There are three things that need to be done to make Windows 95 automatically dial your ISP when you start up Netscape 4 (also called Netscape Communicator).
Firstly, in the Internet Control Panel you need to click on the Connection tab and check the Connect to the Internet as needed checkbox, then specify which dial-up connection you want to use.
Windows 95 will not dial the Internet until Netscape -- or whichever Internet program you might be using -- accesses an Internet address.
Finally, Netscape 4 introduces Offline Mode. From Netscape's Edit menu select Preferences. Clicking on the Offline option, you are given three choices: Online Work Mode, which will automatically launch the Internet connection if you have set up Windows 95 to do so as described earlier; Offline Work Mode which will refrain from doing so; and Ask Me which will give you a dialogue box on startup asking which mode you would like. If you select Offline Mode you can always go online by choosing Go Online from the File menu.
- Roy Chambers