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Windows ME can't access Internet
Posted: 3. May 2022, 00:29
by APKVIRTUALBOX
Hi, on my Oracle VirtualBox I have installed Windows ME but I can't access Internet due of "Cannot view the page" dialog on Internet Explorer. I can't access into my wireless LAN and doesn't recognize network devices! Since in the Guest Additions, they are only available from Windows 2000/XP onwards, is there an ISO drive capable of installing the network card for Windows ME? Thanks to those responsible for answering me!
Re: Windows ME can't access Internet
Posted: 3. May 2022, 01:29
by BillG
I doubt that it is really a network issue. Have you actually tried to ping an Internet address like 8.8.8.8 or 4.2.2.2?
My guess is that the browser in ME in just too old for modern web sites. Even the browser in XP is too old. SeaMonkey 2.49.1 works in XP.
Re: Windows ME can't access Internet
Posted: 3. May 2022, 05:32
by fisheater
BillG wrote:I doubt that it is really a network issue. Have you actually tried to ping an Internet address like 8.8.8.8 or 4.2.2.2?
My guess is that the browser in ME in just too old for modern web sites. Even the browser in XP is too old. SeaMonkey 2.49.1 works in XP.
He mentioned that it doesn't recognize network devices so I don't think it's a browser issue specifically
Re: Windows ME can't access Internet
Posted: 3. May 2022, 07:00
by APKVIRTUALBOX
In many versions of Oracle VirtualBox, Windows ME connects to the Internet, but in my case this is as if it didn't. With the Guest Additions, the problem would already be solved but unfortunately on the latter it is not compatible with Windows ME. So I asked if possible an ISO alternative that would easily install a virtual network card to connect to the Internet on Windows ME...
Re: Windows ME can't access Internet
Posted: 3. May 2022, 08:10
by BillG
Even Windows 98 had drivers for the network card which VirtualBox emulates. You should not need third party drivers.
What do you get if you do an ipconfig command at the DOS prompt? Is the vm networking still set to the default setting of NAT?
Re: Windows ME can't access Internet
Posted: 3. May 2022, 08:20
by APKVIRTUALBOX
I tried all the settings as described by some guides, including NAT, but it didn't work...
Re: Windows ME can't access Internet
Posted: 3. May 2022, 10:31
by mpack
The topic title answers itself, it really doesn't need any further explanation. The Internet has evolved over the last 22 years, and Windows ME has not kept up. In particular it knows nothing about https, which almost all public sites now require.
It is very difficult to get Vista or earlier to use the modern Internet.
APKVIRTUALBOX wrote:In many versions of Oracle VirtualBox, Windows ME connects to the Internet
Nope, it doesn't, if "Internet" means websites. This has nothing to do with the virtual hardware, it has to do with the age of the Internet browser used.
Re: Windows ME can't access Internet
Posted: 3. May 2022, 10:38
by APKVIRTUALBOX
And then I wonder why then on operating systems from Win95 to WinME, Win98 included, they are able to connect to the Internet (always from VirtualBox)...
Re: Windows ME can't access Internet
Posted: 3. May 2022, 10:39
by mpack
APKVIRTUALBOX wrote:And then I wonder why then on operating systems from Win95 to WinME, Win98 included, they are able to connect to the Internet
Show me proof of that.
Re: Windows ME can't access Internet
Posted: 3. May 2022, 11:45
by BillG
I would just try again. I just installed a fresh copy of WinME on a Windows 10 host running VirtualBox 6.1.34 with the default network settings. Everything worked exactly as expected.

- ipconfig.PNG (11.91 KiB) Viewed 2131 times

- Network.PNG (17.71 KiB) Viewed 2131 times
Bob and Fred are physical machines on the LAN. Win7onFred is a vm (on Fred, naturally). Readyshare is a network drive on my LAN router.