Error Message: The NetWare-Compatible Shell Is Not Available

• Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you start Windows 95 after installing the real-mode NetWare ODI drivers with the VLM redirector, you may receive the following error message:

   The NetWare-compatible shell is not available.

CAUSE

The redirector is not loaded if the exclusion line "EXCLUDE VLM=NETX.VLM" exists in the Net.cfg file.

RESOLUTION

Use any text editor (such as Notepad) to edit the Net.cfg file. Remove or disable the exclusion line listed above. After you make this change, save and then close the Net.cfg file and then restart your computer.

MORE INFORMATION

The Netx.vlm module of the NetWare DOS Requestor (VLM) must be loaded if you have installed the Novell NetWare (Workstation Shell 4.0 and above) network client in Windows 95.

However, if you exclude the Netx.vlm module by placing an exclusion line in the Net.cfg file, the module is not loaded with the VLM redirector.

Note that the error message stated in this article can also occur if the start net batch file has been disabled in the Autoexec.bat file when you are using a real-mode VLM redirector with NetWare 3.12.