Cannot View Computer Name When Real-Mode Redirector Is Loaded

 Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
Article ID: Q90331
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.1

SUMMARY

If the computer name for a workstation does not appear in the Connect Network Drive, Connect Network Printer, and Select Computer dialog boxes, the computer may have loaded the real-mode network redirector prior to starting Windows for Workgroups (WFWG).

The real-mode redirector loads if one of the following commands is used prior to starting Windows for Workgroups:

  • NET START WORKSTATION
  • NET START FULL
  • NET START BASIC
  • NET LOGON
  • NET VIEW
  • NET USE

The resource on the server still is accessible if you manually type the computer name and the shared resource in Connect Network Drive, Connect Network Printer, or Select Computer dialog box.

MORE INFORMATION

The following message appears when starting Windows for Workgroups if the real-mode redirector is loaded: 

   You started the workgroup software for MS-DOS before you started
   Windows. To make more memory available to your application and use
   the network components built into Windows for Workgroups instead
   type NET STOP before starting Windows.

   Do you want to display this message in the future?
If you choose No, this message no longer is displayed when the real-mode redirector is loaded before staring Windows for Workgroups.

For a Windows for Workgroups computer to be a server, you must be running Windows for Workgroups in 386 enhanced mode.

To manually view a server that is using the real-mode redirector, type the computer name in the Path box, preceded by two backslashes (\\). For example: 

   \\ComputerName
If the above message does not appear, and the computer name is not listed when attempting to connect, check for the following line in the [windows] section of the WIN.INI file: 

   NetMessage=NO
When set to NO, this entry disables the above message. Setting it to YES reenables the above message.

Typing "NET STOP" (without the quotation marks) at the command line prior to starting Windows for Workgroups allows the computer to be an available server.

KBCategory: kbnetwork kbdisplay kbusage
KBSubcategory: wfw wfwg
Additional reference words: 3.10

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Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
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