PC-NFS Error: NFS903F Missing or Invalid PROTOCOL.INI Data

• Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11

SYMPTOMS

When using Sun Select's PC-NFS with Windows for Workgroups 3.11, you may receive the following error message upon executing the PC-NFS files in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file:

   NFS903F Missing or invalid PROTOCOL.INI data.

CAUSE

This error occurs when the PC-NFS protocol is bound to more than one network card in the PROTOCOL.INI file. PC-NFS allows for only one binding. Windows for Workgroups 3.11, when installed on a machine with more than one network card, adds the PC-NFS protocol to all network adapters listed in the PROTOCOL.INI file.

RESOLUTION

To eliminate this error message, the PC-NFS protocol should be removed from all but one of the network cards listed in PROTOCOL.INI. To do this, use the following steps:

1. If Windows for Workgroups fails to start after receiving the error message at startup, start Windows with the following command:

          win /n
   

   This starts Windows for Workgroups 3.11 without loading the network drivers.

2. Double-click the Network Setup icon in the Network group, then choose the Drivers button.

3. Locate the network adapter(s) to which you do NOT want to bind the PC- NFS protocol. Select PC-NFS Protocol under each of these listed adapters and then choose Remove.

4. Choose OK, and allow Windows for Workgroups to make all suggested changes to your configuration files. Once this is done, reboot the machine.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11. We are researching this problem and will post new information here as it becomes available.