Cannot Do WFWG SETUP /N Over Previous Full Windows Install

ID: Q126705

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows versions 3.1, 3.11
Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11

SYMPTOMS

When you try to start Microsoft Windows version 3.1 or 3.11 or Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11, you receive one or more of the following error messages:

Cannot find a device file that may be needed to run Windows in 386 enhanced mode.

You may need to run the Setup Program again. <device>
Press any key to continue.

<device> is any of the following:

VSHARE.386

IFSMGR.386

VNETSUP.386

VREDIR.386

NWLINK.386

NWNBLINK.386

NETBEUI.386

If you are trying to start Windows version 3.1 or 3.11, you then receive the following error message:

Invalid VxD dynamic link call to device number 0480, service 003
Your Windows configuration is invalid.
Run the Windows Setup program again to correct this problem

CAUSE

These error messages can occur for either of the following reasons:

You set up Windows for Workgroups over an existing full installation of Windows 3.1 or 3.11 with a SETUP /N command. When you start Windows for Workgroups, WIN.COM looks for a Windows\SYSTEM sub- directory. Because there is a Windows\SYSTEM subdirectory left over from the full Windows 3.1 or 3.11 installation, WIN.COM loads the core files from the Windows 3.1 or 3.11 Windows\SYSTEM subdirectory instead of from the network share. When the SYSTEM.INI file is processed, the device drivers specified in the SYSTEM.INI file cannot be located in the Windows\SYSTEM subdirectory, causing the error messages to be generated.

You installed Windows 3.1 or 3.11 over an existing installation of Windows for Workgroups. When you install Windows 3.1 or 3.11 over Windows for Workgroups, references to Windows for Workgroups device drivers are left in the SYSTEM.INI file. These device drivers are not compatible with Windows 3.1 or 3.11.

RESOLUTION

If you installed Windows for Workgroups with a SETUP /N command over a full existing installation of Windows 3.1 or 3.11, install a complete copy of Windows for Workgroups to a local directory.

If you set up Windows 3.1 or 3.11 over Windows for Workgroups, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q95743 Recovering Windows 3.1 After Installing WFWG

Additional query words: 3.10 3.11

Keywords :
Version : WINDOWS:3.1,3.11
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :