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--- guides:connecting_windows_9x_to_the_internet [2020-03-05 00:09]
omolini
+++ guides:connecting_windows_9x_to_the_internet [2025-12-25 19:10] (current)
omolini [Unable to connect on dial-up]
@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
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-  * We will now tell Windows that the Raspeberry Virtual Modem is communicating at 57600 bps. This is the default speed of the vmodem script. If you have modified the script, make adjustments as needed. Under **Maximum speed**, select **57600** and then click **OK**:
+  * We will now tell Windows that the Raspeberry Virtual Modem is communicating at 57600 bps. This is the default speed of the vmodem script. If you have modified the script, make adjustments as needed. Make sure both the speed setting on the script and this setting are the same or the script will not work. If you adjust the script, you may need to restart the script (or if you have it running on boot, restart Raspberry Pi entirely with “sudo shutdown -r now” to restart and reload the script with the new speed setting).
+  * Under **Maximum speed**, select **57600** and then click **OK**:
 {{ :guides:pics:win95-modem-setup-8.png?nolink |}}
@@ Line 80: / Line 81: @@
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-  * Inside the **Telephone number** box, type in the number **1**. Dialing **1** will execute the script **1.sh** on the Raspberry Pi, which by default initiates a PPP connection with the client (Windows 95) computer.
+  * Inside the **Telephone number** box, type in the number **1**. Dialing **1** will execute the script **1.sh** on the Raspberry Pi, which by default initiates a PPP connection with the client (Windows 95) computer. You can rename this script to whatever you want if you'd like to customize the phone number. Just make sure the script ends with the **.sh** extension.
   * **Country code** must match your computer's locale.
   * Leave everything else to their defaults.
@@ Line 108: / Line 109: @@
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-  * If you have the virtual modem script visible, you will see the Hayes commands being sent at this time:
+  * If you have the virtual modem script visible, you will see the Hayes commands being sent from the Windows computer in realtime:
 {{ :guides:pics:win95-vmodem-output.png?nolink |}}
@@ Line 128: / Line 129: @@
 ===== Internet Access =====
-You should now be able to access the Internet. However, many modern websites will require modern security and will refuse to communicate with older web browsers.
+You should now be able to access the Internet. However, many modern websites will require modern security and will refuse to communicate with older web browsers. You can use [[http://www.protoweb.org|ProtoWeb to surf the 90's Internet]], and I've also went ahead and compiled a list of websites that do work.
-  * I'm compiling a list of modern web sites that do work with older web browsers. [[guides:List of compatible websites|Click here to see the list of websites]] that will work with legacy web browsers.
+  * [[guides:List of compatible websites|Click here to see the list of websites]] that will work with legacy web browsers!
-  * If you'd like to access archived websites directly from your browser by typing in the URL, you can set up a proxy server that can serve archived websites. The [[guides:Web Archive Proxy|Steptail Wayback Proxy Server]] (wayback.steptail.com:8080) is a straightforward setup in many web browsers, and will allow you access to websites circa 1996-1998. [[guides:Web Archive Proxy|See the how-to on setting up a the wayback proxy server on your web browser]]
+  * If you'd like to access archived websites directly from your browser by typing in the URL, you can use ProtoWeb as a proxy server, which serves archived websites from the 90's. The [[http://www.protoweb.org|ProtoWeb Proxy Server]] is straightforward to setup in many web browsers, and will allow you access to websites circa 1995-2000.
-  * I also made a easily-accessible gateway website to access archived copies of a selection of great websites that you can browse with your retro machine. [[http://wayback.steptail.com|Click here to access the gateway website]], or type in the URL "wayback.steptail.com" using your legacy web browser.
+==== Warning ====
+  * Old web browsers are fairly vulnerable to today's hacks and depending on the website(s) visited, may allow malicious software on the computer. Proceed at your caution.
+  * You may use www.protoweb.org to surf only classic websites, which do not exploit newer browser vulnerabilities.
+  * If you plan on visiting websites that are live today, you may consider disabling Javascript in the web browser settings. If Javascript is enabled, it may cause all sorts of pop-up errors to show up on modern websites to the point where it could make the whole web browser unusable.
 ===== Troubleshooting =====
+==== Unable to establish any connection to the script ====
+  * It is always a good idea to test the script first using a terminal emulator, such as Hyper Terminal or PuTTY on Windows 9x to make sure communication works.
+  * If you get no connection or garbled text, you may try to play with the Flow Control settings. Sometimes you will need to select Hardware, or XON / XOFF for the flow control.
+  * Make sure the Max speed setting matches what the script is operating on.
+  * Make sure you are using the right COM port on the computer or terminal emulation software. Go to Control Panel --> System --> Device Manager and under Ports, verify your serial port name. For example in my case it is COM1.
 ==== Unable to connect on dial-up ====
   * Make sure vmodem script is running on Raspberry Pi
-  * Did you install the Generic 28800 modem?
+  * Did you install the Generic 28800 modem? You may also try a Generic 33600 baud modem. We know that some modems like the V56.flex will not work with vmodem (yet). Try a Generic 28800 or 33600 modem. You can always adjust the speed in the modem settings.
-  * Some computers are not capable of operating at fast serial speeds. If you're unable to connect at 57600 or faster, try slower speeds, such as 9600 baud at first. Adjust both the vmodem.sh script and the computer to connect at only 9600 baud. If that works, work your way up to see where the limit for your specific computer is.
+  * Some older computers (namely 486's and older) may not capable of operating at fast serial speeds due to their older, more limited serial UART chips and problems with cheap USB to serial adapters. If you're unable to connect at 57600 or faster, try slower speeds, such as 9600 baud at first. Adjust both the vmodem.sh script and the computer to connect at only 9600 baud. If that works, work your way up to see where the limit for your specific computer is. If you want faster speeds, you may try to upgrade the computer with a serial I/O card with a 16550 UART.
 ==== Dial-up connects, but no websites open ====
   * Most current websites do not support unencrypted HTTP connections. As far as I understand, old operating systems do no longer have valid certificates, and this prevents connections to most websites. You can still explore archived websites using a Wayback Proxy server. See the section [[guides:connecting_windows_9x_to_the_internet#Internet Access|Internet Access]] for more information.
@@ Line 149: / Line 160: @@
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+==== Get In Touch With Us! ====
+Get support, share your thoughts and report bugs on Discord. \\
+[[https://protoweb.org/discord/|{{:images:social-discord.png?nolink|}}]]
-Questions? Comments? [[:Contact Information|Contact Me!]]
+{{tag>Guides Guides:Networking}}
-{{tag>Guides}}

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