Copyright: Copyright ®1995 Dynamic Living Media
Citation: Copyright ®1995 Dynamic Living Media, all rights reserved. For distribution information contact Dynamic Living Media at (604)298-6415 or cublea@yvr.cyberstore.ca.  Microsoft WindowsÖ and Windows 95Ö are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.


Contents
Easy Windows 95 Internet Step-up

This is a free resource from First Train for the Internet
"your one-stop resource for Internet exploration"
For more information, stop by our Web site at:
http://www.firstrain.com

  Special features, info and tips for use

  Important information about the procedure

  What you’ll need for the job

  The Critical Information Checklist

  ...Before installing Windows 95...

  Checking Win95 for Internet readiness

  Configuring network components

  Configuring Win95 for SLIP (not PPP)

  Internet Explorer: the easier connection?

  Setting up icons & tuning modem settings

  Configuring session options

  Testing your Internet connection

  Troubleshooting your connection

Thanks to Don McPhee (oasis@cyberstore.ca) for the idea behind this project.

LHA is distributed as a free program with copyright reserved by Yoshi.


intro
Setting up Windows 95™ for connecting to your Internet provider

This is not your mother’s winsock

You are probably used to dialing into your provider using the Trumpet Winsock.  Windows 95 provides its own winsock, which most users have found to be much more reliable than Trumpet’s.  But it’s not nearly as easy to set up.  Trumpet Winsock probably came preconfigured from your provider, most likely after someone spent several days troubleshooting the configuration to make it simple for you.  Your provider may not have a Windows 95 winsock configuration, and we know of some providers who have spent literally weeks fine-tuning their Win95 setup and writing new-user help that still doesn’t always help.  That means there’s a good chance that you will have to set it up yourself. Hopefully the free Internet setup wizard included with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer will be all you need, but if not there’s plenty of other help here.

  Windows 95 Internet is not always "plug-and-play" easy

  Don’t throw away your current winsock just yet

  If you’re online in under an hour, consider yourself lucky

  RoboDUN: for those situations when nothing else works

  Installing RoboDUN

Windows 95 Internet is not always "plug-and-play" easy

This might be a quick and simple job, but don’t expect it to work the first time.  The setup procedure for Windows 95 Internet connection has baffled many expert Windows users and veteran hackers.

The procedure is not standard for all Internet providers. and each provider has their own way of handling your connection.  We’ll try to make things as simple as possible for you, but if you have your checklist ready and filled out you should encounter little or no difficulty.

There are many Web pages you can browse to get information on various aspects of Windows 95’s Internet connectivity features.  Unfortunately most of them deal with the setup requirements of only one provider.  We’ve taken the best of this information, added our own experience, and tried our best to provide you with every possible way to make the whole process as error-free as it can be.  We can’t guarantee that this process will work for getting you connected to your provider, but we can guarantee it will work 50 percent of the time on your first try, and more than 95 percent of the time after an adjustment or two.

If you’re an experienced Windows user, with a little luck (we wish it was more than just luck) you should be online in ten to fifteen minutes.  If you’re a novice or intermediate level user, count on this job taking at least a half-hour.  This is probably not a kind thing to hear, considering all of the other learning that’s ahead of you and the time you have already invested in getting Windows 95 off the ground, but unless you want to limit yourself to the Microsoft Network or pay someone else to do this for you, you will have to put in the time

Don’t throw away your current winsock just yet

You won’t always be able to use your Trumpet, Chameleon, Netcom or other winsock to connect with your provider after you install Windows 95, but you might be able to.  If you’re at all in doubt about this point, assume that it won’t work once Windows 95’s winsock is installed.

The cleanup utility available from the Cleanup button above is always available to reset your old winsock files if you need it later, and we recommend running this utility before installing the 32-bit winsock software just to be on the safe side.

Some of your Internet applications may not function properly after the cleanup is done, but Eudora (the latest version is 1.52), Pegasus and most World Wide Web browsers will still work, so you won’t be completely cut off if you have to suspend your configuration work and come back to it later.

We’ll also be sure not to remove your current winsock configuration, but keep this in mind: if you connect to your provider using one winsock, you must restart your computer before attempting to connect using any other winsock.  You won’t hurt anything if you don’t do this, but you probably won’t be able to make the connection until Windows "reinitializes" its network software by restarting.

If you’re online in under an hour, consider yourself lucky

It could take no more than ten minutes (it shouldn’t even take that long if your provider has a straightforward setup procedure), but even an hour’s effort to make a first successful connection is a significant savings, considering that many experienced users have spent hours trying to get their Internet connections to work.  You will also save time and headaches in the long term thanks to the higher speed and reliability of Windows 95 32-bit Internet applications.

Once you have the connection working you should never need to mess with it again unless you change Internet providers, but the cleanup tool should allow you all the safety you need to experiment with the software and return to a working 16-bit configuration if things somehow go wrong for you.

The fact that this is a one-time job is the reason why few explanations are given for terms such as "network bindings" and "DNS server".  They are things you won’t need to know about unless you plan to become an Internet expert.  (If you really want to know about these terms, consult our Internet Lexicon.)

RoboDUN: for those situations when nothing else works

We highly recommend a special (currently) free utility from Mark Gamber called RoboDUN, an automated dialling program that makes up for some deficiencies in Windows 95’s login-handling procedures.  You’ll need to use this if your provider has told you that you need to enter more than just your username and password, or a modified username (such as jdoe%ppp) and password when you log in.  It might take a little time to get used to, but if you use RoboDUN’s script manager, or a supplied RoboDUN script from your Internet provider, you should be able to solve most of the trickiest connection problems.

We’d like to supply RoboDUN to you directly, but we can’t…it’s not our software and the author will not permit us to include it with Easy Windows 95 Internet Step-up.  You’ll find a link to it on the Windows 95 Software Resources Page, or you can pick it up by entering this URL into the Location: box of your Web browser.  You’ll find all sorts of interesting software at this site including RoboDUN.

http://www.windows95.com

Installing RoboDUN

Once RoboDUN has been downloaded to your computer it can be installed from the directory where you installed Easy Windows 95 Internet Setup.  Simply follow these steps.  The help button will take you to a visual walk-through of the installation procedure if you should need it.

1. Unpack the archive using a PKZIP extraction utility such as StuffIt Expander or Winzip.  You’ll find a link for downloading StuffIt Expander, which is self-installing, on the Software Resources Page of your online section.

2. Double-click My Computer

3. Double-click Control Panel

4. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon in Control Panel

5. Click the Windows Setup tab from Add/Remove Programs

6. Click the Have Disk button from Windows Setup

7. Type the name of the directory where you unpacked the RDUN61.ZIP archive on the command line when the Location: box pops up.

If you follow these steps correctly, Windows will automatically add RoboDUN and its script manager to your program menus.


As a curious sidelight, as we were developing this software we discovered that Mark also wrote the software which allows for the red "note" arrows and animated modem lights included in Easy Windows 95 Internet Step-up.  He’s a prolific author with literally dozens of interesting and useful Windows utilities in circulation, almost all of them free.  Thanks, Mark.


What you’ll need

At some point in the setup process you will need the following items.  Don’t take it for granted that any of them will automatic or obvious.  Click each of these items and follow the instructions at each topic.  Try not to skip over any of these points.

  A properly-installed copy of Windows 95

  A "vaccinated" system with no stray winsocks

  Information about your current Internet setup

  An Internet provider with PPP access (not SLIP)

  The proper login procedure for your Internet provider

  A printed copy of the online Windows 95 setup instructions made available by your provider...if they exist (optional)


Cleaning your winsocks

It is strongly recommended that you run the WINSOCK.DLL cleanup utility supplied here before attempting to configure your Windows 95 winsock.

Conflict prevention

One of the most common causes of problems running 16-bit programs with the 32-bit winsock is incompatibility with your new 32-bit winsock.  We don’t mean the software itself, we mean the winsock software that Internet programs need to access in order to function.  In a large number of cases, these incompatibilities can be traced to stray copies of WINSOCK.DLL left on your system from previous installations of Internet providers’ setup kits.  Your Internet applications may be trying to load this old software to connect to the net instead of going through Microsoft’s new, higher-performance winsock.

This package includes a special cleanup program designed to help you take care of this problem.  It tracks down all copies of WINSOCK.DLL that might be left on your system and places them in its own directory.  You can delete them later when you uninstall this kit (you probably won’t need it after a month or two of trouble-free connections...but do keep a backup if you decide to change providers).

This utility is available at any time by clicking the Cleanup button on the button bar at the top of this window.

 Important note: This utility will allow you to switch back and forth between your new and old winsock software at will without fear of conflicts.  Feel free to use it to experiment with new winsock settings.  Just make sure that you do not interrupt the conflict eraser program while it is running.


About SLIP Access with Windows 95

If you can only use SLIP with your provider and not PPP (call and find out for sure), you will either have to purchase or somehow get hold of a copy of Microsoft Plus!™, which contains the SLIP software you need.  This software was not included with Windows 95.   The necessary files for SLIP access are found in the ADMIN folder.

You can copy these files from the CD version of Plus!™ to your hard disk and install them from there (the files take up very little space), but we are required to inform you that it is a copyright violation to do if you have not purchased the software yourself.

This software was included with beta-test CDs of Windows 95 but not the retail version.  Fortunately, if you have a working Internet connection you can download the needed files from Microsoft’s FTP site (click the help button to jump to instructions).  Microsoft seems to have decided that SLIP (Serial Line Interface Protocol) is not a fit way for their customers to connect to the Internet, perhaps because SLIP is not used or needed by the Microsoft Network.

A last resort

If you do not have or cannot get this software, continue to use your 16-bit Windows 3.1-compatible winsock and urge your provider to speed up their Windows 95 support by installing PPP compatibility, which demands a lot less work on your part to install and use.  PPP is a superior method of connecting to the net and your provider should be able to make it available to you in the near future.


Win95 web pages
Most Internet providers are making online Web pages available to their clients with instructions for setting up Windows 95 for connecting to their host computers.  Look first on your provider’s home page for links to information about Windows 95 connections, but if you don’t see any information there call and ask if any special instruction sheets or downloadable files are available.

If you don’t know your provider’s Web address, you can usually guess it.  For example, for Terry Doe whose Internet email address is tdoe@internet.com, his provider’s home page can be reached by typing http://www.internet.com in their browser’s Location:, URL: or Go to: box.


Login info from provider
By this we mean that you need to know the proper way to log in to your provider using Windows 95.  For example our provider requires us to log in with special codes.  Terry Doe for example would have to log in as tdoe%ppp instead of simply as Terry Doe or tdoe.  Your provider may have a similar sort of setup.  You can find this out either by browsing any help sections related to Windows 95 on your provider’s Web site or by calling your provider’s technical support staff if the setup doesn’t start a login sequence.


Pre-installation warnings
About incomplete or improper Windows 95 installations

Be aware that you might not have a properly-installed copy of Windows 95, and until you do there’s not a lot we can do to help you get connected, especially if your modem is one of the items which is not properly installed.  We have encountered problems installing a number of fairly standard pieces of hardware into Windows 95, including US Robotics modems, Creative Labs SoundBlaster 16 cards and Panasonic CD-ROM drives.  These are among the most common peripheral devices in use, yet Windows 95 doesn’t see them properly on some systems.

There are still a few bugs to be worked out of Windows 95’s hardware setup routine, and you may have to contact Microsoft’s customer support for help.  The sad truth is that we know very few people who have been able to install Windows 95 on their first try without some sort of problem.

Also be aware that getting the help you need may be a lengthy process.  Expect long telephone delays, perhaps an hour or more during peak periods, since Microsoft will be dealing with thousands of customer inquiries during the first few weeks of Windows 95’s release.  We strongly recommend that you select a day to install Windows 95 when you are not faced with deadlines or serious stress.

If you encounter serious difficulty, consider uninstalling your current copy of Windows 95 until you can solve the problem.  It’s a pain, sure, but it will get you connected, and this might be more important to you than waiting several days or several hours for answers to your questions.


Critical information from Trumpet Winsock

You’ll note below that there are six different items you may need from your Trumpet Winsock setup screen.  Copy the information in each of these sections on a sheet of paper, preferably your checklist.  We’ll refer to these sections later both by name and by the numbers we assigned in this diagram.  Click on each of the six numbered areas for more information.

The one piece of information you may need to get from your provider for is the dial-up telephone number you use to access your provider’s host computers.  You can’t easily find it from Trumpet Winsock, but if you’re handy with Notepad you can usually find this number near the bottom of your TRUMPWSK.INI file in the [default vars] section.

 You might want to double-check your checklist to make sure that the information you have here is consistent with what your provider gave you.  Note: If there are differences between what your provider told you and what you see on this screen, use the information your provider gave you.  They may have made some modifications to their own system to allow for Windows 95.


trumpip
This information may or may not be needed depending on how your provider configures their Internet connections.


trumpgate
Trumpet’s default gateway setting is the address of your provider’s host computer.  Without this, you can still log into their computer but you wouldn’t be able to access the Internet.


trumpet’s name server
K

Your provider’s name server address.  Critical for your email.  If your provider is properly set up, you won’t be able to do a thing unless this is set up properly.


trumpet domain
K

Your provider’s domain suffix, which is usually, but not always, the same as the last half of your email address.


trumpet SLIP/PPP
Trumpet’s SLIP/PPP setting.  If your current Internet setup specifies SLIP instead of PPP, you may need to take extra care during the Windows 95 setup.  Windows 95 defaults to PPP and has no obvious configuration for a standard SLIP connection.


trumpet compression
How the modem handles the connection and how your provider’s modems deliver information.  These should never be changed from their supplied settings if you continue to use Trumpet Winsock, and these settings may be important later for troubleshooting if you run into difficulties connecting to your provider.


The Critical Information Checklist

The next topic contains the form itself, but before you tackle it we want you to make sure you know how to use it.

It is strongly recommended that you fill out this form before installing Windows 95.  If at all possible, find out exactly what information you will need to complete the setup by calling in advance.  The five minutes or so you spend getting this information could save you hours of fiddling and troubleshooting later.  You have three choices about how to fill out this form:

1. You can send it to your printer and fill out the printed form by hand by clicking the Print button at the top of the window when the checklist is on your screen.

2. You can use the Windows 95 Internet Checklist icon to print the checklist document installed with this software.  It will launch Write if you are still using Windows 3.1/3.11 or WordPad if you have already installed Windows 95, and you can fill in the blanks at the keyboard.  When you are finished, save or print the document or store it near your computer for when you are ready to do your Internet connection setup.

3. You can look in the directory where you installed this help tool for a file called MY_INFO.TXT and paste the text from that file into an email message to your provider.  The message includes a short explanation and a request that they help you by taking a minute or so to fill in the blanks for you.  Most Internet support staff are "technonerds" at heart and tend to prefer to reply to email rather than answer the phone. It will often be less troublesome for them to fill in these blanks and send you a reply than it will be to answer your questions over the telephone.  When you get the reply, print it or have it ready to use when you install Windows 95.

However you choose record this information, keep this form.  This information will also be useful if you ever need to reinstall your winsock software or encounter trouble with the configuration.

The next topic is a visual representation of the form, and it can be used in two ways.  It can either be printed using the Print button or you can click on the numbers on the left to jump to sections related to each of these items.


The Checklist
Click the number corresponding to the item to find out where it is needed.
Use the BACK button to return to this screen after browsing help topic.

1. Provider’s IP address:

(remember to use the dots)

2. Provider’s default gateway:

(remember to use the dots)

3. Provider’s name server:

(remember to use the dots)

4. Provider’s domain suffix:

(This is usually the second half of your email address)

5. Can you use IP Header compression? (yes or no):

6. How should you set your WINS resolution:

Enable, Disable or Use DHCP?

7. Does server assign IP address automatically (Yes or No)?

 	If NO, what IP address should be used? :

(remember to use the dots)

8. Are provider’s connect preferences 8N1 (Yes or No):

(8N1 stands for 8 bits, No Parity, One Stop Bit)

8b. If no, what are the preferences? :

9. Is connection automatic? (Yes or No):

9b. If no, does the TERMINAL WINDOW need to be brought up

  when a connection is made?:

10. Should you enable software compression when selecting

   PPP as your Dial-Up Server type? (Yes or No):

11. Special login instructions:

   (for example, do you need to use jdoe%ppp instead of just jdoe for John Doe?)

12. URL (Web page address) for any additional help:


Installing Windows 95

Once you have all your information, go ahead and install Windows 95 if you have not already done so.

 Note: When Windows 95 Setup asks you if you want to install a network, say Yes.

The two network options you’ll need are:

 Dial-Up Network Adapter

 TCP/IP Protocol

You might want to make a brief note of these at the top of one of your print-outs in case Windows 95 does not install these for you.


Checking your Windows 95 installation

Before you can continue, you need to make sure that Windows 95 has properly installed all of the software necessary for accessing the Internet.  The first thing you need to do is check your network settings.  These are found in your Control Panel. You’ll have to return to Control Panel several times before this job is complete.  Click the Next button to move to the next screen when you have completed each step.


open control panel 1
Checking your Windows 95 installation (2)

When you open Control Panel, double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.  (Note that this graphic representation of Control Panel has been reduced in size to reduce memory demands on your computer.)  A tabbed option screen will pop up.


s2addrm2
Checking your Windows 95 installation (3)

This window pops up when you select Add/Remove Programs. You may need to click the Windows Setup tab (marked in red) to get to the right screen.  Windows 95 uses these new tabbed option screens for almost all of its configuration features.  Now you need to find out whether Communications (1) is installed.

In this sample screen this box is greyed, meaning that it has not been fully installed as it would be with a complete installation of Windows 95.  Once you have clicked on Communications to highlight it, click the Details button (2) to see what parts of your communications setup have been installed and how.


s2Dial-up 3
Checking your Windows 95 installation (4)

This screen shows us what parts of the communications software have been installed.  In this case, the Dial-Up Networking software (1), which includes your all-important winsock, has been installed.  But if this is not checked, you will have to install this part of the software before going any further.  It’s an automatic installation, so if you don’t have this installed, simply insert your CD and follow the instructions on your screen.  If it has already been installed, click OK and you’ll be returned to the control panel.

 Note: We have noticed that on some systems, Windows Setup will not find all of the files needed for the installation, even though they are where they should be.  This problem can usually be fixed by shutting down Windows 95, restarting and trying again.  It’s not fun, but it is one of the few ways you have of recovering from these File Not Found errors.


Double-checking the installation

Now you’re back at the Control Panel, and this time you have to enter the Network configuration section by double-clicking the Network icon.


st3tchek
Double-checking the installation (2)

This option screen will pop up from Control Panel, and you need to select the Configuration tab (1).  All you’re looking for here is Dial-Up Adapter and TCP/IP.  If these are not shown as installed components, click the Add button and follow the prompts to install them from the Windows 95 CD or floppy disks.

If these two components are installed, click OK and we’ll move on to the next section.  You don’t have to change anything in the Identification and Access Control sections for everyday Internet access.  These options are mainly for people who work with "live" networks in offices.

Additional help with installing these components is available by clicking the More Help button.


st3chek2
Double-checking the installation (3)

Scroll through this whole topic; not all of the information will appear on your screen at once.

If you don’t see Dial-Up Adapter (1) and TCP/IP (2) in the list of installed Network components, you’ll have to click Add.

This will present you with another options screen similar to the one shown here.  You’ll have to add two components: an adapter and a protocol.  Add the adapter first by clicking on the Adapter line and then clicking Add.

All you need to do to install the adapter is select the Dial-Up Adapter when Windows 95 presents you with your choices.  When you have finished installing the adapter, you will be returned to this screen, where you will need to click on the Protocol line and select a protocol.

When you select Protocol, this screen will pop up. This time you’ll have a much larger list of choices.  The TCP/IP protocol is found by first clicking Microsoft from the Manufacturers: list (1), then selecting TCP/IP from the right-hand list of available options (2), and then clicking OK (3).  Windows 95 will then walk you through the steps for installing this software.

Windows will remind you that you need to restart your computer to make sure the changes have taken effect.  You don’t need to do that yet, but you will need to restart your computer at least once before this procedure is complete.

Once you have insured that the software is on your system, you can either return to the table of contents or move on to the next topic, Configuring network components.


Configuring the network components

 This is the trickiest part of the job, and it must be done correctly or you won’t get a proper connection.  Try to follow these instructions as carefully as possible.  If you don’t, this part of the job could take far longer than it needs to and it might still not work.

You access the network component configurations from Control Panel once again, by double-clicking the Network icon.

The Network screen will pop up again and you should see both Dial-Up Adapter and TCP/IP in the main window as shown here.  If you see other items in this window, don’t worry about them unless your computer actually is connected to a network.  They are not needed and will be dealt with later.


Network configuration help menu

This menu will take you to the sections for configuring each of the six option tab screens for the TCP/IP settings and the three dial-up adapter property sheets.  Just click the tabs on these pictures which correspond to the section you want to work with.

Windows 95 TCP/IP Properties

Windows 95 Dial-Up Adapter Properties

Once you have configured these two sets of options, you can either return to the Table of Contents or continue on to the next section: Setting Up an Icon.  Windows will suggest rebooting at this point, but you can wait until you have set up your icon before you do this if you like.


TCP Gateway
Gateway (Item 2 from the checklist)

Here’s another place where the information you got from your Trumpet Winsock setup screen will come in handy.  The New Gateway you want to add here is the same set of numbers that appear in the Default Gateway box on your Trumpet Winsock setup screen.

{ewc embh.dll,ARROW,A100)Note: This entry box works a little bit differently from similar boxes used in Windows 3.1.  You use your right and left arrow keys to move between sections rather than the Tab key.  This is important, because you can’t simply start typing and expect the box to fill out correctly.  You might have a DNS server address that reads 199.99.9.9.  Notice, each of the sections in this box has space for three digits.  This sample address will not work if you simply type 1999999.  You have to type 199, press your right arrow key, type 99, press your right arrow key again, 9, right arrow a third time, and a final 9 to get it right.


TCP WINS
WINS configuration (Item 6 from the checklist)

This might be a troublesome item.  WINS is sometimes set up as shown in this picture, with Use DHCP for WINS Resolution checked, but it would be a good idea to find out for sure from your Internet provider whether they have a DHCP server that can make use of this feature. Not all of them can.

This is one of the first places to look if you find you have problems with Windows 95 connecting to the Internet through your modem.  When in doubt you should leave it unchecked, and make a note to find out at a later date whether it will be worth checking.


tcpaddress
TCP address (Item 1 from the checklist)

This screen is very simple.  Unless you have a direct line to your provider, a dedicated account with your provider, or use "shell" access to start your SLIP or PPP connection, this will almost always be set to Obtain an IP Address Automatically (Item 7 from the checklist).  Almost all consumer-type Internet accounts will assign you a different IP address every time you log into your provider’s host computers, meaning that if Windows doesn’t know that the job is done for you automatically, you won’t have a proper IP address and you could face difficulties using Internet services that check your address for authenticity.


TCP bindings
Bindings

A very simple screen.  If all you need is Internet connectivity, you can uncheck any item that might appear here except for Client for Microsoft Networks and continue to the next screen.  You will only need other networks if you are actually connected to networks other than your provider’s Internet host.


TCP Advanced
Advanced

As you can see from the example, a typical installation will not use any advanced options and this property sheet won’t need to be changed in any way.


TCP/IP DNS Options

Here is where you’ll need the information you took from your Trumpet Winsock setup screen.  This part of the configuration personalizes your Windows 95 winsock to your current Internet provider.

1. Make sure that DNS is set to Enable.

2. Under Host:, enter your username as you normally use it when signing your email.  For example, if your name was Terry Doe and your email address is tdoe@netfolks.com, you would enter tdoe in the Host: box.

3. Under the Domain: section, you will usually enter the second half of your email address (also known as the domain suffix).  For example, Terry Doe’s domain is netfolks.com.  You will either have to check your former settings in Trumpet Winsock’s Setup screen to find out exactly what to put here or check with your provider to find out if this needs special information specifically for Windows 95 connections.  You will usually be able to use the information from Trumpet’s Domain Suffix: box (Item 4 from the checklist).  Run Trumpet Winsock now to find this information if you don’t have it yet.

Click the help button if you need to get more information about Trumpet’s setup screen before continuing.  When you have finished looking at the Trumpet setup information topic, click the Back button from the button bar at the top of the main window to return to this topic.

4. It’s important that you get the DNS Server Search Order section (Item 3 from the checklist) exactly right.  Unless your provider has told you that you can do otherwise, you must enter only one set of numbers here.

 Do not use the zero’s we used here.  You will have to find out the exact number to enter on this line.  Once again, you will find the numbers for this section on your Trumpet setup screen under Name Server.

 Note also: This entry box works a little bit differently from similar boxes used in Windows 3.1.  You use your right and left arrow keys to move between sections rather than the Tab key.  This is important, because you can’t simply start typing and expect the box to fill out correctly.  You might have a DNS server address that reads 199.99.9.9.  Notice, each of the sections in this box has space for three digits.  This sample address will not work if you simply type 1999999.  You have to type 199, press your right arrow key, type 99, press your right arrow key again, 9, right arrow a third time, and a final 9 to get it right.

Domain Suffix Search Order will not be needed unless your Internet provider specifically tells you otherwise.

When you have all the information from the six TCP/IP Properties tab sheets entered, click the Add button and you’re ready to move on to the next section: Dial-up Adapter Properties


Dial-Up Driver
Driver Type

Here’s a screen that needs no changes.  There’s only one option available with most standard installations, and as you can see here it should already checked for you.


Dial-Up Bindings
Bindings

This screen shows only one option: TCP/IP, and it is checked just as it should be on your screen.

The property sheet on your computer may also show IPX and NetBEUI as options.  You can improve performance considerably by unchecking IPX and NetBEUI if they are checked on this screen.  In fact, if you don’t need any other networking, they should be completely removed.  These features are only needed if you are connected to a non-modem-type network such as Windows for Workgroups.


Dialup Advanced
Advanced (Item 5 from the checklist)

Only two options appear here with a normal Windows 95 installation: Record a Log File and Use IPX Header Compression (Item 5 from the checklist).  Some experts on the Web have suggested turning the IPX compression off. Our provider insists that we have it on, so be sure to find out which setting your provider needs.

You might also see Prioritize WAN (Wide Area Network) for IP in this list.  If you do, select Yes for this option.

 Optional: You might want to turn on logfile recording as shown here if you’re interested in seeing what goes on "under the hood" at some time in the future.  Log files are usually only needed by hackers and system administrators handling a "real" network.


Setting up an icon to launch your Internet connection
Setting up an icon to launch your connection

We’re getting close to being able to connect with the Internet.  All that’s left to do at this point is to install an icon so that you can launch a connection, and to troubleshoot any areas of the installation that might have been done incorrectly.

This time, instead of launching Control Panel, launch My Computer (1).  Remember this, because My Computer is where you’ll find your Internet connection icon from now on unless you create a shortcut, use the desktop icon created by Internet Explorer’s setup (unlikely if you’re this deep into our setup help), or set up a Program Manager or Start menu icon.

When you double-click on My Computer you will see a screen similar to your Control Panel but with different icons.

By the way, in case you haven’t read the Windows 95 manual or taken the tour yet, double-clicking icons in My Computer is one of the new ways you work with files.  You still have File Manager if you need it, but Windows 95 expects you to work with Explorer.  The iconic view you get from My Computer might be a lot more comfortable for you.

The icon you want in My Computer is Dial-Up Networking (2 above), which was created when you installed the Dial-Up Adapter.  Double-click on it and it will open another window similar to this one.  Double-click on the Make New Connection icon and you’ll be walked through a "wizard" for finally making the connection to your provider.


Modem and Connection configuration
Modem and session configuration

The first screen of the wizard will ask you the name of the computer you want to connect with (1) and the modem you are using (2).

In the first box, type the name of your provider or whatever you want to call the connection.  Remember that this will be the name of the icon that you will use to start the connection, so if you don’t want to be constantly reminded of your provider’s name, you might just want to type Internet here.

Not many people have more than one modem connected to their computers, but it is still important to go through the configuration process so click the Configure button before pressing the Next button and you’ll be presented with some options you might find useful.

One quick note: Windows 95 doesn’t always find your modem when it goes through its installation procedure.  We have learned that many computers have controller cards which Windows 95 does not know how to handle.  Even after changing such a card, you may need to reconfigure your modem or install it as an available hardware component.


General modem options
General modem properties

The first screen you will probably see when you select Configure is the General options sheet.
 You might have had your modem volume turned off before, but until you have a confirmed, working connection to the Internet it would be a good idea to have at least some volume from your modem’s built-in speaker so you can tell whether or not you are even able to dial out properly.  You can always come back to this screen later and turn the sound off.
 If you have a name-brand modem, such as a US Robotics, Practical Peripherals, Hayes, Intel or Zyxel, maximum speed is four times the rated speed of your modem.  You can do this because modems have special data compression software that allows faster transmissions than their hardware should allow.  (See below for important information on this setting.)

For a 14,400 or 19,200 baud modem, select the 57600 setting shown here.  For a 28,800 baud modem, select 115200.  For a 2400 baud modem, take the computer into the shop and get it upgraded.  Windows 95 can cope with 2400 baud modems, but your patience is worth more than a modem that sells on the second-hand market for about $10.


General modem options (2)
General modem properties (2)

At the bottom of this screen you will also see a checkbox that says Only connect at this speed.  It’s not usually a good idea to check this box, particularly if you live in an area with antiquated telephone equipment or work with a provider who uses older modem hardware.

 Note: If you have a 14,400 baud modem and A) you do not know the brand name of your modem, or B) its name does not match the five brands mentioned above, select 38,400, not 57,600 as shown, unless the modem’s manual tells you that you may do otherwise.  Many inexpensive modems will have difficulty attempting to connect at the highest speed.  If in doubt, make a note of this point on your checklist, start at the highest speed and work your way down to a speed that works for you.  If you’ve been using Trumpet Winsock, your provider probably preconfigured your login script to 38,400 regardless of the speed of your modem.


    Important notes about modem hardware

High-speed UARTs and external modems

If your modem is internal, tucked inside your computer, you can skip this topic.  But if it’s external, meaning that it is a separate hardware device in its own case that connects to your computer with a cable, you may have a problem selecting a proper modem speed.

In order to connect at the highest possible speed, your computer needs something called a high-speed UART (also known as a 16550 UART).	 Most 386’s, many 486’s, and even some early Pentium’s do not have this high-speed chip.  Instead they use older 8250 UARTs which usually become unreliable at speeds higher than 9600 baud.  Many people with new 28,800 baud modems running through these older chips will not get nearly the performance out of their modems that they paid for until this chip is replaced.

You can find out whether or not you have a 16550 UART available for your modem in both Windows 3.1/3.11 and Windows 95 using diagnostic software that came with your operating system.  Run DOS, type MSD and press Enter at the DOS prompt to run Microsoft Diagnostics.  Click the Com button on Microsoft Diagnostics’ main screen to find out which type of UART you have.  (If you have only one 16550 UART, it will almost certainly be used by your modem unless someone did a very sloppy job of building your computer.)

If you are paying for Internet access by the hour and have an external modem, it is strongly recommended that you have a 16550 installed into your computer as soon as possible.  It will save you time, and in most cases the $20-50 cost of the chip and installation will pay for itself in just a month or two.


Modem onnection ptions
Modem Connection Properties

This next screen is where you can save yourself a lot of waiting and possibly a fair bit of money as well if your provider charges by the hour for connect time.  Click the Advanced button on the diagram (outlined in red) for optional information on configuring the advanced settings.

The Connection preferences boxes (1) shouldn’t be altered for connecting to an Internet provider (Item 8 from the checklistform).  CompuServe is about the only major online provider who uses different settings from these, and they have their own Windows 95 setup software.

Call Preferences aren’t critically important either, but they can save you a lot of time and money.  All three of these boxes should be checked, but depending on whether you have a slow connection to your provider, you might want to change the Cancel the call option (3) to 75 seconds, or 45 seconds if you always seem to get connected quickly.

Disconnect a call should be set to about 10 minutes.  This way, if you get involved in a lengthy Web page, get called away from your computer, or want to run unattended Internet sessions using the scheduler tool, you won’t be charged for online time while you are not actively sending or fetching data.  Windows 95 will automatically disconnect you after the specified period.

If you have a busy provider and you usually call during prime time hours you might want to set this to five minutes as a courtesy to other users.  This will allow another user to get online when you go "idle".


Modem Advanced Settings
Advanced Connection Settings

1. It’s usually a good idea to have Use error control and Compress data checked. This will speed up your connection and probably result in fewer transmission errors.  Error control is usually automatically checked, but you may have to select data compression yourself.

2. Most newer high-speed modems (9600 baud and faster) prefer to work with Hardware flow control.

3. Here’s a second opportunity to record a logfile if you did not select this option earlier.


Session Connection Options

This screen is a little interesting.  If you have to go through a complex login procedure before connecting to your provider, or if you have a "shell" account, here’s where you need to make a few changes.
 1. If you are used to accessing the Internet using programs like Eudora, Pegasus, Netscape or Mosaic though, do not change the Terminal window options unless your provider instructs you to do so. (Item 9 from the checklist)

 Note: If your provider does not support PPP but only allows SLIP, you may need to check this box and use Windows Terminal to login manually. Also see the Special Instructions for SLIP (not PPP) topic.

2. The Operator assisted or manual dial option is only needed by people who dial into their provider from antiquated telephone networks such as those in some rural areas and third-world countries.

 3. It’s not necessary to have the Display modem status switch turned on, but most people find it both interesting and handy to have this box checked.  Windows 95 will then place a small modem icon at the right of the task bar with a couple of blinking lights that show when data is being transferred and when the connection is idle.  If you find this to be too much of a distraction you can turn this off.  The modem indicator is about the same size as the sample shown here but doesn’t blink nearly as quickly.


Modem Configuration: Finishing Up

Finally you’ll be returned to the Wizard to complete the procedure.  The next screen will ask you for your provider’s phone number (1) and your country code.  If you live in Canada, you don’t need to change the Country code: to Canada unless you want to, but if you are outside of North America and you did not select your country properly when you installed Windows 95, now is the time to do it.  This will be important later when using certain Internet services.

Click Next to finish this part of the job.  Once you finish the wizard, you’ll see a new icon in your Dial-Up Networking window with the name you assigned to it.  Double-clicking on this icon will start the connection procedure, but we’re not quite ready to do that yet.  (Yes, there is still more configuration to do.)

You can either return to the table of contents from here or move on to the final stage of the configuration process: Configuring Session Options for the connection.


Configuring session options

This last section will make sure everything is set as it should be and prepare you to make the connection.

Next you need to check your settings.  This icon represents a script that Windows runs every time you connect, and it has to be done right or your connection will fail.  To get to these settings, right-click on your Internet connection icon.  Right-clicking in Windows 95 windows will bring up all kinds of interesting menus.  Normally you’d click on Connect to start the connection process, but in this case you want to select the Properties item.

This will bring up a screen similar to this one.  There’s nothing here that needs to be changed.   What you need to do from here is click the Server Type button which is marked here in red, which will pop up yet another screen which is shown in the next topic.
 Click the help button to view a screen with time and trouble-saving features you might find useful.  This section of the configuration is entirely optional.


Optional session settings

Click Connections from the top menu bar and select Settings.  There are four items to be considered here, all of them optional, but they could make connecting to your provider a lot less work for you.  The first, Redial, should be checked unless you don’t want Windows to dial again after a busy signal or a missed phone connection.

The second, Before giving up retry:, is the number of times that Windows will automatically redial your provider if you don’t get connected on the first try.  If you use the Internet mainly during prime time hours, you can set this to 25 or even higher.  Some people set it as high as 500 in case it’s so busy it takes an hour or two.

The third option, Between tries wait:, depends on how many dial-up lines your provider has and how much patience you have.  We set this option to 15 seconds, because our provider has more than 100 modem lines.  During prime time, modems become available very often, and setting this to 15 seconds allows us to keep "hammering" at our provider’s number twice every minute or so until we get a connection.  Hopefully you have a well-prepared provider and won’t need to worry about these options.  You’ll also find this option annoying until you turned your modem volume off from that option screen.

The fourth is Prompt to use Dial-Up Networking.  If you select Don’t prompt and you go to work in another program while you’re waiting for a connection, Windows might log in for you without ever telling you, especially if you decide to have Windows save your password instead of prompting you each time.


Server Type Settings

This screen must be filled out properly or your connection will either be slower than it needs to be or not work at all.

1. From the Type of Dial-Up Server: list select the PPP etc. line (1).  Remember back at the beginning when we discussed PPP versus SLIP?  If you are currently dialing into your Internet provider using a standard SLIP connection, you’ll note that Windows 95 doesn’t have an item on this list for SLIP, only for PPP.  Point-to-Point Protocol is a superior method for accessing the Internet, and most providers who know their business are already set up to handle it.  It is your provider who should have to adapt to this, especially considering the percentage of Windows 95 users among their subscribers.  Unless your provider has a click-and-go setup script for Windows 95, SLIP is far from a simple configuration for novice to advanced intermediate Windows 95 users.

2. Log on to network should be checked...of course (2).  If it’s not, you’ll simply sit idle on your provider’s modem without being able to do anything,

3. Enable software compression (3) will usually be checked (Item 10 from the checklist), but if you have problems, you may want to check with your provider to find out if there might be a problem with this.

4. Allowed network protocols: These are only needed if you are connecting via a cabled network from an office or other networked computer.  If you leave these checked, as shown, they will interfere with performance.  Uncheck both NetBEUI and IPX/SPX Compatible.

5. Once you’ve checked the appropriate boxes here, click the TCP/IP Settings button (5) and one last (whew!) screen will be displayed.


TCP/IP Settings: The Final Screen
TCP/IP Settings

With any luck at all you won’t have to change a thing here.  The screen should be just as shown here for most standard Internet connections using a modem.  The only thing you might need to change is the IP header compression button.  Not all providers are set up to handle it.  Once you’ve checked to see that this screen is okay, click the OK button and you’ll be returned to the Dial-Up Networking window where we’ll see if we can make a proper test connection.


Testing Your Internet Connection

 Note: Before you make your first attempt at connecting with your Internet provider you will have to shut down your computer and completely restart Windows 95 .  This is necessary to allow Windows to properly set up the networking components needed for your Internet connection.

Don’t bother closing any programs before pressing the Start button and selecting Shut Down.  When Windows 95 restarts, the programs you have open now -- including this helpfile -- should open automatically for you so that you can continue right from where you left off.

Unfortunately Windows 95 will not return you to this section of the walk-through.  We strongly recommend bookmarking this topic using the Bookmarks menu so you can quickly return to this spot when Windows restarts.

Finally you have a chance to see whether your configuration works.  Start the connection procedure by double-clicking your Internet connection icon and one last screen will pop up.  This should be familiar to you; you probably saw something like it the first time you ran Trumpet Winsock.

Fortunately all you should need to enter here your User name (1) and Password (2).  You may do this already with your Trumpet Winsock, although in most cases this is automated for you after you fill out this information the first time.  It’s vitally important that you get this right.  If you don’t, you will be able to connect, but not to the Internet.  Some providers will require that you alter your username slightly, and hopefully you have already checked to see if your provider requires something other than your normal userID (Item 11 from the checklist).  Windows 95 will save this information for you, so this may be the last time you’ll see this screen until or unless you change providers.

 To repeat: Be sure to check Item 11 on the Checklist for any special instructions on entering your User name or Password.  You may need to enter something different from what you might expect. (Click here for details)

 Additional note: Do not check the Save Password box unless you are one hundred percent sure you are entering it correctly.  If you do want to save your password, make sure that the Caps Lock light on your keyboard is off before typing it.

Once you have entered the correct information here, click the Connect button (3) and you’ll see the series of boxes shown in the next topic.


Watching Windows 95 connect

If any of these screens fail to appear when you start your Internet connection for the first time, click anywhere on the corresponding screen graphics for troubleshooting tips.

You’ll notice from the Window titles that three different Internet providers appear here.  This is due to the fact that testing for this guide was done using three different Internet accounts.  The title of your connection mini-window will be the name of your Internet provider or the name you gave to the icon that launches your Internet connection.  If the suggested solutions don’t work, go to the Troubleshooting section for more specific information.

Plain enough...Windows 95 is dialing your modem.  If your modem’s speaker is turned on for troubleshooting purposes, you should hear the modem dialing your provider’s number.

When your modem connects with your provider’s modem, you’ll see a screen that shows the connection (it flashes past so quickly we were unable to get a copy of this window).  The remote computer will now make sure your username and password are on its master list.

Once you’ve been verified as having a valid account, Windows 95 will attempt to log you into your provider’s network, which is your "gateway" to the Internet.

If all goes well, you’ll get this screen, which tells you that you have successfully made a connection and are ready to use Internet services.  If it doesn’t, a number of problems could be behind the difficulty.

If your provider was busy, you’ll get a notice telling you that Windows 95 is waiting to try again a little later.

Once you’re logged into your provider, test the connection by checking your email and launching your Web browser to see if it connects properly with the host’s mail server and with World Wide Web ports.  If the connection seems especially slow, don’t assume that this is a problem with your configuration unless you notice a pattern of three or more slow connections where you never had more than one in a row.

Hopefully this will complete the job for you, but if not click the help button to jump to the main troubleshooting menu.


Troubleshooting Your Internet Connection

This section will help you quickly track down solutions for connection problems and point you to the parts of the configuration where you can fix these problems.  This list does not cover all possible problems (it would take a guide many times this size to do that) but it will certainly cover most of them.  Nor can we offer any guarantees that any of these problems are due to the causes we suggest.  If our solutions don’t work (although they will in the vast majority of cases), contact your Internet provider for further assistance.

Click the help button next to the sentence

that best describes your problem

Probable network configuration problems

I double-clicked on my Internet connection icon from the Dial-Up Networking window and got an error message

When I try to connect to the Internet I’m told that my network software is not compatible

Probable modem configuration problems

I see a box that says Dialing... and nothing happens after that.  I’ve waited at least two minutes to make sure it’s not a busy signal or a wrong number

The modem attempts to connect at 57,600 or 115,200 baud and never gets as far as verifying user name and password

Probable script incompatibility

I’ve tried setting the connection options to bring up Windows Terminal when I log in, but I still can’t connect

Probable configuration problems

The Verifying user name and password... box comes up and doesn’t go any further

The Logging onto network... box comes up and doesn’t go any further

A box pops up telling me I’m connected to my provider but I can’t do anything

Probable false information on your checklist

Services like email and World Wide Web that used to be fast are now running slowly

Other problems

For some reason I’m dialling into restricted government or military installations instead of my provider


This is almost certainly a problem with your network software configuration.  Either the software was not properly installed or you are using settings which are causing a conflict with your modem.

Pay careful attention to the cautions regarding the network components, and Remove all network components not needed for Internet connection (provided of course that you don’t need other network software).  This will prevent a lot of the usual configuration errors that result in this problem.

Click the help button to return to the table of contents where you should first double-check your Windows 95 installation (yes, again...sorry, but there’s no easier solution) and then review the section on configuring network components.


Unable to dial

The most likely cause of this problem is improper modem configuration.  If you entered your modem type manually when you installed Windows 95, you may have entered the wrong modem make and model.

It is also unlikely, but possible, that Windows 95 improperly detected your modem type.It is also possible, but unlikely, that you were given the wrong manual for your modem, and selected the wrong modem from the list when you installed Windows 95.

You might want to double-check this option to make sure you picked the right modem.We suggest changing to Standard Modem as your first option.

This help button jumps to the modem configuration section where you’ll be shown how to change this option.

The other possibility is that you are attempting to connect at too high a speed for your modem to handle, and it might not be the fault of your modem or your configuration.  The help button takes you to the section where you’ll learn how this problem can come about.


Network configuration problems

This could be caused by one of three problems: either you entered your username and password incorrectly (you may need to use special login instructions to connect properly [also see instructions for SLIP connections]) or you need to use the Terminal window to make the connection instead of having Windows 95 do it for you.

Double-check your configuration, and if you still cannot get further, go back to using your old 16-bit Winsock until you can find out what the problem is.  Most likely you have false information on your checklist somewhere.

There also seems to be a bit of a glitch with some providers who ask you to login using special instructions.  If you save your password, you may not be able to connect, but you might have no problem at all if you get Windows to prompt you for your password at each login.  Click here to find out where your password is saved and find out how to disable this save feature.

Two providers...not always better than one

You may also have tried to set up Windows 95 to handle two different providers at the same time, which is usually a no-no.  The best way to handle this situation is to use a program such as RoboDUN to "script" your configuration for two or more providers.  RoboDUN is a free program, and the most recent version at the time of publication was available on the World Wide Web from a link shown at this topic.  Some considerate providers will even provide you with a copy of the program and a script specifically configured for their system.

If you do not have RoboDUN and cannot make sense of the download instructions in the introduction, the Windows 95 Winsock Applications page included with this package includes links for finding the program.  Instructions for acquiring and installing RoboDUN are found in the Introduction.  You will also find a link there to a visual walk-through of the procedure.

If you have installed RoboDUN and need advice about scripting the help button will take you to the appropriate topic.


You probably have your connection options set improperly for the provider you are using.  The most likely culprits: IPX Header Compression, TCP/IP WINS configuration, or the use of the wrong Gateway or IP address.  These options are all available from this menu.

You may also have Netbeui and IPX protocols installed and activated.  These are not needed for SLIP/PPP connections and in fact can slow down your connection to a crawl depending on how your system is configured.  Click here for instructions on how to find and deactivate them.


Modem dials but won’t connect

The most likely causes of this particular problem are:

1. An incompatible connection with your provider’s modem, meaning you will have to change modem settings (unlikely if you are able to connect just fine with Trumpet Winsock)

2. An improper choice of modems from the list of supported modems

3. Network incompatibilities.  In order to make certain that you do not have any unnecessary software, remove all network adapters except for the Dial-Up Adapter and all network protocols except TCP/IP.  Click here to jump to the section that discusses the installation of these items and remove them now.


SLIP problems
Incompatible protocols

If you see this particular message on your screen when you attempt to connect, double-check your checklist to make sure you are entering your username in the way your provider recommends.

You may be asked to add extra characters to the end of it, such a tdoe%s to activate SLIP or tdoe%ppp to activate PPP, and your computer will refuse to talk to theirs unless you have a software match.  If your username is entered properly, you’ll have to reinstall your network software.

If you have PPP you probably need to switch to SLIP, and vice versa…but check with your provider before going to this trouble!  You may also need to use better scripting software than Windows 95 provides, such as RoboDUN.


Can’t log into network

This might be a connection problem.  Try using HyperTerminal (it’s in the Accessories menu) to dial into your provider to see if you can get any kind of connection.  If you can’t connect at all, your modem settings need to be adjusted.If you are connecting, you are not locking properly with your provider’s login scripts.

Try using the manual connection option (this is done with the Bring up terminal window option)It could also be a problem with your configuration, particularly if you’ve tried entering the proper data more than once without success.  Two boxes in particular in the TCP/IP Properties menu, need to have one and only one entry unless your provider has instructed you otherwise.  These boxes are Gateway and DNS Server Search Order.

Multiple addresses may be confusing the connection software.  You might want to check to make sure you haven’t tried to enter two addresses here.  Clicking the hotspots either here or at the topic linked to this help button will display the screens where these entries appear.


robodun troubleshooting
RoboDUN: When nothing else works

In all likelihood, this problem is caused by an incompatibility between the way Windows 95 handles logins and the way your provider wants to handle logins.  Many providers have three prompts instead of just the normal two (username and password) so that you can choose the type of service you want (usually SLIP, PPP or UNIX).

Other winsocks handle this situation quite well, but Windows’ winsock doesn’t seem to like this at all.  It might not be easy for your provider to fix the problem for the benefit of Windows 95 users, so you might have to be the one to adapt.  In time, your provider might make a free RoboDUN package with a custom script available to you, but if not, you’ll have to do the job yourself.

It’s not that difficult a chore, actually.  It’s simply a matter of installing RoboDUN, and in most cases you can use the sample SLIP or PPP script provided with RoboDUN with very few alterations to gain access to your provider’s host computer.

Installing RoboDUN

Instructions for installing RoboDUN are found in the Introduction.  You will also find a link there to a visual walk-through of the procedure.


Microsoft’s free Web browser and connection wizard
Microsoft’s free browser and connection wizard

It’s our hope that most of the work we’ve done in preparing this helpfile and troubleshooting guide will be meaningless.  Microsoft has made their Internet Explorer Web browser, a browser program available free to all licensed users of Windows 95.  Even if you don’t need their browser, you may still want to spend a few minutes downloading the software, because this package includes an Internet connection setup wizard which will do most of the configuration for you automatically.  You’ll still need the information from your checklist, but this wizard will prompt you for the rest and in most cases it will be all the help you’ll ever need, and knowing about this may make the cost of this package worth what you paid for it.

The Windows 95 Software Resources Page includes a link which will automatically start a download of this file from Microsoft’s FTP site…just point and click.  But if you don’t have any Internet connectivity yet you can still obtain it from CompuServe, America Online or Microsoft’s bulletin board using Windows 95 HyperTerminal.

The BBS phone number for Microsoft’s bulletin board in Canada is 1-905-507-3022.  In the US, the number is 1-206-936-6735.  Set your terminal for 8-N-1 (eight bits, no parity, one stop bit) before dialling.


Special instructions for SLIP (not PPP)

If you are unfortunate enough to have a provider who is using SLIP (Serial Line Interface Protocol) as a connection protocol instead of PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol), you have a little more work ahead of you than those who are simply using PPP.

Many of the problems discussed in the troubleshooting section apply equally to both PPP and SLIP connections, but the information offered here will be of no value if your provider offers true Point-to-Point Protocol.  If all you can get is SLIP, you have our sympathies…testing and preparing this section of the help tool was no easy task for us and getting connected could be an ordeal of trial and error.

  Preparing for SLIP connections

  How to obtain SLIP software for Windows 95 at no cost

  How to install Windows 95’s SLIP software

  How to configure your SLIP connection

  How to connect using the SLIP software

  Using RoboDUN with SLIP


Preparing for SLIP connections

Before you attempt to configure your SLIP connection, it would be an excellent idea to make sure your checklist has been properly filled out with information from your provider.  If you cannot get this information, you may be able to make do with the information provided by your Trumpet Winsock setup screen.

Next you need to obtain the proper software.  And guess what?  Windows 95 doesn’t even come with SLIP software.  It was included with beta versions of Windows 95 and Chicago, but if you want this software now Microsoft seems to expect you to invest in Microsoft Plus!™

Here’s a dirty little secret (secret because most users don’t find out about it except by accident; dirty because by the time they know it’s usually well past the time when they needed the information): the SLIP software you need to get Windows 95 connected to a SLIP provider is available free from Microsoft’s own FTP site.  Read on to find out how to get it.


How to obtain SLIP software for Windows 95

It’s a bit of a secret that Microsoft has SLIP connection software available free of charge for download from their FTP site.  Why this software was not included on the Windows 95 CD is a total mystery to us; it requires very little space.

First decide whether or not you want to try out Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser software.  If you do, download this software first and attempt to install it.  (NOTE: Be sure to use the winsock cleanup procedure to back up your old winsocks before installing Internet Explorer.)  Go to Microsoft’s Web site at the URL below and "follow your nose" to the free software or Internet software for Windows 95 section where Internet Explorer is offered.

http://www.microsoft.com

The dialup scripting tool includes utilities needed for SLIP access, and it can be obtained by entering any one of these links in the Location:, Go to: or URL: box of your browser:

ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/Softlib/MSLFILES/dscript.exe

ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/computing/vendor/microsoft/Softlib/MSLFILES/dscript.exe

ftp://ftp.uni-kl.de/pub3/pc/microsoft/dscript.exe

ftp://ftp.pu-toyama.ac.jp/pub/ftpmail/ftp.microsoft.com/d:/Softlib/dscript.exe

ftp://ftp.ust.hk/pub/ftp.microsoft.com/Softlib/dscript.exe

 Note: Netscape Navigator and a few other Web browsers may ask you whether you want to save the file or view it.  Be sure to ask to have the file saved.  Select a new or a temporary working directory to save each these files when you download them so that they do not create conflicting messes on your hard disk.

If your browser automatically tries to view these files instead of saving them, you will have to reconfigure your Web browser’s helper applications to save MIME types “application/octet-stream .exe/.bin”.  You can find this screen by clicking Options, selecting Preferences and going to the Helper applications or Viewers screen.


How to install Windows 95’s SLIP Software

If you have Microsoft Plus!, you’ll need to check the installation to make sure you have the Dial-Up Scripting Tool installed.  If you did not select this option, you will have to do a quick re-install making sure you select this particular option.

If you downloaded the DSCRIPT.EXE file from Microsoft’s FTP site, you will now have to go to the directory on your computer where that file is located and run DSCRIPT.EXE as if it were a normal program.  Windows will open a "DOS box" for a moment and you’ll see the files extract from the archive.  The files are now ready to install.

If you used Explorer to extract the files, you will already see the RNAPLUS.INF file that starts the installation.  If not, here’s how to get to it and start the install (it only takes a few seconds).

1. Double-click on your My Computer icon.  This will pop up your system’s main window.

2. Double-click on the folder for the drive where you saved the downloaded file (probably Drive C).

3. If you have not already done so, look for the icon for DSCRIPT.EXE and double-click on it to extract the files it contains.  You may have to click View from the top menu bar and select Refresh to see these new files once the extraction has been completed.

4. Right-click on the file called RNAPLUS.INF and a menu will pop up.  Click on Install and in just a few seconds – and with no warning or status reports – your SLIP software will be ready for use.

Your network components must be installed or you will get an error message at this point.  If you still have not done so, find out how to install these components now by clicking here…your SLIP software will not work without them.


Setting up an icon for SLIP connection

Now you need to prepare for connection by setting up a launch icon for connecting to your provider and configuring its options.  Start by double-clicking on My Computer and then double-clicking on the Dial-Up Networking icon (1).  When its window opens, right-click on Make New Connection and a menu will pop up beside your cursor (2).  Select Create (3) as shown in the diagram.  You’ll be walked through a wizard for setting up your modem with the properties you need.  If you do not know how to do this yet, go back to the table of contents and go through the sections on setting up an icon and configuring your session options.


Setting up an icon for SLIP connection
Setting up an icon for SLIP connection (2)

Once you have created your icon, you’ll need to go through the setup procedure which is a little different from the procedure for SLIP.  First, right-click on your Internet connection icon to bring up the pop-up menu and select Properties using the left mouse button.

This will pop up an options menu that looks like this, and from here you select Server Type.


Setting up server options for SLIP connection

If you tried to connect earlier using the PPP software, you’ll notice that this next screen now looks a little different.  When you click the box under Type of Dial-Up Server:, you will now see an entry for SLIP/Unix Connection where there was no such entry before.  Click that option to select it, and most of the other options on this screen will be greyed out.

As you can see, you have far fewer options to work with than you do with a similar PPP setup.  Simply click the Log on to Network box (1) and the TCP/IP box (2) if they are not preselected for you and move on to the most critical section: TCP/IP Settings, by clicking the button as shown.


TCP/IP options for SLIP

Here’s where the time spent on your checklist will pay off…hopefully in ways you’ll never notice.  If you connect successfully the first time, you won’t miss the time you might have lost trying to hack your way through the configuration without this information.

This first of two possible screens shows how your TCP/IP options will look if your provider is configured for ease of use at your end.

If your provider has told you that their server assigns IP addresses and name server (DNS) addresses automatically, check to see if you need IP Header Compression and Default Gateway checked or not.  Once these items are properly checked, you can move on to the next section.  If your provider told you you need to enter specific information here, click the More Help button.


TCP/IP options for SLIP (advanced)

If your provider has given you special instructions about IP addresses and name server (DNS) settings, you enter this information here.

First you activate these parts of the screen by clicking the Specify and IP Address button (this is not commonly used) and entering the IP address your provider asks you to use (1).

Next you need to specify whether your provider assigns name addresses (DNS).  If they do, you may need to enter more than one.  The two critical ones are the Primary DNS (Item 3 on your checklist and Primary WINS (Item 13, the SLIP-specific information).

Be sure to get the correct information about IP header compression (this will make a difference to the performance of your software as well as make sure the connection works properly) and default gateway.  Once you have this information filled out, you’re ready to try a connection.

Remember…the sample numeric addresses shown here are only examples.  They will not work with your provider.


Connecting to your provider using SLIP

The first time you connect to your provider using SLIP – and possibly every time depending on how they are set up -- you will have to use HyperTerminal to log in.  Now that you have all of your settings entered, you’re ready to try a test connection.

Double-click on My Computer and double-click again on Dial-Up Networking to get to your Internet connection icon.  Before you begin your connection, you might want to add your Internet connection procedure to your Start menu by dragging its icon to the Start button on the task bar.

When you double-click on the button, you’ll see a screen that prompts you for your username and password.  Leave the password blank during the testing phase, but you can check the box to have it saved later to save you some trouble…if and only if you do not need to enter an IP address each time you log in.

If your network and SLIP options are set properly, you’ll see the terminal screen shown below.  If you cannot get this far, check the Troubleshooting section for possible reasons and fixes.

When you connect to the Internet using PPP, you will seldom need to use HyperTerminal, but SLIP will often insist that you use it…at least the first time you log in.  This is a sample of a screen you might see if you successfully configured the software and modem and made a good connection to your provider.  Where the screen says Login: you enter your username.  You’ll need to add the same special codes (if any) to your name here as you added when you entered your username when you double-clicked your Internet connection icon.  In this example, J. Doe might need to enter jdoe%s to signify a SLIP connection.  The next line is for your password, and you might be requested to add a special code to the password instead of your username.  Once again, this all depends on how your provider has configured their software.

 Note: This next line is particularly important with some providers.  Once you enter the correct username and password, you may see a line that reads similar to the one here: “SL/IP session from 111.111.11.1 beginning…”  (We’ve masked out the numbers that showed up here; they’re numbers from our own provider and won’t work for you anyhow.)

 Note carefully: In many cases the numbers you see on this line (they won’t be 111.111.11.1) will have to be entered on this screen, which will pop up when you click the OK button on the terminal window.  If you have not written this number down, you won’t have it available to enter into the next box, so keep a notepad handy to write the From… number down.

If you’ve entered everything correctly, you should see a small box on your screen that tells you you are connected and shows the speed of your modem’s connection.  Test your connection by starting Netscape or your usual Web browser and see if it will connect and load a page – any page – on the World Wide Web.  If it does, your job is done.

If it doesn’t, you’ll need to do a little troubleshooting to get the connection working properly, and in most cases you’ll find that the culprit is incorrect information on your checklist.


Using RoboDUN with SLIP
Using RoboDUN with SLIP and PPP

RoboDUN with PPP

Our test users found that in most cases, the supplied PPP script worked instantly -- provided they filled out the parameters properly -- with most "problem" connections.  The next section explains what parameters need to be changed by you and how, and of course there’s plenty more help in RoboDUN’s helpfile.

RoboDUN with SLIP

RoboDUN has been useful for many people attempting to connect with tricky SLIP situations, and it is very easy to work with once you know a few tricks.  Once you have RoboDUN’s dialler installed (click here to learn how), you can get most SLIP accounts up and running quickly and easily by using the standard script supplied in RoboDUN’s helpfile.  You can access that script from here by clicking the RoboDUN button at the top of this help window, selecting RoboDUN Scripts from RoboDUN’s main help menu and clicking on the highlighted word SLIP.

This will display a sample SLIP script. One of the nice features about Windows 95’s new helpfile viewer is that it lets you copy text directly from the help window.  You can then paste it directly into RoboDUN’s script editor window. Our old friend jdoe would copy the whole script to RoboDUN’s editor, replace Send "username<cr>" with Send "jdoe<cr>" and Send "password<cr>" with Send "jdoe’spassword<cr>" (whatever Mr. Doe’s password happens to be) and attempt a login.

If this doesn’t work…

If it doesn’t work the first time, it’s probably because your provider uses a fixed address for SLIP accounts. Try replacing the last two lines:

GetSlip 1

end

…with a permanent SLIP address, so it reads like this instead:

UseSlip 111.111.11.1

end

Naturally you won’t use 111.111.11.1 as your numbers…instead you’ll use the DNS address (item 1 on the checklist) given by your provider.


How to Install RoboDUN’s Automated Dialer


How to install RoboDUN’s automated dialer

When you click the Have Disk button, this window will appear:

When you have properly filled in this box, Windows 95 will display the following screen.  Note that RoboDUN is displayed as the only component.  If it is not, you have either erased RoboDUN or typed the wrong directory name.

Use RoboDUN’s Script Manager to select and edit login scripts.  In most cases, all you need to do is copy the sample scripts directly from the helpfile, paste them into RoboDUN’s editor window, and save them, and with little or no alteration, you should now be able to dial into your Internet provider.  Remember to send an email message of thanks to Mark Gamber for providing you with a free fix for something Microsoft could have provided themselves…and to register the program if he ever makes it commercial.


About this resource...

Easy Windows 95 Internet Step-up is provided as a free resource.  Originally prepared as a stand-alone help tool in September of 1995, this is now a component of the First Train for the Internet training and resource kit.  It is provided as unsupported software.  Support will only be available for registered licensees of First Train for the Internet.

Registration

If you think it’s worth paying for (our original asking price for this package was US$10.00), we suggest that you contribute what it was worth to you to a local relief agency or the equivalent amount in food to your local food bank, and if you are a software author, we ask that you consider releasing nag-free versions of software which is no longer producing income for you.

To learn more about First train for the Internet and for information about other free resources from Dynamic Living Media, point your Web browser to:

http://www.firstrain.com

For information regarding custom implementations of this help tool for specific situations, site licenses and custom help tool development, check the catalog included in this package.  Customized versions of EZ95 can be provided to suit the needs of a specific Internet service provider for as little as US$300.00.

Help authors: feel free to decompile this project if you are curious to know how we accomplished certain styles and formatting.  You’ll find a capable freeware decompiler as HELPDC15.ZIP at ftp.onyx.gfx.com/pub/winhelp or ftp.gmu.edu/pub/winhelp.  Please respect authors’ copyrights when decompiling help projects.

Copyright and licensing information can be viewed by clicking this icon.

Tips for use

Use Windows Help’s Bookmarks to keep track of where you find important bits of information.  These bookmarks work much like your browser’s bookmarks and can be an invaluable resource.  Even expert users don’t always think about this feature of Windows Help.

The TreeVu button offers quick access to a table of contents for the tool in Windows 3.1 and Windows 95.  It is offered as a convenience only.  Due to the way this helpfile was constructed and linked, it won’t always behave in the manner you might expect, so while you’ll probably find it useful, don’t expect it to be perfect.  We designed this helpfile with your needs in mind, not the needs of the Hyperviewer.

The Find button allows you to hunt down any word or phrase in the helpfile without creating a monstrous full-text search file using Windows 95 Help.

Close any and all Microsoft Office applications while using this help tool in Windows 3.1/3.11.  Helpfiles such as this which contains a large number of graphics will steal memory and not refund it when the helpfile is closed.  This does not occur on all systems and we have been unable to determine the cause for this bug.


Licensing information

Microsoft Windows™ and Windows 95™ are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.  Dynamic Living Media is not affiliated in any way with Microsoft Corporation except as licensees and users of their products.  First Train for the Internet, Easy Windows 95 Internet Step-up, The PC Owner's Survival Guide, F-A-S-T Emergency Windows Backup, Winsock Conflict Eraser and PC/Internet Lexicon are copyright ©1996 Dynamic Living Media.  All files with .HLP extensions included in this archive are the copyrighted property of Dynamic Living Media except where noted or accredited.  Many of the DLLs and extensions used in this package are freely distributable; some are not.

IMPORTANT NOTE:	If you do not agree to the terms of this license, do not use this software.
Terms of your software license:

(Legalese with English subtitles; click the BACK or CONTENTS button when you've had enough)

1. This license is limited to the terms and conditions described herein.  Its permissions extend for the life of the copyright holding to the work licensed.  Its prohibitions and restrictions extend for the life of the copyrighted work or two years following the release date of the software, whichever comes first, except where noted.

Plain English

2. As a paid user you are permitted to install and use this file and all files accompanying it in the package or electronic datafile in which it was found, henceforth known as "software", for personal use on a single computer and to make one (1) copy of the distribution disks and two (2) copies of electronically-distributed software for archival backup only.  If two copies of the original software exist in your possession, at least one copy must be stored a minimum of one hundred meters from both the original and the first copy.

Plain English

3. If you are not a paid, licensed user of this software, or you do not possess written permission for limited or unlimited personal use of this software without payment, or you are in possession of a copy of this software which has not been purchased through an authorized Dynamic Living Media distributor, retailer or company representative, then your possession of this document or any part of it is in violation of copyright.  You must erase this software and all copies of it in your possession from your computer immediately.  Distribution of the software in this package, except where explicitly stated in the software itself, without the expressed written consent of Dynamic Living Media is strictly prohibited and will be enforced.  Any act which consists of making this software publicly available via exchange of data in physical or electronic form may constitute criminal fraud.

Plain English

4. No time limits are applied to the use of the software on the disks supplied with your installation package except where noted in the documentation itself such as a disk labelled "freely copyable and shareable" or documentation which may have accompanied the software, such as a media review release, non-fee usage release for a non-profit organization authorized by Dynamic Living Media for no-cost use of the software, or other similar materials which may have been supplied with the package whether distributed in physical or electronic form.

Plain English

5. All benefits, restrictions and prohibitions outlined in the license are transferrable.  The copyright holder reserves the right to deny transfer of license for any reason.

Plain English

6. All restrictions on copying and distribution of the software become null and void two (2) years or seven-hundred thirty (730) days after the release date, at which time all software whose release date is greater than two (2) years old may be freely distributed under the terms of the copyright.  At this time acceptable shareware distribution principles are in effect; i.e. the software may not be sold but a fee may be charged to cover the cost of the media upon which it is distributed.  This condition applies to all software bearing the Dynamic Living Media copyright, either visibly or encoded as part of a binary file.  Disassembly of this software following the aforementioned period is acceptable but this applies exclusively to components of the software bearing the Dynamic Living Media copyright and not to any other parts of the software.  Right of disassembly for purposes of study are granted exclusively by the copyright holder.  All such requests must be made directly to the copyright holder.  Copyright laws regarding the content of the software remain in effect even after the expiry of distribution restrictions.

Plain English

7. WARRANTY: The software is provided as operational and usable within the parameters described in the packaging, either electronic or physical, and requirements on all systems which fall within the standards listed on the package.  Neither Dynamic Living Media nor its agents or distributors shall be liable or responsible for the failure of this product to perform as advertised on equipment which does not strictly meet the criteria described on the package.  Distribution disks, tapes, cartridges and electronic archives are warranted against failure for a period of 30 days and in the case of physical media may be returned for repair or replacement before that period without charge.  Under no circumstances shall Dynamic Living Media, its agents or distributors be responsible for any inability to use this product as advertised due to nonstandard software or hardware configurations including but not limited to third-party menuing systems, system software and hardware.  If one or more of the disks in the set is faulty, or refuses to install within 30 days, it/they may be returned to Dynamic Living Media for replacement.  Dynamic Living warrants only the integrity of software archives maintained on its own storage systems or the systems maintained by its agent(s) for the purpose of direct distribution, i.e. Dynamic Living's Internet provider(s) and/or online service provider(s).

Plain English

8. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY:  Under no circumstances and under no legal theory, tort, contract, or otherwise, shall Dynamic Living Media be liable to the end user or any other person for any indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages of any type including, without limitation, damages for loss of goodwill, lost productivity, computer failure or malfunction, or any and all other commercial damages or losses which are not directly due to negligence or malice on the part of Dynamic Living Media as covered by legal definitions of reasonable care.  This limitation of liability shall not apply to liability for death or personal injury to the extent applicable law prohibits such limitation.  Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so this limitation and exclusion may not apply to all users.

Plain English


License term 1
Your rights to use the software itself never expire, and the do’s and don’ts relating to copyright law will be in effect for decades to come...except for your right to share the software with others, which you may do two years after this software’s release date.  "Software package" means this helpfile specifically and all files except for any free or freely copyable programs included as part of this package.  Just be aware that even the freely copyable parts of the package are protected by copyright and can’t be sold or claimed as the work of anyone but us.

As a matter of policy, Dynamic Living Media downgrades all software labelled "commercial", "retail" or "shareware" to freeware after two years.  Check the dates on the files in this program’s directory if you’re not sure.


This might sound strange.  The first part is fairly standard stuff...you can make as many as two backup copies of the software if you like, but you might be confused by our second condition here.

Think of it this way.  If your home burns down, or your computer is stolen, and your only backup copy was sitting next to your computer, you are truly out of luck.  Store at least one of your backups far enough away from the original so that it can’t be lost in the same disaster that results in the loss of your computer.


We know we can’t stop you from making copies for friends, posting it on pirate bulletin boards or otherwise playing it fast and loose with our work.  But if we catch you trying to make money doing so, or acting in a way which deprives us of our right to do business, such as distributing the software on the Internet, you’d better believe we’ll come after you.

Also, if you are a member of a non-profit organization involved in relief work or a registered public charity doing work related to assisting the disadvantaged, contact us about receiving licenses for free use of this software for purposes relating to your efforts.


Your right to use the materials you got with this help kit, and that you will get in future from us via email or FTP, never expire.  If you’re a reviewer or are evaluating the software for purchase as part of your job or position with an organization or agency, you may be required to destroy your copy(ies) of the software after a given period of time.


This is part of our commercial license.  Don’t worry about it.


We at Dynamic Living believe that freedom of information is more than just a right.  It’s a principle.  All Dynamic Living Media information products become free software two years after the release date.  (The release date for Dynamic Living Media products is the same as the date on the files themselves.)

We encourage all publishers to adopt similar free-distribution clauses for their outdated software so that the gap between "information haves" and "information have-nots" can be reduced.  Let’s face it...after two years on the market, a publisher isn’t going to make much money on an old version of the software anyway.


If your retail disks fail when you try to install them, get in touch with us.  If you can contact us by email we can often help you get a new copy of the software via the Internet or an online service in less time than it would take to mail you a replacement.  (Not applicable to freeware licenses.)

If the failure is not due to a problem which we can control, we can’t be responsible for it.

And if you do not have a properly functioning, 100-percent industry standard IBM-compatible computer with a properly-functioning Microsoft Windows 3.1/3.11 or Windows 95 operating system for which you have a legal license, we can’t be responsible for that either.

If you do have this software and there are conflicts with other programs that prevent you from using this software, we can’t be responsible for that either, although we will usually do our best to insure compatibility if a conflict arises between our software and another widely-used program.


If it’s our fault, we’ll do everything in our power to fix it.  If it’s not our fault, well, we need this disclaimer to protect ourselves against people who enjoy frivolous lawsuits.