I'm running Windows 3.11 on Virtual PC and would like to set it to have internet access. I've read all the instructions but don't understand this part: "Windows network requirement: Windows on the guest PC must be configured to automatically obtain an IP address from a DHCP server." How do I configure 3.11 for that and what exactly is a DHCP server? Thanks for any help in advance.

Hi, First have you got the network card and drivers installed properly for 3.1? If not then you will need 3.11 versions of the drivers for the DEC 21041 card. Add the drivers using the Network setup program in WIndows. These will be loaded in the autoexec.bat and when windows starts. Then you need to install TCP/IP for windows 3.1 - sorry i dont know where to find this, it's been a while, but its out there somewhere! Once this is installed, you can goto Network setup (in the network group in program manager) and you will probably need to add the TCP/IP Protocol (click drivers then add protocol) Once TCP/IP is added you can double click it and a config box will appear with the option to "enable automatic DHCP configuration". Enable this and you should be ok. Dont forget also, that if you want to use IE for the internet, set it up to use a LAN connection, not a dial-up (in Internet explorer properties under "Connection") good luck! Alex

Thanks a lot for your response. I don't have the drivers for the network card installed. I did a search on google but haven't had any luck in finding them. I've installed THCP/IP. So I know I'm getting somewhere and all I need now is the correct drivers for the network card. Do you know of anywhere where they're available? Also, once it's completed will it automatically connect to the net while using Opera or will I need to change settings in it?

Hi, I can't remember where i found the drivers, but i'll upload them to my webspace later when I get access to my machine again, then i'll post the link here. As for Opera, i've not used that in 3.1 before - it may work, and there may be some settings to change, but Internet Explorer (3,4 and 5) definitely work. Alex

Hi, I've uploaded the network card drivers (for DEC 21041 PCI) to: (you'll have to copy and paste into browser) http://members.lycos.co.uk/sutton321/files/dec21041.zip The archive contains win 3.1, win 3.11 and win95 drivers - you will obviously want to use the 3.11 drivers. Extract these then add them by going into network setup then (I think) "Add adapter", then you can add things like TCP/IP here if you haven't already. This should change your autoexec.bat (it will add the net.exe command to start the network) and you should be sorted! Good luck. Alex

Thanks a lot for all the help. I've got it up and running and it works both with Opera and Netscape 3.0. I don't have any versions of Explorer installed. The only problem is that both of them have trouble with sites running scripts, for example Java and PHP. Screenshot example: http://www.student.itn.liu.se/~damfi208/test/test/netscape311.001 Netscape freezes at this point. Are there any particular 3.11 browsers which support the aforementioned or are there any plugins for Netscape/Opera which support it? It's not really that a big a deal but is still something I'd like to sort out, I'm happy to have got it running. :)

What's a virtual PC? You probably need the latest version of the browsers that work with 3.11. I belive Netscape Communicator 4.08 is the last version that will work with Windows 3.1x. I don't know about opera.