Internet connection to Windows 95 guest on a Windows 10 computer

[mainze]

Hi, I have installed a Windows 95 guest but I have many troubles to reach the internet with it.  I tried many instructions in the internet but not any of them worked. Please tell me in detail how the vmware 17 software has to be set (virtual network editor and the settings of the network adapter and what I have to do within Windows 95. Do I have to arrange an internet by call connection ? I prefer a connection by LAN. It would be fine if in the knowledge base there are full instructions for such things. 

Please answer in detail. 

Regards,  mainze

[Technogeezer]

<soap box>

Windows 85 is woefully obsolete and is no longer supported as a guest for any current VMware product. I doubt VMware will publish any knowledge base articles for current versions of VMware Workstation telling you how to install it. Your best bet is to ask other users here or look at the Internet articles. 

Also, attaching Windows 95 to the internet is a malware attack waiting to happen. 

</soap box>

Ok, that being said:

What version of Workstation and edition (Pro or Player)?

Did you set virtual machine hardware compatibility to "5.x" when you created the virtual machine?

When you say "I have troubles to reach the Internet with it" what exactly is happening?

I assume you followed instructions such as found here https://www.sysnettechsolutions.com/en/install-windows-95-vmware/ to install Windows 95.

You might also want to post a copy of the .vmx file for the virtual machine so we can see how you've set up the virtual machine.

[Technogeezer]

I just set up Win 95 and I've got networking.

There should be nothing you need to do with the Virtual Network Editor. 

Make sure your VM is set up for compatibility with Workstation 5.x. You can verify this in the .vmx file. The config.version entry should be "8", and the virtualHW.version should be "4"..

In the Windows 95 VM, you should see an AMD PCnet network adapter if you've done everything correct. The information on adding the TCP/IP protocol contained in the article I posted earlier worked fine for me.

Just beware that Internet Explorer in all likelihood will NOT be able to connect to many web sites. Windows 95 doesn't support the more secure ciphers that these web sites are expecting. Improved security on the Internet means that Windows 95 has been left behind, unfortunately.

*Edit* - corrected the virtual hardware version that should be found in the .vmx file when choosing Workstation 5.x compatibility

[mainze]

Hi Technogeezer, 

thanks for your answer and your willingness to help me. Firstly, I don't intend to work with Windows 95 seriously. It was my second operating system (after Windows 3.1) and my son is interested in it, even some old games which operate with this system. I answer to both of your emails. 

I attach the vmx-file for your check and some screen pictures. Maybe the error is no access to a DHCP-Server because sometimes there was such an error notice. But I don't know how to correct. 

I used this site you indicated but also other ones. Many sites recommend to introduce a new protocol with Microsoft as Manufacturer and TCP/IP as a Protocoll. I have not enough knowledge with network connections. 

I have also established an internet by call connection which was common in those days. I prefer a LAN connection but is it possible to make (simulate) such a connection even nowadays ?

Within network  connections I have also an Ethernet virtualbox Host only Ethernet Adapter. Because sometimes I tried to check if it is possible to manage a problem in Virtualbox and then transform to VMWARE I tried also this. I hope there is no disturbance.  I hope there is also no disturbance between the internet connection of different vmware machines (Windows 95, Windows 98, ...). I have tried some vmware machines.

I attach the vmx-file (as a text file, otherwise it is not allowed) and a file with some screenshots. You can see also the Internet Explorer with the error notice. If you need more information. 

Regards, mainze

[Technogeezer]

Thanks for the information.

Here's what I see.

You have disabled all of the standard VMware virtual networks. Why?

And that's part of your problem because:

You have no VMware virtual networks that have connectivity to the outside world with the exception of the vmnet2 bridged network (which doesn't get shown in the virtual network editor) which I do NOT recommend for your Windows 95 VM. Your existing vmnet0 is a true host-only network Unlike vmnet1, your custom network does not have connectivity to the host nor any way to route traffic to the Internet. It also does not have DHCP enabled, so you would have to manually configure the IP address within your VM - which is totally unnecessary .

All of these add up to why Internet Explorer is complaining - it can't resolve hostnames or connect to systems on the Internet because it has no way to get there.

This is what your virtual networking should look like. Note the NAT network vmnet8 - that's the one that you want to use in your virtual machine's configuration. It isolates your Windows 95 from the Internet, but still allows outbound communication. 

You need to introduce the TCP/IP protocol in the Windows 95 VM in order to connect to the Internet. The instructions in the link I posted are pretty easy to follow and you do not have to do any further configuration.

Trying to do dial-up or wi-fi (especially in Windows 95) is an exercise in futility. Stick with configuring a virtual wired networking and leave it at that. 

[mainze]

Thanks for your detailed answer.

I have not erased Internet connection Internet did not work and I worked further on by trial and error. 

Tell me please what are the standardizised internet connections of vmware.

You write of a link where you have explained how to connect Windows 95 to the internet. Please send me the link.

Regards, mainze

[Technogeezer]

---

@mainze wrote:

Thanks for your detailed answer.

I have not erased Internet connection Internet did not work and I worked further on by trial and error. 

Tell me please what are the standardizised internet connections of vmware.

You write of a link where you have explained how to connect Windows 95 to the internet. Please send me the link.

Regards, mainze

I do apologize since I have my VMnet numbers somewhat mixed up. VMNet0 is the default bridged network (it isn't displayed until you go to modify the virtual networking settings), VMnet1 is the default host-only network, and VMnet8 is the default NAT networking. Something seemed to have removed VMnet8, and VMnet1 has been modified from its default - as it is currently configured it does not connect the host virtual adapter to the NAT network, nor is it configured for DHCP. 

To restore the default virtual network settings, edit the virtual network settings with the Virtual Network Editor, and click the Restore Defaults button. Your virtual networking configurations will be reset to the defaults. 

Then, configure your Windows 95 virtual machine to use NAT networking. A host-only network has no Internet connectivity.

Use the link I provided earlier https://www.sysnettechsolutions.com/en/install-windows-95-vmware/  and use the instructions under "How to install TCP/IP Protocol for Internet and Network Connection"

You might want to read up a bit on Workstation virtual networking by reviewing the "Using VMware Workstation Pro" documentation found at https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Workstation-Pro/17/workstation-pro-17-user-guide.pdf 

[Alfista_PS]

Hi,

I don't know you have check the networking, but this should work but also I written above its obsolete so you will not have any access from WEB browser or email client to the internet, while all is too old and doesn't accept the latest security requirements.

Change it to WIN 7. Its better.

[mainze]

Hello Technogeezer,

thanks for your support. I did so as you said and which is written in your internet link. I set the network configuration back to the standard in the Virtual Network Editor. I use VM8 as a NAT connection. But in the end the Internet Explorer does not find the google site. When I make your ping test then I think to reach Google is successful.  I tried also other sites without success. 

I send you screenshot from the new attempt in the attachment.

Please check and advise me. 

Regards, mainze

[mainze]

Hello, that is also for computer nostalgy of my son who was not on earth when Windows 95 happened. 

Regards, mainze

[Alfista_PS]

Hi,

I wrote you that you will not be able to reach the sites. Its while your system is to old - obsolete and doesn't know and support the latest security protocols and certificates. Therefor you will never be able to access this sites.

You can only directly access sites which doesn't use the latest security protocols but they are less.

You also are unable to install the latest Web browsers (doesn't support your obsolete OS) to use the latest security protocols.

You can use this system to run some old applications which you need and aren't under new OS's but nothing more.

I know about what I talk while I have mode computers on which I can't put newer OS's and therefor they started to be unusable until you don't need their old OS to run old application that aren't more support on new OS's.

[Alfista_PS]

Ok understand . Then he can play with it but nothing more ... you can install him there the first MS Office to work with it .