->  MM>> Wish I had the guts to load Linux! But, getting too old for
->  MM>> this dog to learn new tricks now. :-(( 

->  CA> Download one of the free Linux livecds such as KNOPPIX CD ISO
->  CA> image file and burn it to a CD. It operates from the CD and a
->  CA> virtual drive (no install) and comes up with a rather nice GUI
->  CA> display. :-) 

-> The highly favorable comments you've gotten from Wayne and others about that CD
-> image file sure have tempted me, but I would have to do it from my Daughter's
-> [cable connection], or a friend's DSL connection.  Somehow, it manages to
-> escape my memory cells once I close Fido and shut down this machine.   :-((

It's a walk in the park if you've a hardware modem.
If you've 128 Meg of ram or more you can load it into ramdrive
by booting the CD and not affect the host system at all.

Just type "knoppix lang=us" to load the GUI in English.
Find KPPP dialer under internet from the application's menu
and select the com port the modems on, supply the account name
and ISP number, load Mozilla or Konqueror browser and you're surfing
the net.

Open the mail and newsgroups window in Mozilla and e-mail
and newsgroups are very easily setup, they walk you through it.
Or you can use KMail as your mail and news reader,
There are other options as well.

The menu listing is at the lower left bottom of the screen just
to the left of the stylised penquin logo.
--- Platinum Xpress/Win/WINServer v3.0pr5