Netsurfing
with
Windows 95
by Andy Miller You've upgraded to Windows 95, and want to surf the Web in 32-bit style. So you fire up your Internet Explorer (from Microsoft Plus! -- the utilities that should have been included in Windows 95, but weren't), and wait for a connection, and wait.... So instead, you install a beta copy of the new 32-bit Netscape 2.0, click on the icon... and see not a home page, but an error message.
If this has happened to you, before you call the Microsoft help desk, try the procedure outlined in this article. I encountered both of the problems described above on my home system, and Andy's advice got me back online and surfing the Web.-- WA
When I installed Windows 95, I was eager to do some heavy-duty Netsurfing. So I downloaded and installed the latest 32-bit Netscape Navigator (beta version 2.0b), started up my trusty copy of Winsock, and hit a snag. After some thought (act first, think later?), I realized that Netscape 2.0b for Windows 95 would of course have nothing to do with my old 16-bit Winsock. But where was the 32-bit Winsock executable file?
So I called technical support at Computing Japan's Internet provider here in Japan, Global OnLine, and (after laughing at my failed attempt to use Winsock) they were kind enough to e-mail me some instructions about using the Dial-Up Networking TCP/IP protocol included with Win 95. After about an hour of fiddling using these instructions, it was still no go, however, so I finally began to think "the unthinkable" -- maybe Windows 95 had not properly installed my Dial-Up Networking protocol.
Determined to get to the bottom of things, I struck out on my own and started from scratch. What follows is the result of my fiddling.
Re-installation
To use the Dial-Up Networking included with Win 95, you must (it should go without saying) have it installed correctly. If you're having problems, start by assuming that it wasn't fully installed during your Windows setup. And even if it is, I found that on my computer (and a couple of others around the office), it didn't work correctly and needed to be reinstalled anyway.The first step in (re-) installation is to open "My Computer" (if you haven't already renamed it), and then open the Control Panel. Double click on the Add/Remove Programs icon, and choose the Windows Setup tab. From there, select Communications and then click the Details button. Click on the Dial-Up Networking check box (see figure 1) and choose OK, and then OK again. (If it's already checked, I suggest that you uncheck it, exit back to the Control Panel, and start again -- just to be safe.) Windows 95 will ask you to insert several of your setup disks (or your CD-ROM). When that process is done, Windows will prompt you to restart your computer. Choose "No" at this point; we still have a bit of fiddling yet to go.
Now, from the Control Panel, double-click on the Network icon. On the Configuration tab (figure 2), you should see a Dial-Up networking selection. (If you don't, go back to Add/Remove Programs, and do the above steps again -- and do them right this time.) You'll also see any other network adapters and protocols you may have installed. Choose the Add button, select Protocol, and then select yet another Add button. The network type you want is Microsoft, and the protocol is TCP/IP (figure 3). Click the OK button, and the one after that. Windows will probably ask you again for your setup disks or CD-ROM. (If prompted to restart your computer, again choose "No.")
With that done, you should see both the Dial-Up Adapter and a TCP/IP X Dial-Up Adapter on the Network Configuration tab. The TCP/IP protocol you just installed will bind itself to all of your network devices, such as Ethernet cards (assuming you are on a network). Select them, choose the Properties button, and then the Bindings tab. If checked, uncheck the TCP/IP box, and click OK to return to the Network configuration tab. All other network protocols (NetBEUI, etc.) should in turn be removed from the Dial-Up Adapter.
It will also be necessary to turn off file and print sharing on your TCP/IP dial-up adapter (so that no one can access your computer while your logged on), and enable DNS. To do this select TCP/IP, and then Properties. On the Bindings tab, uncheck the file and print sharing box. Click on the DNS Configuration tab, and enable DNS. Here, you will have to enter the Host and Domain information for your Internet provider. When that is done, choose OK, and -- yes -- it's now time to restart your computer.
Connecting
Once back at the Windows 95 desktop, open "My Computer" and double click on the Dial-Up Networking icon. A wizard will take you through the setup of your first connection. When this is finished, you should have two icons in the Dial-Up Networking window: Make New Connection, and whatever you named the connection you just made. (You didn't leave it the default "My Connection," did you?)Right click the new connection icon, and choose Properties. Choose Server Type, and make sure that it is set to PPP. Uncheck all boxes except TCP/IP (figure 4). Now, click the TCP/IP settings button. Server assigned IP address is fine, but you will need to specify name server addresses, both primary and secondary (figure 5). Again, your Internet provider will give you these if you don't already know them.
Now, click OK buttons until you are back to the "My Connection" icon. Right-click it again, and make a shortcut on the desktop. Double click the shortcut, and enter your user name and password. Check to make sure the phone number is correct, and click on Connect.
If all goes well, you'll get a dialog box that says "Connected at 28800 bps" (or at whatever speed your modem operates). You can now fire up your 32-bit Web browser. Be sure to point it at http://www.gol.com/cj/, and while you're there, drop us a note or any feedback about your PPP/Windows 95 experiences.ç
