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This document will help you manually configure Windows 95 to connect to the Internet using Dial-Up Networking. Please read the entire document before attempting to connect.

Windows 95 has built-in support for connecting to an Internet provider using a PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) or SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol) account. SLIP support is available with the CD-ROM version of Windows 95, the CD-ROM Extras for Windows 95 Upgrade, and the Internet Jumpstart Kit component of Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95.

  1. You need a PPP or SLIP account with an Internet service provider (ISP).

    You need the following information from your ISP:

    • User name

    • Password

    • Local access phone number

    • Host and domain name

    • DNS server IP address

    • Authentication technique (whether or not a terminal window is used)

    The ISP may also provide the following information. These items are needed only if your ISP gives you a dedicated IP address to use every time you dial in:

    • Your IP address

    • IP subnet mask

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Setting up Dial-Up Networking:

Setting up Dial-Up Networking:

  1. Check to see if Dial-Up Networking is installed. You can do this by opening My Computer. If Dial-Up Networking is installed, you see a folder named Dial-Up Networking.

  2. If you do not have a Dial-Up Networking folder, add Dial-Up Networking by double-clicking the Add/Remove Programs icon in Control Panel, clicking the Windows Setup tab, clicking Communications, clicking Details, clicking the Dial-Up Networking check box to select it, clicking OK, and then clicking OK.

  3. If you plan on using a SLIP account to connect, you need to use the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel to add SLIP support using the Have Disk option. Point to the Admin\Apptools\Dscript folder on the Windows 95 CD-ROM to install support for SLIP and Dial-Up Scripting.

Installing the TCP/IP protocol:

  1. In Control Panel, double-click the Network icon.

  2. Click Add, click Protocol, and then click Add.

  3. In the Manufacturers box, click Microsoft. In the Network Protocols box, click TCP/IP, and then click OK.

  4. Once these components are installed, click OK to close the Network dialog box. When you are prompted to restart Windows 95, do so.

Note: You do not need to configure any TCP/IP settings at this time. They should all be left set to their defaults. These will be configured in Dial-Up Networking later. The default TCP/IP settings are:

  • IP Address set to "Obtain an IP address automatically"

  • WINS Configuration set to "Use DHCP for WINS Resolution"

  • Installed Gateways: None

  • DNS Configuration set to "Disable DNS"

Creating and configuring a new connection for PPP accounts:

Note: If you have a SLIP account, skip to the section titled "Creating and configuring a new connection for SLIP accounts."

  1. In My Computer, open the Dial-Up Networking folder. If this is the first time you have opened the Dial-Up Networking folder, the Make New Connection Wizard runs to help you create a Dial-Up Networking connection. If not, double-click Make New Connection and follow the instructions for creating a Dial-Up Networking connection. When you are finished, there will be an icon in the Dial-Up Networking folder that you will use to connect to the Internet. You might want to make a shortcut to the connection on the desktop for easier access.

  2. If your ISP requires you to manually log in to your PPP account after connecting, use the right mouse button to click the connection icon you just created, click Properties on the menu that appears, click Configure, click the Options tab, click the "Bring up terminal window after dialing" check box to select it, and then click OK.

  3. Click Server Type. Select only the TCP/IP network protocol.

  4. To enter any TCP/IP settings you need, click TCP/IP Settings. To use resources on the Internet, you need to enter your DNS server address. You can also enter your IP address here if your ISP has given you a fixed IP address. Click OK until you return to the Dial-Up Networking folder.

Note: Your DNS server address will be different from the one shown. If you are not sure what to enter for your DNS server address, contact your ISP.

Connecting to your PPP account:

  1. To dial your ISP, double-click your new connection icon. The Connect To dialog box opens for you to log in to your ISP. Type your user name and password and then click Connect.

  2. If you clicked the "Bring up terminal window after dialing" check box, a terminal window appears after modem negotiation. After typing your user name and password, click Continue to be connected.

  3. When you see the Connected To dialog box, you are connected to your ISP. You can run any Internet program you want.

Creating and configuring a new connection for SLIP accounts:

  1. In My Computer, open the Dial-Up Networking folder. If this is the first time you have opened the Dial-Up Networking folder, the Make New Connection Wizard runs to help you create a Dial-Up Networking connection. If not, double-click Make New Connection and follow the instructions for creating a Dial-Up Networking connection. When you are finished, there will be an icon in the Dial-Up Networking folder that you will use to connect to the Internet. You might want to make a shortcut to the connection on the desktop for easier access.

  2. Use the right mouse button to click the connection icon you just created, and then click Properties on the menu that appears. Click Server Type. In the Type Of Dial-Up Server box, click either SLIP or CSLIP. Your ISP can tell you which type of SLIP account you have. In the Allowed Network Protocols area, click only the TCP/IP network protocol. To see how the Server Type options should look, click here.

  3. To enter any TCP/IP settings you need, click TCP/IP Settings. To use resources on the Internet, enter your DNS server address. You can also enter your IP address here if your ISP has given you a fixed IP address.

Note: Your DNS server address will be different from the one shown. If you are not sure what to enter for your DNS server address, contact your ISP.

Connecting to your SLIP account:

  1. To dial your ISP, double-click your new connection icon. The Connect To dialog box opens for you to log in to your ISP. Click Connect.

  2. After modem negotiation, a terminal screen appears for you to log in. After you enter your user name and password in the terminal window, you should receive a message from your ISP giving you your IP address for this session. Most ISPs give you your IP address with a message similar to: "Your IP address is" or "SLIP session from ###.###.###.### to ###.###.###.###." The second number is usually your IP address. Write this number down.

  3. Click Continue. Enter your IP address in the confirmation screen and then click OK to be connected. If you are not sure what your IP address is, please contact your ISP.

Note: : You may want to consider changing your SLIP account to a PPP account. PPP is faster than SLIP and offers error correction. Also, PPP accounts may not require you to use the terminal window to log in and do not require you to manually enter your IP address.

Troubleshooting tips:

If you are having problems connecting:

  • Make sure your server type is correct. If you have a PPP account, make sure the server type in the properties for the connection is set to PPP, instead of SLIP or CSLIP.

  • If you have a SLIP account, make sure you have changed the server type to SLIP or CSLIP (PPP is the default). Make sure you type in the correct IP address when you are prompted during the login process.

Problems after connecting:

For SLIP users: If you can use Ping, but you cannot use Winsock programs to connect to a resource after connecting to your ISP, you may need to switch the server type. Try changing the server type from SLIP to CSLIP or from CSLIP to SLIP.

To test if a connection is working, try these steps:

  1. Start an MS-DOS session.

  2. Ping a known IP address such as 198.105.232.1 (Microsoft FTP server) or 128.95.1.4 (a DNS server). If this works, basic TCP/IP connectivity is functioning properly.

  3. Ping FTP.MICROSOFT.COM. If this works, your DNS settings are correct.

Glossary:

Domain Name Service (DNS):

Sometimes referred to as the BIND service in BSD UNIX; a static, hierarchical name service for TCP/IP hosts. A DNS server maintains a database for resolving host names and IP addresses, allowing users of computers configured to query the DNS to specify remote computers by host names rather than IP addresses. DNS domains should not be confused with Microsoft Windows NT networking domains.

Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP):

An industry standard that is part of Windows 95 Dial-Up Networking to ensure interoperability with remote access software from other vendors. It allows you to use the IPX, TCP/IP, and NetBEUI protocols over a standard telephone line connection.

Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP):

Another industry standard that is part of Windows 95 Dial-Up Networking to ensure interoperability with remote access software from other vendors. Unlike PPP, SLIP works with only one protocol. Windows 95 works with TCP/IP over a standard telephone line connection.

Password Authentication Protocol (PAP):

This is one authentication method that can be used when connecting to an ISP. It allows you to log in without having to use a terminal window. Using PAP, passwords are sent over the circuit in text format, which offers no protection from playback.

Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP):

This is another authentication method that can be used when connecting to an ISP. It also allows you to log in without having to use a terminal window. However, it does not send passwords in text format and is more secure than PAP.