These instructions provide a step-by-step guide to help you get set up in Windows 2000 (Professional, Server, or Advanced Server editions) to connect to Internet Chicago. This also shows you how to connect for the first time and disconnect when you're finished to get you started.

Below, we also show you how to make it easy to connect from your Windows Desktop, and how to disconnect when you're through using the Internet.

1. In your Windows Start Menu, go to Settings and select Network and Dial-Up Connections as shown here.

2. Double-click on the Make New Connection icon located in this folder.

3. Select Dial-Up to the Internet from the options presented to you in the wizard. Then, click Next.

4. Choose to connect by using your phone line when prompted. Then, click Next.

5. Once inside the Internet Connection Wizard, enter the local phone number you wish to dial into (when choosing the local number for you, be sure to check with your local telephone company to see that it is considered a "local" call - the number shown below is an actual dial-up number of ours, but it's only there as an example).

When you're finished filling in this screen, click the Advanced button.

6. After clicking the Advanced button, an Advanced Connection Properties dialog will come up.

On the Connection tab, ensure that PPP is selected, and that you put a check in the box that says Disable LCP Extensions.

7. Then, switch over to the Addresses tab. Under IP Address make sure that Internet service provider automatically provides one is selected. Under DNS server address make sure that My ISP automatically provides a Domain Name Server (DNS) address is selected.

When finished, click OK to get back to the phone number box. Then, click Next.

8. Enter the username and password you were assigned to connect to Internet CHicago. Make sure that these are both in all lower-case letters. Make sure that the Caps Lock light is off on your keyboard to ensure you're typing this correctly. When finished, click Next.

You'll then be prompted to give this connection a name. Type in Internet Chicago for the name of this connection.

9. Save this configuration and complete the process by clicking the Finish button once you've reached this part.

10. You'll notice a Internet Chicago icon now appears in the Network and Dial-Up Connections folder. You can use this directly to get connected by double-clicking on it, or to make it easier, you can create a "shortcut" to it from your desktop. Here's how:

Congratulations!

If you've come this far, you have successfully finished setting up your Microsoft Windows 2000 computer to connect to Internet Chicago!

Here's some more information to help you learn what to do next...

Getting Connected:

Once you open that shortcut from your desktop, you'll see this screen prompt you, verifying the number, and giving you the option to change properties, cancel, or dial right up. To connect, simply click Dial.

Windows will let you know that you're connected, and at this point, it's up to you what you do next.

Once this far, you can use any Internet application you like. For example, you might choose to go browsing on the Web using Internet Explorer, or read your e-mail by using Outlook or Outlook Express.

Disconnecting from The Internet:

When you're done and would like to disconnect form Internet Chicago, you can simply right-click on the Connection Status icon in your System Tray (the area with the small icons by your clock). When you do that, a menu will pop up allowing you to disconnect from right there.