Microsoft KB Archive/140990

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Mixing NDIS 2.0 and NDIS 3.x in Docked and Undocked States

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Q140990

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows 95

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SYMPTOMS
When you are using a portable computer with a PCMCIA network adapter that uses NDIS 2.0 (16-bit) drivers, the computer may stop responding (hang) or reboot when you try to start it while it is not docked in its docking station if the docking station contains a network card that is capable of using NDIS 3.x (32-bit) network adapter drivers.

CAUSE
When Windows 95 detects the NDIS 2.0 drivers for the PCMCIA network adapter, it forces the loading of NDIS 2.0 drivers for the other network adapter (which is not currently present because the computer is undocked).

Because one of the network adapters is not present, an incomplete binding occurs, which can cause the computer to hang or reboot.

RESOLUTION
To enable Windows 95 to start whether the computer is docked or undocked, create a multiple-boot configuration.

Do not perform this procedure until you have determined that you have a docked state that requires an NDIS 3.x driver to be loaded and an undocked state that requires an NDIS 2.0 driver to be loaded, or vice versa.

If this is not the case, you need to perform other troubleshooting steps to resolve the problem.

To create a multiple-boot configuration, follow all the steps in the following sections.

Preparing for Multiple Configurations
 Make a backup copy of the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files. Restart the computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8 key, and then choose Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.  Type the following line, and then press ENTER: "md configs" You will use the new Configs folder for storing a temporary copy of the registry files. 

Configuring the Network While Docked
 Dock your computer and then restart Windows 95 normally. Use the Network tool in Control Panel to configure the computer to use the network adapter that is in the docking station. Use the NDIS 3.x protocols if they are compatible. If not, set the network adapter to use NDIS 2.0 drivers. Restart the computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8 key, and then choose Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu. Change to the Windows folder.</li>  Type the following lines. Press ENTER after each line: "attrib -r -s -h system.dat" "copy/b system.dat c:\configs\system.dok" "copy protocol.ini c:\configs\protocol.dok"</li></ol>

Configuring the Network While Undocked
 Undock the computer and then restart Windows 95 normally.</li> Use the Network tool in Control Panel to remove the network adapter you configured in step 2 above.</li> Configure the network adapter for the undocked configuration. This is typically a PCMCIA network adapter. If this adapter requires real-mode NDIS 2.0 drivers, install them now.</li> Restart the computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8 key, and then choose Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.</li> Change to the Windows folder.</li>  Type the following lines. Press ENTER after each line: "attrib -r -s -h system.dat" "copy/b system.dat c:\configs\system.und" "copy protocol.ini c:\configs\protocol.und"</li></ol>

Enabling Multiple Configurations
NOTE: The information in this section assumes that Windows 95 is installed in the Windows folder on drive C. If this is not the case, please adjust the following information accordingly.

Use any text editor (such as Notepad or Edit.com) to edit the Autoexec.bat file. Add the following lines to the file:

<pre class="FIXEDTEXT">  set windir=c:\windows choice/c:DU Docked or Undocked configuration if errorlevel 2 goto docked if errorlevel 1 goto undocked goto end

cd %windir% attrib -r -s -h system.dat del system.dat del protocol.ini copy/b c:\configs\system.dok system.dat copy c:\configs\protocol.dok protocol.ini goto end

cd %windir% attrib -r -s -h system.dat del system.dat copy/b c:\configs\system.und system.dat copy c:\configs\protocol.und protocol.ini goto end

rem all done After you add these lines, save and then close the Autoexec.bat file.

When you restart your computer, the network adapter drivers will be processed after the Autoexec.bat file has been processed. Therefore, the networking components can be segregated into separate boot configurations without causing a problem.

NOTE: Although this technique can be used for a variety of different situations, it should be used only in this case. All other situations requiring multiple configurations should be handled through the user interface using system profiles.