Managing Email Clients with NetSwitcher
V3? Here are some ideas (See the NOTE below before using this FAQ):
Microsoft Outlook [Express]
Netscape Navigator Mail
Qualcomm Eudora
(Note: The V3.2.0 release of NetSwitcher includes support for
Microsoft Outlook [Express] and Qualcomm Eudora. The above notes are no
longer needed for these programs but the techniques may be useful for other
purposes.)
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What versions of Windows are supported?
NetSwitcher V3 has been tested and is supported with:
Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 98SE, Windows Millenium Edition, Windows NT 4 Workstation SP4+,
Windows 2000 Professional.
NetSwitcher V3.2.3 and later is certified to work
with Windows XP Pro and Windows XP Home Edition.
NetSwitcher does not work with: Windows 3.1,
Windows for Workgroups V3.11, Windows CE, MacOS, OS/2, or Linux.
NetSwitcher has been reported to work with, but is not supported with: Windows NT 4
Server, Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2003 Server.
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When I start Windows 2000 the system pauses
for what seems like a very long time at the "Preparing Network Connections
screen?
After I login to Windows 2000, the network seems to be non-operational for a couple of minutes, what's wrong?
The issue here is the same. I believe that this is normal
Windows 2000 behavior. We have observed this on multiple systems both with
NetSwitcher and without NetSwitcher. It appears to be related to the
auto-discovery process used in Windows 2000 to locate proxy servers and
firewalls on your network. This appears to be the intended behavior by
Microsoft.
UPDATE 27-FEB-2001
If, however, you are using the fix. NetSwitcher V3.2.2 corrects this issue for the IPSECSHM adapter.
Note also that the most recent versions of the adapter from Nortel do not do this.
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Does NetSwitcher support Netscape Navigator
V6.0, V7.0, or Mozilla?
NetSwitcher V3.2.4 and LATER support Netscape Navigator 6.
If you need support for Navigator 6, please be sure you are using the correct
version of NetSwitcher.
The current version of NetSwitcher supports Netscape 7.0+ as
well as all versions of the Mozilla Browser.
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I've purchased new computer and want
to move my software, license, and setups to it. How do I do that?
Three part question, three part
answer:
1) Software: The best way is
to go to
http://www.netswitcher.com and click on the
DOWNLOADS link. Get the latest version.
Then install that on your new PC.
2) License: Use the original
license instructions you received when you purchased
your license. If the installer or NetSwitcher
tells you your license has expired or is not
applicable to that release, it's time to upgrade.
You can purchase a license upgrade/renewal for a
nominal fee
here.
3) Setups: Use the MANAGE LOCATIONS
dialog:
Then select and EXPORT any setups
you wish to transport. Copy them to the new
machine and then use the IMPORT feature.
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Sometimes my DHCP address fails to get updated. How do I fix this?
This problem sometimes happens due to defective network card
drivers. If you find that your DHCP address is "stale" after rebooting,
check with your network card vendor for an update. The DHCP server should
always be queried after the system is rebooted. This is most often
happening on Windows 2000 systems with older NT4 type network card drivers that
have not been fully updated to Windows 2000 specifications.
This can also happen when moving from one DHCP location to
another. There is nothing to tell the TCPIP protocol to query the DHCP
server at the new location. As far as it is concerned, there is nothing
different and the lease on the IP address is still OK. So, what to
do??
Windows provides a small utility called IPCONFIG that permits
manually forcing the DHCP server to be queried. The syntax of the command
is:
IPCONFIG /RENEW_ALL (for Windows 98)
IPCONFIG /RENEW (for Windows NT/2000)
This command can be given from the Start Menu>Run or from a
MSDOS/CMD window. Note that the command is normally in the \WINDOWS folder
on Win9x machines and in \WINNT\SYSTEM32 on NT and 2000 systems.
NetSwitcher includes the RunCommand feature that can be used to
run this comand automatically after applying a new setup. On the
Extensions tab, click the "Add" button in the bottom section:
Fill in your information similar to this:
Be sure that the string in the Command edit box is a COMPLETE
pathname to the IPCONFIG.EXE executable. Use /RENEW_ALL for Win9x and
/RENEW for NT/2000. Also be sure to check the "Wait for this command..."
checkbox. Then click OK. Now be SURE TO SAVE your location profile
to save this RunCommand.
Now when you APPLY the setup containing this RunCommand, the
IPCONFIG program will be run and your DHCP address should be updated.
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How to I use NetSwitcher with my Cable Modem at home and a corporate LAN at work?
A bit of background first.
Almost all cable modem system
are setup to use DHCP (Obtain IP Address Automatically) and require you to set
your computer name to match the name they give you. This makes sure that
only customers who are authorized to connect to the system do so and help make
sure you get the right IP address for your system.
Now with Windows 9x/ME systems it's no problem to just change
the computer name to whatever. Windows doesn't care and there is no issue
with changing it to the cable name or back.
The problem comes with Windows NT/2000/XP Pro where changing the
computer name can have an adverse effect on your NT DOMAIN membership at
work. Network admins don't like to have to re-join member workstations to
the domain and some are reluctant to provide the required privilege to permit
users to do this themselves.
Here's a way around this. Your cable provider might not
admit it or even support it but chances are that you do not have to use DHCP to
connect with the cable system. If you know the IP address, netmask,
gateway, and DNS server addresses, you can configure these as static values in
NetSwitcher and connect to the cable network without renaming your
computer. If your cable company did not give you these number, you can
setup your computer for DHCP once and let it connect to the cable. Then
use IPCONFIG (NT/2000) or WINIPCFG (Win9x) from a CMD window and see what values
were actually assigned. Your computer gets these same numbers assigned all
the time. (Note: it's possible that at some point your cable provider might
juggle some of these numbers and your cable connection may stop working.
Before calling them, reconfigure for DHCP again and see if anything has
changed.) Now with static IP numbers you do not have to change your
computer name from the work name.
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My default printer setting doesn't "take"
sometimes. What's wrong?
The problem is not with NetSwitcher but rather with your printer
driver. Some drivers depend on being able to actually contact the
printer before setting it as default. If, for example, you are at
a remote site and know you are going back to the office. As a good
NetSwitcher user, you load the "Office" setup before shutting
down and your setup has the office LaserJet as default. The printer
driver now looks on the network and tries to get the status of the
LaserJet but it cannot as you are not on the Office network. So
the printer driver refuses to take the default setting and Windows
reverts back to the last default printer.
The fix is as follows:
1) Complain to your printer vendor for making such a dumb driver.
In my opinion, this is a case of being too smart for its own good.
You know that the printer is unreachable but you don't care. When
it matters, it will be there.
2) When you get to the new location, load that setup again. The
Default Printer setting doesn't need any reboot to be effective
and just takes a second to run.
Another symptom commonly seen with unreachable printers is that
NetSwitcher appears to hang while Windows is trying to contact the
printer. It will eventually time out and come back but depending
on how the driver is setup, it may take several minutes.
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My NetSwitcher license
doesn't work any more. What's wrong?
Nothing is wrong and nothing you had before has
been lost.
When you purchased NetSwitcher you received a permanent license to use the version of
NetSwitcher current at the time of purchase as well as all new
versions released within one year after that date. If you
upgraded your NetSwitcher software to a version released AFTER the
expiration date of your license, it will complain that your license
is expired. If you had a old-style V2 license, NetSwitcher
V3.2.3 is the last version which will be licensed for this license.
No V2 licenses were issued after February 2001 and V3.2.3 was the
current release through the end of February 2002.
Remember, however, that just as with the initial
evaluation of NetSwitcher, no bad things are going to happen.
NetSwitcher will continue to work normally in non-licensed or
license-expired mode until you are able to purchase and receive a
new license. To get a new license in the fastest way possible,
go to the NetSwitcher
online ordering page and purchase online with
a credit card.
We appreciate your continued support by licensing
your NetSwitcher software. This helps keep up in business,
supporting and improving NetSwitcher software.
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Can
NetSwitcher make my NT4, Windows 2000 or Windows XP Pro be a part of
more than one NT DOMAIN?
This is among the most
common questions asked, especially from users previously running an
insecure version of Windows like Win95, 98, or ME. Strictly
speaking, the answer is NO, your Windows workstation can be a member
of EXACTLY 0 or 1 NT DOMAIN at any time. If you are a member
of a domain and you reconfigure for a workgroup or another domain,
your ability to logon the old domain is lost until the workstation
is re-joined.
NetSwitcher supports
the rejoining of your workstation to the domain BUT, under Windows
NT, 2000, and XP Pro there is a SPECIFIC USER ACCOUNT PRIVILEGE
(titled Add Workstation to Domain) that MUST be enabled on your
DOMAIN USER ACCOUNT in order for you to re-join the domain. If
you have this right, you can do it. If you don't have this
right you CANNOT. Windows security is specifically designed to
PREVENT USERS FROM DOING THINGS THEY ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO DO.
So, many ask, "why
can't NetSwitcher get around this?" Well, even if it could
(which it can't) that would only force Microsoft to fix whatever
security hole I might have found and exploited to permit this.
Others ask, "why is Windows broken in this way?". The answer
is that neither Windows nor NetSwitcher is broken. This is a
CHOICE determined by YOUR DOMAIN ADMINS. So in fact, it's not
a technical issue at all, but rather a political or security
decision made by your organization or administrators.
Some people MISTAKENLY
believe that only DOMAIN ADMINS can join a workstation to the domain
but that is not true. The only thing needed is the specific
user right which can be simply granted to any user by the
administrator.
There is an extensive
write-up of this situation in the NetSwitcher HELP file under the
section titled "NT DOMAIN SERVERS". If you have further
questions, please refer there. You will also find some
information for your administrators that may help them configure
this for you.
So the bottom line for
this question is a "definite maybe". If you have the rights on
the domain, you CAN come and go from the domain as you please.
If, however, you don't have the rights, then you CAN go, but you
cannot come back without help.
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I used
NetSwitcher and now I can't logon to my machine anymore, HELP!!!
NetSwitcher did
exactly what you told it to do. Your machine was a member of
an NT domain and you said, in effect "I no longer want to be a part
of this domain and wish to join this new domain or workgroup."
Once you do that, your
domain logon, which is controlled by the domain server is no longer
available and you must now logon either to the NEW domain's user
account or a LOCAL ACCOUNT. When you attempted to do this,
NetSwitcher warned you with:
This is an important
warning dialog and means exactly what it says. Many users ignore
this and either don't have a local account or don't know what the
username/password is and therefore lock themselves out of their
workstation. Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do to help.
This is effectively like locking your keys in your car, you need to
call for help.
As it says, unless you
are 100% of what you are doing, please consult with your network or
domain administrator BEFORE proceeding.
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My NetSwitcher license or evaluation expired and now I can't access anything!
NetSwitcher is not crippleware and it does not stop working
regardless of whether the license or the evaluation is expired. If you are
having network difficulties they are not being caused by NetSwitcher's license
status. You should check your settings to be sure they are correct and/or
contact your network provider for support.
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How do I backup or
transfer my setups to a new machine?
NetSwitcher has feature to EXPORT settings to a file for backup
or to transfer to a new machine. To access the EXPORT feature, open the
Manage Locations dialog. The Manage Locations dialog is accessed
through the NetSwitcher SYSTEM MENU which appears when you click the
mouse on the NetSwitcher logo at the top-left corner of the NetSwitcher main
window.
Once that dialog opens you can select any or all of the existing setups and
click the Export to File button. NetSwitcher will then write the
setups to a Windows INI file in the directory you choose.
The output of the EXPORT function can be backed up or transferred to a new
machine. To reverse the process, again open the Manage Locations dialog
and choose Import from File. Select the file to import.
NetSwitcher will create a setup from the INI file that was imported.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please double check the settings after you import when
the original INI file came from a different version of Windows. Some
settings are not transferable between Windows versions and may need to be set
manually and then the settings SAVED again.
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My network adapter seems
to be "lost in space". How can I fix this?
Before Windows XP, when the network adapter got "lost" it was
due to a "disconnect" between the adapter itself and the TCPIP protocol
driver. It was easy to fix by opening the Network Control Panel,
uninstalling and then re-installing the TCPIP protocol for that adapter.
In their wisdom, the folks at Microsoft decided that the
TCPIP protocol is an integral part of Windows XP. Hence you cannot
either uninstall or install the TCPIP protocol no matter what.
In the initial release of XP this problem, which happens all too frequently, was
grounds for a re-install of Windows. Not a popular option in my view.
With XP SP2, Microsoft added a way to re-install the TCPIP
protocol without really re-installing it.
Here is a link to the procedure.
There is a lot of extra verbiage in that article so the bottom line is this:
1) Open a CMD window and type:
NETSH INT IP RESET
C:\RESETLOG.TXT
2) Once that is finished, reboot your computer and things
should be back to normal.
This issue is not really related to NetSwitcher or its
operation but when it does happen, changes that NetSwitcher makes will usually
not make any difference in your machine and you usually will have no internet
access or be able to get the status of your network adapters with the
IPCONFIG application.
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When I run
NetSwitcher and click the Apply button, I get a dialog that pops up and says
that my system is shutting down in 30 (or 60) seconds. Why would
NetSwitcher do that?
This is a good news/bad news situation. The good news is
that NetSwitcher is not causing this, at least not directly.
The bad news is that the thing that is causing it is a virus.
There are any number of virus programs in the wild today that monitor many
system and network properties and, in an attempt to protect themselves from
removal, force a system shutdown when anything they are watching gets changed.
So when NetSwitcher tries to change one of these settings based on your input,
the virus detects that and does a shutdown.
"Ok", you might say. "But I run Norton AntiVirus."
Well, the other issue here is that many of these same virus programs DISABLE
Norton, McAfee, as well as most other AV programs. They look like they are
running fine but in fact are not.
The solution is to get a stand-alone AV tool, or one that can be booted from a
CDROM and scan for and remove the virus on your PC.
UPDATE: There is one other possibility that I've
recently become aware of. It's described in Microsoft KB article
Q318447. In case they move or
delete that article (as they often do) here there is a PDF copy of it
here. (Note: Requires a PDF reader
to display.)
Since this is related to a NetSwitcher function, please check
the validity of all the SHARED FOLDERS (on the SHARING tab) that you are
applying with the setup that is causing this shutdown. This problem can be
caused by trying to share a folder that does not exist on your local hard
drive(s) any longer.
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