Frequently Asked Questions
InfoWest - Service Questions
- How do I sign up for InfoWest Services?
- How do I tell what operating system I am running?
- What is a computer virus?
- How can I change my current username and e-mail address? Is there a charge to change my username?
- How do I get rid of popups?
Browsers
- How do I tell what web browser I'm using?
- How do I tell what version of internet browser I have installed?
- What is a Web Browser?
- What is a "Home Page" and how do I choose one?
- How can I keep track of the site I have visited and want to visit again?
- What is a link? What is a hyperlink?
- How do I see what pages I've visited?
- How do I clear the list of sites my browser has visited?
- What are the buttons at the top of the browser window used for?
DSL
Dialup
Sub-categories- How do I tell what e-mail program I use? What version is it?
- Which e-mail program should I use?
- How do I setup my e-mail to work with InfoWest?
- How does an email address work?
- How does e-mail work?
- How do I send an e-mail message?
- How do I send pictures or files with my e-mail message?
- How do I open attachments?
- How do I manage my e-mail?
- What should I include in my e-mail message?
- Can I get additional email addresses?
Hosting
Sub-categoriesHow do I get signed up with InfoWest?
You can signup online by choosing either
Residential Services or Business Services.
We have 2 local offices you can either visit or call:
Our St. George, Utah office is at 596 East Tabernacle, 674-0165.
Our Cedar City office is at 583 S. Main Street #3, 865-0606.
Or for our office locations, you can click here.
How do I tell what operating system I am running?
Finding out which operating system you use is simple. If you have an Apple Macintosh, you use Mac OS; if you have a PC, you use Windows.
If you have a PC, you have Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows ME, or Windows XP. Any one of these will tell you what version it is when you start up your computer. A screen will appear that will say "Windows X" where 'X' is your version. If you have a "Start" button in the bottom left hand corner, you can see your version by clicking on it. In most cases, it will say "Windows X" along the left side on a blue bar where 'X' is your version. If it does not, click on
"Run", type "winver" in the text field, and press enter. If you do not have a "Start" button at all, you have Windows 3.x.
If you have an Apple Macintosh and need to know what version of the Mac OS you are running, click on the "apple" in the top right hand corner of the screen and choose "About This Mac" (this item may also be called 'About This Computer'). It will then give you information about the computer, including the version of your operating system.
What is a computer virus?
A program or piece of code that is loaded onto your computer without your knowledge and runs against your wishes. Viruses can also replicate themselves. All computer viruses are manmade. A simple virus that can make a copy of itself over and over again is relatively easy to produce. Even such a simple virus is dangerous because it will quickly use all available memory and bring the system to a halt. An even more dangerous type of virus is one capable of transmitting itself across networks and bypassing security systems.
Some people distinguish between general viruses and worms. A worm is a special type of virus that can replicate itself and use memory, but cannot attach itself to other programs.
How can I change my current username and e-mail address? Is there a charge to change my username?
How do I get rid of popups?
Most popups are caused by spyware programs that have been installed on your computer. These spyware programs can get installed on your computer from a variety of different ways. The most common way they can get installed is from downloading "free" programs. The spyware can be downloaded with these programs without you ever knowing that they are there.
To quickly check your computer for spyware, you can run our online spyware scan. It will search Internet Explorer for common spyware programs. If there are some installed on your computer it will also have instructions on how to remvove them.
The other common way pop ups are created are from the websites that you visit. To eliminate these popups you will need a special program to elimiate them. Here are a couple of pop up blockers that we recommend:
How do I tell what web browser I'm using?
The easiest way to figure out which web browser you use is to look at the icon you open to get on the net. The two most popular web browsers are Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. The icon for Firefox is a red fox wrapped around a globe. Older versions of Internet Explorer have an icon showing a magnifying glass over a globe. Newer versions are a blue lower case 'e' with a ring like Saturn.
Another way to identify which browser you use is by the window that opens while the program is loading. This screen will clearly state the name and version of your browser.
If your browser is already open (which would make sense since you are viewing this page!), you can find the name of the program by looking at the title bar at the top of this window. The name of the page you are viewing will be first, followed by a colon (:) or hyphen (-), and directly after that is the name of your web browser.
How do I tell what version of internet browser I have installed?
Most web browsers display their version number on the window that opens while they are loading, but if you miss it there you can do the following:
If you use Internet Explorer, click on the "Help" menu, then "About Internet Explorer" and a screen will open that will tell you the version. If you are using Firefox, click on the "Help" menu, then "About Mozilla Firefox". If you are using Google Chrome, click on the "wrench" icon, then "About Google Chrome". If you are using Netscape on Windows, click on the "Help" menu, then "About Netscape..." and a screen will open that will say which version you have on the top line.
On a Macintosh running Mac OS 9 or earlier and running Netscape, click on the Apple menu, then "About Netscape..." and a screen will open that will say which version you have on the top line. If you use Internet Explorer, click on the Apple menu, then "About Internet Explorer..." and a screen will open that will tell you the version. If you are using Firefox, click on the "Firefox" menu, then "About Mozilla Firefox".
On a Macintosh running Mac OS X 10.0 or later and running Netscape, click on the "Netscape" menu, then "About Netscape..." and a screen will open that will say which version you have on the top line. If you use Internet Explorer click on the "Explorer" menu, then "About Internet Explorer..." and a screen will open that will tell you the version. If you are using Firefox, click on the "Firefox" menu, then "About Mozilla Firefox".
If you aren't running either Firefox, Chrome, Netscape or Internet Explorer, you can usually follow fairly closely the steps outlined above for your operating system.
What is a Web Browser?
A web browser is the software program you use to access the World Wide Web, the graphical portion of the Internet. The first browser, called NCSA Mosaic, was developed in the early '90s. The easy-to-use point-and-click interface helped popularize the Web, although few then could imagine the explosive growth that would soon occur.
The two most popular browser programs are Microsoft Internet Explorer (its icon is a blue lower case "e") and Mozilla Firefox (its icon is a an red fox on a blue globe). There are also a few additional browsers such as Opera and Chrome that are gaining popularity.
What is a "Home Page" and how do I choose one?
- Click on the menu called "Edit" then click "Preferences".
- When the Preferences window comes up, click the "Navigator" option on the left side of that window.
- On the right hand window, in the section entitled "Home Page" you can type an Internet address in the line provided, like www.yahoo.com or www.southernutah.com.
- Click "OK" at the bottom and whatever you typed in will be the Home Page whenever you open your browser.
How can I keep track of the site I have visited and want to visit again?
When using Internet Explorer, you can "bookmark" any site for further visits by clicking the "Favorites" button (near the top left of the window) and then "Add To Favorites...". To access the list you have created, click the "Favorites" button and then choose from the list of site you have entered. To delete an entry, click the "Favorites" button, then right-click "Delete".
What is a link? What is a hyperlink?
A link is a reference on a web page that references some other place on the same page or somewhere else on the Internet. If text is "clickable" that means it is a hyperlink.
You can identify a hyperlink in a number of ways but the easiest way is to move your mouse pointer over the top of a picture or word and if your mouse cursor change to look like a small hand then the item you are looking at, is a link and you can click it.
How do I see what pages I've visited?
Click on the "Go" menu, then click on "History". There is also a "History" option in the Sidebar.
How do I clear the list of sites my browser has visited?
Open Internet Explorer. Click the "Tools" menu then "Internet Options". Under "Browsing History" click "Delete".
What are the buttons at the top of the browser window used for?
At the top of both Internet Explorer and Netscape Communicator, there are a variety of buttons. They have some buttons in common like the "Home", "Back", "Forward" and "Stop" buttons. The "Home" button takes you back to your home page or first page that is loaded each time the browser is opened. The "Back" button takes you the last page or web site you were visiting. The "Forward" button of course takes you forward one page. The "Stop" button is used to interrupt a page while it is loading. You can stop pages if you don't want the content to load or if you think the page is taking too long to come up.
There is another button that is very useful. Internet Explorer calls it "Refresh" and Netscape calls it "Reload". The purpose of this button is to cause the current web page you are visiting to load again. That can become particularly useful in cases where the information you are viewing is time sensitive like an auction, news site, or stock report.
What is DSL?
DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line. It is a high-speed internet service that works over regular telephone lines while NOT interfering with regular calls. InfoWest offers DSL with the help of the local phone company.
How does DSL from InfoWest work?
Your regular phone is setup by the phone company to send and receive digital information and voice calls simultaneously. The internet data is sent and received across your phone line at high speeds and it doesn't interrupt your phone calls! Once the information reaches InfoWest via the Qwest phone lines, we pass it along our fiber-optic network to the rest of the Internet.
What equipment do I need to use InfoWest's DSL service?
DSL requires a specialized DSL modem. Modems are available from either Qwest or InfoWest directly.
Their cost varies depending upon current promotions. The approximate price range, when not part of a promotion, is $50 to $75.
Most modems will work with either Windows based PC's or Apple Macintosh computers.
I am traveling out of state. How can I connect to InfoWest when I am not in Utah?
InfoWest offers a service called InfoWest Anywhere. It allows you to connect to the Internet with thousands of dialup numbers across the Country.
Click here to learn more about it.
How fast will my connection be to InfoWest if I have a 56K modem?
All of our modems located throughtout Utah are 56K equipped. Most users will connect at speeds between 40K and 52K.
56K is not always possible due to the following conditions:
- Phone line quality in your location
- Modem misconfiguration or software problems.
There are just some areas where the phone line setup of the neighborhood or town prevents speeds higher than 28,800.
*Note - The FCC limits standard phone connections to 53K, so, even though 56K modems are technically able to connect at 56K, they will only connect at a maximum of 53K.Where can I find your dial-up numbers?
Our dial-up numbers can be found here: http://www.infowest.com/Support/Setup
How do I Change my Dialup Phone Number?
These steps will work for Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, and XP:
- Click Start - Settings - Control Panel (for XP, just click Start - Control Panel)
- Double-click Internet Options (in XP, you may need to click on "Network and Internet Connections" first)
- Click on the "Connections" tab near the top
- RIGHT-click the InfoWest conection
- On the menu that pops up, click "Properties"
- Change the Phone Number field to the new number.
- Click "ok"
- Close the network connections window.
You should now be able to dial in with the new phone number.
Disconnects
- How do I check that my dial-up settings are correct?
- Outlook Express disconnects me each time I check my email. How can I fix that?
- Does InfoWest intentionally disconnect my computer from the Internet?
- It sometimes takes me longer than 10 minutes to type an email and I get disconnected before I can send it, is there any way around this?
- I've checked everything else in this FAQ, and I'm still getting disconnected before 10 minutes, is there anything else I can do?
How do I tell what e-mail program I use? What version is it?
If you know which web browser you use, it is usually simple to figure out which e-mail program you use. If you do not know which browser, first find out what web browser you use in the browsers section.
If you use Netscape, you most likely use Netscape Mail.
If you use Internet Explorer, you most likely use Outlook Express or Outlook. There is also the possibility that you open one of these browsers to use web-mail.
The easiest way to determine your e-mail program is by the way you get into the program. If you open Netscape 6.x and go to the "Tasks" menu and click "Mail", or if you use Netscape 4.x and go to the "Communicator" menu and click "Messenger", you use Netscape Mail.
If you use Internet Explorer 4.x or higher and click the "Mail" button on the toolbar you use Outlook Express. If you use Internet Explorer 3.x you most likely use Internet Mail (it is recommended that if this is the software you are using that you upgrade).
If you do not go through a web browser, but go straight to the program using an icon, you can tell what the program is by the look of the icon. If you open an icon that looks like a tan envelope with a black stamp, you use Eudora mail. If you open an icon that looks like a white envelope with a red stamp and two blue arrows wrapping around it, you use Outlook Express. If you open an icon that looks like a brown clock, you use Outlook.
Eudora, Outlook Express, and Outlook all display their name and version number while they are loading. If the program is already loaded up, you can find out the version number of any of them by clicking the "Help" menu and then choosing the "About X" option where 'X' is the name of your e-mail program.
Which e-mail program should I use?
This decision is really up to you. There are many e-mail "clients" available in the market today. Here is a list of the more commonly used clients for Windows:
- Outlook - A powerful e-mail and scheduling client made by Microsoft. It is generally recommended for advanced e-mail users.
- Outlook Express - A smaller, less powerful, version of Outlook. It's condensed functions use less RAM and make it easier to use.
- Netscape Mail - The native mail program for the Netscape browser. It's simple interface and ease of use, makes it a fan of many.
- Eudora - An e-mail program written by Qualcomm. It's small, powerful, and somewhat complex. Not recommended for beginning users.
- Pegasus Mail - A small yet powerful and relatively unknown e-mail client. Although relatively primitive in it's first releases, later versions have come a long way up the ladder of user friendliness.
How do I setup my e-mail to work with InfoWest?
In order to configure your e-mail program to work with our mail servers you will need a few settings. We recommend you use an account type of IMAP, however POP3 will work as well. Using IMAP will keep a folder structure on our servers, which will also be accessible from our InfoWest Webmail.
While each e-mail program may have a different method for configuring the account settings, these settings will get you up and running in no time!
- Username: your InfoWest e-mail address (username@infowest.com)
- Password: your InfoWest e-mail password
- E-Mail Address: your InfoWest e-mail address (username@infowest.com)
- Incoming Mail Server: mail.infowest.com
- Outgoing Mail Server: mail.infowest.com
- Outgoing Mail Authentication: ENABLED
- SSL/TLS Secure Connection for Incoming and Outgoing: ENABLED
- Alternate Outgoing Mail Submission Port: 587 (default is 25)
E-mail seems to be quite the complex animal, however it is the contrary. In order to begin to understand how e-mail works, you must first understand how to read an e-mail address.
Example: user@provider.com
This address has four parts:
- user: This is the recipient's user name. Most user names are a single word representing the person's first or last name, or a combination of the two names.
- @: This symbol (it's pronounced "at") separates the "who" part of the address (the part to the left of the @ sign) and the "where" part (the part to the right of the @ sign).
- provider: This is the Internet name (that is, the domain name) of the user's access provider. It tells you where the user's mailbox is located.
- com: The last part tells you what type of organization you're dealing with. Common suffixes are .com (commercial), .org (not for profit organization), .gov (government), and .net (network).
How does e-mail work?
From the address that is entered in the "To:" section of your e-mail, the e-mail server, packages your message into an electronic "envelope" which contains your information. The Internet mechanism involved here is called SMTP (Simple Mail Transport Protocol), which is a member of the TCP/IP family. The provider's computer that handles outgoing mail is usually called an SMTP server.
Because there will rarely be a direct connection between your network and the recipient's network, the message will make a number of stops along the way. At each stop, the intermediate e-mail server stores it temporarily while it looks for the best way to get your e-mail to it's ultimate destination. When the decision is made, your e-mail is again sent on it's way. This process is repeated until the mail reaches its destination server.
Eventually, the message finds its way to the recipient's network, where an e-mail computer routes it to the person's mailbox. (If the recipient uses a networked e-mail program that doesn't understand Netspeak--such as Microsoft Mail or cc:Mail--the message will have to go through another computer called a gateway that converts the message into something the program can make sense of.)
Although this may sound like a lot of work, keep in mind that they are traveling a the speed of light so the time between each "hop" is unnoticeable and almost all of the e-mail servers on the web use the SMTP protocol. This aids in getting your messages to you as quickly as possible.
How do I send an e-mail message?
- The first step in this process is to open your e-mail client of choice. The many versions of e-mail clients are listed here. Let the client dial into the Internet if you want to be on-line. If you wish to remain off-line while authoring your messages, you may choose the "Work Offline" or "Cancel" options. The client may have several processes that it's trying to run, so you may have to click "Cancel" multiple times.
- Secondly, you'll need to start a new e-mail message. You will find this option in the top toolbar. Commonly this will be titled, "New Message", "New Mail", or something similar.
- Next we will address the message to a recipient. Using your mouse, move the cursor to the text box located to the right of "To:", click, and type the address manually, or, if you have the address stored in your "Address Book", click on the "To:" button itself. Here you can double-click the name of the recipient of the message. To send the e-mail to multiple recipients, manually add each additional address separated by a comma, or click on the "To:" button again and double-click the other recipient's names, one at a time. Click "OK" when you're done.
- Next we move down to the "Subject" box and enter a topic for the e-mail message.
- Following the entering of the subject, we move on down to the "Body" of the message (generally the biggest box on your screen) and type your message to the recipient(s).
- Finally we send the message. Locate the "Send" button in the toolbar and click it.
How do I send pictures or files with my e-mail message?
The following instructions assume you already created an e-mail message. (See previous answer How do I send an e-mail message)
- With your newly created message, click the "Attach" icon (usually a paperclip). If you cannot locate the "Attach" icon, choose the "Insert" menu above, then click "File".
- Now you must locate the file you wish to send. Double-click the file once you have located it. Your file or document will then be included in your e-mail once it is sent.
- You will notice that the e-mail message now contains a new icon. This icon represents the type of file attached to your e-mail.
- Clicking "Send", will send your message along with it's attachment(s).
How do I open attachments?
Attachments can be a mixed bag of surprises. Ordinarily an attachment is simply a file of some sort that somebody wished to share with you. However, under adverse circumstances, an attachment can carry with it a harmful virus that can potentially damage certain files on your computer, if not your computer itself, in the worst cases. It is important to identify the attachments that you're going to open before doing so.
Each e-mail client will show attachments differently so, depending on the client you've chosen, you will need to access the attached files in different ways. Most commonly, you'll see either a new paperclip icon in the message itself, or you will simply see a list of the attachments under an "Attachments" header somewhere in the message.
If you can't identify the sender of the attachment or if it appears to be something that has been mass-circulated, it is suggested that you "Right-click" on the attachment and move down to "Save as", save the file locally on your computer and then scan the files with your virus scan program before opening. By following this advice, you minimize the chances of your data or computer being damaged by an illicit computer virus.
Depending on the format of the attachment, you may or may not be able to view it. Simply put, if you do not have the software that was originally used by the author of the file, you will not likely be able to view the file. In cases where you do not have the associated software, you must obtain it before you will be able to view the software. As with most rules in life, there are exceptions to this rule, but we will not venture there. For more information regarding file-types, please contact your computer vendor.
How do I manage my e-mail?
Here are some basic functions that e-mail clients provide to help you manage your e-mail:
Message Rules
Most e-mail clients support messaging "Rules." Rules are commands that the client executes when sending/receiving messages. Rules can move messages from one person, to a special folder, or delete unwanted messages as they come into your mail-box. Consult the "Help" section of your e-mail client on how to use this function.
Deleting
Deleting messages is an important part of keeping your mail-box uncluttered and easy to filter through. Deleting messages is simple. You will find a "Delete" icon in the tool bar, or you can "Right-click" on the item and go to "Delete". Multiple deletions are handy as well. To delete a consecutive list of messages (one after the other) select the first message, hold the "Shift" key, and select the last message. You will see that this highlights all of the messages. You may then delete them. Choosing multiple e-mails that aren't consecutive is nice as well. Select the first message, hold the "Ctrl" key, and select each message one at a time. You may then delete your selections by using the delete key.
Folders
Folders are used in e-mail just like they would be in any other part of your computer. How your e-mail client makes folders will vary. It is advisable that you search the "Help" section of your client for keyword "Folder" to learn exactly how your client makes a folder.
What should I include in my e-mail message?
Here are some things to consider when composing e-mail.
What is proper etiquette?
E-mail etiquette is a subject that most people are largely unaware exists. When sending messages, most anything can go, but remember, without the vocal tones and inflection that most of us are used to, words can often miscommunicate meaning. Here are a few tips:
- Don't ever type in all CAPS unless you're emphasizing a specific word or sentence. Most people construe CAPS as yelling.
- Properly case your words, and punctuate paragraphs and sentences. This lets your recipients know that you're taking time to effectively communicate with them and that they're important enough to you that you'll take the time to use proper grammar and diction. However abbreviations are acceptable.
- When sending messages to multiple recipients, don't disclose any personal information about any of the recipients as every recipient gets the exact same message.
- Messages should be concise and to the point. Think of it as a telephone conversation, except you are typing instead of speaking. Nobody has ever won a Pulitzer Prize for a telephone conversation nor will they win one for an e-mail message. Its also important to remember that some people receive hundreds of e-mail messages a day (yes, there are such people), so the last thing they want to see is a message from someone who thinks he/she is the next Dickens.
Abbreviation usage is quite rampant with e-mail. In the quest to save keystrokes, users have traded clarity for confusion (unless you understand the abbreviations). Some of the more common abbreviations are listed in the table below. I would recommend that you use abbreviations that are already common to the English language, such as FYI and BTW. Beyond that, you run the risk of confusing your recipient.
- BCNU - be seeing you
- BTW - by the way
- FWIW - for what it's worth
- FYI - for your information
- IMHO - in my humble opinion
- OBO - or best offer
- ROTFL - rolling on the floor laughing
- RTFM - read the funny manual
- TNSTAAFL - there's no such thing as a free lunch
- TTFN - ta ta for now
- TTYL - talk to you later
E-Motions are a way to express emotion when using text. The following is a list if E-motions and their meanings:
- :-) grin
- :-I indifference
- :-( disappointment
- (-: user is left-handed
- B-) user wearing sunglasses
- ;-) a wink
- :-@ user is screaming
- :-& tongue-tied
- :-D laughter
- :-O shocked, or user is yelling
- :-/ skepticism
- :( real downer
Yes, with your basic residential account you are allowed up to 5 additional email addresses. Depending on your service, you may be able to get more. To sign up for another email address, simply email support@infowest.com with the email address (@infowest.com) and password that you would like.
Business
How do I log into the control panel for my domain?
Our hosting includes many features that are accessible in your domain's control panel. You can access your domain's control panel by visiting: www.YourDomain.com/cpanel You will use the same username & password as you use to connect to your domain name with FTP. If you have further questions, please contact us.
