Where Windows for Workgroups Setup Places Network Files

• Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.1

SUMMARY

In some instances, Windows for Workgroups version 3.1 Setup may install certain network files to the root directory of a startup drive. This article explains why.

MORE INFORMATION

In Windows for Workgroups (Windows 3.1 running on a network), the personal WINDOWS directory contains all files with .INI, .GRP, and .PIF extensions, as well as REG.DAT, WIN.COM, WINVER.EXE, and any MS-DOS device drivers. The personal WINDOWS directory may also contain the MS-DOS network device drivers and the NET.EXE, MSIPX.COM, and NETX.COM files. (These files may also be copied to the root directory of a startup drive.) The shared WINDOWS directory contains all other Windows files.

The NETWORK.INF file uses the keywords "windir," "sysdir," "netdir," and "devdir" to classify the different Windows files. These files are placed in the WINDOWS directory, SYSTEM directory or root directory of the startup drive, depending on the type of installation you perform.

Real-mode network device drivers are classified as devdir files. These include PROTMAN.DOS, PROTOCOL.INI, and WORKGRP.SYS. The device drivers in this directory must be correctly referenced in the CONFIG.SYS file.

Real-mode network utilities and terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR) programs are classified as netdir files. These include NET.EXE, MSIPX.COM, NETX.COM, and ROUTE.COM. These utilities and TSRs must be correctly referenced in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

The following table illustrates how Setup determines where to place the files classified as Netdir and Devdir.

Location of Windows Installation          Netdir      Devdir

Windows installed on a fixed drive        WINDOWS     WINDOWS
Windows installed on a compressed drive   WINDOWS     Root
Windows installed on a removable drive    Root        Root
 (for example, SCSI)
Shared network installation of Windows    Root        Root
 (using the SETUP /N command)