Always use the latest version. The current  Communicator Version 4.8  is very stable in all OS'es.

    1.  Besides being free, it is the preferred Browser, E-Mail application in the world. Things like immunity to Macro Viruses and Multiple Profiles for more than one computer user, separating each persons Mail, bookmarks, and address book, etc. easily make it number one. Download it free  <<<here>>>  .        The Latest version is 4.8       For your version, Click Help, about communicator.

     2.   Before Installing you should have some information from your Internet Service Provider ( ISP ). Such as ; your E-Mail address ( stinky@sover.net ) Your Mail Server user Name ( stinky ). Your Outgoing Mail Server Name ( mail.sover.net ),  your Incoming Mail Server Name ( mail.sover.net ) and your News Server name ( news.sover.net ). If you have forgotten, find another computer and go online to your ISP's web address (  http://www.sover.net/  ), then to their support section, and print the generic information. You will have to call them for your e-mail address, user name, and password.

    3.   Now find your C:\Temp directory and delete all files in it.  Next double click the Netscape.exe file on CD and accept the license and select Custom and install to the default ( C:\program files\netscape ) unless you have a separate partition.  If you have a separate partition ( drive Letter D:, E:, etc. ) you should only change the drive letter ; Exp  C: to D: and leave the directories alone. A window will come up allowing you to deselect accessories. I deselect Palm Sync and Real Audio options. MS windows own media player is a lot less buggier than real player. I allow all the remainder, including, at the next window. The next windows allow you to select where your shortcuts will be located, I don't change any and continue along until Netscape is installed and says " Re Boot ? " say yes.      Now  you see the desktop again, Some of us don't use the Netscape Instant Messenger ( board chat ) and to stop loading it, double click it down below near your clock. Near the bottom middle you should see a small wrench " setup ", click it and go to general page and remove checkmark that says " start NIM when windows starts ". Then say apply and it should disappear after you re-start . Next launch Netscape and you should see Creating a New Profile ( relax, as its easy to change any of this later, see #5 below ), press next. Your full name will be your e-mail letter "From" signature ( Red, K1DEU ) your e-mail address ( stinky@sover.net ), Press Next. Now your profile name, should be different than each person in family (  John ) Now come to full attention and notice your default directory and write down its ( location ) directory path to remember its location.  When people have to re format their hard drive this is where they should first come to  save their old mail, address book and bookmarks.  If on a protected network use a network drive!  If you have a different Partition available move it, Only changing the first letter (  E:\Program Files\Netscape\Users\john ).  Now Press Next. Now enter your Outgoing mail ( SMTP ) Server Name (  mail.sover.net ), Press Next. Now enter your mail server user name ( stinky ) And your Incoming Mail Server Name ( mail.sover.net ), Now Mail server type, 99% are POP3, Press Next. Now enter your News Server Name ( news.sover.net ).  Leave port alone and secure unchecked and click finish. When the full browser page comes up I first click the X in the little 5 Icon bar, which moves it down to just above your time and date. The first Icon selects the browser, while the second selects Mail. Next go to Bookmarks, edit bookmarks and highlight the last entry, at bottom of page and hold down the delete key , on key board until, unless you like something there, only Bookmarks for XXX and Personal toolbar remain. This removes all their commercial bookmarks.

    4.  Next at top, go to Edit, Preferences, and highlight, Navigator and at right enter the page you wish your browser to start. I  use  http://www.cnn.com/  .  Next go down to the bottom left and remove the little plus preceding Advanced and highlight Cache. If you have 128 Mb or more of RAM set the memory cache to 6000 KBytes, for 64 MB of RAM 3000 KBytes. Then Disk Cache to 9999 KBytes. The Disk Cache folder should really be on a different partition than your operating system, as it fragments a hard drive partition faster than anything else, slowing down everything.  If you don't have another partition just leave it alone and run Defrag often after surfing. Now say "  OK " at bottom. 

     5.  Everything should be working OK. If you wish to change anything, come in again by going to Edit, Preferences, and remove the little plus preceding Mail & Newsgoups and highlight" Identity ",  Your Name is simply your signature in mailed letters, E-mail address is necessary to send and is who people can reply to. In the upper right in the Incoming Mail Servers window you should see an entry like mail.sover.net  , all lower case, which your ISP names the server. Press edit and on the general page and make sure your user name is correct  ( stinky ).  I put a checkmark in remember password and check for mail every 10 minutes. I do not auto download new messages unless I have a high speed internet connection. On the second POP page I don't check " leave messages on server " unless i was using a second computer for the same mail account. Say OK. Next on the Mail Servers Page,  My outgoing mail (POP) server entry should be mail.sover.net  all lower case, which your ISP names the server. Our mail server user name ( stinky ).   Next notice the Local Mail Directory at bottom. When people have to re format their hard drive this is where they should first come to save their old mail, address book and bookmarks. If on a protected network use a network drive! Say OK at bottom to save these settings. Hopefully this will get you started. To maintain good operation keep the C:\Temp file at a small size or you will have trouble installing Netscape or sending Mail. 

     6. To create a second or more profiles, click start, programs, Netscape Communicator, Utilities, User Profile Manager and start at the beginning again. This will create as many totally different Netscape's as you wish. Besides using them for separate family members you can use them for different ISP accounts.

     7. To E-Mail pictures with Netscape Communicator, bring up the mail program, and Press " New Msg " and your Composition Letter will appear. As you know the location of the pictures you prepared, in letter, at top, press Attach, file and a " enter file to attach window will come up. At top get your look in, folder appearing and in large window double click the picture you want to send. You may send many more by repeating this procedure, with each file name appearing in letter. When all pictures are added add some Subject text and any text in body of letter you wish. If you are practicing for the first time just do one picture and address to yourself, send then press  " Get Msg " And see how it would look to others. Now press address at top and address as many people as you would like, and Send the letter.   PS:  Take it easy on bandwidth, most Mail boxes top out at 5 Mb or sometimes less and many mail programs reject single letters larger than 1.5 Mb.

    8. As viruses usually arrive via  e-mail , I recommend installing Norton Antivirus 2002,  and checking the  option to scan incoming and outgoing e-mail,   enable auto-protect,   and skip registration. Next, click on Options and make sure there is a checkmark in scan ALL files, click OK.    Manually scan with the up-dated antivirus program  all partitions and drives weekly  and before making CD's.     Also, it's best to be careful and , (using the right mouse button) request a virus scan on  all new floppy disks, or home brewed CD's .  And REMEMBER when installing or removing ANY programs to, first DISABLE auto protect !!!  See this   <<<here>>>  about adding, removing programs.

9.  If you receive a lot of junk mail or SPAM and or  occasional large files you don't need  check out this neat, free program which easily checks your mail directly on your mail server and allows you to bounce them back, as no such address or delete them.  <<<here>>>

When browsing, surfing knowing how to make proper bookmarks is more than crucial.

09/18/2004 07:52 -0500