ID Number: Q79840
1.x 2.00 2.10
MS-DOS
Summary:
SYMPTOMS
When using the NET USE command to associate a remote block device
to a drive letter, if the drive letter is already being used by a
local block device (such as a RAM disk, a floppy disk, or a hard
disk), the network drive overwrites the local drive. Disconnecting
the network drive causes the local drive to return.
CAUSE
When MS-DOS versions 3.0 and 3.1 were current, some MS-DOS versions
1.x/2.x applications still existed. These applications only
recognize drive A and drive B.
Allowing a NET USE of an existing MS-DOS block device drive letter
allows you to get one of these very old applications to load, run,
and read files off the network by redirecting one or both of drives
A and B to a server.
These applications are the reason the MS-DOS ASSIGN utility was
written.
This feature also allows you to "transform" a machine with a very
small drive C or a machine with only a floppy disk into the
equivalent of a diskless workstation by redirecting drives A, B,
and C.
STATUS
This is a feature of the MS-DOS redirector (both Microsoft Networks
and Microsoft LAN Manager).