Optimizing the Win95/98 Dial-up Networking
One of the most important configurations, and the easiest to check, is
the Win95/98 dial-up networking configuration. When settings are not
correct, an Internet connection can take longer to log on to the network
and also have the appearance of a slower connection. In fact, those two
things are the prime indicators that the settings are not correct.
To change them, open up "My Computer" and then the "Dial-Up Networking"
folder. Find the icon for the connectoid (that's what they are called)
for Internet Nebraska. (Our Hastings customers may have one for TCG
Computer Services.) Click on it just once so the icon is highlighted.
Next, go to the File menu and choose Properties. Finally, click either
the tab at the top or on the button at the bottom labeled "Server
Types".
In the middle check-boxes, the only one that should be checked is
"Enable software compression." If any of the others are checked, just
uncheck them. In the bottom area, again the only one that should be
checked is "TCP/IP". Uncheck the other boxes as needed.
For the last step, click on the button labeled TCP/IP Settings. In
the middle of the screen, check Specify name server addresses. The
boxes with either numbers or all the zeros will become active. Double
click on the first box next to Primary DNS:. Now enter the following:
199.184.119.1. Hit the "Tab" key and the first box next to
Secondary DNS will be highlighted. Enter 199.2.252.10. The numbers
should be three to a box going from left to right. All the other boxes
should be zeros. The check boxes at the bottom are ok so now just click
on the OK button at the bottom. Click on OK once more and your Dial-up
Networking has been optimized.
The next time you log on, you may do so a little more quickly, and your
machine may perform better as you browse the web.
Optimizing TCP/IP
Another part of the Internet connection is the TCP/IP. TCP/IP is a protocol -- a sort
of language computers agree to use to communicate -- that is used to move
data about the Internet. If your settings are not correct, you can expect
problems with your Internet connection.
If your computer is on a local area network (LAN), do NOT follow the
instructions below. If you have been experiencing connectivity problems,
contact your LAN administrator. This is important, because changing
network settings can result in your computer not working correctly on your
network.
Here are instructions for optimizing the TCP/IP:
Click on Start --> Settings --> Control Panel --> Network.
Click on either "TCP/IP" or "TCP/IP --> Dial-up Adapter", whichever
one is listed.
Click on Properties.
There will be a series of tabs at the top on the Network Properties
screen.
Under the DNS Configuration tab, all of the fields should be empty and
"Disable DNS" should be selected. If the fields are not empty, click on
"Enable DNS" and remove the items in all of the fields. Once the fields
are empty, click on "Disable DNS".
Under the WINS Config tab, "Disable WINS" should be selected.
Click on OK until you are back to the Control Panel. The computer will
want to reboot, so let it and consider yourself optimized.
