we don't know why)

Password trouble boils down to three simple things:
1. YOU HAVE YOUR CAPS LOCK KEY ON!  Your password must be typed in lower case.
2. You've forgotten/mistyped the password.

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5. Why can't I "save" my password in Windows 95/98 Dial-up Networking?
The ability to save your password is a primary function of "Client for Microsoft Networks", which may not be installed in your Network components.  Even if it is installed, other factors in some unknown combination can cause the problem.  You can call or email us and we can try to help fix the problem.

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6. My system freezes up/I get "This program has performed an Illegal Operation"
Many times, simply restarting the computer will correct the problem at hand, but there could be underlying hard drive issues such as lost file fragments or cross-linked data, etc...  If problems persist after a restart, you may want to consider bringing the computer to a professional to have it checked out. We recommend the technicians at The Computer Fix (218-283-8292).

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7. Does Northwinds Net have 1-800 access?
No, simply because of the additional costs that our customer would have to pay.   Most people have good long distance plans that offer per minute rates better than any 800 plan we have been able to find.  While we want to make your service convenient, we couldn't see offering something that would actually cost you more money.  Since E-Mail is the most popular aspect of the Internet, we do offer the ability to check your mail using any web browser from any Internet connection.

Remember that if you are placing a toll call to log in, you are responsible for paying any toll charges you receive. Northwinds Net will not reimburse you for any additional or incidental expenses incurred as a result of making a toll or long distance call.

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8. Can I get more than one email address?
Yes, your account comes with the option of two email addresses. Once you have the account activated you may need to install/configure an email application on your computer to take advantage of the new address.  Please be aware that not all email programs support separate accounts.  Make sure you discuss this with our support staff so that you are not disappointed by a lack of privacy.