Windows 95 Clients Connected to NT Server over NWLink May Fail

 Last reviewed: August 14, 1997
Article ID: Q161080
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, and 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, and 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11
  • Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

Applications on Windows 95 or Windows for Workgroups 3.11 may fail while writing data to a computer running Microsoft Windows NT server over the NWLink protocol. The problem occurs only when direct hosting over NWLink is used. Direct hosting is a method of bypassing the NetBIOS layer and sending client/server message blocks (SMBs) directly over the NWLink protocol.

When the problem occurs, the application on the client computer may display the following message: 

   Error 55: The specified network resource or device is no
   longer available.

WORKAROUND

The workaround involves disabling direct hosting. To turn off direct hosting, disable the NWLink IPX/SPX binding in Windows NT Server service. After this is done, enable NWLink with NetBIOS on the client computer.

For more information, query on the following words here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   direct and hosting

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.5x and 4.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available. 

Keywords          : kbbug3.50 kbbug3.51 kbbug4.00 prodnt kbnetwork ntbug
Version           : 3.11 3.5 3.51 4.0
Platform          : winnt
Issue type        : kbbug

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Last reviewed: August 14, 1997
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