[This tutorial is intended for existing PeoplePC dial-up customers who want to remove the PeoplePC software, and still be able to use their PeoplePC dial-up account. It is a outline for those of you using Internet Explorer on Windows XP. Be sure to make browser/OS specific version specific adjustments. I'm not a software company. I'm just a guy, at my house. Ergo, you are on your own, so be careful and do a little of your own thinking.]
What will change when I do this:
In practical terms, nothing much. The dial-up service will connect faster, you will not be forced to wait for the PeoplePC shell application and browser to load. There are a few visual changes. One nice feature is that the PeoplePC auto-disconnect will no longer kick you off line at arbitrary times.
You will also no longer be forced to use the PeoplePC homepage. You can always set that back if you like.
Two methods of notification to you from PeoplePC will change:
Local Access Numbers: You will not get an automatically updated list of telephone numbers through the PeoplePC connection manager however, you'll have to monitor that yourself, but you can sign up through http://www.peoplepc.com/connect/internet_access.asp (using the request access number link at the bottom of the page) to be notified if anything changes in your local dial-up neighborhood.
Email: You will not get an 'email received' notification from the PeoplePC Browser/Javascript script if you do not use PeoplePC's home page. This is no biggie really, since all you have to do is have your pop email client (Outlook Express, Thunderbird, or whatever) notify you when new email arrives. There are instructions to setup Outlook Express: http://home.peoplepc.com/helpinfo/emailsettings/default.asp
Gather Information:
- Make sure you have a properly working PeoplePC account. Verify this by dialing up and logging in by clicking the little blue smiley-face icon located in your system tray, desktop, or however you normally do it. If all that is okay, continue. If not, don't make any changes yet. Get your service working before you proceed. Calling PeoplePC support might help. You may want to have your PeoplePC CD handy or the most recent version where you can reinstall it if need be.
- Get an updated list of dialup numbers for your area: http://www.peoplepc.com/connect/internet_access.asp Copy/Paste the ones appropriate for your area into a text file, which you should save somewhere in a file named something like peoplepc_access_numbers.txt.
- Type/Write down your complete email address and password. Make sure these are exactly what you've used to connect in step 1. It's safer if you copy and paste this whenever possible.
Setup the Connection
- Click on Start..Settings.. Network Connections.. New Connection Wizard..[NOT NETWORK SETUP WIZARD]
- NEXT, (Connect to the Internet) NEXT, (Setup My Connection) Manually NEXT, (Connect using dial-up modem) NEXT
Type a name: PeoplePC Hack (or whatever)
Type A phone number: (copy a phone number from your list to this location)
User name: your_user_name@peoplepc.com
Password: ******** (your password)
Verify Password: ******** (your password again)
Probably check 'use this', and 'make this'
- NEXT
- Check "add a shortcut to my desktop'
- FINISH
- You might want to check 'save this user' and 'anyone'
Double Check your area code in the phone number box, or if you need a 1 and all that under 'Dialing Rules'.
Make sure the modem properly dials the phone number. If it is a long distance number, you are going to be paying toll for the call.. so check into that.
Also, important:
- Properties..Options.. Idle time: never.
- Start.. Settings..Control Panel.. Add/Remove Programs..
Items to uninstall:
- PeoplePC Online - Change/Remove - Yes - OK (don't reboot yet)
- PeoplePC:PeoplePC Toolbar v X.x - Change/Remove - OK
It's up to you whether or not to uninstall
- PeoplePC Internet Security Pack Change/Remove [I did. I already have this functionality with other applications, and freed up 764 MB of drive space]
- Close any open applications.
- Reboot
Note:
You will no longer use the blue smiley-face icon (which should be gone) to connect. You will just click on your dialup connection shortcut, or just open your web browser or email client to initiate a connection. ]
That's it. You are now free of BartShel.exe, Toolbar, and all that, and can enjoy your inexpensive PeoplePC dial-up account with simplicity and with ease.
2 comments:
Thanks, that was just what I needed.
Thanks for the information.
Though I do have a question: have you or anyone with PeoplePC ever, lately or before, had an experience in which they've said the access number for internet connection is going out of service?
The first time they've told me my number for internet is going out of service, they gave me a list to change it - and I did, and it worked.
In only a month, I'm told again that the number is going out of service again - and now I'm getting a bunch of old numbers which are all not working. If I change it to something out of where I live, which is Dos Palos, CA, I'll be billed higher and I certainly do not want that.
PeoplePC is not handling my situation and my mother, who has an account for PPC [I own the entire computer however], is unwilling and extremely nervous about switching to another service... preferably at this point, something excellent, fast, and great service.
What can I do?
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