You can use Netscape Navigator with your America Online account. The following step-by-step instructions take you through the installation process in about ten minutes (not counting the time it will take to download any necessary files). It's very important that you follow these instructions exactly, and we strongly recommend that you print them out (by selecting "Print" from the "File" menu) or save this file to disk and have it open in your word processor while you work, for easy access.
Step 1: Make sure you're using version 2.5 of the AOL software.You must be using version 2.5 of the America Online software in Windows 3.1. To check this, run the America Online program, select HELP from the toolbar at the top of the screen, then click on ABOUT AMERICA ONLINE. If the version number is less than 2.5, you need to upgrade your software by selecting GO TO, KEYWORD, and typing UPGRADE.
Step 2: Make sure you're connecting via a modem.
You need to be accessing AOL with a modem, NOT through a network TCP/IP connection. If you're connecting to AOL across a network, STOP HERE. These instructions are only for use with a dial-up modem connection to AOL.
Step 3: Check for existing copies of the "WINSOCK.DLL" file.
Search for any file named "WINSOCK.DLL" on your system. To do this, open File Manager (which is probably in the "Main" program group), pull down the FILE menu, and choose SEARCH. In the dialog-box on the SEARCH FOR line type "WINSOCK.DLL" (without the quotation marks). In the START FROM line type "C:\" (without the quotation marks). Be sure to include the colon and backslash after the "C". Make sure the box next to "SEARCH ALL SUBDIRECTORIES" is marked, then click on OK.
If you find a file named "WINSOCK.DLL" (in upper or lower case), you probably have other online application(s) which require it. Installing another "WINSOCK.DLL" file (as you will need to do below) may cause these applications to stop working. We recommend that you STOP here and consult the manuals for any other communications software you might have before you continue. If you choose to continue with the installation, and later discover that an application works incorrectly or not at all, you will need to remove your new copy of "WINSOCK.DLL" and put back the previous one(s). This process can be tricky; therefore if you find other versions of "WINSOCK.DLL" and are unsure whether you can reconstruct the original configuration in case of problems, STOP HERE.
Step 4: Rename any existing versions of the "WINSOCK.DLL" file.
If you found other copies of "WINSOCK.DLL" but you decided to proceed anyway, then you should rename the other copies so they won't interfere later.
For each copy of "WINSOCK.DLL" that's listed in your Search Results window, select it and then choose "Rename" from the "File" menu. Type into the "To" field exactly what you see in the "From" field, except change the ".DLL" ending to some other three-letter ending, such as ".OLD" or ".SAV" or your initials.
Be sure that NO files named "WINSOCK.DLL" remain on your hard drive (they should all renamed by now). Go through step 3 again to make sure.
Step 5: Download a new "WINSOCK.DLL" file.
Log on to AOL, and go to the Netscape menu. Double click on DOWNLOAD WINSOCK.DLL then click on DOWNLOAD NOW. Save the file in your WINDOWS directory by selecting C:\WINDOWS in the DOWNLOAD MANAGER box that appears.
When you have finished downloading the file, click on CANCEL to return to the Netscape menu.
(AOL's "WINSOCK.DLL" is roughly 11k large. If you have one that is about 47k large, then it is probably the wrong one (the one that came with Netscape one or with Windows); you should repeat step 4 to remove it.
Step 6: Download and install Netscape Navigator.
Double click on DOWNLOAD NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR and click DOWNLOAD NOW. Make sure you download the 16-bit version of Netscape Navigator, NOT the 32-bit version. (The 32-bit version will not work with AOL's software.)
Ideally you should download this file into an empty directory, or move it to an empty directory after you download it. Make a note of the directory into which you downloaded the file. When you have finished downloading the file, click on CANCEL to return to the Netscape menu.
After you have downloaded the file and moved it to an empty directory, decompress it by double-clicking on it in File Manager. The file will expand to many files.
After the file has decompressed and you are returned to File Manager, press F5 to refresh the File Manager window, then double-click on the file "SETUP.EXE" and follow the installation instructions.
Step 7: Reboot, restart Windows, and log on to AOL.
Quit out of AOL and any other open programs, exit Windows, and reboot your computer by pressing CTRL, ALT, and DELETE simultaneously. After it reboots, restart Windows if it does not come up automatically. Log onto AOL as you normally do; this should work exactly as it did before.
Step 8: Run Netscape Navigator.
Double-click on the "Netscape" icon, which was probably installed in a "Netscape" program group.
Congratulations! If all went well, you're now using Netscape Navigator with your AOL connection!
If something went wrong, please make a note of EXACTLY where it went wrong, and also write down the exact wording of any error messages you saw. This will let a tech support analyst help you solve the problem much more quickly.
(If you try to run Netscape Navigator before you start up your connection to AOL, you will get an error telling you "you must run "WAOL" first").