Err Msg: ERROR 3649: The IFSHLP.SYS Driver Is Not Installed

• Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11

SYMPTOMS

When you run the command NET START NETBEUI you receive the following error message:

   ERROR 3649: To load NetBEUI, the NDISHLP.SYS driver must be listed
   in the [Network Drivers] section of the SYSTEM.INI file.

CAUSE

This error message can occur for either of the following reasons:

• The IFSHLP.SYS driver is not being loaded in the CONFIG.SYS file and you are trying to run the NET START NETBEUI command.
• The "Transport=" line is missing the NDISHLP.SYS driver entry in the [Network Drivers] section of the SYSTEM.INI file.

RESOLUTION

To correct this problem, follow these steps:

1. Verify that the NDISHLP.SYS driver is listed in the "Transport=" line in the [Network Drivers] section of the SYSTEM.INI file.

2. Edit the CONFIG.SYS file with any text editor (such as Notepad). If it does not already exist, place the line "device=c:\<windows>\ifshlp.sys" (without quotation marks) at the end of the file. Substitute the name of your Windows directory for <windows> in the line above. Save and then close the CONFIG.SYS file, quit Windows, and restart your computer.

MORE INFORMATION

The IFSHLP.SYS driver is not automatically added in the CONFIG.SYS file when you are using multiple configurations.