Service provider Logic Communications has issued a CD-ROM to ease the pain of getting signed up and running on the Internet.

As a bonus, the CD-ROM also has the latest version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE5) browser.

A browser is software that allows you to view information stored on the Internet. The two main browsers are Explorer or Netscape.

The Logic CD-ROM was designed to be foolproof. Then real people began using it. Some people ran into problems when using the software. And the telephone calls began coming into Logic.

A few miffed North Rock Communications customers were cut off, or thought they were cut off from their Internet provider. Conspiracy theories abounded. It was just another day in Bermuda.

When you open up the CD-ROM on your computer you are presented with a welcome graphic. By the way, that's Logic's salesman Fanon Khaldun cheerily hoisting the CD-ROM at start up.

You get a choice of either downloading IE5 by itself or downloading it while signing up to Logic. Seems like a few people who were North Rock Communications customers went through the entire process of sign-up to Logic, instead of going to the choice of downloading IE5 only, then got stuck. It's an either/or situation folks.

There is another glitch in the program. You can't download IE5 only, then decide to go through the sign-up process later. You end up having to wipe out IE5 from your machine then go through the download and sign-up process again.

The lesson is ample warning to all who decide to use Microsoft's latest technology. The software takes over your Window's desktop and controls in the usual invasive Microsoft way. I am in a constant battle to regain control of my computer under Windows 98. I still haven't had time to figure out how to get rid of "Favourites'' from "Start'' and every pop up menu on folders -- any suggestions? When North Rock customers began the sign-up process by mistake, their browser automatically defaulted to the Logic sign-up dial process, though their North Rock settings hadn't been wiped out.

It was simply being over ridden by IE5, which was supposedly attempting to be helpful.

And if they stopped the download process part way, they also became stuck in a screen asking them to complete the sign-up process. At this point you have to go delete IE5, and choose the reinstall it from the disk.

Or you can get out of this annoying problem by going into the "My Computer'' folder (for Windows users) and opening up the "Dial Up Networking'' folder.

In there you should find your North Rock icon for connecting alongside the new one you've inadvertently created. Delete the Logic one leaving behind your old North Rock connection. Click on your North Rock connection and you should be all right.

Alternatively, you could go through the whole connection process again by going into the Start menu, doing a search under the "Find'' folders or files option for (icwconn1.exe) file and going through the Internet Connection Wizard process on the manual mode.

You shouldn't have to type in or change anything. Just keep the settings to revert back to your North Rock connection. Or go to the Internet Connection Wizard from the Communications window under Accessories on the Start menu.

If you like to dial up first before starting your browser create a shortcut for the dial up icon and put it on your desktop.

Hey, put this whole process down to a learning experience and a way to get to know your computer. The Logic CD-ROM itself comes free inside the new telephone books, although not all of them.

The company, a subsidiary of the Bermuda Telephone Co. Ltd., is distributing 23,000 copies to households only in the new telephone books, so don't go rifling through the office copies. It's called "leveraging'' your connection in the business.

If you want a copy just walk into the Logic office on Par-La-Ville Road and ask.

By the way there are extra add ons to IE5 in the "Extras'' folder in the CD-ROM. Quick Time 3 is included in a separate folder. Also go to the "Eggplant'' folder and figure out the secret password to launch photographs of the cheesy guys who helped create the CD-ROM.

Tech Tattle is about issues in technology. Contact Ahmed ElAmin at 295-5881 ext. 248, or 238-3854, or techtattle y gazette.newsmedia.bm.