WinDOwS Tricks - Part 7

Go to ALL WinDOwS ©Tricks + Secrets Contents

• connect to AOL using a 28 - 56 kbps analog modem;
• use Microsoft Windows 95 or 98 Operating Systems (ANY release); [... don't we all?! :-)]
• use America Online (AOL) client software 32-bit version, ANY beta/Gold release 3.0/4.0/5.0 for Windows 95/98, and
• connect to the Internet using an AOL (local) phone number (via AOLnet).

• Ethernet networks: MTU = 1500
• SLIP servers: MTU = 1006
• PPP protocol (Internet TCP/IP): MTU = 576.

• Rob Vonk's EasyMTU v3.0, the first, the best and the only FREEware AOL/MTU/TTL/RWIN/COMBoostTime/cachesize/etc tweaking tool!
  EasyMTU v3.0 [360 KB] includes FindMTU [a PING tool] to determine EXACTLY the MTU value used by your ISP/Online Service (i.e. AOL).

• TweakDUN + TweakMASTER.

DELETE "aolsock":
1. First, exit the AOL interface COMPLETELY.

2. Now run Regedit.exe (the Registry Editor), located in your Win95/98 folder, and go to:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\America Online
   Export the ENTIRE Registry key above to a text file, using Regedit's "Registry" -> "Export Registry File" feature. Save it as AOLKEY.TXT, or download AOLKEY.REG.
   It's safer to choose the .TXT extension instead of the default .REG, so you don't re-register (merge this key again into the Registry) by accident. :)

3. With the Registry Editor open, DELETE the "America Online" registry subkey below. Right-click on "aolsock", select Delete, and answer Yes to the confirmation prompt:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\America Online\AOL\aolsock
   IMPORTANT: You need to repeat ALL STEPS described here EVERY time after you (re)install ANY 32-bit version of AOL software, because it ALWAYS rewrites the "aolsock" Registry key, and also resets the AOL "mtu", the TCP/IP NetTrans "MaxMTU" (Win95), and/or the Net "IPMTU" (Win98) values back to 1500!

4. MANDATORY for ALL AOL v4.0 or v5.0 (beta or Gold) 32-bit software users, Win98 and Win95:
   Apply the "AOL 4.0/5.0 MTU FIX", also in AOLTIPS.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE].

5. TWEAK "MaxMTU" [Win95] + "IPMTU" [Win98]:
   Recommended Registry values for AOL:
   • Win95/OSR2 users: MaxMTU=576
   • Win98/98 SE users: IPMTU=576
   A MUST: READ my original/unique "FASTEST INTERNET 98 - Part 2" tweak, also in TIPS98.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE], to learn how to MAXimize your AOL analog modem connection speed by adjusting your MTU to ANY value you want!
   AOL MTU in USA and Canada is actually 1500. But AOL servers do NOT support the "do not fragment bit" protocol, therefore you NEED to use MTU=576 with AOL for MAXimum performance!
   NOTE: MaxMTU [Win95], IPMTU [Win98], DefaultRcvWindow [RWIN], DefaultTTL [TTL] and cachesize [NDI] are NOT present in your Registry if you have never used a "MTU tweaker" like EasyMTU, or added them yourself using a Registry editor like Regedit.
   WINDOWS 95 + OSR2 USERS ONLY:
   • THE EASY WAY [USE THE REG FILE]:
   All necessary settings can be implemented by using the included file: AOLMTU95.REG (or restored by using AOLDEF95.REG, also included). But FIRST open these .REG files in Notepad and compare the Registry keys listed there with yours. To view/edit your Win95 Registry, run the Registry editor (REGEDIT.EXE, located in your Win95 folder), and scroll to the keys listed in AOLMTU95.REG + AOLDEF95.REG. The "DriverDesc"="TCP/IP" NetTrans keys: 0000, 0001, 0002 might have different values on your system. You may have more than one "000n"/"00nn" NetTrans keys ("n" and "nn" are actual numbers, ranging anywhere from 00 up to 50, depending on your system's Network/Dial-Up settings). If that is true, you HAVE TO REPLACE THEM with the ones found in YOUR Registry!
   After modifying the AOLMTU95.REG + AOLDEF95.REG keys to match YOURS, (double)-click on AOLMTU95.REG in Explorer or File Manager, to merge (register) the new settings.
   Then restart Win95, log on to AOL as usual, and notice any differences in access speed.
   • THE HARD WAY :) [MODIFY THE REGISTRY MANUALLY]:
   Run the Registry editor (REGEDIT.EXE, located in your Win95 folder) and set MaxMTU to 576 (Win95 MaxMTU default value is 1500) into ALL your TCP/IP NetTrans Registry keys (these are the SLIP/PPP protocol keys). You may have more than one.
   Examples (these are ONLY my TCP/IP NetTrans registry keys, you MUST customize YOURS to get similar results):
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\NetTrans\0000
   "MaxMTU"="576"
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\NetTrans\0001
   "MaxMTU"="576"
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\NetTrans\0002
   "MaxMTU"="576"
   MEANING:
   "MaXMTU" = Maximum Transmission Unit, or MTU (packet size in Bytes).
   Valid values: MTU = MSS + 40.
   Respectively: 576, 1006, 1500 (other values are valid as well, depending on the MTU used by different ISPs).
   AOL in USA/Canada: MTU = 1500. But AOL servers do NOT support the "do not fragment bit" protocol, therefore you NEED to use MTU = 576 with AOL for maximum performance!
   Default: 1500.
   Recommended: 576.
   Data type: string:
   "MaxMTU"="576"
   To determine EXACTLY which NetTrans keys you need to alter (and NO others), bear in mind that you MUST have this entry:
   "DriverDesc"="TCP/IP"
   under EACH of your TCP/IP NetTrans keys you want to modify! Change/add the MaxMTU string ONLY under your NetTrans keys that have "TCP/IP" on the "DriverDesc" line!
   You may have more than one "00nn" NetTrans keys ("nn" is an actual number, ranging anywhere from 00 up to 50, depending on your system's Network/Dial-Up settings).
   Here there are two possibilities:
   1. If you already have a "MaxMTU" entry: double-click on the right hand pane "MaxMTU" string, and type in 576. Click OK.

   2. If you don't have a "MaxMTU" entry: you can add it manually, by double-clicking on EACH of your left hand pane TCP/IP NetTrans 00nn keys and then selecting New -> String value. Name the new string MaxMTU. Double-click on it and give it a value of 576.
   Repeat the steps above for ALL your TCP/IP NetTrans keys, to include the recommended values for MaxMTU.
   Restart Windows 95 when done so all changes can take effect.
   WINDOWS 98 + 98 SE(U) USERS ONLY:
   • THE EASY WAY [USE THE REG FILE]:
   All necessary settings can be implemented by using the included file: AOLMTU98.REG (or restored by using AOLDEF98.REG, also included). But FIRST open these .REG files in Notepad and compare the Registry keys listed there with yours. To view/edit your Win98 Registry, run the Registry editor (REGEDIT.EXE, located in your Win98 folder), and scroll to the keys listed in AOLMTU98.REG + AOLDEF98.REG. The "DriverDesc"="Dial-Up Adapter" and "DriverDesc"="AOL Adapter" Net keys: 0000, 0001 etc might have different values on your system. You may have more than one "00nn" Net keys ("nn" is an actual number, ranging anywhere from 00 up to 50, depending on your system's Network/Dial-Up settings). If that is true, you HAVE TO REPLACE THEM with the ones found in YOUR Registry!
   After modifying the AOLMTU98.REG + AOLDEF98.REG keys to match YOURS, (double)-click on AOLMTU98.REG in Explorer or File Manager, to merge (register) the new settings.
   Then restart Win98, log on to AOL as usual, and notice any differences in access speed.
   • THE HARD WAY :) [MODIFY THE REGISTRY MANUALLY]:
   These are the Registry settings you can change to get the fastest possible AOL/Internet connection under Windows 98, using the TCP/IP protocol (Dial-Up Networking) and AOL (America Online) 32-bit 3.0/4.0/5.0, only if you connect to AOL through an AOL local phone number:
   1. Start Regedit, and go to (default Win98 Registry key):
      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Net\0000
      "SLOWNET"=hex:00
      "IPMTU"="576"
      Make sure you modify these values ONLY under the Net keys that display "DriverDesc"="Dial-Up Adapter" and/or "DriverDesc"="AOL Adapter" in the right hand pane!
      1. In the right hand pane, double-click the "SLOWNET" hex value, and change its number from 01 to 00.
         This won't dramatically increase your transfers but will reduce timeouts.

      2. Change the "IPMTU" string to read 576. Win98's default is 0, corresponding to the "Automatic" IP Packet Size setting: Control Panel -> Network applet -> Dial-Up Adapter -> Advanced -> IP Packet Size.
         Various Win98 TCP/IP configurations may contain the "SLOWNET" and "IPMTU" values under different Registry subkeys. Double-click on the "Net" key (see above) to view all its subkeys. Substitute the "00nn" key below with the appropriate integer number(s) present on your machine (valid values for nn = 00 - 50):
         HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Net\00nn
         Then track down all "SLOWNET" and "IPMTU" instances and modify them as described above. Example (nn = 01):
         HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Net\0001
         "IPMTU"="576"

   2. Run Regedit and go to:
      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Class\Net\0000\Ndi\params\IPMTU      
      "default"="576"
      The same 00nn -> 0000, 0001... etc substitution principle (see above) applies here.
      Change the "default" string found in the right hand pane from 0 (Win98's default "Automatic" setting) to 576.
      Restart Windows 98 when done so all changes can take effect.

6. TWEAK "RWIN", "TTL", "maxconnect", "maxsockets" + "cachesize":
   Tweak these other Registry settings (STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!) to speed-up your AOL connection (ALL Win98 AND Win95 users): follow the guidelines in the "HOW FAST CAN YOU GO? - Part 2" topic, also in REGISTRY.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE].
   Close the Registry Editor when you're done.

7. TWEAK "ComBoostTime":
   You may gain MORE modem transfer speed by adding/modifying this line under your SYSTEM.INI's [386enh] section to read:
   COMBoostTime=1
   SYSTEM.INI is a text file located in your Windows folder. Open it for editing in Notepad.
   The "COMBoostTime" setting affects the time (in milliseconds) the Operating System processes a COM port interrupt. The default value is 2. If you notice a loss of keyboard characters while using your ISP/AOL/communications programs, increase COMBoostTime to 4 (further experimenting may be necessary to determine your own optimal setting).
   NOTE: You need to RESTART Windows EVERY time after modifying ANY SYSTEM.INI settings!

8. THE MAGIC HOSTS FILE:
   "One more speedup trick: You can save two to six seconds every time you go to your favorite web pages. Just use a HOSTS file. This is your very own DNS server, right in your own PC, and it translates the domain name into an IP address. That means when your browser tries to contact www.microsoft.com, the HOSTS file runs interference, changes the URL into an IP address (207.46.131.137) and speeds up the time it takes to get there.
   Many programs create and manage HOSTS files. I don't have a favorite... any of them will do the job."
   See HOSTS Files, Guides + Tools [freeware].
   This topic courtesy of Steve Bass, PC World Editor + author of PC Annoyances book.
   HINT: By default the HOSTS file (no extension) is located in your Win95/98 folder. Edit it with Notepad, to read the usage guidelines and then add your frequently visited web sites IP addresses/host names.
   To get the IP address of your favorite server, let's say www.pcworld.com, run PING (a Networking tool found also in your Win95/98 folder) from a DOS prompt box/session, while connected to the Internet:
   ping www.pcworld.com
   These are the IP numbers you need:
   Pinging www.pcworld.com [209.1.23.30] etc...
   Copy them on a separate line into your Hosts file:
   209.1.23.30 www.pcworld.com # PC World
   Everything after the pound sign (#) is a comment.
   Repeat this operation for each web site you want added.
   TIP: Most web sites use dynamic IP addresses, meaning the numbers change every time you try to access them. Therefore you might want to PING the same site more than once, and then add ALL IP numbers found for that site, followed by the host/website name (see example above) on separate lines in your Hosts file.

9. Use a PROXY with AOL:
   Read "AOL PROXY SERVER", also in AOLTIPS.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE], for step-by-step guidelines.
   NOTE: The AOL MTU workaround (described above) needs to be applied AFTER enabling the AOL proxy feature, in order to make the faster AOL MTU of 576 work properly! Enabling the AOL proxy in your browser might revert the AOL MTU back to 1500 on some Win9x systems!
   In this case, if you'd like to speedup your AOL connection by using a MTU of 576, you might have to disable the AOL proxy.

10. Restart Windows 95/98 and then start AOL. Connect as usual. Notice any differences in access speed/modem throughput, while browsing through AOL and Internet areas, and try to download some files off AOL/Internet for comparison.

1. Double-click on AOLDEF98.REG [Win98 users] or AOLDEF95.REG [Win95 users] [also part of W95-11D.EXE] to RESTORE ALL Registry settings to their DEFAULTS. But FIRST you •MUST• modify AOLMTU98.REG/AOLMTU95.REG + AOLDEF98.REG/AOLDEF95.REG (using Notepad), to CUSTOMIZE ALL your TCP/IP NetTrans MaxMTU [Win95] or Net IPMTU [Win98] lines to MATCH YOUR OWN SYSTEM:: •READ• the step-by-step guidelines at paragraph #5 above to learn how to do this PROPERLY!

2. Re-register (RESTORE) the America Online "aolsock" subkey you have saved as AOLKEY.TXT (as described at paragraph #2 above): FIRST RENAME it to AOLKEY.REG and then (double)-click on it in Explorer or File Manager.
   AOLKEY.REG is also included here.

3. Remark with a semicolon (;) the "COMBoostTime" line under the [386enh] section of your SYSTEM.INI:
   ; COMBoostTime=1

4. Restart Windows so all changes can take effect.

1. Use Windows 95/98 System Monitor tool (SYSMON.EXE, located in your Windows folder), to monitor your modem connections, as described in "DUN MONITOR - Part 1" + "DUN MONITOR - Part 2", also in MYTIPS95.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE].

2. For extensive details/specs on analog/digital modems, Win95/98 communications, TCP/IP, DUN and more MTU/TTL/RWIN/etc tweaking programs, check out these reference links.

• ALL Windows 95/98 users: Dial-Up Networking (DUN) Upgrade 1.4.
• ONLY Windows 95/OSR1/OSR2 users: Windows Sockets (Winsock) Upgrade 2.0.

• Check out this list of known MTU values, detailed in "ISPS KNOWN MTU VALUES", also in MYTIPS95.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE].

• Download and run Rob Vonk's EasyMTU 3.0 [includes FindMTU, 360 KB, freeware].

• Read "FIND YOUR ISP'S MTU", also in TIPS95.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE].

• The Windows 95/98 Registry files: SYSTEM.DAT and USER.DAT, found in your Windows folder. These files have the hidden and system attributes, for write-protection purposes.
• SYSTEM.INI, also residing in your Win9x folder.

• a 28 - 56 kbps analog modem,
• an ISP (Internet Service Provider) or Online Service (i.e. AOL),
• Windows 95/98 TCP/IP Dial-Up Networking (DUN) PPP (Point to Point Protocol),
• or/and AOL 32-bit software version 3.0, 4.0 or 5.0 (AOL members only),

ISP/Online Service              Location        MTU value
---------------------------------------------------------
America Online (AOL)            USA             1500 [*]
America Online (AOL)            Canada          1500 [*]
AT&T Worldnet                   USA             576
CompuServe (CS)                 USA             576
Concentric Network              USA             576
EarthLink                       USA             576
Verizon                         USA             576
MicroSoft Network (MSN)         USA             576
NetZero                         USA             576
Prodigy                         USA             576
SNiP                            USA             576

1. Log on to your ISP/Online Service, open a DOS box and run this PING command (parameters are case sensitive):
   PING -f -l MTU www.your_isp_name.com
   or for ISPs that have the "net" suffix instead of "com":
   PING -f -l MTU www.your_isp_name.net
   You MUST use a MTU packet size (i.e. 576) IDENTICAL with or LOWER than the one in your Registry [see "FASTEST INTERNET 98 - Part 2", also in TIPS98.TXT (part of W95-11D.EXE), for complete details!], to obtain non-fragmented "pings". Using a MTU larger than the one in your Registry will return ALL packets as fragmented! Replace "your_isp_name" above (don't type the quotes) with your actual ISP name. Example:
   PING -f -l 576 www.att.net
   if using AT&T WorldNet as your ISP.
   Compare the PING times with different packet sizes and adjust your MTU for maximum speed, as described in "FASTEST INTERNET 98 - Part 2", also in TIPS98.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE].
   NOTE: In certain cases you need to add 28 to the MTU value returned after pinging your ISP's server, because some ISPs do NOT account for the IP or ICMP header values when reporting their MTUs!

2. Ask your ISP's tech support (by e-mail or phone call) to tell you the MTU value they are using at server end. Unfortunately, some ISPs do not release this information. :(

3. Run Rob Vonk's EasyMTU v3.0 for Windows 9x/NT/AOL [includes FindMTU, 360 KB, freeware].

4. Read "FIND YOUR ISP'S MTU", also in TIPS95.TXT [part of W95-11D.EXE].

5. Check out these MTU reference links for more info.

ISP             MTU     RWIN    TTL     Cachesize       Port speed      Modem speed     FIFO Buffers    COMBoostTime
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AOL             576     2144    128     16              921,600         115,200         Full            4
AT&T Worldnet   576     2144    64      16              921,600         115,200         Full            4
CompuServe      576     2144    64      16              921,600         115,200         Full            4
EarthLink       576     2144    128     16              921,600         115,200         Full            4
MSN             576     2144    64      16              921,600         115,200         Full            4
Prodigy         576     2144    64      16              921,600         115,200         Full            4

• "AOL MAXMTU REVISITED": only Win95/98 AOL users (in AOLTIPS.TXT);
• "AOL 4.0/5.0 MTU FIX": only Win95/98 AOL users (in AOLTIPS.TXT);
• "HOW FAST CAN YOU GO? - Part 1": only Win95 users (in REGISTRY.TXT);
• "HOW FAST CAN YOU GO? - Part 2": all Win95/98 users (in REGISTRY.TXT);
• "FASTEST INTERNET 98 - Part 1": only Win98 users (in TIPS98.TXT);
• "FASTEST INTERNET 98 - Part 2": only Win98 users (in TIPS98.TXT);
• "56K MODEMS @ 56K SPEED": all Win95/98 users (in MYTIPS95.TXT);
• "MAP YOUR HOSTS": all Win95/98 users (in TIPS95.TXT);
• "SPEEDUP MY DUN!": all Win95/98 users (in TIPS95.TXT);
• "FAST, FAST, FAST": all Win95/98 users (in MYTIPS95.TXT);
• "SYSTEM.INI TWEAKS": all Win95/98 users (in MYTIPS95.TXT).

1. Are an AOL (America Online) member.
2. Connect to AOL ONLY by using one of AOL's proprietary networking protocols, NOT through a 3rd party ISP using AOL's TCP/IP protocol!
3. Use 32-bit AOL client software 3/4/5/6/7/8/9 for Windows 9x/ME, and
4. Use a 32-bit proxy capable web browser, like Mozilla Gecko/Firefox 1.xx, Netscape Navigator/Communicator 3/4/6 (freely distributed), or Microsoft Internet Explorer 3/4/5/6 (also free) for Windows 9x/ME.

1. "You MUST be a member of AOL using AOL 32-bit for Windows 9x/ME.
2. Go to the Netscape web site and install the latest version of Netscape Communicator 32-bit.
3. Run Netscape and go to: Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced -> Proxies.
4. Choose "Manual Proxy Configuration", and click on View.
5. On the HTTP space, type:
   vip-tn.proxy.aol.com
6. On the small space just to the right which is the Port, type:
   80
   for unsecure sites (HTTP), or:
   443
   for secure sites (HTTPS).
7. Netscape will work with AOL perfectly and FAST!"

1. AOL 32-bit software 3/4/5/6/7/8/9 for Windows 9x/NT4/2000/ME/XP/2003 have Microsoft Internet Explorer 3/4/5/6 32-bit browser built-in. I recommend to use the free Mozilla Gecko or Firefox 32-bit browsers to access the Internet instead, while logged on to AOL.

2. AOL 16-bit software 3/4 for Windows/WfWG 3.1x has a built-in proprietary web browser, which is primitive, BUGgy and does NOT comply with basic HTML standards (like Frames, Tables, Font Faces, Forms etc). I recommend to use the free Netscape Navigator v4.08 16-bit browser to access the Internet instead, while logged on to AOL.

3. Learn how to make Netscape browsers work with AOL software.