KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q140558: Deleting Files on Samba Servers May Delete Local Files Instead

Article: Q140558
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): Win2000:95
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbfile dun 3rdpartynet msnets win95 kbgraphxlinkcritical kb3rdPartyNetClient
Last Modified: 27-JUL-2001

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

- Microsoft Windows 95 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When you use the Microsoft Client for Microsoft Networks (Vredir.vxd) to connect
to a Samba file server running on a UNIX-based computer and you try to delete
files on the server, you may delete files on your Windows 95-based computer
instead.

CAUSE
=====

This behavior occurs because Samba file servers let you create file names with
characters that are invalid in Windows 95. These invalid characters include the
following characters:

- backslash (\)

- asterisk (*)

- question mark (?)

For example, Samba file servers let you create file names such as "c:\*.*"
(without the quotation marks) or "\\server\share\*.*" (without the quotation
marks). If a UNIX user creates a file called "c:\*.*" and shares it, a Windows
95 user who connects to the server and tries to delete the file with Windows
Explorer or My Computer may delete all the files in the root directory of local
drive C instead.

NOTE: You are not affected by this problem if any of the following conditions are
true:

- You are not connected to a local area network.

- You do not use a dial-up application (such as Dial-Up Networking) to dial
  into a local area network.

- You are connected to a local area network, but you do not connect to Samba
  file servers running on UNIX-based computers.

- You connect to Samba file servers running on UNIX-based computers but you
  delete only files you created with Windows Explorer or My Computer.

RESOLUTION
==========

Although this is not a problem with Windows 95, Microsoft has released a new
version of the Vredir.vxd file (version 4.00.955) that filters out files that
have file names with invalid characters. When you use the updated version of the
Vredir.vxd file, you cannot see these files and cannot, therefore, try to delete
them.

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

  Download Vredrupd.exe now
  (http://download.microsoft.com/download/win95upg/vredir/1/W95/EN-US/vredrupd.exe)

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click
the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft used the most current virus detection software available on the date of
posting to scan this file for viruses. Once posted, the file is housed on secure
servers that prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.


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

Note that Microsoft has also released this update as part of Microsoft Windows 95
Service Pack 1. For information about Microsoft Windows 95 Service Pack 1,
please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q142794 Availability of Microsoft Windows 95 Service Pack 1

Additional query words: smbclient servicepack1

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbfile dun 3rdpartynet msnets win95 kbgraphxlinkcritical kb3rdPartyNetClient 
Technology        : kbWin95search kbZNotKeyword3
Version           : Win2000:95

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

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.