jakethompson1 wrote on 2025-10-07, 18:59:
davidrg has done some experimentation with Novell Client32 in the past, which uses extended memory rather than conventional memory or UMBs (i.e., the DOS side is "cloaked"). Re: SMC (WD) StarCard PLUS (WD/8003S) Win3.1?
I should also play with that sometime.
I'm not able to install it. I don't have a .LAN or .NLM file. The ODI driver it's a COM file, ATODI.COM, which requieres LSL.COM, but after loading the latter the card it's not detected. But the drivers already installed in AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS leave less than 500 KB of conventional memory.
maxtherabbit wrote on 2025-10-08, 14:44:
It doesn't install anything to windows by design. The sockets add on is an extra driver which must be manually added to protocol.ini (and config.sys iirc)
As the README.TXT says, I've configured Windows to use Net Client 2.1. There is also a SYSTEM.INI file in the Microsoft Net Client folder with the [Network] section. I've added this section to WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI with no success. But, after installing TCP/IP in Microsoft Net Client I have less than 400 KB of conventional memory.
By now, Trumpet Winsock seems to be the best option. I've managed to load the drivers, load Windows and unload the drivers without any modification to AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS.
Internet access in Windows 3.1 with Packet driver and Trumpet Winsock
1. Software needed
MS-DOS and Windows 3.1/3.11 (Windows for Workgroups is not required).
A DOS packet driver for your network card (download).
WINPKT.COM (donwload).
Trumpet Winsock 3.0d (download).
TSR Utilities v3.5 by Kim Kokkonen (download).
2. Install
Install MS-DOS and Windows.
Copy your packet driver, WINPKT.COM and MARK.COM and RELEASE.EXE from TSR Utilities to the folder C:\PKTDRV.
2a. If you already know your IP address, DNS server, Netmask and Gateway go to 3.
If not, download mTCP and install to C:\MTCP.
Copy SAMPLE.CFG in subfolder SAMPLES to C:\MTCP and rename it to MTCP.CFG.
Create a file MDHCP.BAT in C:\MTCP folder with the following lines. You packet driver could use different parameters for load and unload:
C:\PKTDRV\<your packet driver> 0x60
SET MTCPCFG=C:\MTCP\MTCP.CFG
DHCP.EXE
SET MTCPCFG=
C:\PKTDRV\<your packet driver> -u 0x60 […]
Show full quote
C:\PKTDRV\<your packet driver> 0x60
SET MTCPCFG=C:\MTCP\MTCP.CFG
DHCP.EXE
SET MTCPCFG=
C:\PKTDRV\<your packet driver> -u 0x60
If you can't use interrupt 0x60 change this .BAT and packetint line in MTCP.CFG.
Run MDHCP.BAT.
In the last lines of C:\MTCP\MTCP.CFG you have your IP address, DNS server, Netmask and Gateway.
3. Configure
Install Trumpet Winsock 3.0d to C:\WINDOWS\TRUMPET. In setup window, select "Packet driver", "Vector" 60 and your IP address, DNS server, Netmask and Gateway.
Exit Windows (if open).
4. WINNET.BAT
Create a file named WINNET.BAT in C:\DOS, C:\WINDOWS or in other folder in your PATH with the following lines. You packet driver could use different parameters for load and unload:
@ECHO OFF
C:\PKTDRV\<your packet driver> 0x60
C:\PKTDRV\MARK.COM
C:\PKTDRV\WINPKT.COM 0x60
WIN.COM C:\WINDOWS\TRUMPET\TCPMAN.EXE […]
Show full quote
@ECHO OFF
C:\PKTDRV\<your packet driver> 0x60
C:\PKTDRV\MARK.COM
C:\PKTDRV\WINPKT.COM 0x60
WIN.COM C:\WINDOWS\TRUMPET\TCPMAN.EXE
C:\PKTDRV\RELEASE.EXE
C:\PKTDRV\<your packet driver> -u 0x60
If you can't use interrupt 0x60 change this .BAT and Trumpet Winsock Vector number.
Every time you want Internet access in Windows run WINNET instead of WIN.
Considerations/limitations:
-Windows starts wit Program Manager minimized. I don't know if it's possible to change this.
-If you do not close Trumpet Winsock before closing Windows, the packet driver will not be able to unload itself. Again, I don't know if it's possible to change this.