Frequently Asked Questions

I have posted help on the Outlook Express© {versions 5 and 4} email settings. I promise there will be more as time allows me to create them. HOWEVER, feel free to email the Wizard of AHS with any questions you may have and you shall receive a prompt reply. Always happy to help {grins}.

For FTP Utilities, Merkury uses and recommends Ace FTP.

By popular demand, here is where the Wiz goes to generate numeric conversions. RGB conversion assistant.

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To set up email settings for a merkury.com account:

{ user_name@merkury.com }

1. Open your MicroSoft© Outlook Express program.

2. Click on 'Tools' located on the top Menu Bar.

3. Click on 'Accounts'

4. Click on the 'Add' button near upper right of the new pop-up window then click on mail {you will see it}. You will be asked to enter a name for the new account. Enter "Your Name" Hint: U can always change this later, NP.

You are then asked to enter your email address. This is your user name followed by @merkury.com {user_name@merkury.com}

NOTE: 'Outgoing DISCLAIMER

6 The next screen will ask you for an "Account name" and "Password". This IS your WHOLE Email name {your email address WITH the @merkury.com} and your current password. Lost your password? Give us a holler and we will send you a temporary password.

7. Click on Finish.

If you wish to see if the account info is correct or you need to change an item, click on the 'Properties' button before closing the Accounts window and you should see a window like the one below and on the left. Clicking on the 'Server' tab should give a display similar to the window below on right.

Try this: Either rename or even delete the existing index.html file currently on the server and then upload your revised version of index.html. IF there exists a file named index.htm, it should also be deleted.

If, after hitting the refresh on your browser and possibly even restarting the browser, you still see no change, please contact Wiz.

IF you see a listing of all your files, check to see if index.html exists. A second cause is the extension. As mentioned earlier, the opening page should be named index.html. Some HTML editors use just htm. The browser will display the first page it finds that fits the address. Hence, it will display index.htm first because it never looks for the last letter. It found what you asked it to find {grins}.

Also, in order to replace any html file, there must be an edit made to it. Even the addition or deletion of a period or a space will make the file different than the one currently posted. The reason why no edit is needed on a graphic files but it is on html files is because of their format. Graphic files are binary format and html files are ASCII format. Why must there be a change? You can not replace the file with the exact same file. The system is smart enough to know that it would be a waste of time {grins} A.I. {Artificial Intelligence}

• The user received an e-mail with an odd attachment and opened it with unexpected results, such as the appearance of odd dialog boxes or a sudden degradation in system performance.
• There is a double extension on an attachment that the user recently opened, such as .jpg.vbs.
• An antivirus program is disabled for no apparent reason (perhaps with an X through its icon in the notification area), and it cannot be enabled. The system may also report an error condition.
• An antivirus program will not install on the PC (or appears to install, but then will not run), but other programs will.
• Odd dialog boxes or messages appear onscreen.
• Several files are missing, especially those of a common type. For example, some viruses have a side effect of deleting all graphic files of a particular type.
• Someone tells the user they have recently received strange e-mails from them containing random attached files or a virus.
• The PC starts performing actions seemingly on its own, like moving the mouse pointer, opening or closing windows, running programs, or opening and closing the CD tray. This is a symptom of someone actually using a back door to operate the PC, rather than a symptom of the existence of the back door.
• You notice the presence of new users with full security permissions that you know you did not create, or you notice inappropriate permissions assigned to existing users. Again, this is more often a symptom of back door hacking than virus infection.
• The mouse pointer changes to some different graphic.
• Odd icons appear on the desktop that the user did not place there, although the user has not installed any new applications lately that could have placed them there.
• Strange sounds or music plays from the speakers for no apparent reason.
• File sizes or date/time stamps have changed on files that the user knows he or she did not alter.
• A program that was used successfully recently has disappeared, and the user knows that he or she did not uninstall it.

There R a number of things I do when I get your system Some of these things U can change back {grins}.

1. I change your Automatic Updates to "Notify me but don't automagically download or install them."

2. I delete all program shortcuts found in your Startup folder of your Start Menu. U could restore if needed - BUT I doubt U will miss them.

3. I Empty your Trash Can. This can NOT B undone.

4. I disable your Screen Saver. U should Right Click anywhere in an empty area of your Desktop, then click on Properties.

I also tweak your power settings under the Power Button of this window. U should leave them as I have them. BTW, always remember to turn your computer OFF when U R done for the day / evenin'.

5. I run msconfig and disable all StartUp items {Except ctfmon} and some Services {EXCEPT MicroSoft Services}
CAUTION: U can really mess things up here if U set anything wrong. Your System could FAIL to restart. B Careful please.
I mention it here just in case your Ipod or your Printer fail to work or your ICQ or Defender or Calendar program is gone when U get it back. U "could" enable on an "as needed" basis.
Wiz Tip: If it ain't broke, don't fix it {grins}.
Click on Start then click on Run. Type msconfig and hit enter.

6. I go to and bookmark the ® MicroSoft Protection Center - Windows Live OneCare safety scanner where I run the Protection Scan. After a clean run, I run the Clean Up. It may well take more than one Protection Scan to fully clean your system, but Microsoft does it right {grins}.

Wiz Note: This is a great tool that I have tested. U MUST manually delete some files so U need to click on the little down arrow {lt. grey and hard to see} in order to identify the path to the infected file(s).

7. On Laptops I also Shut OFF the WiFi switch. U should locate the WiFi switch and turn it back on.
It should B off when U ain't at your default location OR at a secondary location with a WiFi network.
Please learn where this switch is and use it. Thanx.
IF no switch exists on laptop {older models did not have them} I Disable the WiFi Connection in the Network settings. U will need to Enable it again in case I forget to {blush}.

There R a number of ways to open the WiFi Networks Properties. Here is one way. Click on Start and then click on Control Panel. Then click on Network and Internet Connections

Click on Network Connections.

Right Click on the WiFi connection and then click on Properties.

Click on the Wireless Networks tab.

Clean this up - if possible?