WFWG Err Msg: The Specified Drive Letter or Device Is Invalid

• Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.1

SYMPTOMS

Windows for Workgroups 3.1 File Manager allows attempts to connect to a network drive with a drive letter greater than that specified by the LASTDRIVE= statement in the CONFIG.SYS file.

If you try to connect to a Windows for Workgroups or LAN Manager share using such a drive letter, you may receive the following error message:

   The specified drive letter or device is invalid. If you
   specified a drive, it may be past the value specified by
   the LASTDRIVE command in the CONFIG.SYS file.

CAUSE

The Windows for Workgroups 3.1 File Manager allows drive designations through the letter Z in the Connect Network Drive dialog box regardless of the value specified by LASTDRIVE=. Because Microsoft LAN Manager and compatible networks use drive designations up to and including that specified by LASTDRIVE= only, this may result in an attempt to connect to an invalid drive letter and the resulting error message above may occur.

Connections to shares on Novell NetWare servers do not result in the error because NETX.COM and NETX.EXE normally reserve drive letters after that specified by the LASTDRIVE= statement for its connections.

MORE INFORMATION

This error message does not occur in later versions of Windows for Workgroups because File Manager does not allow a drive designation to be made past the LASTDRIVE= parameter in the CONFIG.SYS file.