In the Control Panel double-click on the Network icon. The window in Figure 2.1 will open. The most important part of this window is the list of network components. Take a moment and read over this list of items. These are the various networking components that you will usually see in this window.
The essential items in this list are Client for Microsoft® Networks, Dial-Up Adapter, and TCP/IP. If any of these items are missing then skip ahead to the troubleshooting section and then jump back here when your network control panel has all of the necessary items.
Figure 2.1 Network Control Panel
Items in the Network Control Panel |
|
| Client for Microsoft Networks | This item mediates all network access and will always be there if networking is installed on this computer. |
| Dial-Up Adapter | This is the main part of dial-up networking. When this adapter is installed you will see a Dial-Up Networking folder in My Computer (see below). |
| NetBEUI | This is the network protocol used for Windows® for Workgroups and Windows® 95 peer to peer networking. This protocol will usually show up if networking is installed even if the computer is not on a local area network. It can be removed for simplicity. |
| TCP/IP | This is the protocol suite used on the Internet. In order for the computer to be used to contact an Internet Service Provider (ISP) this protocol must be installed. |
| File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks | This controls the sharing of files and printers on a local area network |
If your computer is not on a local area network then most likely your computer's only network connection would be to the Internet. Figure 2.1 shows a network control panel of a computer that only connects to the internet using dial-up networking. If your computer only connects to the internet then you only need these three items in your network control panel: Client for Microsoft Networks, Dial-Up Adapter, and TCP/IP. All other items can be removed.
In the Network Control Panel, highlight Dial-Up Adapter and click on Properties. Click on the Bindings tab and make certain there is a check-mark next to TCP/IP. Figure 2.2 shows this screen.
Figure 2.2 Dial-Up Adapter Properties
Click on OK and and go back to the Network Control Panel, shown in Figure 2.1. In this window highlight TCP/IP and click on Properties. The window in Figure 2.3 will open. This is one of two places to configure TCP/IP settings for the system. Most of the information that needs to be entered you will need to obtain from your ISP. A few common caveats will be shown below that are commonly set a certain way. If there is still trouble connecting then you should contact your ISP's technical support staff for further assistance.
In Figure 2.3, the configuration for the IP Address is shown. This tells Windows 95 what the machine's Internet address is. Usually this is set to Obtain an IP address automatically.
Figure 2.3 IP Address tab in TCP/IP Properties
Click on the WINS Configuration tab. This brings up the options shown in Figure 2.4. Usually this option is set to Disable WINS Resolution.
Figure 2.4 WINS Configuration tab in TCP/IP Properties
Click on the Gateway tab. This brings up the options in Figure 2.5. This screen contains the IP Address of the computer that the dial-up system talks to for internet connectivity. It is the network address of the computer on the other end of the modem when your computer connects to the ISP.
Figure 2.5 Gateway tab in TCP/IP Properties
Click on the Bindings tab which brings up the options in Figure 2.6. This tab tells the TCP/IP protocol suite which services to offer to the internet. In the very least Client for Microsoft Networks needs to be checked.
Figure 2.6 Bindings tab in TCP/IP Properties
Click on the Advanced tab. Figure 2.7 shows the options that come up. If TCP/IP is the only protocol used on the computer then make sure Set this protocol to be the default protocol is checked.
Figure 2.7 Advanced tab in TCP/IP Properties
Click on the DNS Configuration tab. The options shown in Figure 2.8 will come up. DNS stands for Domain Name Server. This screen will need to be filled in with information from your ISP. Click on OK then click on OK again to close out of the Network Control Panel.
Figure 2.8 DNS Configuration tab in TCP/IP Properties
There is only one last part to configuring dial-up networking for the Internet. Open up My Computer and open the Dial-Up Networking folder. This folder is shown in Figure 2.9
Figure 2.9 Dial-Up Networking folder in My Computer
In the Dial-Up Networking folder double-click on the Make New Connection icon, shown in Figure 2.10.
Figure 2.10 Make New Connection icon in the Dial-Up Networking Folder
After double-clicking on Make New Connection, the window in Figure 2.11 will open up. Change My Connection to a meaningful description (usually the name of the ISP) and make sure your modem is selected in the second box.
Figure 2.11 Make New Connection window
Click on Next, bringing up the window shown in Figure 2.12. Windows 95 needs to know the area code and phone number of the ISP.
Figure 2.12 Make New Connection window, second screen
Click on Next, which brings up the final window shown in Figure 2.13. This screen shows the name of the connection. Click on Finish.
Figure 2.13 Make New Connection window, final screen
Next, in the Dial-Up Networking folder, right-click on the new connection and click on Properties. The window in Figure 2.14 opens up. This box lets you configure settings for this connection.
Figure 2.14 Connection Properties
Click on Configure, shown in Figure 2.14. Click the Options tab, bringing up the window in Figure 2.15, and place a check-mark next to Bring up terminal window after dialing. This allows you to log into the ISP and begin a PPP session. Click on OK to close this window.
Figure 2.15 Connection Dialing Options
Click on the Server Type button, shown in Figure 2.14. This opens up the window shown in Figure 2.16. This screen tells Windows 95 what kind of computer to expect on the other end of the phone. For dial-up Internet it is most common to select PPP: Windows 95, Windows NT 3.5, Internet. PPP stands for Point-to-Point Protocol. The predecessor to PPP is SLIP and CSLIP. Windows 95 comes installed with capabilities for SLIP. Make certain that in the Allowed network protocols box TCP/IP is checked.
Figure 2.16 Server Types
Click on the TCP/IP Settings button. The window in Figure 2.17 opens up. This window contains almost identical settings to those shown in Figures 2.3 - 2.8. The settings in this window will override those in the Control Panel. This information should be obtained from your ISP.
Figure 2.17 TCP/IP Settings
This concludes configuration of the connection of the computer's dial-up networking settings.
Section 1 - Installing the Dial-Up Networking Adapter
Section 2 - Configuring for Dial-Up Internet
Section 3 - How to use Dial-Up Networking
Section 4 - Automating Dial-Up Networking
Section 5 - Troubleshooting
Glossary of Terms
The information in these articles is provided "as-is" without warranty of any kind.