SMTP: Err Msg: This Device Does Not Exist on the Network

Last reviewed: October 20, 1997
Article ID: Q136041

3.00 MS-DOS kb3rdparty

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Mail Gateway to SMTP, version 3.0

SYMPTOMS

You may get the following error message when your connection to the postoffice is lost:

   This device does not exist on the network. reading drive M
   Abort, Retry Fail?

CAUSE

Network problems can cause an unstable connection to the postoffice and generate the above error.

RESOLUTION

The gateway will continue to process when you enter A, R, or F (abort, retry, or fail, respectively). Once the drive connection is re-established, the gateway will function again if you select retry.

You can eliminate having to enter A, R, or F by running SMTPGATE.EXE in an instance of COMMAND.COM with the following option:

   c:\dos\command.com /f

The /f option on COMMAND.COM causes an automatic fail on INT 24. In this case, the gateway will be able to continue processing once the connection is re-established without you manually entering a command.

Additional reference words: 3.00 parameter
KBCategory: kb3rdparty
KBSubcategory: MailGWSMTP

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Last reviewed: October 20, 1997
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