KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q89086: Using the DNA Network with Windows

Article: Q89086
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 28-SEP-1999

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

- Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

The following information applies to Microsoft Windows operating system running
with a DNA network. DNA is an unsupported network. This article includes the
following topics:

- Setup for Microsoft or 100-percent compatible system

- Network board software needs to be revision H for Windows 3.1

- Installing on DNA's propriety boards

- Persistent network connections

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

Setup for Microsoft or 100-Percent Compatible
---------------------------------------------

Windows must be installed as "Microsoft or 100% Compatible" when prompted for the
network configuration.

Network Board Software Needs to be Revision H for Windows 3.1
-------------------------------------------------------------

Running Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.1 under the DNA Networks
software may produce some problems unless you have updated to version 3.38 (Rev.
H) of DNA Networks proprietary boards or to version 5.02 (Rev. H) of NetBIOS
boards.

The following problems occur without the update:

- When running Setup /N from a workstation without a hard drive, the "Install
  Applications" section of Setup can only modify the path, not the drive.

- After entering either the graphical portion of Setup or when running Windows,
  floppy drive A no longer is accessible and may cause of the following error
  messages:

   - Current drive is no longer valid.

   - Cannot load COMMAND.COM.

   - Insert disk with batch file.

- Network directories may not display in the following applications' dialog
  boxes:

   - AMI PRO version 2.0

   - Versions 2.1d and 3.0 of Microsoft Excel for Windows

   - Version 2.0 of Microsoft Word for Windows

   - WordPerfect version 5.1

Installing on DNA's Proprietary Boards
--------------------------------------

If you are installing on DNA's proprietary boards (as opposed to NetBIOS boards
such as EtherNet), the following information applies:

1. If you are using DNA's MegaNet board, Windows must be told not to use the
  same area in memory that the board uses for the MegaNet Window (a 16K page).
  To find out which page is being used, start the machine without loading any
  memory managers and read the DNA device driver banner. If it is says MegaNet,
  then note which page it says it is using. Exclude this page from Windows by
  adding an EMMEXCLUDE= entry to the [386Enh] section of the SYSTEM.INI file.
  For example, if the DNA banner reads

  MegaNet, RAM Window=C000

  then add EMMEXCLUDE=C000-C3FF to the SYSTEM.INI file.

  If the DNA banner reads

  MegaNet, RAM Window=C800

  then add EMMEXCLUDE=C800-CBFF to the SYSTEM.INI file.

2. Each machine that is running Windows should be using the DNA program
  WINFIX.COM. WINFIX.COM should be installed in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file and can
  be found on DNA distribution disk 1 in the FIXES subdirectory. This will keep
  DNA from displaying the error

  Unsupported NetBIOS call

  when Windows is executed. It will also allow Windows to properly detect
  network printers and drives that have been redirected over the DNA network.

3. DNA networks do not support Windows running in 386 enhanced mode as the
  master (server) if a DNA MegaNet board is installed running in MegaNet mode
  (the board is using a RAM window). Windows can still be run in 386 enhanced
  mode at workstations.

4. Print Manager functions are not supported. The DNA network utilities
  PRINT.SYS and SPOOL.SYS (together with the SPOOL command) provide the same
  functionality.

Persistent Network Connections
------------------------------

If you are using DNA network software on a machine without a hard disk, and you
are using persistent network connections under Windows 3.1, you may not be able
to use drive A after Windows is started. You will need to restart the computer
to gain access to drive A.

DNA has confirmed this to be a problem with its network driver. An updated driver
can be obtained from DNA.

To disable persistent network connections:

1. Run Control Panel.

2. Choose the Network icon.

3. Clear the Restore All Connections At Startup check box.

4. Choose the OK button to save your changes.

The products included here (other than Excel, Windows, and Word) are manufactured
vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise,
regarding these products' performance or reliability.

Additional query words: 3.00 3.00a 3.10 3.11 winfest 3rdparty

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin300 kbWin300a kbWin310 kbWin311
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a,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.