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

• Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.1

SYMPTOMS

The Windows for Workgroups 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 an attempt to connect to a Windows for Workgroups or LAN Manager share using such a drive letter is made, the following error message may occur:

   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 File Manager always allows drive designations through the letter Z in the Connect Network Drive dialog box drop down list, regardless of the value specified by LASTDRIVE=. Because Microsoft LAN Manager (and compatible) networks only use drive designations up to and including that specified by LASTDRIVE=, this may result in the attempt to connect to an invalid drive letter and the resulting error message above.

Connections to shares on Novell NetWare servers do not result in the error because Novell workstations running a monolithic redirector (NETX.COM or NETX.EXE) reserve drive letters after that specified by the LASTDRIVE= statement for their connections.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows for Workgroups version 3.1. We are researching this problem and will post new information here as it becomes available.