My Browser Builds (Part 4)

[Mathwiz]

23 hours ago, soggi said:

There is no other way to satisfy both sides, I think.

Nonsense. If it can be implemented, @RainyShadow's suggestion would work fine. But I've run out of patience trying to explain it, so this will be my last word on the topic of separate NM 27/28 browser profiles. It is what it is.

On 1/1/2023 at 10:38 AM, VistaLover said:

should be easy to discover the hostname/IP of the Activation Server it tries to connect to via a MITM proxy; I suppose software like ProxHTTPsProxy could be used for that task...

... except as I said, the whole issue is that OE Classic doesn't honor system proxy settings ... If I could get it to use ProxHTTPSProxy (which is already up and running on my XP system) I wouldn't need to discover the activation server's name or IP in the first place ... it would just connect to its server and activate!

On 1/1/2023 at 10:38 AM, VistaLover said:

You probably want an "off-line" activation method for your work copy

While that would work, a patch to honor system proxy settings, so that OE Classic could contact its activation server and activate as intended, would be far better:

On 1/1/2023 at 10:38 AM, VistaLover said:

(e-mail client) that has to connect to the web for its intended (premium) functions...

I hadn't used it enough to tell, but besides activation, the only time it needs to connect to the "web" (i.e., HTTP/S) would be to download objects linked in emails (fonts, images, CSS, etc.); so those functions are presumably also crippled without proxy support. Note that both Microsoft's OE and Windows Live Mail do honor system proxy settings and do use ProxHTTPSProxy already, so I would have expected the same of OE Classic.

I fear I've wasted far too much of y'all's time on this. My original request was to see if any of @roytam1's email clients would work, or could be made to; it now appears the answer is no (at least, not without considerable work), but @soggi (IIRC) mentioned OE Classic, and off we went. I do think OE Classic is a good solution for someone wanting an upgrade path from MSOE for personal email, who doesn't need to use a proxy to access the Internet, and who's willing either to pay the $37 or to put up with the many restrictions of the free version. It just doesn't seem to be the right solution for my particular situation.

[roytam1]

10 minutes ago, Mathwiz said:

... except as I said, the whole issue is that OE Classic doesn't honor system proxy settings ... If I could get it to use ProxHTTPSProxy (which is already up and running on my XP system) I wouldn't need to discover the activation server's name or IP in the first place ... it would just connect to its server and activate!

in old days there is proxycap which pass all its wrapped process through a SOCKS server you desired.

[legacyfan]

6 hours ago, VistaLover said:

OT: Today, it has come to my attention (quite by accident, TBH  ) that an Eclipse forums member has appropriated my MSFN forums "username" (VistaLover): 

https://board.eclipse.cx/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=239

Until one specifically visits that member's profile page, it isn't clear/evident (by simply reading posts of him[?]) that "I" have no affiliation whatsoever with that member there; of course, I don't claim any copyright over my MSFN username , just thought I'd make it crystal clear to those MSFN members happening to have an account at Eclipse (some sharing the exact screen name between the two) that I am not that member ...

Apologies for the OT, hope you all have a great New Year...

I fixed it now @VistaLover sorry for using your username (I put a notice for now until I can get my username changed)

[K4sum1]

7 hours ago, XPerceniol said:

I joined over there when this forum was down and only made 1 posting and woke up the next day and can not log in. I'm hidden under the spoiler but no account. Lol......

https://board.eclipse.cx/viewtopic.php?p=2226&hilit=xperceniol&sid=4ab29fb0a4500812723ee2a529c0e8c8#p2226

I'd have to check with @K4sum1 and see

I wanted to contact you about it, but I just had nothing to go on, and no MSFN account at the time, so I just gave up. You can always make another account (please).

[AstroSkipper]

8 hours ago, Mathwiz said:

... except as I said, the whole issue is that OE Classic doesn't honor system proxy settings ... If I could get it to use ProxHTTPSProxy (which is already up and running on my XP system) I wouldn't need to discover the activation server's name or IP in the first place ... it would just connect to its server and activate!

@Mathwiz! In which way did you set ProxHTTPSProxy as a systemwide proxy in Windows XP? 

Edited January 3, 2023 by AstroSkipper

[Mathwiz]

On 1/1/2023 at 3:12 AM, roytam1 said:

can't reproduce here

Apologies; you likely need a Proofhub account to see the problem.

Last working version of St 55 was 2022.12.16:

Version 2022.12.24 shows a blank task screen:

It's likely you need more debugging info; let me know.

Edited January 3, 2023 by Mathwiz

[Mathwiz]

2 hours ago, AstroSkipper said:

In which way did you set ProxHTTPSProxy as a systemwide proxy in Windows XP?

Not "system-wide;" just set up in the system proxy settings (Control Panel / Internet Options / Connections tab / LAN Settings button):

... then in "Advanced:"

This is how you set up a proxy, not only for IE8 (which I almost never use) but also for MSOE, Windows Live Mail, Chromium-derived browsers (360EE), Office (Excel, Word), etc. Basically anything that doesn't have its own proxy settings page like Firefox-derived browsers do.

[Mathwiz]

10 hours ago, roytam1 said:

in old days there is proxycap which pass all its wrapped process through a SOCKS server you desired.

Thanks; Googled it and it still exists! Only concerns I have:

1. Can't tell if WinXP is supported
2. It's also payware ($30). Not only is this starting to get expensive, but won't I run into the same problem trying to activate it as with OE Express? It seems I need ProxyCap to get ProxyCap

Never mind. Says Win XP is supported. It has a 30-day free trial, so if it works, I could use it to activate OE Express, then uninstall.

[AstroSkipper]

56 minutes ago, Mathwiz said:

Not "system-wide;" just set up in the system proxy settings (Control Panel / Internet Options / Connections tab / LAN Settings button):

... then in "Advanced:"

This is how you set up a proxy, not only for IE8 (which I almost never use) but also for MSOE, Windows Live Mail, Chromium-derived browsers (360EE), Office (Excel, Word), etc. Basically anything that doesn't have its own proxy settings page like Firefox-derived browsers do.

As far as I can see, you can try to set ProxHTTPSProxy systemwide by the command proxycfg -u. If it doesn't help, you can revert this by the command proxycfg -d. And did you try in the IE Proxy Settings only the setting of HTTP in combination with the option "Use the same proxy server for all protocols"? Anyway! Software which can't be activated easily is actually not worth its money. Maybe, you should try to get a refund. BTW, @roytam1's suggestion to use ProxyCap sounds promising in any case, though.

[VistaLover]

13 hours ago, Mathwiz said:

the whole issue is that OE Classic doesn't honor system proxy settings ...
If I could get it to use ProxHTTPSProxy (which is already up and running on my XP system)
I wouldn't need to discover the activation server's name or IP in the first place

... Well, OE Classic has to access the web to connect to its Activation Server ; not respecting system proxy settings aside, the only way it can reach the internet is via your Network Adapter (Ethernet/Wireless/TAP (aka OpenVPN); I believe packet inspectors/sniffers that bind directly to the Network Adapter are available ... So, by inspecting web requests made by OE Classic, it is possible, at least in theory, to identify the Activation Server's "details"; however, even when you get such "details", you still have to devise a way for the app to connect to it...

2 hours ago, Mathwiz said:

This is how you set up a proxy, not only for IE8... Basically, anything that doesn't have its own proxy settings page like Firefox-derived browsers do.

Have you also tried the cmdline way (needs Administrator privileges) ?

netsh winhttp import proxy source=ie

netsh winhttp show proxy

(to revert: 

netsh winhttp reset proxy )

Edit: Sadly, above syntax needs Vista+ (thanks @AstroSkipper )

2 hours ago, Mathwiz said:

It has a 30-day free trial

FreeCap is a similar, FREE, software... Sadly, development has been discontinued at version 3.18 (original author's site has been taken down since) ; review below: 

https://www.raymond.cc/blog/route-all-internet-software-and-game-connection-through-open-proxy-servers/

Edited January 3, 2023 by VistaLover

[AstroSkipper]

6 minutes ago, VistaLover said:

Have you also tried the cmdline way (needs Administrator privileges) ?

netsh winhttp import proxy source=ie

netsh winhttp show proxy

(to revert: 

netsh winhttp reset proxy )

These commands can't be executed in Windows XP where you have to use proxycfg.exe instead. Your commands work only on Vista, 7 and up.

[AstroSkipper]

53 minutes ago, VistaLover said:

FreeCap is a similar, FREE, software... Sadly, development has been discontinued at version 3.18 (original author's site has been taken down since) ; review below: 

https://www.raymond.cc/blog/route-all-internet-software-and-game-connection-through-open-proxy-servers/

And on raymond.cc, there is a further recommendation called WideCap: http://web.archive.org/web/20130228172919/http://widecap.ru/files/widecap_setup.en.1.4.exe This tool is abandoned, too, but although it was originally payware, it was changed to freeware in the past. In my system, I have installed Proxifier for a long time. It's not free of charge but IMHO it's one of the best.

Edited January 3, 2023 by AstroSkipper
Update of content

[VistaLover]

41 minutes ago, AstroSkipper said:

These commands can't be executed in Windows XP

Thanks ; had forgotten ; while "netsh" itself is available under XP, it appears "netsh winhttp" syntax is NOT:

https://www.computerhope.com/netsh.htm#xp

20 minutes ago, AstroSkipper said:

there is a further recommendation called WideCap

It's by the same author; I unearthed a more recent version (1.5 compared to 1.4 you linked) in
https://widecap.software.informer.com/

Edited January 3, 2023 by VistaLover

[Mathwiz]

3 hours ago, AstroSkipper said:

And did you try in the IE Proxy Settings only the setting of HTTP in combination with the option "Use the same proxy server for all protocols"?

HTTP and Secure (HTTPS) are set to use ProxHTTPSProxy on port 8079; see screen shot above.

ProxyCap appears to be a no-go for me: to configure anything, it requires the user to be not merely an Administrator, but a member of the "Administrators group." Groups only exist on domain-joined Windows versions, so although I'm an Administrator, I'm not a member of any group and ProxyCap won't let me configure anything. I'll look at the alternatives mentioned, starting with the proxycfg command.

3 hours ago, VistaLover said:

So, by inspecting web requests made by OE Classic, it is possible, at least in theory, to identify the Activation Server's "details"

Something like Wireshark, I presume? Actually, OE Classic's author already got back to me on that:

Quote

OE Classic needs to connect to its own website (www.oeclassic.com) to fetch the activation license data. That cannot be done over the proxy server. OE Classic doesn't use any system setting for proxy because it doesn't use system to connect in the first place. It creates its own direct connection which is completely independent of the operating system. That is why it is able to utilize TLS 1.3 on older systems like Windows XP which don't support it.

So the activation server is apparently www.oeclassic.com itself. And it sounds like he implemented his own HTTP(S) client, a la Firefox, in order to implement modern security protocols; that's why the system settings used by IE8, etc. don't work. (Of course Chromium still manages to use them, so it should be possible for OE Classic to use them in the same way.)

Edit: Proxycfg didn't do the trick, but FreeCap did. I'm activated and (hopefully) getting my $37 worth.

Edited January 3, 2023 by Mathwiz

[AstroSkipper]

On 1/1/2023 at 6:07 AM, Mathwiz said:

They did send me my license code, but when I tried to activate OE Classic, it tried to connect to the Internet, and failed. I don't know which site it's trying to connect to, but it's evidently blocked by ForcePoint (our company's Internet censorware).

Just an idea! What about establishing a VPN connection to circumvent ForcePoint's censoring? If a VPN connection is established, all @roytam1's browser with their own TLS 1.3 clients (set to No Proxy, of course) use this connection. Maybe, OE Classic, too.  ForcePoint actually shouldn't notice a connection to www.oeclassic.com via VPN.

Edited January 3, 2023 by AstroSkipper
Update of content