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Configuring Windows 95 for the Internet
by Joe Kraynak

Realizing that the Internet and online services were becoming popular, Microsoft used Windows 95 to stake its claim on the Internet. First, Microsoft included the software for its own online service: The Microsoft Network (MSN for short). Microsoft also built Internet support into Windows 95 with a feature called Dial-Up Networking.

Dial-Up Networking provides the TCP/IP software and the dialer you need to connect to Microsoft's own Internet service provider or to another service provider in your calling area.

To make it even easier to connect to the Internet, Microsoft has created the Internet Setup Wizard, a series of dialog boxes that lead you step-by-step through the process of setting up Windows 95 for the Internet.

In this chapter, you learn how to connect to the Internet with Windows 95, with or without the help of the Internet Setup Wizard. You even learn where to get a copy of Internet Setup Wizard for free.

What You Need to Start


If you're like most people, you'll try to set up your Internet connection at midnight, when nobody is around to bother you with the mundane things in life. . .like sleep. The trouble with this approach is that if you don't have everything you need, you can't run out and get it or call your service provider for help.

Before you start, make sure you have the following essentials:


TIP

If your service provider did not specify a subnet mask, you can usually determine it yourself from the first three digits of your IP address. If the first three digits are 1-126, the subnet mask is 255.0.0.0; 128-191, 255.255.0.0; 192-223, 255.255.255.0.

Understanding PPP and SLIP Connections


There are two general types of Internet connections: indirect (terminal) and direct. You need a direct connection to use any fancy Internet programs, such as Internet Explorer 3.0.

The two most prevalent types of direct connections are SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol) and PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol). The most important difference between SLIP and PPP, as far as Windows 95 is concerned, is that SLIP is a royal pain to set up, but setting up a PPP connection is relatively easy.

If you have an existing SLIP account with a service provider, change it to a PPP account. If the service provider does not offer PPP connections, change service providers. Although this chapter explains how to set up Windows 95 to use SLIP, I strongly recommend that you establish a PPP account, instead.

If that's not enough to convince you to call your service provider and change your account, here are a couple additional reasons:

Other than the difference in ease of use, PPP and SLIP accounts are fairly similar. Both types of accounts enable you to use client software (such as an e-mail program or Web browser) on your computer to access the Internet. In terms of speed, both connections will seem just as fast to the average user.

Using the Internet Setup Wizard


As soon as Microsoft had developed Internet Explorer 1.0, Microsoft started selling it and giving it away. It became part of Microsoft Plus!, the add-on package for Windows 95. Microsoft also made Internet Explorer 3.0 available at its Internet site, and included it in the Internet Jumpstart Kit (complete with a book).

To help users connect to the Internet in Windows 95, Microsoft developed a companion for Internet Explorer, called the Internet Setup Wizard. Both programs are stored in a single file on the CD at the back of this book. When you run the file, it stores both programs on your hard drive and displays a single icon, named The Internet, on the Windows desktop.

The first time you double-click on The Internet icon, it runs the Internet Setup Wizard, which leads you through the process of setting up your Internet account. After your account is set up, whenever you double-click on The Internet icon, Windows runs Internet Explorer 3.0 and displays a dialog box prompting you to enter your user ID and password.

What the Internet Setup Wizard Does


Although configuring Windows 95 for the Internet is not all that difficult, Internet Setup Wizard makes it a no-brainer. It leads you step-by-step through the process of establishing your Internet connection. It displays a series of dialog boxes prompting you to enter each essential piece of information from your service provider.

But that's not all the Internet Setup Wizard is good for. It also does the following:


NOTE

There are no real drawbacks to using the Internet Setup Wizard. Some people don't like the fact that The Internet icon automatically runs Internet Explorer 3.0. However, if you want to connect to the Internet without using your Web browser, you can double-click on your connection icon in the Dial-Up Networking window or create a shortcut on the desktop.

Running the Internet Setup Wizard


The Internet Setup Wizard steps you through the Internet setup, but you have to install it first. The instructions in Appendix E, "About the CD-ROM," explain how to install the programs from the CD that accompanies this book. With Windows 95 AutoPlay, simply insert the CD and follow the on-screen instructions.

The following steps show how to run the Internet Setup Wizard and what you can expect along the way. However, Microsoft is constantly updating and improving the Internet Setup Wizard, so the steps may differ depending on the version you're running:

  1. After you install the Internet Setup Wizard, it should run automatically. If it does not run, try the following:

    Double-click on The Internet icon on the Windows desktop.

    Open the Start menu, point to Programs | Accessories | Internet Tools, and click on Internet Setup Wizard or Get on the Internet.

  2. Read the Welcome dialog box, and then click on the Next button to proceed. Another dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 4.1, asking if you want to use The Microsoft Network or an Internet service provider you have found. (If you choose MSN, and you don't have an existing MSN account, get your credit card; you'll need it to start your account.)

    Later versions of the Setup Wizard give you an additional option: Use Current. If your Internet connection is working fine, click Use Current, click Next, and you're finished.

    Figure 4.1. The Wizard asks if you want to use The Microsoft Network or your own service provider.

  3. If you already have a service provider, select I already have an account with a different service provider, and click Next. (The remaining steps assume that you have selected this option. If you choose The Microsoft Network, follow the on-screen instructions to open your account.)

  4. The Setup Wizard asks if you want to use Microsoft Exchange for e-mail. Click Yes, and then click Next. If you decide to use a different e-mail program later, you can set it up manually.

  5. The Setup Wizard informs you that it might need to install files from the Windows 95 CD. Click on the Next button, and follow the on-screen instructions, if required, to install additional files.

  6. The Internet Setup Wizard asks you to enter the name of your service provider. Type a name (for example, INET or Internet) in the text box. If you set up a connection in the past, you can select a name from the drop-down list. Click Next.

  7. The Setup Wizard now prompts you to type the area code and phone number of your service provider's server. You might be able to omit the area code if you don't need to dial it to connect. (Ignore the Country code; Windows will enter this for you, if needed).

  8. Below the phone number is an option called Bring up terminal window after dialing (see Figure 4.2). If your service provider specifies that you need to display the terminal window, select this option to turn it on. Otherwise, leave it off. Click Next.

    Figure 4.2. Some service providers require that you use a terminal window to log in. If required, make sure the Bring up terminal window after dialing option is on.

  9. Type your username and password (typically in all lowercase characters, unless you and your service provider agree on variations in case). Your password will appear as a series of asterisks, so nobody can steal it by reading over your shoulder. Click Next.

  10. The Setup Wizard asks for your IP address (see Figure 4.3). If your service provider automatically assigns you an IP address whenever you log in, select My Internet service provider automatically assigns me one. If you have a permanent IP address, select Always use the following, and enter the IP Address and Subnet Mask from your service provider. Click Next.

    Figure 4.3. Many service providers automatically assign your IP address when you log in.

  11. The DNS Server dialog box prompts you to enter the IP address of the service provider's DNS server (see Figure 4.4). Type the address, and type the address of an alternate DNS server (if your service provider has an alternate). Click Next.

    Figure 4.4. The DNS server locates other Internet servers. Make sure you enter its IP address.

  12. The Internet Mail dialog box lets you set up Microsoft Exchange for managing e-mail. If you plan on using a different e-mail program, make sure Use Internet Mail is off (no check mark). If you plan on using Microsoft Exchange, select Use Internet Mail, and type your e-mail address and the domain name of your e-mail server (ask your service provider), as shown in Figure 4.5. Click Next.

    If you turn off Use Internet Mail and click Next, a warning appears. Ignore it. You can set up your e-mail program later.

    Figure 4.5. Enter this information only if you plan on using Microsoft Exchange for your Internet e-mail.

  13. If you choose to use Microsoft Exchange, the next dialog box asks you to pick a profile. Separate profiles are useful if you access your account from different locations. For now, just click Next.

  14. The last dialog box indicates that the operation is almost complete. Click Finish.

The trouble with wizards is that you're never sure what they do behind the scenes. Here's what the Internet Setup Wizard has just done on your computer:


TIP

Although Internet Setup Wizard is the easiest way to configure Windows 95 for the Internet, you can also use Windows 95's help system. Select Help from the Start menu, click on the Index tab, and type internet. Double-click on Connecting to. This starts a series of dialog boxes that lead you through the process of connecting to the Internet.

Setting Up a PPP or SLIP Connection Manually


Using the Internet Setup Wizard is, by far, the easiest way to configure Windows 95 for the Internet. However, if you run into problems, or you need to troubleshoot a glitch, you should know how to set up a PPP or SLIP connection yourself.

The following sections explain the various steps required for establishing a PPP or SLIP connection. I must warn you that the process is fairly tedious (especially for a SLIP connection), but it's not difficult.


TIP

If you have a SLIP account and Windows 95 on floppy disks, don't bother with the following sections. SLIP support comes only on the Windows 95 CD. If you can't change to a PPP account, contact Microsoft's customer service department and ask about obtaining the SLIP files you need.

Installing Dial-Up Networking


If, when you installed Windows 95, you chose the default installation, you don't have one of the essential components for connecting to the Internet: Dial-Up Networking.

Check to see whether Dial-Up Networking is installed. Double-click on the My Computer icon. In the My Computer window, look for the Dial-Up Networking icon. If it's not there, take the following steps to install Dial-Up Networking:

  1. Double-click on the Control Panel icon in the My Computer window, and then double-click on the Add/Remove Programs icon.

  2. Click on the Windows Setup tab.

  3. In the Windows Components list, double-click on Communications. This displays a list of the communications components.

  4. Click the check box next to Dial-Up Networking (see Figure 4.6), and then click OK. The Windows installation program prompts you to insert the CD.

    Figure 4.6. Make sure the Dial-Up Networking check box is selected.

  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

When you're finished, you should have a Dial-Up Networking icon in your My Computer window.

Binding Dial-Up Networking to TCP/IP


To use Dial-Up Networking for your Internet connection, you must bind it to the Internet communications protocol TCP/IP. Take the following steps:

  1. Display the Windows Control Panel (Start | Settings | Control Panel), and double-click on the Network icon. The Network Properties dialog box appears.

  2. Look in the list of installed network components to see if TCP/IP is listed (see Figure 4.7). If TCP/IP is not in the list, click the Add button, double-click Protocol, click Microsoft, click TCP/IP, and then click OK. This adds TCP/IP to the list of installed network components.

    Figure 4.7. If you see TCP/IP here, then move on to step 3.

  3. Click on Dial-Up Adapter in the list of installed network components, and then click the Properties button.

  4. Click the Bindings tab.

  5. Make sure there is a check mark next to TCP/IP (see Figure 4.8). If there is no check mark, click inside the check box.

    Figure 4.8. TCP/IP must be checked.

  6. Click OK to close the Dial-Up Adapter Properties dialog box, and then click OK to close the Network Properties dialog box.

  7. If a dialog box appears telling you to restart your computer, follow the instructions to restart.


Entering Your IP and DNS Addresses


Now that you've bound Dial-Up Networking to TCP/IP, you must enter the connection information from your Internet service provider. This includes the IP address of your computer, the address of the DNS (Domain Name Server), and the gateway and subnet mask (if your service provider specified this information). After you've acquired the information, take the following steps to enter it:

  1. Open the Windows Control Panel (Start/Settings/Control Panel), and double-click on the Network icon. This displays the Network Properties dialog box.

  2. Click on TCP/IP, and then click on the Properties button. The TCP/IP Properties dialog box appears. (If you have two TCP/IP entries, click the one that says TCP/IP -> Dial-Up Adapter.)

  3. Click the IP Address tab.

  4. Assuming your service provider gave you an IP address, click Specify an IP Address, and then type your IP address and subnet mask into the specified text boxes, as shown in Figure 4.9.

    If your provider assigns an IP address automatically when you sign on, click Obtain an IP address automatically.

    Figure 4.9. If your service provider gives you a permanent IP address, type it in here.

  5. Click the Bindings tab. If you see a File and Printer Sharing check box and it has a check mark in it, click inside the check box to remove the check mark.

  6. Click the DNS Configuration tab, and enter any specific information from your service provider:

    Host is the name of your computer. This is usually the username that your service provider assigned to you (for example, jsmith).

    Domain represents the service provider's network (for example, iquest.net). This tells the Internet the group of computers through which your computer is connected.

  7. If your service provider specified a gateway address, click the Gateway tab, type the gateway address, and click the Add button. (A gateway is a system that enables two incompatible networks to communicate.)

  8. Click OK to save your changes.

  9. Reboot your computer to activate your changes.

If you run into trouble connecting to the Internet for the first time, repeat these steps and check your entries. A minor typo in your IP address or the DNS address can disconnect you.

Making a New Dial-Up Networking Connection


You've done all the groundwork for establishing your Internet connection, but the ultimate goal is to have an icon you can use to connect to the Internet. You create this icon in Dial-Up Networking. Take the following steps:

  1. Double-click the My Computer icon, and then double-click Dial-Up Networking. The Dial-Up Networking window appears. The first time you run Dial-Up Networking, it runs a wizard that leads you through the process of creating a connection icon.

  2. If you are not prompted to create an icon for a new connection, then double-click the Make New Connection icon. This starts the Make New Connection Wizard (see Figure 4.10), which leads you through the process.

    Figure 4.10. Use the Make New Connection Wizard to create an icon for connecting to the Internet.

  3. Type your service provider's name in the Type a name for the computer you are dialing text box, and then click Next. The Wizard prompts you to type the phone number of the service provider's computer.

  4. Type the area code (if necessary) and the phone number your computer has to dial to connect to the service provider's computer.

    If you have to dial a number (such as 9) to get an outside line, enter it, followed by a comma or two (for example, 9,555-5555). If you need to disable call waiting, enter the code to turn it off (for example, 9,*70,555-5555). Click Next.

  5. The next dialog box that appears basically tells you that you're finished. Click Finish.

An icon appears in the Dial-Up Networking window. If you have a PPP account, this icon is your key to the Internet. If you double-click on the icon, the Connect To dialog box appears, prompting you to enter your username and password. After you enter this information and give your OK, Dial-Up Networking dials into your service provider and establishes a connection (assuming everything works correctly).

If you have a SLIP account, however, you must perform a few additional steps; you must install Windows 95 SLIP support and specify that you're using a SLIP account. Skip ahead to the next section, "Extra Steps for SLIP Connections," for details.


NOTE

Some service providers support automated PPP logins using a technology called PAP (Password Authentication Protocol) or CHAP (Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol). If your service provider does not support automated logins, you need to have Dial-Up Networking display a terminal window after dialing. Right-click on the icon you just created and click on Properties. Click on the Configure button, and then on the Options tab. Click on Bring up terminal after dialing, and click on OK.

Extra Steps for SLIP Connections


Windows 95 tries hard to ignore SLIP and pretend that the only way to connect to the Internet is to use a PPP account. However, if you don't live in a major metropolitan area, the only service provider in your area might offer only SLIP service.


NOTE

SLIP support is available only on the CD version of Windows 95. If you use disks, start shopping for a service provider that offers PPP support.

If your service provider offers only SLIP accounts, and you have the Windows 95 CD, you can install support for SLIP connections. Take the following steps:

  1. Insert the Windows 95 CD and wait for AutoPlay to start playing it. The Windows 95 CD-ROM window appears.

    If you disabled the AutoPlay feature, display the Windows Control Panel, double-click on the Add/Remove Programs icon, and click the Windows Setup tab.

  2. Click the Have Disk button. The Install From Disk dialog box appears.

  3. In the Copy manufacturer's files from text box, type the path to the SLIP files (this is usually d:\admin\apptools\dscript), and then click OK. The Have Disk dialog box appears, showing the SLIP component you are about to install.

  4. Make sure there is a check mark next to SLIP and scripting for Dial-Up Networking (see Figure 4.11).

  5. Click the Install button, and then click OK in the Add/Remove Programs dialog box.

Figure 4.11. Make sure SLIP and scripting for Dial-Up Networking is checked.

Now that Windows 95 has SLIP support, you can easily change the properties of the Dial-Up Networking icon you created earlier (in the section "Making a New Dial-Up Networking Connection"). Take the following steps:

  1. Double-click the My Computer icon, and then double-click Dial-Up Networking. This displays a group of icons, including the icon you created for connecting to your service provider.

  2. Right-click the icon you created, and click Properties. The properties dialog box for the connection you created appears.

  3. Click the Server Type button. The Server Types dialog box appears.

  4. Open the Type of Dial-Up Server drop-down list, as shown in Figure 4.12, and click the Internet account type you have:

    Slip: UNIX Connection if you have a SLIP account.

    CSLIP Connection With IP Header Compression if you have a CSLIP (Compressed SLIP) account.

    Figure 4.12. Make sure you select the correct account type.

  5. If your service provider specified an IP address, click the TCP/IP Settings button, click Specify an IP Address and type the IP address. Click OK to return to the Server Types dialog box, and click OK again.

  6. Click the Configure button, and then click the Options tab.

  7. Click the Bring up terminal after dialing option. (All SLIP accounts, and some PPP accounts require you to use a terminal window to log in with your username and password.)

  8. Click OK to return to your Internet server dialog box, and click OK to save the changes.

You can now double-click on the icon you created, to display a dialog box that enables you to connect to your service provider.


TIP

You don't want to have to open the Dial-Up Networking window whenever you want to log in. Right-drag the icon you created over a blank area of the Windows desktop, release the mouse button, and click on Create Shortcut(s) Here. This places a clone of the icon in easy reach.

Connecting and Disconnecting


You should now have an icon for connecting to the Internet. If you used The Internet Setup Wizard, you have an icon called The Internet on the Windows desktop. If you created the icon yourself, it's in the Dial-Up Networking window, unless you created a shortcut for it on the Windows desktop.

Whichever icon you have, you can double-click on it to connect to the Internet. If you chose to use The Microsoft Network as your service provider, the Sign In dialog box appears, asking for your Member ID and Password (see Figure 4.13). If you are using a different service provider, the Connect To dialog box displays your Username and Password (see Figure 4.14). In either case, enter the requested information, and then click Connect. (If you are using a terminal window to log in, you do not need to enter your name and password; you will do this inside the terminal window.)

Figure 4.13. The Microsoft Network Sign In dialog box.

Figure 4.14. The Connect To dialog box, used for other service providers.

If you have a PPP connection that accepts PAP or CHAP automatic logins, your computer and modem should take care of the rest. The Connecting To dialog box displays a series of messages, indicating the progress of the login, and then the Connected To dialog box appears, indicating that the connection has been established (see Figure 4.15).

Figure 4.15. The Connected To dialog box shows that the connection has been successful.

If you set up your connection to display a terminal window after dialing, a small terminal window (which looks a little like a DOS window) should appear and prompt you to enter your username. Type your username, and press Enter. Another prompt should appear, asking for your password. Type your password and press Enter. You should now be connected.

After you are connected, you can run Internet Explorer 3.0 or any of your Internet programs. When you're finished, you should disconnect to avoid using up your connect time and preventing other users from connecting. To disconnect, simply click on the Disconnect button.

What Went Wrong?


If you have trouble connecting for the first time, wait five minutes and try to connect again. If you are trying to connect during a busy time, or you experience line noise, the remote connection might drop you.

If you still can't connect, check the service provider's phone number and your username and ID. Most connection problems can be fixed with a little careful typing.

If you just started your account, check to make sure that your service provider has set up the account. It might take the service provider a couple days to initiate the account.

Make sure you have selected the right type of service: PPP, SLIP, or CSLIP. To check, right-click on the icon you created in Dial-Up Networking, and click on Properties. In the dialog box that appears, click on Server Type. Open the Type of Dial-Up Server drop-down list, and select the server that matches your account. Look under Allowed network protocols, and make sure there is a check mark next to TCP/IP. Click the OK button, and then try connecting again.

Still can't connect? Jump back to the section called "Troubleshooting Common Connection Problems," at the end of Chapter 3.


TIP

If you're using a modem and it is not even dialing, you can use the Windows 95 modem troubleshooter to track down the problem. Open the Start menu, and select Help. Click the Index tab, and type trouble. Under troubleshooting, double-click on modem problems. Follow the instructions.

Automating Terminal Logins with a Script


As explained earlier, SLIP accounts and some PPP accounts do not enable Dial-Up Networking to automatically enter your username and password. This forces you to take another two or three steps each time you log in. Do you have to live with this inconvenience? No! You can create a script that enters the login information for you.


CAUTION

If your computer is easily accessible to colleagues, roommates, or family members, whom you do not want using your Internet account, don't write a login script. This script will include your username and password, making your Internet account accessible to anyone who sits down at your keyboard.

If you installed the Windows 95 SLIP support, as explained earlier in this chapter, you have a program called Dial-Up Scripting, which you can use to run scripts. To create a script, use Windows Notepad, and save the script using the .SCR extension. Here's a sample login script: 




proc main



waitfor "sername: "



transmit "mkravitz"



transmit "^M"



waitfor "assword: "



transmit "xr23874z"



transmit "^M"



endproc

Using this sample, type your own login script in Notepad. You must use the commands proc main and endproc to begin and end the script. Replace sername: and assword: with the prompts that your service provider displays when asking for your name and password. For example, if your service provider displays Login: replace sername: with ogin:. (First characters of variable names, such as Login and Username, are commonly omitted to avoid discrepancies in capitalization.) Also, replace mkravitz with your username, and replace xr23874z with your password. Save the file and name it, giving it the extension .SRC.

Now, set up the script to run automatically. Take the following steps:

  1. Click the Start button, point to Programs and then to Accessories, and click on Dial-Up Scripting Tool. (If the command is not on the menu, you haven't installed SLIP support as explained earlier.) The Dial-Up Scripting window appears, as shown in Figure 4.16.

    Figure 4.16. The Dial-Up Scripting window lets you assign a script to an Internet connection.

  2. In the Connections list on the left, click on the name of the connection to which you want to assign the script. (This is the name of the icon you created in Dial-Up Networking.)

  3. Under Script, click on the Browse button. This displays a dialog box that lets you select the script file you created.

  4. Use the Open dialog box to change to the folder that contains the script file you created, and then select the file. Click Open.

  5. Click on the Apply button, and then click Close.

The script is assigned to your Internet connection. The next time you double-click on the icon for connecting to the Internet server, the script will run automatically and log you in.

If you have trouble with the script, run the Dial-Up Scripting tool again, and click on the name of the connection that uses the problem script. Select Step through script to turn the option on, and select Start terminal screen minimized to turn this option off. Now, when the script runs, you'll be able to see it and figure out which command is causing the script to abort. Edit the script in Notepad.

What's Next?


This was probably one of the most difficult, long-winded chapters in this book. However, you can't do anything on the Internet until you are connected. Because service providers vary in their levels of tech support, I wanted you to have all the tech support you needed right here.

Now that you're connected, let the games begin! The next chapter shows you how to install Internet Explorer 3.0 (although you've probably installed it already) and how to configure it to give it the look and feel you like. I'll even show you how to soup it up for optimum performance.

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