internet for Win3.1

[Khayman]

I have just purchases a functional computer for $40. And it only has Windows 3.1 on it. Amongst other things i would like to get it net-capable. is that possile? i can put modem card & modem in it, but can i get at I.E or netscape for a system THAT old?
Thanks

[glc]

What's the specs on it? You may be able to put Win95 on it, that's a LOT easier than setting Win 3.1 up for Internet - because 3.1 doesn't have dialup networking, you will need a 3rd party dialer and TCP/IP stack. Also, 16 bit browsers are not really Java-capable and you won't be able to do much surfing.

M$ put out a 16 bit version of IE3 that had an integrated stack and dialer if you can find it. Netscape also used to have a 16 bit browser with a dialer package - I believe that it was called "Personal Edition" or something like that. The other option is Trumpet Winsock, which still exists and that happens to be from an AU company - but you will still need to find 16 bit net apps (browser, e-mail client, etc.). Also, you will need to find an old ISA hardware modem for it, or use an external, because a modern software controlled modem or a PCI modem is NOT going to work.

Last resort - there's always AOL - they had a 16 bit version of 4.0 that would run on a fairly strong 486, but if it's that strong it will run Win95.

[Khayman]

It's a compaq slimline 486 DX33. it has in it a 212MB HDD. I we were to install another OS (like Win95) i guessing we will need some more space. we have a spare 800MB HDD around that came out of a dead P100. Do you think we can slave this as a second drive?

[glc]

As long as it has 8mb of ram, you can wipe it and put 95 original on it, it only takes up something like 65 megs and you can make it even smaller if you leave a lot of the toys and optional components off. I wouldn't count on being able to put more than a 528 meg hard drive in it without overlay software. The 800 should work as a 528 meg drive, I think I'd rather do it that way than deal with overlays.

95 original came with dialup networking, but no web browser (unless you consider IE1 a browser) so you will need to dig up a lightweight modern browser to put on it, Opera 6 will run just fine. I wouldn't even try to run IE or Netscape 4+ on a machine with those specs.

[Khayman]

Thanks. That is very enlightening. With the 800MB HDD we might try partitioning if if 95 supports that. 95 does sound a lot easier than Win3.1. It's got 16MB RAM so 95 should run just fine.

[Khayman]

where do you get Opera 6?

[glc]

The problem you may find is this - FDISK will only see it as a 504 meg hard drive if you have the old bios. You can either accept this (leaving 300 megs unused) or use an overlay (ugh).

With 16 megs ram, you might even consider Win95B (OSR2) which is a lot better than original and comes with IE3. I run it on a 486DX4/75 laptop with 20 megs ram and it runs very well. I had a 486SX/33 laptop with 8 megs ram and a 260 meg hard drive and it ran 95 original fairly well.

[LawyerRon]

Here's the Opera site:

http://www.opera.com/

Info on 6.0:
http://www.cnet.com/software/0-32278...4-8032975.html