Copyright: Copyright ®1995 Dynamic Living Media
Citation: Protected by copyright. Distribution/reprint information: Dynamic Living Media (604)298-6415 or cublea@cyberstore.ca.


Winsock conflict eraser

  What it does

  Why you need it

  How it works

  Deficiencies, bugs and warnings

  Action

This procedure should not be used on dual-boot systems with both Windows 95 and Windows 3.1 or with networked computers.  If you have a CD-ROM drive, external tape backup unit, external disk drive or any other non-hard-disk storage devices attached and operating, please remove all disks and tapes before proceeding.


What it does:

This procedure hunts down all stray copies of a file called WINSOCK.DLL and moves them to a safe location so they will not interfere with your new 32-bit Windows 95 winsock.  If you find for some reason that you want to restore your old winsock, this procedure will do that too.

You can also use this utility with Windows 3.1/3.11 to clean up and restore all copies of WINSOCK.DLL on your hard disk if you are experiencing compatibility problems caused by multiple installations of Internet setup kits, Call to Undefined Dynalink errors or want to start fresh with a new provider’s starter bundle.


Why you need it

Switching providers

If you ever switch providers, you may discover that the setup kit given to you by your old provider leaves a nasty stain on your Windows: an extra copy of WINSOCK.DLL, the software used to connect you to the Internet, in a perfect place to interfere with your new installation.  This procedure cleans up stray copies of WINSOCK.DLL so you can install a new provider’s starter bundle with no conflicts.

Using multiple Internet accounts

If you have more than one Internet account, the winsock conflict eraser is a not-very-elegant way to force possible multiple winsocks needed to connect with two providers to stop interfering with one another.


Why you need it

Upgrading your winsock

Working with the new 32-bit Windows 95 winsock will be a welcome improvement over Trumpet’s winsock and many other 16-bit winsocks.  However, if you have other winsocks on your system you may discover that your existing Internet software doesn’t behave as you expect it to.  The best cure: vacuum up all existing winsocks and let the Windows 95 winsock handle all the action.

Switching providers

If you ever switch providers, you may discover that the setup kit given to you by your old provider leaves a nasty stain on your Windows: an extra copy of WINSOCK.DLL, the software used to connect you to the Internet, in a perfect place to interfere with your new installation.  This procedure cleans up stray copies of WINSOCK.DLL so you can install a new provider’s starter bundle with no conflicts.

Using multiple Internet accounts

If you have more than one Internet account, the winsock conflict eraser is a not-very-elegant way to force possible multiple winsocks needed to connect with two providers to stop interfering with one another.


How it works

This simple routine uses a simple detection scheme made possible by ASET.EXE, part of the RUTILS collection of free DOS utilities.  (If you’re a hacker, track down these utilities on SimTel...they’re remarkably versatile!)  First of all it hunts for your Windows directory and finds out whether you have the current version of Windows 95’s winsock installed.  If so, this file is backed up so that no funny business by this or any other program will make a serious dent in your fun.  WINSOCK.DLL is a small file and a backup consumes at most 50Kb of disk space.

Next it uses LHA compression provided by Haruyasu Yoshizaki’s LHA.EXE to track down every winsock on every drive connected to your system, packs them away in its own directory for safe keeping, and makes sure that your Windows 95 winsock is safe and sound before quitting.

If you ever decide to restore your old winsock software, it simply reverses the procedure.  Regardless of whether you’re prepping to use the 32-bit Win95 winsock exclusively, or switching back to your former winsock configuration, it will never touch your custom settings.  All it cleans up is the WINSOCK.DLL files that cause the conflicts.

The real action takes place at the DOS level.  This Windows front end merely lets you select your options and learn about the utility.


Deficiencies, bugs and warnings

Deficiencies

This is a simple routine designed mainly for assisting people in switching providers or upgrading to Windows 95’s 32-bit winsock.  It is not specifically tailored for working with multiple accounts requiring multiple copies of WINSOCK.DLL although it can be used this way.

Bugs

Because this routine uses DOS commands for most of its work, it is possible that it will not function properly if your DOS "environment" is overloaded or too small.  If you discover that none of the routines work as expected (although they should cause no harm even if they don’t), consult your DOS manual or Tiny Perfect Menu for information about increasing your DOS environment size.

Warnings

This utility must not be used on any computer connected to a local-area network.  It is designed for stand-alone single-user PCs only.  Neither the author nor the publisher accept any responsibility for failure to abide by this caution.


Winsock conflict eraser

Select one of the following:

  Clean up all stray WINSOCK.DLL files

  Restore old copies of WINSOCK.DLL to where they were

  Remove all WINSOCK.DLL files regardless of version to prepare for a fresh installation of an Internet setup and connection kit

  Erase leftover saved WINSOCK.DLL archives

  Exit


This Windows Help interface and batch utility was created using several freeware components.  LHA version 2.11 copyright ©1988-1991 Haruyasu Yoshizaki.  HCONTENT.DLL copyright ©1995 Don Lammers.  RTF/HPJ helpfile source and interface copyright ©1995 Cub Lea.  ASET.EXE copyright ©1993 by Richard Breuer.  Long live freeware.  Also implemented: EW256BMP.DLL ©1996 by Paul Arnote.  The version of EW256BMP used here is proprietary and cannot be used in other projects.