Deleting Files on Samba Servers May Delete Local Files Instead

 Last reviewed: May 1, 1997
Article ID: Q140558
95 WINDOWS kbfile kbnetwork kb3rdparty

The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Microsoft Client for Microsoft Networks (Vredir.vxd) to connect to a Samba file server running on a UNIX-based computer and you try to delete files on the server, you may delete files on your Windows 95-based computer instead.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because Samba file servers let you create file names with characters that are invalid in Windows 95. These invalid characters include the following characters:

  • backslash (\)
  • asterisk (*)
  • question mark (?)

For example, Samba file servers let you create file names such as "c:\*.*" or "\\server\share\*.*" (without the quotation marks). If a UNIX user creates a file called "c:\*.*" and shares it, a Windows 95 user who connects to the server and tries to delete the file with Windows Explorer or My Computer may delete all the files in the root directory of local drive C instead.

NOTE: You are not affected by this problem if any of the following conditions are true:

  • You are not connected to a local area network.
  • You do not use a dial-up application (such as Dial-Up Networking) to dial into a local area network.
  • You are connected to a local area network, but you do not connect to Samba file servers running on UNIX-based computers.
  • You connect to Samba file servers running on UNIX-based computers but you delete only files you created with Windows Explorer or My Computer.

RESOLUTION

Although this is not a problem with Windows 95, Microsoft has released a new version of the Vredir.vxd file (version 4.00.955) that filters out files that have file names with invalid characters. When you use the updated version of the Vredir.vxd file, you cannot see these files and cannot, therefore, try to delete them.

To install the updated Vredir.vxd file, follow these steps:

  1. Download the Vredrupd.exe file from one of the online services listed below to an empty folder.

  2. In My Computer or Windows Explorer, double-click the Vredrupd.exe file.

  3. Follow the instructions on your screen.

MORE INFORMATION

Instructions for Downloading

You can find VREDRUPD.EXE (size: 168936 bytes) 
                         , a self-extracting file, on the following
services:
  • Microsoft's World Wide Web Site on the Internet 

          On the www.microsoft.com home page, click the Support icon.
      Click Knowledge Base, and select the product.

          Enter kbfile VREDRUPD.EXE (size: 168936 bytes) 
                               , and click GO!
      Open the article, and click the button to download the file.


  • Internet (anonymous FTP)

          ftp ftp.microsoft.com
      Change to the Softlib/Mslfiles folder.
      Get VREDRUPD.EXE (size: 168936 bytes) 

    

  • Microsoft Download Service (MSDL)

          Dial (425) 936-6735 to connect to MSDL
      Download VREDRUPD.EXE (size: 168936 bytes) 

    

For additional information about downloading, please see the following
article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:



   ARTICLE-ID: Q119591
   TITLE     : How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online
               Services


Note that Microsoft has also released this update as part of Microsoft
Windows 95 Service Pack 1. For information about Microsoft Windows 95
Service Pack 1, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge
Base:



   ARTICLE-ID: Q142794
   TITLE     : Availability of Microsoft Windows 95 Service Pack 1



	
			
	















	






KBCategory: kbfile kbnetwork kb3rdparty

KBSubcategory: win95 msnets 3rdpartynet dun

Additional reference words: 95 smbclient servicepack1

Keywords            : 3rdpartynet dun msnets win95 kb3rdparty kbfile kbnetwork

Version             : 95

Platform            : WINDOWS








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	Last reviewed:  May 1, 1997
	

	© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.