Test your bandwidth lately? This link to CNET will allow you to get a comparative reading of how well your connection is functioning. Compare this reading to other systems but do not take it to be an accurate number.
WCPD UNINSTALL for W31 will become your most important asset when testing Internet applications software for W31. Most W31 apps are several megabytes, some as much as 50 meg. Without the WCPD (Windows Complete Program Deleter) software installing and uninstalling these packages will trash your W31 setup. Not maybe, it will trash your setup!
I also save a copy of REG.DAT (WCPD does not save a copy of reg.dat) and most of C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM in an archive using my RESCUE.BAT batch file just in case W31 DLL's get overwritten with older versions (W30?) during a sloppy install routine. Without WCPD I would hate to do a manual uninstall just to try out a new W31 application. Been there, done that, have the T-shirt. GET THIS!
NOTE: Without a third party serial port driver use of a modem for W31 is limited to 19,200 baud or lower and unstable even at those lower speeds. I think the newer third-party communications drivers are W31 only and will not work with W30. If you have W31 do yourself a favor and install this third party COMM.DRV.
Modem Initialization Strings : Look here to find your modem at this website. Often the factory setting is a good as any other but it won't hurt to check? - W31 Internet Explorer v3.03
- Last W31 version of IExplorer also known as v3.0f - This is a 12-15 meg install including the W31 Microsoft Winsock. Full install includes the SHIVA dialer. Minimal javascripting but useable on systems with limited memory available (under 8 meg). I used this W31 IExplorer on an 80386 with only 4 meg of memory. The built-in POP3 email function is not Y2K meaning grunged dates for emails you receive and those you send email to. I have switched to Eudora for W31 POP3 email here (Eudora has been no 'blessing' here - am considering another change). For an even smaller installed size with the absolute minimum memory requirements get the minimal install of IExplorer 3.0f.
If you're feeling `lucky' then go for the W31 IExplorer v5.01 - 50 meg plus full install. This download will do both the minimal install of 16 meg or the full install at 50 meg. Note that 30 meg of free hard drive space is required just to execute setup.exe and do the smaller 16 meg install. This works out to approximately 100 meg or more to do the full install. Version 5.01 includes the SHIVA dialer, W31 winsock, and W31 MSOutlook/emailer. Better javascripting and the last W31 16 bit version of IExplorer released by Microsoft. Tucows : "Internet Explorer 5.01 includes all of the features from the previous versions plus much more! Some of the more significant improvements in 5.01 are faster download speeds for pages with dynamic content, drag-and-drop support through FTP connections and new 56-bit encryption." The 128-bit encryption update (157 KB file) may be required at certain websites - CPA. Version 5.01 IEx requires 12meg of memory minimum for this one to execute properly on a W31 system. W31 Internet Explorer 5 Readme.txt File
- W31 Opera v3.62
- The W31 winsock is not included with this install. Not the fastest GUI, Arachne (DOS browser) is the fastest GUI, but it is the fastest for W31 that I know of. Minimal javascripting (think it's v1.0 javascripted?) will allow use of some web based email sites. Some functions of Hotmail.com will not work properly since the recent 2001 update of the hotmail website. I have used W31 Opera every day on an 80386 with only 4 meg of memory. I now have W31 Opera on a Pentium 60mhz with 16 meg of memory. Opera for W31 has a very small installed size on your hard drive. All of the W31 browsers require the W31 16 bit WINSOCK and all require some additional space (usually 5 meg or more) on the hard drive as a cache of temporary files.
- W31 Netscape v3.04
- W31 16 bit winsock is not included with this install. Works with only 4 meg of memory but very very slow, 8 meg of memory would probably be much better. The 5 meg installed size is twice the size of W31 Opera. This is the version to have for testing HTML code. If your HTML works with this finicky version of Netscape it should work with anything. Honest.
I am using v4.08 of W31 Netscape (last 16 bit W31 Navigator version) now that I have enough memory (16 meg) because I needed the updated javascripting. I need the javascripting to access all of the functions of my web based email accounts (hotmail being one of them). W31 Netscape v4.x is slower than W31 Opera with less control and ease of use. In short it's a klunker of a browser but does more javascripting than early 16 bit W31 Opera can do. You will find 16 bit W31 Netscape v4.08 at the FTP server in Poland. If you have 16meg or more of memory and need the javascripting this is your best first choice (Internet Explorer v5.0 being the other option but a much larger install). Otherwise pass on this space and resource hogging klunker.
- W31 Trumpet Winsock v2.0b
- Newer versions will stop working at the end of the 30 days trial period. This older W31 version of Trumpet Winsock has an unlimited trial time and will not stop working in 30 days. I was getting maximum download speeds using this W31 16 bit Trumpet winsock but the somewhat confusing configuration did not make it popular in it's time. I eventually yielded and installed the SHIVA dialer from the IEx v3.0f installer.
HINT: For your W31 install try setting this as : MTU=576 // TCP MSS=536 // TCP RWIN=2144 with a 115200 baud rate and then do a few downloads. These lower settings will allow your mouse to continue to function even when downloading four files simultaneously while browsing. I do it here all the time with no problems. The author of Trumpet was one of the original contributors of the specifications for WINSOCK during the collaboration to create a WINSOCK.
When installing W31 OPERA and other third-party W31 Internet software there is no W31 16 bit Winsock included with the install. You must install your own Winsock. This can be Microsoft's W31 version, W31 Trumpet, or any other compatible W31 Winsock that you can locate. I've used W31 Trumpet originally, and am now using the Microsoft W31 Winsock with the SHIVA dialer. The dialer scripts required for ISP authentication became problematic while switching ISPs and I took the easy way out.
Detailed setup information for W31 Trumpet is located at this website.
- W31 NetTerm
- Very good W31 telnet application with a fast zmodem upload / download.
- W31 Eudora Lite v3.0.6 (16)
- W31 Eudora by Qualcomm 2.5 meg installed / 4.6 meg download (both 16 & 32 bit versions in one archive makes this a huge waste IMO). This is the W31 POP/SMTP application used here on my system.
Mixed reviews on Eudora here. It crashes frequently complaining about my video driver (the generic W31 driver). If I was using a 'factory special turbo driver' I would be more patient, I'm not. After forcing me to close, Eudora will sometimes refuse to reload back into memory until I shutdown W31 and restart. I am satisfied with the interface and functions but have to say it's a bit touchy and unstable in use. I'm looking for a replacement for Eudora. Meanwhile, it's better than nothing.
Fight Spam 
Has all the information that you need to identify spammers and help those with networks installed fight email spamming (including business) and it's all free.
- W31 FreeAgent v1.21/16
- W31 FreeAgent v1.21/16 - 5 meg installed. This has to be the definitive W31 usenet reader. Very nice, easy to use, well thought out displays.
free newservers:
news://dp-news.maxwell.syr.edu/
news://freenews.netfront.net/
news://news.caribsurf.com/
news://news.cis.dfn.de/
(Go to http://news.cis.dfn.de/ to register free account)
news://news.dna.affrc.go.jp/
news://news.motion.net/
news://news.mozilla.org/
news://news.opera.com/
