Downloading Netscape 4.7 with Command Line FTP

This document will describe how to download Netscape Navigator Version 4.7 using the built-in FTP command in Windows 95/98 or Windows NT. Your Internet connection MUST be up and online BEFORE using these instructions. Please note that if you already have a web browser (such as Internet Explorer) on your machine, it is MUCH easier to download Netscape from their web site at http://home.netscape.com/. These instructions exist primarily for early versions of Windows 95 which did not have an included web browser.

To start, press the [START] button, and select "Run...". A window will appear with a place to enter a program to open. Type:

ftp ftp.netscape.com

and press "OK". A new window with a black background and white text will appear. This is the Command Line FTP window, in which you will type the commands to download Netscape. Below is a log of an ftp connection... yours will be similar; the commands you will need to enter are in bold, and comments (which will not appear on your screen) are in italics.

Connected to ftp.netscape.com.
220 ftp FTP server (Version wu-2.4(31) Mon May 20 20:57:13 PDT 1996) ready.
Name (ftp.netscape.com:(none)): ftp
331 Guest login ok, send your complete e-mail address as password.
Password: username@mbay.net  (This will be invisible)
230-Welcome to the Netscape Communications Corporation FTP server.
230-
230-If you have any odd problems, try logging in with a minus sign (-)
230-as the first character of your password.  This will turn off a feature
230-that may be confusing your ftp client program.
230-
230-Please send any questions, comments, or problem reports about
230-this server to ftp@netscape.com.
230-
230-***********  October 13, 1995  **********
230-Private ftp is now only on ftp1.netscape.com.  Anonymous is supported on
230-ftp 2 through 8.  If you are accessing a named account please use ftp1.
230-
230 Guest login ok, access restrictions apply.
ftp> cd /pub/communicator/english/4.7/windows/windows95_or_nt/complete_install
250-This software is subject to a license agreement.  Be sure to read and
250-agree to the license BEFORE you use the software.
There may be more text here detailing Netscape's export or license restrictions.
250 CWD command successful.
ftp> bin
200 Type set to I.
ftp> hash
Hash mark printing on (1024 bytes/hash mark).
ftp> get cc32e47.exe
200 PORT command successful.
150 Opening BINARY mode data connection for cc32e47.exe (18968732 bytes).
##############################################################################
##############################################################################
   You will see many, many lines of this as the file is transfered.  On a
   28.8kbps modem, it will take an hour or so.
##############################################################################
##############################################################################
226 Transfer complete.
18968732 bytes received in 60.6 secs (95 Kbytes/sec)
   (The last two numbers will be different on your screen)
ftp> quit
221 Goodbye.
The window will close. You should see a new icon on your desktop, with a name of "cc32e47.exe". This is the compressed Netscape Navigator package. Just double-click on it, and it will install Netscape on your machine. When the installation has completed, you can put this file in the Recycle Bin.

If you have any other questions, please send email to "support@mbay.net", or call our technical support line at 831-642-6100 during normal business hours.


Version 1.4, Last Modified 15-Oct-1999
Stefan Hudson, Monterey Bay Internet