General System Error

Quick Contents

Introduction

General System Error

• You entered an incorrect IP address and/or Telnet TCP Port number in the MLS Setup window.
• Your MLS is experiencing technical difficulties with their Internet connection.
• You may be experiencing a routing and/or bottleneck problem with your Internet connection.
• You have an incorrect WINSOCK.DLL version installed in your WINDOWS directory.

Correcting the General System Error

Verify the IP Address and Telnet TCP Port

1. Contact your MLS and verify the IP address and Telnet TCP Port of your MLS system.
2. When you have the above information, start PC Access.
3. Click Setup Menu | Advanced | MLS Setup | TCP/IP tab.
4. Verify you entered the correct information in the Host Name or IP Address and Telnet TCP Port fields.
5. If the IP address and Telnet TCP Port you entered are incorrect, enter the correct information and try connecting to your MLS.
6. Close the Advanced Setup menu window. On the PC Access for Windows Main Menu window, click Call MLS.
7. If the IP address and Telnet TCP Port are correct and you still cannot connect, see: Telnet to the IP Address of Your MLS.

Telnet to the IP Address of Your MLS

1. Click Start | Run.
2. In the Open: field type:

       telnet <IP Address>
       

   then click OK.
   • Note: Replace <IP Address> in the above command with the IP Address of your MLS system.
3. If you are able to connect to your MLS system using Telnet, you may have the incorrect WINSOCK.DLL version installed. See: Finding your WINSOCK Version.
4. If you are unable to connect to your MLS system using Telnet, the problem is not in PC Access. Run tracert to analyze your Internet connection.
   1. To run tracert:
      • Windows 95 or 98: Click Start | Programs | MS-DOS Prompt.
      • Windows NT 4.0/2000: Click Start | Programs | Accessories | Command Prompt.
   2. In the MS-DOS Prompt window type the following:

             tracert <IP_Address_or_Host_Name>
            

      Replace: <IP_Address_or_Host_Name> with the numerical IP Address or Host Name of your MLS. For example: tracert www.mfm.com.
5. If you are unable to connect using tracert, see: Reset your Internet Connection.

Reset your Internet Connection

1. If you use a Dial-up Networking connection, disconnect then re-connect to your ISP to reset your Internet connection.
2. If you use a Cable Modem, DSL, or ADSL connection, ask your ISP for information on resetting your Internet connection.
3. After you reset your Internet connection, try connecting to your MLS via your Internet connection. If you still receive the "General System Error", see: Contact your ISP

Contact your ISP

1. Contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and ask if they are aware of any routing and/or bottleneck problems that may be preventing you from connecting to your MLS.
2. If your ISP is experiencing problems, you may need to wait until they correct the problem before you can connect to your MLS. If your ISP is not experiencing any problems and you:
   • Verified the IP Address and Telnet TCP Port of your MLS
   • Can connect to your MLS via a Telnet Session
   • Reset your Internet Connection
   please complete the PC Access for Windows Problem Report Form.

Finding your WINSOCK Version

1. Click Start | Find | Files or Folders....
2. Enter WINSOCK.DLL in the Named: field. The Look in: field should have the C: drive selected. Click Find Now.
   • There should be only one such file on your hard disk: C:\WINDOWS\WINSOCK.DLL
     If you have more than one WINSOCK.DLL file on your hard disk, you will need to rename other instances of WINSOCK.DLL. For detailed instructions, see: Renaming Other Instances of WINSOCK.DLL.
3. With the Find window open, right-click on WINSOCK.DLL (in the C:\WINDOWS folder.) Click Properties | Version tab. Look for the File Version: field. If you are running:
   • Windows 95/95A your WINSOCK.DLL version should be: 4.00.095
   • Windows 95B/95C your WINSOCK.DLL version should be: 4.00.1111
   • Windows 98 your WINSOCK.DLL version should be: 4.10.1998
   • Windows NT 4.0 your WINSOCK.DLL version should be: 2.0
4. Running the incorrect WINSOCK.DLL version disables all 16-bit TCP/IP functionality in Windows. Because PC Access is a 16-bit program, it will then be unable to connect to your MLS over the Internet using the wrong version of WINSOCK.DLL. Follow these steps to restore WINSOCK.DLL.
5. If all of the following are true:
   • You are running the correct version of WINSOCK.DLL
   • You tried all of the steps in the Correcting the General System Error section
   • You continue to experience the "General System Error"
   please complete the PC Access for Windows Problem Report Form.

Related Information

• WINSOCK
• What is Traceroute?
• MLS Setup window
• Host Name or IP Address
• Internet Setup Window
• Dial-Up Networking
• Internet Service Provider (ISP)
• What is the Windows Start Button?