How to Use America Online as Your Internet Service Provider

This article describes how to use Microsoft Internet Explorer version 2.1 for Windows 3.1 with America Online (AOL) as your Internet service provider.

NOTE: This procedure can be used when you are running Internet Explorer 2.1 for Windows 3.1 with Windows or Windows for Workgroups version 3.x, Windows 95, or Windows NT Workstation or Windows NT Server version 3.x or later. However, it cannot be used when you are running any version of Internet Explorer for Windows 95 or Internet Explorer for Windows NT.

To use Internet Explorer 2.1 with AOL as your Internet service provider, follow these steps:

1. Download the Dlmini21.exe file from an online service (such as the Microsoft http://www.microsoft.com/ie/ (http://www.microsoft.com/ie/) Web site) to an empty folder and then double-click the file to install Internet Explorer 2.1. For additional information about obtaining the Dlmini21.exe file or installing Internet Explorer 2.1 for Windows 3.1, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
   148875  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/148875/EN-US/ ) Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.1 for Windows 3.1 Available
   NOTE: If you have already installed Internet Explorer 2.1 using the Dlfull21.exe or Dlbase21.exe file, uninstall Internet Explorer 2.1. To do this, follow these steps:
   
   
   1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
   2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
   3. On the Install/Uninstall tab, click Internet Explorer 2.1 in the list of installed programs, and then click Add/Remove.
   Then, reinstall Internet Explorer 2.1 using the Dlmini21.exe file instead. You can also install Internet Explorer 2.1 using the Dlfull21.exe or Dlbase21.exe file; but if you do so, you must perform a Custom installation and choose not to install the dialer tool.
2. Download the Winsock.dll file version 2.5 that is available from AOL and use Windows Explorer to copy it to the Microsoft Internet folder (the folder in which you installed Internet Explorer).
   
   The Winsock.dll file version 2.5 is not included with the America Online software. For information about obtaining this file, please contact America OnLine.
3. Connect to AOL and then run Internet Explorer.
   
   NOTE: Internet Explorer cannot be configured to automatically dial AOL when AOL is used as your Internet service provider.

NOTE: America Online has released a version of America Online for Windows 95. This software installs an America Online adapter in Network properties that lets you make a 32-bit Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) connection to America Online. If you use this software, you can use the 32-bit version of Internet Explorer and no other configuration is necessary.

The third-party product discussed in this article is manufactured by a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or other- wise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.