Q: How can I start using the service? #
A: You can use a modern or old computer and any web browser that supports standard proxy servers. For more information, check out our Getting Started Guide.
Q: What do I need to use the service? #
A: The service can be used with any computer with access to the Internet. Technically speaking, you only need an operating system with TCP/IP networking, and a web browser with HTTP support. The service can be used with a wide variety of computers starting with computers made in the late 80’s, to modern day, from DOS to Windows 11. One goal of Protoweb has always been to reopen the World Wide Web to vintage computing hobbyists, but our focus has been to keep Protoweb accessible – this means users with modern computers are fully supported. To see which web browsers can be used with our service, see our comprehensive browser compatibility list. For recommended browsers for your current hardware/operating system combination, see our Getting Started Guide. For further information on how to make old web browsers work on modern computers, please read the document Running Classic Web Browsers on Modern Hardware for instructions how to accomplish this.
Q: I want to use a classic web browser on a modern computer. Is that possible? #
A: You can run several classic web browsers on recent hardware. Please see our Getting Started guide (under Step #2) for more information on how to do this. The page also includes downloads to get you started.
Q: Where can I find downloads to old web browsers? #
A: Check out http://home.mcom.com/archives/ for a full archive of Netscape web browsers. If you are connected to Protoweb already, you can navigate to www.inode.com. At the bottom of the page you will find download links to popular web browsers!
Q: Can I obtain copies of your server software and/or file archives/websites? #
A: While we would like to be able to release the proxy/web server software as open-source, this is not likely to happen until certain internal criteria are met. For the same reasons distributing the file archives is not likely to happen as they tie in with the server software and contain source code that rely on other components of the server software and the system as a whole. This being said, anyone is free to use software mirroring tools to obtain copies of websites from Protoweb. We also have published as open source the software script we use to mirror sites from Archive.org and it can be obtained here. In addition, Protoweb contributors who archive and restore web sites on the service by default also have access to all files on the sites they are working on.
Q: FTP sites do not work. I am getting a host not found, or other issue #
A: Make sure your HTTP and FTP proxy are both set! If you don’t have the FTP proxy set up, you will not be able to access FTP sites on Protoweb. If you are using Internet Explorer, support for FTP over proxy is buggy, especially when browsing FTP sites. Direct download links should still work. You may want to use another web browser when browsing FTP sites on Protoweb.
Q: Protoweb should run a forum, or add some other feature #
A: Protoweb is an open project! Anyone can contribute to improving it’s services, be it restoring websites or adding new services that could align with our project goals. If you have experience, and are serious and want to help us in any way, please feel free to contact the Administrators on our Discord server (link on the bottom of the page). If we haven’t yet added a feature you would like, it is because we are limited in time, busy at our day jobs, and work as volunteers maintaining the service. If you want it, participate in the project and build it with us!
