Win 3.X Troubleshooting

Win3.X
Errors And
Tips

No Dial Tone
No DNS
Negotiate DialUp Connect
Negotiate Dial In Connect
Constant Busy Signal
File Not Associated
ConnectResetByPeer
AnotherTelephonyDevice
How To Increase Memory
Personal Secretary

You'veBeenDisconnected
DeleteUrlHistory
Slow Graphics
Netscape&AOL
Pagefaults&Mail
AT Commands
BootedOutToDOS
Telnet
Installation&GPF's
Dial In Driver

Select From The Above

(thanks to webmaster15-Timothy Rusch for all of the information)

No Dial Tone:
1. Make sure phone cord plugged in correctly, both to computer and wall.
2. Is she using telephone that the computer modem is supposed to use?
3. Plug a regular handset into wall and test for dial tone.
4. Try going to accessories, to terminal and check dial tone with atdt, then enter to see if gets dial tone.

No DNS error messages during dial up:
1. Might want to log on using dialer first.
2. Check properties and Service Provider to check correct DNS numbers.

Computer your dialing into could not negotiate a dial up network connection:
1. Make sure does/doesn't require GTE/ before user name.
2. Make sure that everything in small letters and correct user name and p/w.

Computer your dialing into could not negotiate a dial in network connection:
1. May reduce modem speed to correct setting.
2. Go to solutions dialer, properties, general, and check manually log on.
3. Make sure some strange modem selected, may want to change to other 14.4, 19.2, or 28.8.
4. May want to add TTY window by going to file manager, netscape directory, dialer sub directory and select custom.ini. Scroll down to where, in text, it says AskTTY=no and change to yes. Go to file, save and exit notepad. Go to account setup wizard and put a check on the bottom of screen that ask whether or not to use TTY window. The screen that will ask you this will be the step 14 on page 18 in installation book. Finish setup wizard. 5. The system date & time is wrong (I dont know why, it just sometimes works...

Constant busy signal:
1. Are they calling themselves or the local access number?
2. Check properties under general, do they have correct inf. such as *70 or #70?

File not associated in Windows 3.x or when clicks on dialer and nothing there:
1. Highlight dialer icon, then go to file, properties and make sure command line reads C:\Netscape\Dialer\Dialer.exe isp.sr

Connection reset by peer:
1. You can add an init string AT&F&C1&D2&Q6&K3 OR reverse last two sets of numbers to K3&Q6

Modem in use by another com port, serial port, telephony application, dial up network service:
1. Hold down control and esc key (see example) simultaneously and check the task list and also end task on anything that monopolizes or "points" to the modem like Faxworks, terminal, phone answering software, etc.

You have been disconnected from computer you are dialing:
1. You might want to check to make sure that maximum speed not set to high.
2. try manually log on(dialer, properties, general, manually log on)
3. try connecting through dialer first

More On Manual Log In

When advising any client to use Manual Log in with Win 3.1 please explain to them that they are not to type their login information into the screen, but rather to just click on the Continue Button. We just had a client who has talked with several techs and was terminating out of frustration because he could not sign on to the service. He was trying to type in his login and had never been advised how to use this device. Thanks to Don Ross Account Resolution aka Save aka The Terminators

Removing the URL History:
1. File, Run, /Netscape/Netscape.ini, search for URL history, the last section of this ini file is the URL history which lists all of the customer's entries, highlight and delete the undesired lists. Then go to "file" and "save".

During installation, cm gets a GPF: ISSET_SE has caused a General Protection Fault in Module setup.exe
1. When ever a cm is having GPF's while trying to install our software find out first if they have any shell programs such as Tabworks, Dashboard, CPQSHELL in Compaq machines, etc. These programs are installed mainly on AST, Compaq and HP computers. If they do not know ask them during bootup if the first screen that appears is Windows Program Manager or whether they have to choose to go into Windows from a menu by choosing a "Tab"? IMPORTANT: The fix is not provided due to we do not want to buy anyone a new computer. So tell them to contact the Hardware/Software Mfg. to get the shell program turned off. However, if you know the fix, please be careful.

Images are loading up really slow!
1. Clear Memory Cache. Inside netscape, select options, network preferences, make sure that memory cache is at least 1024, click clear memory cache now.
2. Clear disk cache
3. Make sure that max modem speed not to high, or low.

Netscape Navigator and America Online, 3.1
1. You may want to bookmark this particular site, outlining exactly how to use 3.1 and AOL
http://help.netscape.com/tips/aol-win31.html

Pagefault errors when sending or receiving mail in Netscape:
1. Make sure whether or not cm currently has mail
2. If they do not , go to file manager, netscape, mail, and delete sent and sent.snm or inbox and inbox.snm, depending what the problem is. Make sure that Netscape is not running and disconnected. Bring back up netscape and files rebuild.
3. If they do, rename inbox and inbox.snm to inbox.txt and inbox.old, respectively and then delete inbox and .snm and that will allow cm to read mail in text document using word, WordPerfect, etc. Just open inbox.txt in word document.
4. Also, you may want to telnet into the account and delete any large messages that may be inhibiting the downloading of mail. This will tip you off if when they go to get mail the hour glass will just sit there and then be timed out.

AT Commands in Win 3.x
1. Go to accessories, terminal
2. If they can not type in terminal, they are on the wrong comport, or something is monopolizing the modem.
3. If step is correct, go to settings on menu bar, communications, and select correct com port in lower right hand side.
4. If the mouse stops working, you then have an IRQ conflict.
5. What you would like to happen is they can type commands:

ATI3
This command will usually tell you the modem manufacturer and the version number

ATI6
Usually produces an error, however can have same results as ATI3

ATI0(zero)
Can find data/fax transfer max. Example 24/96 is a 2400 baud modem & 9600 fax rate

ATDT
This will just give you a dial tone to see if modem responds. However you can type the number to dial after it and it will dial that number.

When connected to the internet, I am suddenly cut off, or while downloading something , my computer freezes or kicks me out to DOS prompt!
1. This is normally associated with a memory problem.
2. Make sure that they have at least 8 MB of RAM and 12 MB of hard disk space.
3. Run mem in DOS to double check available space, may want to run memory maker in DOS to maybe create some space. Good idea to run chkdisk and defrag after doing the memory maker.
4. Maybe call waiting needs to be disabled, or someone picking up phone in house and computer is supposed to be using it.
5. Might need to slow max speed of modem down

How to Telnet into an account:
1. On your computer, go to File and RUN.
2. Type in Telnet, or check, it may be there in the drop down list.
3. Type in telnet.
4. After the white notepad screen appears, go to Connect and connect
5. A little screen will appear, make sure that host name is mail.gte.net and port is 110 and term type is vt100 and hit enter.
6. type in user xxxxx(user name) and enter then pass xxxx. Make sure that there is space between command and user name and password.
7. Remember that all commands in telnet is four letters.
8. If you want to list the mail messages, then type list enter
9. to delete type dele #(represents number of item of mail req to delete)

Ways to increase memory in Win3.X

1. Streamline your autoexec and config so you get maximum conventional memory, 600 kb is optional
       i. decreasing numbers of buffers and files in config.sys is efficient
       ii. Disable all TSR programs running from autoexec.bat including mouse drv
          (It is better to create bat files for instant running of such progs)
2. Run memmaker
3. Scan your HD regularly for unfragmented files
4. Don't install wallpaper or screensaver in Window's Desktop
5. Delete all unneccessary icons within your programs groups
6. Rearrange your groups ( don't load >25 )
7. Scan your Windows dir for unused drivers and dlls and remove them
8. Remove all unused fonts from your system
9. Don't enable system sounds
10. Depending on yor Ram dont make Windows create too large Swapfile
11. Run dos apps in full screen rather than windowed
12. Run as few apps as possible and minimize background apps.
13. Browse the Web with "display images"=off
14. Check your apps with WinMizer Pro
15. Check regularly for newest update of video.drv

This is what I find most important. Others will recommend use of various programs that has
been written to fix memory problems. I'm very sceptical on such patent solution, because
running them may claim more memory than they reallocate. But if you are willing to try one called
FIX1MB to see for your self, I will attach the file containing it. I hope you find some useful hints
to improve your Windows. When I configured my system I increase Window's resources of 12%
and now I'm able to run some apps written for 486 PC's on my old 386/16

Thanks to "Iceman"   jlaxdal@treknet.is

If the customer has Personal Secretary or Call Notes on the same line as the computer. This will create a "stuttered" dial tone that the modem does not recognize. The fix is below.
1. Clear all calls off of Personal Secretary or Call Notes.
2. Put four commas in front of phone number. This creates a pause in the dialing. Or put W2 through W9 in front of number to create a wait state. Example: ,,,,574 3777 or W5 574 3777

Thanks to Jamie Short

Windows 3.x--Dial In Driver Not Loaded

A. Reinstall software. The following lines in the system.ini file were not installed in the [386Enh] section:

1. device=c:\netscape\system\vntstimd.exe

2. device=c:\netscape\system\vtcprac.386

3. device=c:\netscape\system\pdwcomm.386

4. device=c:\netscape\system\dial.386

B. Member may have 2 drives. If they had a previous version of Netscape, the paths may be incorrect, and may need to be modified to reflect the correct pathname, i.e.:

1. device=d:\netscape\system\vntstimd.exe

2. device=d:\netscape\system\vtcprac.386

3. device=d:\netscape\system\pdwcomm.386

5. device=d:\netscape\system\dial.386

C. Software may have installed into a previous ISP's directory. You may need to uninstall the other ISP's software, as well as our own Netscape, and reinstall.

3. May have a corrupted TCP/IP or Dial-Up adapter.

4. May have downloaded a different version of Netscape.

5. May have more than one protocol in network settings. (Control Panel)

6. Corrupted MacTCP or MacPPP.

7. Check for other ISP's (EarthLink, NetComm, etc.)

Thanks to Ron 'Charlie' Hansard.