KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q84085: Novell’s Task Mode Switch Causes Problems in 386 Enhanced Mode

Article: Q84085
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.1,3.11
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 26-OCT-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows versions 3.1, 3.11 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

When you run the Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.1 in 386 enhanced
mode on a Novell network, you may experience "pathing" or incorrect startup
directories if the SHELL.CFG file's Task Mode= setting is set to 0 (zero) or 1.

To correct this problem, edit the SHELL.CFG file with a standard text editor, and
change the value for Task Mode= as follows:

  Task Mode=2

MORE INFORMATION
================

The Novell NetWare workstation SHELL.CFG file supports a switch that can be used
to effectively disable Windows support features in the NetWare shell. The chart
below shows the three valid values and their purposes.

Value     Purpose
-----     -------

 0       This setting disables all support for multitasking
         environments in order to save a conventional memory.

 1       This setting is for use with third-party multitasking
         environments other than Microsoft Windows.

 2       This setting is for use with Microsoft Windows.

The default value is 2; therefore, if this line is not present in the user's
SHELL.CFG file, Windows will run correctly.

If you set this value to 0 when you did not have Windows 3.1 installed but are
now running Windows 3.1 in the 386 enhanced mode, you will experience problems
in MS-DOS boxes. The most common problem is that separate MS-DOS boxes will
share the same network connections, including working directories. (This is
similar to having the NWShareHandles option enabled in Control Panel or not
having VNETWARE.386 loaded in SYSTEM.INI.)

Novell NetWare is manufactured by Novell, vendor independent of Microsoft; we
make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or
reliability.

Additional query words: 3.10 3.11 novell

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin310 kbWin311
Version           : WINDOWS:3.1,3.11

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.