SMTP, NNTP ??????????

[HomerJSimpson]

Downloaded a program called FreeAgent from Forte' Inc. When attempting to sign on it asked me for my SMTP and NNTP. My ISP's are AltavistaFreeAccess and AOL. Neither of these will give me this information. AOHell simply says, "We don't give out that information." Period, end of story! How can I use this FreeAgent if no one will give me the qualifiers for the software?

[ktwebb]

SMTP = Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
NNTP = Network News Transfer Protocol (Newsgroups)
FreeAgent was probably asking for your SMTP and NNTP server names. For Instance, mine is mail.mindspring.com for SMTP and news.mindspring.com for newsgroups

Does your Altavista connection provide you with an email address? If so, what email client are you using? You should be able to find your SMTP server name in the properties of you email client mailbox. As for your newsgroup access, maybe they do not offer Usenet Newsgroup service. Doesnt make sense that they would deny you the server name if they did offer it though. AOL, I don't know about them. Never used em, never will.

[HomerJSimpson]

Thanks guys. I think I'll sign up for hotmail again. My ISP is Altavista. Also have an email account with them (donaldduckathome@altavista.com). How do I look up those settings on my Altavista mail?
Are those settings on my machine or the server's? Can I "Ping" them for the settings?

[JimG]

You need an ISP that provides plain Internet access. My friend just got Earthlink, and I might get it soon. SMTP and NNTP refer to your email system. AOHell (which I am currently using) will never ever give that out, because it's the name of the mail server, and for them, that's a security issue. I don't think you'll be able to use that unless you have some free email program (Hotmail). Good luck