Common issues running
Netscape Navigator in
Windows 3.x

Regkey value failure or an error involving the word reg:

The system registry has a corrupted entry. Open File Manager, rename reg.dat in c:\windows to reg.old. Restart Windows and re-install Netscape.

Unable to write to file...:

Netscape was unable to alter the system.ini or win.ini. Open File Manager, highlight system.ini in windows directory. Choose File, then Properties. Make sure the file is set to archive and not read-only or hidden. Do the same for win.ini in the same directory. Re-install.

Unable to create directory. Get write permission first...:

This happens when trying to install Netscape on a machine with a write-protected hard drive. Test it by opening File Manager, and select Create new directory and call it foo. If an "access denied" error occurs, exit Windows, and type mkdir foo at the prompt. If the same error occurs, the drive is write protected.

Double clicking on Erols 2.01d Dialer doesn't open the dialer:

The dialer association is incorrect. From Program Manager, open the Netscape group, highlight Erol's 2.01d Dialer. choose File from Program Manager, then choose Properties. Erase the current Command Line and type the following path: c:\netscape\dialer\dialer.exe isp.sr (the input will scroll off the box, as shown below). Choose OK. Exit and re-enter Windows for this to take effect.

Shared file in use, stops installing at about 27%...:

Microsoft Office is running in the background. Look for a small menu bar at the top of the screen, click it and choose Exit or close. It is also a good idea to close out any other non-essential programs running in the background, then re-install Netscape.

Stops loading at some point during installation...:

This happened to a customer whose hard drive was full. Open File Manager, make sure at least 20 megabytes are free.
Check for bad diskettes. Place diskette #1 in drive a:, exit Windows, and type scandisk a: at the prompt. Do a surface scan on the diskette. If no errors are reported, repeat for diskette #2, and #3. Do not let Scandisk fix the errors.

Netscape group was never created...:

Windows has reached the maximum number of groups in Program Manager (40). Eliminate some groups, exit/re-enter Windows, then re-install Netscape. Sometimes this will occur, even if maximum number is not reached. From Program Manager, choose File, then Run. Type: notepad c:\windows\progman.ini. Separate the entries until each entry is on a seperate line. Save the file, then exit/re-enter Windows.

"Directory was created, but is empty...":

Group is completely empty, or no Netscape and Dialer icons are created after running Setup Wizard. Create icons, one at a time. Open the Netscape group, choose File, then choose New from Program Manager. Choose OK for new Program Item. Type the following in the Command Line (one path per icon):

(Setup Wizard) c:\netscape\dialer\signup.exe (choose OK)
(Netscape) c:\netscape\netscape.exe (choose OK)
(Handbook) c:\netscape\handbook\index.htm (choose OK)
(Dialer) c:\netscape\dialer\dialer.exe isp.sr (choose OK)
Exit/re-enter Windows for association to take effect.

System freezes randomly while running Netscape..." or GPF in module xx.vxd, or xx.vdd, xx.vflatd, or a module including s3.drv, etc..." or "Web pages scroll funny, or graphics appear garbled, etc...":

A complete freeze of the screen sometimes indicates a memory address conflict with a video driver. Switch to 16 color default windows driver. Open Main, then open Windows Setup. Choose Options, then choose Change System Settings. Change driver to VGA. Do not select VGA(Version 3.0), or Super VGA. Re-start Windows, and try to duplicate the problem. Graphics will be 16 colors, but if this solves the problem, update the video drivers. A good site for driver updates is http://www.drivershq.com (includes drivers for Compaq, Packard Bell, etc.)

General Protection Fault in module...":

Frequent GPF's usually mean either a device driver/program conflict, or a memory address conflict. The trick here is to run Windows and Netscape in as clean of an environment as possible, while using process of elimination to single out the conflict.
Press on the keyboard (or double-left click on the wallpaper) to bring up the task window. At best, only Program Manager should be listed. End-task for all non-essential apps. Test if problem is solved.
From Program Manager, choose File, then Run. Type: sysedit in the command line, then . Bring foward the autoexec.bat file, and see if c:\windows(or dos)\smartdrv.exe is present. Now bring foward config.sys and add/modify the following settings:

FILES=99 BUFFERS=40,0 (or 10,0 if smartdrv.exe is present in autoexec.bat). STACKS=9,256 SHELL=C:\DOS\COMMAND.COM C:\DOS\ /E:/2048 /P

Save the file, then close sysedit. Make sure (through File Manager) that all temp, or tmp directories are free of files. Reboot computer.
Change to a permanent swap file. Open Main, then Control Panel. Choose 386 Enhanced, then choose Virtual Memory. If Virtual Memory reads Temporary, select Change, and accept the settings for Permanent Swap, then . You will have to exit and re-enter Windows. Test if problem is solved.

Sometimes deinstalling/reinstalling Netscape solves the problem, especially after the above changes are made. Take everything out of Start Up group, turn off screensavers, and reboot before reinstalling.
Re-install Windows 3.1. (a:\setup). I used to do this on a regular basis with 3.1/3.11. The diskettes will detect an existing version of Windows on the c drive and will assume you are upgrading, or reinstalling. The existing Windows structure will not be affected. Remember to point Setup to your existing Windows directory (ie. c:\windows), and do not let Setup replace a newer existing file with an older one from the diskettes.
The DOS extended memory manager (EMM386.exe) will sometimes cause problems. A safe way to temporarily disable this, while creating a clean boot at the same time is to press when the phrase "Starting MS-DOS" appears during the boot process. You will be asked to verify each step of config.sys. Answer yes to these lines:
DOS=HIGH,UMB DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS(or DOS)\HIMEM.SYS SHELL=C:\DOS\COMMAND.COM C:\DOS\ /E:2048 /P FILES=99 BUFFERS=40,0 STACKS=9,256
Answer no to all else. You will then be asked if autoexec.bat should be processed. Answer yes. Answer yes to the following:
SET TEMP=C:\DOS (or any SET line with TEMP or TMP in it).
Answer no to all else. At the c prompt, type cd\windows , then win . Test if problem is solved. This is as clean as you can get with Windows. Extra drivers (CD-ROM, Soundblaster, Smartdrive, EMM386) are not loaded for this session. Neccessary drivers will be in lower memory. If something goes wrong, reboot and both files will be processed in full, no harm done. If this solves the problem, the user should experiment with loading one more driver during each boot-up until GPF’s or system lockups return (process of elimination). Some examples:

If problems arise when yes is selected for the line containing EMM386.exe, and if you are not running DOS 6.22, go to: ftp.microsoft.com/Softlib/MSLFILES/ and download EMM622.EXE. This will update previous versions of EMM386.
If problems occur when the line containing MSCDEX.EXE is processed, and if you have an old version of MSCDEX, download MSCDX223.EXE from the same site as above. This will update MSCDEX to version 2.23. (This loads and enables drive letters for CD-ROM drives).

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