Microsoft KB Archive/157971

Online Services Error When Connecting to CheckFree Service

PSS ID Number: Q157971 Article last modified on 01-10-1998

5.00

WINDOWS

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The information in this article applies to:

 == Microsoft Money, version 5.0 == 

= SYMPTOMS =

When attempting to connect to CheckFree in Money 5.0, you receive the following error:

Money could not complete the call because Online Services could not be found. If you canceled the dialer for your Internet Service Provider, exit Money, restart, and try again. If not, run Online Service Setup again.

= CAUSE =

This error occurs if CheckFree is not properly configured for your version of Windows. You must run the Configure utility provided by CheckFree.

If you are running Windows NT 4.0, the Configure utility provided by CheckFree prior to mid-October 1996, did not correctly configure your computer. Update the Contact Information for your bank and then run the Online Services Setup Wizard again.

= RESOLUTION =

After downloading information about your financial institution, Money presents a screen that allows you to sign up for CheckFree. Click More Information to open a file titled Signdet1.rtf and click the Configure icon to configure your computer.

= MORE INFORMATION =

If you are running Money on an NT 4.0 computer, and you downloaded information prior to mid-October 1996, follow these steps to update the Contact Information:


 * 1) Click Update Contact Information on the Contact Information tab in the Home Banking area.
 * 2) Enter the Identification Number for your financial institution and click Next.
 * 3) Click Connect to download the latest files for CheckFree.

To correctly configure your computer to use CheckFree, do the following:

  Click Select Online Services on the Accounts tab in the Home Banking area. NOTE: This button may be titled Setup Online Services if you have not completed the Online Services Setup Wizard.   Step through the Online Services Setup Wizard. If asked to choose a service provider, select CheckFree in the list box.   Proceed through the wizard until you come to the CheckFree dialog box with information about CheckFree service. Click More Information.   A file opens containing an icon to configure the CheckFree service.   Double-click the Configure icon.   When asked if you want to configure your computer to use CheckFree, click Yes. </li></ol>

The Configure utility writes the Internet address for CheckFree in a Windows file titled Hosts. If a Hosts file does not exist in the Windows 95 folder, it creates one. If one exists, it appends the following Internet address to this file:

198.246.154.1 ofc.checkfree.com

= WORKAROUND FOR WINDOWS NT 4.0 =

If you are running Money 5.0 on Windows NT 4.0, add the line above to the Hosts file. To add the line, follow these steps:

<ol style="list-style-type: decimal;">  Click the Start button, point to Find, and then click Files and Folders. </li>  In the Named box, type “hosts” (without quotation marks) and click Find Now. </li>  There should be a file named Hosts in the Winnt folder. NOTE: The Windows folder may be titled Winnt or Winnt35. </li>  Edit the Hosts file to add the following line: 198.246.154.1 ofc.checkfree.com </li>  Save the file. </li></ol>

Note the information provided by the Configure utility provided by CheckFree can be found in the file Signdet1.rtf and can be open in a word processor such as WordPad.

KBCategory: KBUSAGE KBSubcategory: KBONLINE Additional reference words: 5.00 w_money

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========================================================= Keywords : kbonline Version : 5.00 Platform : WINDOWS ============================================================================= Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1998.