---------------------------------------------------------------------- w i n d o w s 3 . 1 x a c c e s s i n g t h e i n t e r n e t ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows 3.1 Microsoft Windows 3.11 Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11 Summary: This article describes how to access the internet from a Windows 3.1x (16-bit) machine. More Information: This article is collated from two postings on the comp.os.ms-windows.setup.win3x newsgroup. Solution: The process is a bit more involved than with Win 9x since Windows 3.1 does not have Dial-up Networking, and so the various "chunks" may have to be gathered and installed individually. There are shareware dialer programs out there, but they cost about $20-$25. You can get a copy of Internet Explorer 3.x or 4.x which has it's own dialer, *and it is free*. Note that most browsers are "resource hungry" so check the amount of RAM memory in the system. If you have 8 Mb you should be okay and 16 Mb is even better. You should also have at least 10 - 20 Mb of free hard disk space. At one time, ISPs handed out software CDs or floppies with both Win 3.x and Win 95 versions on them. The easiest route, is to try to track down one of these. Another "package" approach is to start calling ISPs that offer service in your area and ask if they can supply a Win 3.x package. Most used to have them and should be willing to send you one. (Looking for an ISP? Try http://www.findanisp.com ) You may find that the "Free" services insist that you use Win 9x. This is because the system that feeds you advertising (and them money) can only operate with a 32-bit (A.K.A. Win 9x) browser. I have seen reports that "Freewwweb" (http://www.freewwweb.com/quick/quick.html ) can be used with Win 3.x as a free service IF you are willing to obtain and configure the browser and dialer/winsock yourself. You must also use their home page as your default starting point on the internet. "Earthlink" is also reported to supply Win 3.x CD's or floppies on request. Batteries not included: If you want to assemble the pieces yourself, you will need the following: 1. A Modem. This MUST be a "hardware" modem and NOT a "win" modem. Win modems are cheaper but require Win9x and a faster processor than you, probably, have. A new internal 56K hardware modem will cost you about (US)$65. 2. A piece of software that knows how to dial the modem, establish a PPP connection and "Winsock" (WINdows SOCKet). Trumpet ( http://www1.trumpet.com.au/products.html ) has a Win 3.x (16-bit) version for download. After 30 days you pay (US)$25 for a license. Most of the Internet Explorer 3.x distributions available on-line come with a dialer/winsock program called "Shiva" that can be used with IE or with any other browser. 3. A browser. Netscape 3.0 thru 4.08, Internet Explorer 3.x thru 5.x (both free) or Opera (US)$30 should work fine. An E-mail / Newsgroup Client: If you find you do not like the email or newsgroups functions of Netscape or IE, check out some other Internet applications like "Eudora Light" or "Pegasus" for email, and "Free Agent" for newsgroups. Installing IE 3.x / 4.x: Choose either Typical or Full Install to get the version with the dialer. Installing Netscape: If you'd rather use Netscape (download links also below), install the entire IE3, then uninstall all the components except the dialer. NOTE: make a copy of the file comctlie.dll before removing the IE3 components. The uninstall likes to take this file with it, but the dialer needs it. After uninstalling the rest of IE3, just copy or move it back into the directory where the dialer program is located. Internet Resources: You can find software at these sites: ** NETSCAPE Older versions of Netscape in several languages and versions: ftp://archive:oldies@archive.netscape.com/archive/index.html ftp://ftp2.netscape.com/pub/communicator/ http://home.netscape.com/download/archive/index.html Last version of Netscape for Win 3.x ftp://ftp2.netscape.com/pub/communicator/4.08/english/windows/windows3.1/ Netscape Communicator 4.08 http://home.netscape.com/download/0718100/10000-en-win16---_qual.html Netscape Navigator 4.08 (browser only) http://home.netscape.com/download/0718100/10002-en-win16---_qual.html Useful Netscape information site: http://www.ufaq.org ** MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER Microsoft Internet Explorer v3.02: http://msdownload.microsoft.com/msdownload/ie3/win31/dl/dlbas30f.exe Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.03 SP1: http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/iebuild/ie3sp1_win16/en/ie3sp1_win16.htm ** OPERA Opera shareware browser for many countries: http://www.opera.com/download.html#win16 ** BROWSERS, DIALERS, DRIVERS, ETC. http://browsers.evolt.org http://filedudes.infinity.net/win3xx/webbrwsr/ http://www.simtel.net/simtel.net/ http://www.winsite.com/win3/index.html http://www.umich.edu/~archive/ http://www.download.com http://www.search.com http://www.tucows.com http://www.shareware.com http://www.softseek.com ** CONFIGURATION INFORMATION http://www.ktb.net/support.htm http://www.webcom.com/~llarrow/comfaqs.html http://www.well.com/user/nac/alt-winsock-faq.html ftp://SunSite.UNC.EDU/pub/micro/pc-stuff/ms-windows/winsock/FAQ http://www.cerberus-sys.com/~belleisl/mtu_mss_rwin.html Other interesting stuff: DOS-based Internet access tools "Arachne" and "Net-Tamer; Email, WWW, Newsgroups, Telenet and FTP: http://www.arachne.cz/ http://www.nettamer.net/tamer.html PPP & Internet Applications for DOS: http://www.tropinet.com/ppp.html Eudora Light, email reader: http://www.eudora.com/eudoralight/ (Latest free version, includes advertising) ftp://ftp.eudora.com/Eudora/eudoralight/windows/english/ (Older version, smaller, simpler, no advertising) Free Agent, Newsgroup Reader: http://www.forteinc.com/agent/freagent.htm http://www.forteinc.com/getfa/download.htm Pegasus Email Reader: http://risc.ua.edu/pegasus/winpmail/w16-312b.exe http://www.let.rug.nl/pegasus/winpmail/w16-312b.exe ftp://ftp.usm.maine.edu/pegasus/winpmail/w16-312b.exe Misc. Internet applications: ftp://ftp.eudora.com/Eudora/eudoralight/windows/extras/winsock/ (Open the README file for descriptions of the program files) Credits: John G. Dulak, Gnomeway Services jdulak@telerama.com http://www.telerama.com/~jdulak