Food, water, shelter, and the Internet: that's all you need to survive in the modern world (or so it seems). In fact, we've become so dependent on the Internet that losing touch for even a few hours can be unbearable. So, if your browser goes down, your email client breaks, or your instant messenger goes kaput, finding help can be a real chore, especially since you won't be able to use those tools to access online help. Luckily, we have the phone numbers you need for your first line of defense.

If you're an Internet Explorer user who downloaded your copy via Windows Update in Windows 98 or you bought the retail version of Microsoft Outlook, you get 90 days of free (though not toll-free) tech support over the phone. Everyone else had better get out a credit card. Most browsers and email clients charge for tech support, and Eudora and ICQ don't offer any. If you still have Internet access, though, you're in luck. We found a number of Web pages, newsgroups, and other online sources to help you.

Microsoft Internet Product Support

By phone

Internet Explorer (free if downloaded via Windows Update):
425/635-7123 

Outlook (free if purchased retail):
425/635-7056 

Outlook and IE (nonretail, OEM, and versions downloaded from third parties, $35 per incident):
800/936-5700

On the Web

Internet Explorer:

Outlook:

On CNET

IE 6.0 nightmares and how to solve them

IE 5.0 help

IE 4.0 help

Outlook help

Outlook Express help

Usenet groups

IE 5.0:
microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie5.browser 

Outlook Express:
miscrosoft.public.win98.internet.outlookexpress

Netscape Support

By phone

800/877-3858 $29 per incident

On the Web

Communicator and Navigator:

On CNET

Netscape Communicator help

Usenet groups

Navigator and Communicator:
netscape.public.general

Eudora Support

On the Web

Qualcomm's Eudora Tech Support:

On CNET

Eudora help

Usenet groups

Eudora for Windows:
comp.mail.eudora.ms-windows

Eudora for Macintosh:
comp.mail.eudora.mac