KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q126705: Cannot Do WFWG SETUP /N Over Previous Full Windows Install

Article: Q126705
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): 3.1,3.11
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 15-FEB-2002

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

- Microsoft Windows versions 3.1, 3.11 
- Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When you try to start Microsoft Windows version 3.1 or 3.11 or Microsoft Windows
for Workgroups version 3.11, you receive one or more of the following error
messages:

  Cannot find a device file that may be needed to run Windows in 386 enhanced
  mode.

  You may need to run the Setup Program again. <device>
  Press any key to continue.

<device> is any of the following:

- VPD

- VSHARE.386

- IFSMGR.386

- VWC

- VNETSUP.386

- VREDIR.386

- NWLINK.386

- NWNBLINK.386

- NETBEUI.386

If you are trying to start Windows version 3.1 or 3.11, you then receive the
following error message:

  Invalid VxD dynamic link call to device number 0480, service 003
  Your Windows configuration is invalid.
  Run the Windows Setup program again to correct this problem

CAUSE
=====

These error messages can occur for either of the following reasons:

- You set up Windows for Workgroups over an existing full installation of
  Windows 3.1 or 3.11 with a SETUP /N command. When you start Windows for
  Workgroups, WIN.COM looks for a Windows\SYSTEM sub- directory. Because there
  is a Windows\SYSTEM subdirectory left over from the full Windows 3.1 or 3.11
  installation, WIN.COM loads the core files from the Windows 3.1 or 3.11
  Windows\SYSTEM subdirectory instead of from the network share. When the
  SYSTEM.INI file is processed, the device drivers specified in the SYSTEM.INI
  file cannot be located in the Windows\SYSTEM subdirectory, causing the error
  messages to be generated.

- You installed Windows 3.1 or 3.11 over an existing installation of Windows
  for Workgroups. When you install Windows 3.1 or 3.11 over Windows for
  Workgroups, references to Windows for Workgroups device drivers are left in
  the SYSTEM.INI file. These device drivers are not compatible with Windows 3.1
  or 3.11.

RESOLUTION
==========

- If you installed Windows for Workgroups with a SETUP /N command over a full
  existing installation of Windows 3.1 or 3.11, install a complete copy of
  Windows for Workgroups to a local directory.


- If you set up Windows 3.1 or 3.11 over Windows for Workgroups, please see the
  following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q95743 Recovering Windows 3.1 After Installing WFWG

Additional query words: 3.10 3.11

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbWin3xSearch kbWFWSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin310 kbWin311 kbWFW311
Version           : :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.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.