Q114425: WFWG 3.11: How to Create a Boot Disk to Load Real-Mode Network
Article: Q114425
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 3.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.11
Operating System(s):
Keyword(s):
Last Modified: 19-SEP-1999
3.11
WINDOWS
kbnetwork kbsetup kbusage
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The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11
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This article discusses using Microsoft Windows for Workgroups with a floppy
disk configuration. Although the information outlined in this article does
allow Windows for Workgroups to access the network from a floppy disk,
Microsoft does not support this procedure. If the steps or procedures
described in this article do not function properly, a standard Windows for
Workgroups configuration should be used to access the network.
SUMMARY
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The steps below describe how to create a bootable floppy disk that loads the
real-mode network, which allows you to connect to a Windows for Workgroups 3.11
server. Once connected to the server, a full or a network setup (SETUP /N) can
be run to a local hard disk drive or to a directory on a server machine. This
setup disk is ideal for running a large number of installations to local hard
disk drives without needing the Windows for Workgroups 3.11 disks for each
installation.
This article assumes the following things:
- The network hardware is already installed.
- All machines are using the same network adapter card with the same hardware
settings. (If different network cards are being used, follow the instructions
in the note in step 3.)
- The workstation has at least 4 megabytes (MB) of RAM if run from a diskless
workstation or 3 MB of RAM if run from a machine with a hard disk drive.
- SETUP /A will be installed to a C:\WINSHARE directory.
- SETUP /N will be installed to a C:\directory.
MORE INFORMATION
================
1. Create a bootable floppy disk.
NOTE: If you are using MS-DOS 6.x and you are not using DoubleSpace, you can
delete the DBLSPACE.BIN file from the floppy disk to create more disk space.
2. Run an administrative installation (SETUP /A) of Windows for Workgroups 3.11
to a C:\WINSHARE directory. This machine will be referred to as the server
machine.
3. From the C:\WINSHARE directory, run a shared network installation (SETUP /N)
to the server's hard disk drive (for example C:\KBNETWORK). Use the Custom
Setup option to perform the following steps:
a. Clear the Set Up Printers and "Set Up Applications Already on Hard
Disk(s)" check boxes.
b. Select None for the Swapfile setting.
NOTE: To create a second floppy disk for a different type of network adapter
card, simply repeat step 3 but choose a different directory name when you run
SETUP /N. Ensure that the appropriate network adapter card and its settings
are detected during Setup.
4. Delete the following files from the C:\directory to free additional disk
space for the floppy disk:
*.CLN
*.WIN
BOOTLOG.TXT
EMM386.EXE
MOUSE.INI
MSCDEX.EXE
NCDINFO.INI
SPART.PAR
5. Copy the contents of the C:\directory to the root of the floppy disk you
formatted in step 1.
6. Create an AUTOEXEC.BAT file and a CONFIG.SYS file on the floppy disk with at
least the following entries:
CONFIG.SYS
==========
Files=30
Buffers=20
Lastdrive=z
Device=A:\HIMEM.SYS
Device=A:\IFSHLP.SYS
Device=A:\RAMDRIVE.SYS 1024 512 512 /E
<Third-party disk partitioner>
<Third-party disk-compression driver>
<Other necessary third-party driver>
NOTE: If the workstation has a hard disk drive, the Device=A:\RAMDRIVE.SYS is
not necessary and can be removed from the CONFIG.SYS file.
AUTOEXEC.BAT
============
A:\SMARTDRV A+
Path=a:\;w:
A:\NET LOGON UserName Password
A:\NET USE W: <\\SERVER>\<ShareName> /p:No
Set Temp=C:\
NOTE: <\\SERVER> is the name of the machine that contains the Setup /A
(C:\WINSHARE) copy of Windows for Workgroups. <\\ShareName> is the name
given to the C:\WINSHARE directory when it is shared. (See step 9 for more
information.)
7. Edit the SYSTEM.INI file on the floppy disk and set the DEVDIR entry in the
[Network Drivers] section to equal A:\.
8. Edit the SYSTEM.INI file in the C:\directory and delete the AutoStart=FULL
line from the [Network] section.
9. Reboot the server machine and run Windows from the hard disk drive. Share the
C:\WINSHARE directory from File Manager.
10. Boot a workstation with the floppy disk you created.
NOTE: The first time you use this floppy disk, you must reenter the password
you entered in the logon line in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
11. At the A:\ prompt, change to the W: drive and install Windows for Workgroups
to this workstation's hard disk drive, or just run Windows from the floppy
disk by typing "win" (without the quotation marks).
NOTE: If you need help using the network commands at the MS-DOS command prompt,
you type "net /?" (without the quotation marks) or "net use /?" (without the
quotation marks) to access online help and syntax for most network commands.
Additional query words: 3.11 boot system disk diskless workstation
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Keywords :
Technology : kbAudDeveloper kbWFWSearch kbWFW311
Version : WINDOWS:3.11
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