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- ------------------------------------------------------------
- README for Microsoft NetMeeting 2.0
- April 1997
- ------------------------------------------------------------
-
- (c) Copyright Microsoft Corporation, 1997
-
-
- This document provides complementary or late-breaking information to supplement
- existing documentation.
-
-
- ------------------------
- HOW TO USE THIS DOCUMENT
- ------------------------
-
- To view Netmeet.txt on screen in Notepad, maximize the Notepad window.
-
- To print Netmeet.txt, open it in Notepad or another word processor,
- and then use the Print command on the File menu.
-
-
- CONTENTS
- ========
-
- SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS AND SETUP
- USING MICROSOFT NETMEETING
- PLACING A CALL
- RECEIVING A CALL
- SHARING AN APPLICATION
- WHITEBOARD
- CHAT
- FILE TRANSFER
- AUDIO COMMUNICATION
- HANGING UP
- VIDEO
- GENERAL KNOWN ISSUES
- WINDOWS NT ISSUES
-
-
- SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS AND SETUP
- =============================
-
- Microsoft(R) NetMeeting(TM) enables real-time audio, video, and data
- communication over the Internet.
-
- In order to use Microsoft NetMeeting, you must have the following
- configuration:
-
- - Microsoft Windows(R) 95
- - At least a 486/66 processor with 8 megabytes of RAM
- (Pentium with 12 MB of RAM recommended)
-
- --or--
-
- - Microsoft Windows NT(R) version 4.0
- - At least a 486/66 processor with 16 megabytes of RAM
- - Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 3 required to enable sharing
- applications on Windows NT
-
-
- Important Notes
- * NetMeeting does not run on Windows version 3.1.
-
- * It is strongly recommended that all NetMeeting users upgrade to
- NetMeeting 2.0 to avoid incompatibility issues.
-
- * It is strongly recommended that you uninstall earlier beta versions
- of Microsoft NetMeeting before installing NetMeeting 2.0.
-
- - NetMeeting works best with a fast Internet connection (a 28.8-baud or
- faster modem or a local area network).
-
- - To use the audio features of NetMeeting, you need a sound card,
- speakers, and a microphone.
-
- - To use the video features of NetMeeting, you need either a video-
- capture card and camera or a video camera that connects through your
- computer's parallel (printer) port. You will not be able to send video
- on some computers with a processor slower than a Pentium.
-
- Computers with a bidirectional (ECP or EPP) parallel port will perform
- noticeably better with parallel port video cameras than computers with
- a unidirectional parallel port.
-
- Cameras that connect to a video-capture card will use less of your
- computer's processor than cameras that connect through your computer's
- parallel port. It is recommended that you not use a color parallel port
- camera unless your computer is at least a Pentium 133.
-
- - The application-sharing feature may not perform well while you are using
- audio and video and are connected over a slow connection. Additionally,
- you might experience "choppy" audio while using video.
-
- The default setting for video over a 28.8-baud modem connection is low
- quality. To change this setting, click the Tools menu, click Options,
- click the Video tab, and then change the Video Quality option.
-
- - Windows NT users will be able to share applications if they have
- installed Service Pack 3 for Windows NT 4.0.
-
- - If you are unable to use some of NetMeeting's features, there may be
- a problem with your installation of NetMeeting. Uninstall NetMeeting,
- download the latest version, and try again.
-
- - If NetMeeting is installed in a directory with a path that contains
- extended characters, application sharing might not work.
-
- For more information about NetMeeting, including the NetMeeting Resource
- Kit, see http://www.microsoft.com/netmeeting/.
-
- For the NetMeeting Software Development Kit (SDK), see
- http://www.microsoft.com/netmeeting/.
-
- To run Microsoft NetMeeting
- ---------------------------
- 1. After installation, if a dialog box appears asking if you want to
- restart your computer, click Yes.
-
- 2. Start Microsoft NetMeeting as follows:
- Click the Start button, point to Programs, and then click
- Microsoft NetMeeting.
-
- 3. When you open NetMeeting for the first time, a wizard appears
- that helps you get ready to use NetMeeting. If you cancel this
- wizard, you will not be able to use NetMeeting.
-
-
- To uninstall Microsoft NetMeeting
- ---------------------------------
- 1. In Control Panel, double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.
-
- 2. On the Install/Uninstall tab, click Microsoft NetMeeting, and then
- click Add/Remove.
-
- 3. If a dialog box appears asking if you want to restart your computer,
- click Yes.
-
- Warnings and Known Bugs
- -----------------------
- - If you uninstall Windows NT Service Pack 3 after installing
- NetMeeting 2.0, you will receive an error message when you restart
- your computer. To prevent this, carry out the following steps:
-
- 1. Close the error message window.
-
- 2. Click Cancel in the Display Property Dialog
-
- 3. In Control Panel, click the Devices icon.
-
- 4. Click mnmdd, and then click the Startup button.
-
- 5. Change the Startup Type from System to Disabled, and then click OK.
-
- 6. Restart your computer so the change can take effect.
-
-
- USING MICROSOFT NETMEETING
- ==========================
-
- - Microsoft NetMeeting now includes support for the H.323 audio and video
- conferencing standard. NetMeeting can be used to place calls to and receive
- calls from products that are H.323 compatible, including the Intel Internet
- Video Phone. With appropriate equipment and services that are currently under
- development by third parties, NetMeeting can place a telephone call using an
- H.323 gateway.
-
- - Microsoft maintains the following User Location Servers on the Internet:
-
- ils.microsoft.com
- ils1.microsoft.com
- ils2.microsoft.com
- ils3.microsoft.com
- ils4.microsoft.com
- ils5.microsoft.com
-
- You can use one of these even if it does not appear in the list of servers
- in the wizard.
-
- Note
- * You will not be able to use these servers to locate
- people on the Internet if you connect to the Internet
- through a proxy server that does not support Remote
- WinSock.
-
- - Audio and video work only over TCP/IP and with one other person at a time.
- You can use all other features with more than one other person over TCP/IP,
- modems, and IPX.
-
- - NetMeeting supports meetings of up to 32 people. In addition, you can be
- connected to only one other person with audio and video at a time. Only
- three people at a time can share applications running on their computers.
-
- The total number of people who can successfully participate in your meeting
- will vary based on available network bandwidth and the speed of the
- participants' computers.
-
- - Some activities cause large amounts of data to be sent between the computers
- in your meeting (for example, speaking and sharing several applications while
- transferring a large file). In extreme cases, this might cause computers in
- the meeting to become very slow. To remedy this, stop one or more of the
- meeting activities.
-
- - If you try to make a TCP/IP call on your local area network or through a proxy
- server and MSN or Dial-Up Networking displays a connection dialog box, you can
- disable this by double-clicking the Internet icon in Control Panel and then
- making sure that Auto-Dial is not selected.
-
- - Sharing of DirectX, OpenGL, MS-DOS(R), and graphics-intensive games and AVIs
- does not work well and is not supported.
-
- - If different computers have different screen resolutions during a meeting,
- the shared windows can be as large as the highest resolution desktop allows.
- Users with lower resolution desktops must scroll to view windows that don't
- fit their screens.
-
- - You must have a 32-bit TCP/IP stack and Windows sockets interface to use
- NetMeeting with TCP/IP. NetMeeting has been tested with the 32-bit TCP/IP
- and Windows sockets built into Windows 95 and Windows NT version 4.0.
-
- - Application sharing, Whiteboard, and Chat might not work properly between
- computers with different language settings and keyboard layouts.
-
- - Microsoft NetMeeting supports using Windows 95 and Windows NT version 4.0
- system policies to set default configurations in a corporate environment.
-
- Microsoft NetMeeting system policies are documented, and a system policy
- file is included in the NetMeeting Resource Kit. For more information about
- the NetMeeting Resource Kit, see http://www.microsoft.com/netmeeting/.
-
- - If NetMeeting hangs when it starts, check to see whether there are damaged
- fonts in your Fonts folder.
-
- - NetMeeting does not function properly over SLIRP connections or other
- simulated SLIP/PPP connections.
-
-
- PLACING A CALL
- ==============
-
- You can place Microsoft NetMeeting calls to multiple users. Any person in a
- meeting can place NetMeeting calls to other people. In addition, other people
- can join a NetMeeting call in progress by calling one of the participants.
-
- Warnings and Known Bugs
- -----------------------
- - If you cannot connect to someone by using their computer name, try using
- their IP address.
-
- - If you click someone's name in the Web directory and get a message asking
- whether you would like to open or save the file, select open file.
-
- - If you click someone's name in the Web directory and get a message saying
- that the file type is unrecognized, you need to configure your browser to
- associate the ILS directory files with Microsoft NetMeeting.
-
- For instructions on how to do this, refer to your browser documentation.
- You will need the following information:
-
- MIME file type: "text/iuls"
- Command line: "rundll32.exe msconf.dll,NewMediaPhone %l"
-
- MIME file type: "text/h323"
- Command line: "rundll32.exe msconf.dll,NewMediaPhone %l"
-
- - Some ISDN devices are configured to automatically connect to the network.
- This might cause the ISDN device to try to connect to the network while
- NetMeeting is running. To stop this from happening, turn off Auto-Dial on
- the ISDN device.
-
- - If you do not see your name in the directory, you might not be logged on,
- or you might be logged on to a different directory server. To change the
- directory server you log on to, click the Tools menu, click Options, click
- Calling, and then change your Server Name.
-
- To log on to the directory server, click the Call menu, and then click Log
- On To [your directory server].
-
- - If you have an active network connection using a network card and a second
- active connection using a modem or a second network card, you might not be
- able to connect to the directory.
-
- - Some conference bridges are case-sensitive, so when you type the
- conference name to place a call, you may need to use the same
- capitalization as that shown on the bridge.
-
- - To receive calls over your modem, click the Tools menu, click Options, click
- the Protocols tab, and then make sure that Modem is selected. Select the
- Modem protocol, and then click Properties. Select the Use Modem To Receive
- Calls check box.
-
- - You can enable either the Modem protocol or the Null Modem protocol, but
- you cannot enable both at the same time. To enable either protocol, click
- the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Protocols tab.
-
- - NetMeeting does not detect incoming calls on a COM port to which a null
- modem cable is connected. To receive calls over a null modem cable, you
- must place a call on the COM port.
-
- - Changes made to the COM port properties in NetMeeting apply only in
- NetMeeting. It is recommended that you do not change the COM port settings
- while you are placing or participating in a NetMeeting call.
-
- - NetMeeting uses the COM port typed into the New Call dialog box to place
- the call, not the COM port specified in the Null Modem Protocol Properties
- dialog box.
-
- - NetMeeting can use only COM1 and COM2 to place and receive null modem calls.
-
- - NullModem calls at high baud rates may not work.
-
- - If you connect to someone through a proxy server, you may need to manually
- connect audio and video after joining the call.
-
- - If you are using Dial Up Networking and are not automatically connected with
- audio and video when you place a call, or experience slow connect times turn
- off IP header compression.
-
- RECEIVING A CALL
- ================
-
- You are ready to receive incoming calls if you are running Microsoft NetMeeting
- and have not selected Do Not Disturb on the Call menu.
-
- Warnings and Known Bugs
- -----------------------
- - If you are not able to receive calls, it may be because your IP address is
- registered incorrectly with the directory service. You can prevent this by
- releasing the LAN IP address before connecting to the Internet. To release
- the IP address, do the following:
-
- On Windows 95 Click the Start menu, click Run, and then type
- Winipcfg.exe
-
- On Windows NT Click the Start menu, click Run, and then type
- Ipconfig /release
-
-
- SHARING AN APPLICATION
- ======================
-
- Any person in a meeting can share an application with the other participants.
- When you share an application, other people can see the application. When you
- Collaborate, other people can both see and use the application.
-
- Warnings and Known Bugs
- -----------------------
- - Windows NT users will be able to share applications if they have installed
- Service Pack 3 for Windows NT 4.0.
-
- - If NetMeeting is installed in a directory where the path that contains
- extended characters, application sharing might not work.
-
- - Sharing one Windows Explorer window shares all of them. If you run a program
- while sharing Windows Explorer, the program will also be shared.
-
- Examples of Windows Explorer windows include Control Panel, Briefcase, the
- Received Files folder, or any Windows Explorer folder.
-
- - When you share an application and collaborate, remote users can use the
- File Open and File Save dialog boxes in your application to gain access to
- or delete files on your computer or network.
-
- To stop someone from using your shared program while you do not have control
- of the cursor, press ESC.
-
- To stop someone from using your shared program while you do have control of
- the cursor, click the Stop Collaborating button.
-
- It is not recommended that you leave your computer unattended while sharing
- an application and collaborating.
-
- - When you launch another application from within the application you are sharing
- (such as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet from within Microsoft Word), there's a
- possiblity that the recently launched application won't be shared properly.
-
- - You cannot drag an object onto a shared application or drag an object from a
- shared application to the desktop.
-
- - When you share an application with an Input Method Editor (IME), you should
- show the IME status bar so that other people can use the mouse to activate
- the IME.
-
- If the IME does not support showing the status bar, or if other people are
- having trouble activating the IME, you should activate and deactivate the
- IME for them.
-
- - If the IME window fails to repaint during a meeting, you can cause it to
- repaint by clicking anywhere on the desktop.
-
- - You cannot share versions of Ecco Pro earlier than version 4.0.
-
- - You may not be able to share applications on a computer with a product
- installed that has application sharing or remote control features.
-
- - It is strongly recommended that you not share any untitled application.
-
-
- WHITEBOARD
- ==========
-
- The Whiteboard enables you to draw simultaneously with other people. Everyone
- in the meeting can see what is drawn on the Whiteboard. When one person in a
- meeting runs Whiteboard, it appears on everyone's screen.
-
- Warnings and Known Bugs
- -----------------------
- - On a computer running Windows NT, if the directory in which NetMeeting is
- installed contains spaces in its name, you will not be able to run Whiteboard
- or Chat.
-
- - Whiteboard does not maximize to the full size of a 1024 by 768 or larger
- display.
-
-
- CHAT
- ====
-
- Chat enables you to type messages for other users to see. When one person
- in a meeting runs Chat, it appears on everyone's screen.
-
- Chat files are stored with the .txt file extension. If Microsoft Notepad,
- or another program that can read files in .txt format, is installed on your
- computer, it can be used to open Chat files.
-
- Warnings and Known Bugs
- -----------------------
- - On a computer running Windows NT, if the directory in which NetMeeting is
- installed contains spaces in its name, you will not be able to run Whiteboard
- or Chat.
-
-
- FILE TRANSFER
- =============
-
- - Files dragged onto the list of people on the Current Call tab are sent to
- all the people in the meeting.
-
- - To send a file to a specific person, right-click that person's name in the
- list of people in the meeting, and then click Send File.
-
- - To send a file to everyone in the meeting, click the Tools menu, click File
- Transfer, and then click Send File.
-
- Warnings and Known Bugs
- -----------------------
- - If you try to send a shortcut to a file, the actual file will be sent instead.
-
- - Exchanging files with Intel ProShare 2.0 does not always work properly.
-
-
- AUDIO COMMUNICATION
- ===================
-
- - Audio is supported only over TCP/IP and with one other person.
-
- - Sound quality can vary significantly depending on your sound card and
- microphone.
-
- - Using full-duplex audio can require both more bandwidth and more CPU than
- using half-duplex audio, and therefore may result in poor sound quality.
-
- Warnings and Known Bugs
- -----------------------
- - If you are using a WinNov video-capture card and have selected it as your
- wave device for recording audio, you must use a camera that connects to the
- Multimedia Extension Connector and includes a microphone. On the other hand,
- you can select your computer's sound card as the wave device in the Audio
- Tuning Wizard and plug a microphone into your sound card.
-
- - Audio input for users of WinNov cameras will automatically be switched
- whenever video is in use. If your video is connected using the MXC connection,
- the camera input will be used for audio. If your video is connected using the
- Composite or S-Video connection, the Line Input will be used for audio.
-
- - Users of Microsoft NetMeeting and Intel Internet Video Phone can talk to
- each other only if both users have a computer with a Pentium processor.
-
- - You may receive a message in the Audio Tuning Wizard that explains that
- your sound card is unsupported. This occurs when the sound card does not
- support some of the features required for it to be supported by NetMeeting.
- The audio features in NetMeeting may work even if you get this message, but
- you might experience poor audio quality.
-
- If your sound card is unsupported, you might want to contact the manufacturer
- to find out if newer sound card drivers are available.
-
- - If you are experiencing "choppy" full-duplex sound quality, try switching
- NetMeeting to half-duplex sound quality. To do this, carry out the following
- steps:
-
- 1. Make sure that you are not in a NetMeeting call.
-
- 2. On the Tools menu, click Options.
-
- 3. On the Audio tab, clear the Enable Full Duplex Audio check box.
-
- It is recommended that you not switch between full-duplex and half-duplex
- audio while in a meeting with audio.
-
- - If you are having problems with your audio quality or sound card when using
- NetMeeting, the problems could be related to your hardware configuration or
- driver installation. To see the latest support information, click the Help
- menu, and then click Online Support.
-
- - If your computer has more than one audio device, you should make sure that
- the audio devices selected in the Audio Tuning Wizard match the selections
- in the Multimedia properties in Control Panel.
-
- - If you upgrade your computer's processor, you should re-run the audio tuning
- wizard.
-
- - Full-duplex audio might not work with Media Vision Pro Audio Spectrum 16
- sound cards.
-
- - Computers with a 486 processor will not be able to use audio with other
- software based on the H.323 audio conferencing standard over a Dial-Up
- Networking (modem) connection. They will be able to use audio with other
- NetMeeting users over a Dial-Up Networking connection or with other H.323-
- based audio conferencing products over a local area network (LAN).
-
- - When you are in an audio conference using NetMeeting, an application that
- has the ability to record sound, such as Microsoft PowerPoint, will appear
- to be recording sound as instructed. However, since NetMeeting is already
- using the sound card, the other application is not actually recording.
-
- - If you have a Tecra 740, you may need to manually set the microphone volume
- level in the Multimedia properties in Control Panel.
-
- - If you experience poor audio quality, try un-checking the microphone check
- box and then checking it again.
-
-
- HANGING UP
- ==========
-
- When you hang up, you disconnect anyone you have called or anyone who called
- you. If the disconnected users have invited or accepted other users into the
- meeting, they are also disconnected. Audio connections between people might
- not be disconnected.
-
-
- VIDEO
- =====
-
- - To use the video features of NetMeeting, you need either a video-capture
- card and camera or a video camera that connects through your computer's
- parallel (printer) port. Sending video does not work on some computers
- that have a processor slower than a Pentium.
-
- - Video is supported only over TCP/IP and with only one other person at a
- time.
-
- - Running video in a multiuser meeting can negatively impact performance on
- all the computers in the meeting. For example, opening a video window while
- sharing an application can make it difficult for others to take control of
- the application.
-
- - If you have more than one video device installed, or have not properly
- uninstalled a video device that was previously installed, you might not be
- able to use video.
-
- - If your video device is not properly uninstalled and you have enabled video
- in NetMeeting, the remaining camera software may warn you repeatedly that it
- cannot find the camera.
-
- - If your computer does not have a Pentium processor, you will not be able to
- send video.
-
- - Computers with a bidirectional (ECP or EPP) parallel port will perform
- noticeably better with parallel video cameras than computers with a
- unidirectional parallel port.
-
- - Cameras that connect to a video-capture card will use less of your computer's
- processor than cameras that connect through your computer's parallel port. It
- is recommended that you not use a color parallel port camera unless your computer
- is at least a Pentium 133.
-
- - If you disconnect your camera while using the video features in NetMeeting,
- your camera's software may display messages telling you that the camera is not
- responding. To disable these messages, click the Tools menu, click Options,
- click Video, and then clear the Automatically Send Video At The Start Of Each
- Call check box.
-
- - It is recommended that you not run another program that uses video while running
- NetMeeting.
-
- - If some areas of your video window contain the wrong colors, your camera might
- be aimed at an area with insufficient light. Some video drivers might provide a
- low-light filter option.
-
- - If you are using the video features in a dark area, some cameras will cause your
- computer to become extremely slow and unresponsive.
-
- - If you use a Black and White Connectix Camera, it is recommended that you use
- the version 2.1 update (or newer) of the video drivers. You can download drivers
- from http://www.conectix.com.
-
- - Audio input for users of WinNov cameras will be automatically switched whenever
- video is in use. If your video is connected using the MXC connection, the camera
- input will be used for audio. If your video is connected using the Composite or
- S-Video connection, the Line Input will be used for audio.
-
- - With some cameras, manually adjusting the settings in the source and format dialogs
- rather than letting the video driver software do it automatically may reduce
- CPU usage.
-
-
- GENERAL KNOWN ISSUES
- ====================
-
- - You cannot run ReachOut 5.0 on computers on which Microsoft NetMeeting is
- installed.
-
- - To find the name that NetMeeting uses as your NetBIOS name, carry out the
- following steps:
-
- 1. In Control Panel, double-click the Network icon, and then click the
- Identification tab.
-
- 2. Select the Computer Name check box.
-
- - If you use User Profiles to maintain your Windows preferences on all the
- computers on a network, you might have to run the Audio Tuning Wizard again
- when you switch computers.
-
- - Both Microsoft FrontPage and Microsoft NetMeeting currently use the same file
- type (.cnf).
-
- - When you are in a meeting, your Clipboard is shared with everyone else in the
- meeting. This enables you to paste objects other people cut or copy to the
- Clipboard into your local programs. You can set a system policy that disables
- Clipboard sharing.
-
- - If you are running Windows 95 Version 4.00.950 B, and you cancel the Dial-Up
- Networking dialog box that appears when you start NetMeeting, NetMeeting
- appears to stop responding; however, NetMeeting will work properly after
- about two minutes. You will not be logged onto the directory server until
- you manually connect to your Internet service provider and then on the Call
- menu, choose Log On To [your directory server].
-
- - If you create a SpeedDial shortcut, clicking Send To Mail Recipient will
- work only if your e-mail program is MAPI-aware (for example, Microsoft Outlook
- Express).
-
- - You can return calls by using the incoming call log only if the person who
- called you was using NetMeeting 2.0.
-
-
- WINDOWS NT ISSUES
- =================
-
- - Windows NT users will be able to share applications if they have installed
- Service Pack 3 for Windows NT 4.0.
-
- - Enabling Application Sharing on Windows NT may degrade the performance of your
- display driver. This will impact the rate at which information is drawn on the
- screen.
-
- - Creative Labs' latest SoundBlaster drivers (posted on their Web site
- January 15, 1997) are not compatible with NetMeeting. To send audio, the
- user must uninstall these new drivers and install the original SoundBlaster
- drivers that shipped with Windows NT 4.0.
-
- - Windows NT users will experience problems if they share a 32-bit application
- and then insert an object that is a package. This opens the Object Packager,
- which is automatically shared and will subsequently fault. This fault will not
- cause the original shared application or NetMeeting to fault, only the Object
- Packager.
-
- - NetMeeting audio quality will be poor, or audio will not work at all, if you
- enabled the floating point workaround during installation of Windows NT on a
- computer that is equipped with a flawed Intel Pentium chip.
-
- - When you share a 16-bit application, all the 16-bit applications that are
- running on your computer will also automatically be shared.
-
- - If you are using NetMeeting on Windows NT and you are unable to receive
- a call, restart your computer and try again.
-
- - If you do not have a sound card, you will need to manually specify the
- bandwidth of your connection. To do this, click the Tools menu, click
- Options, and then click Network Bandwidth.
-
- - You may need to uninstall Dial-Up Networking in order to logon to a
- Directory Server via a proxy.
-
- - If, after placing a call, NetMeeting says it is waiting for a response from
- the other person for more than 1 minute, quit NetMeeting and try to contact
- the person again.
-
- - If you are unable to see a video image in NetMeeting, is recommended that you
- upgrade to DirectDraw 3.0 or newer.
-
- - If you suspend your computer, or if it is set to suspend automatically, you
- should completely quit and restart NetMeeting after resuming.
-
- - If you receive a SpeedDial in an email message, your mail program may convert it
- to a text (.txt) file. You will be able to use it as a SpeedDial if you rename it
- such that it's name ends in .cnf.
-
-
-