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

• Microsoft Windows 95

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

1. Make a backup copy of the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files.

2. 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.

3. 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

1. Dock your computer and then restart Windows 95 normally.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Change to the Windows folder.

5. 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
   

Configuring the Network While Undocked

1. Undock the computer and then restart Windows 95 normally.

2. Use the Network tool in Control Panel to remove the network adapter you configured in step 2 above.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Change to the Windows folder.

6. 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
   

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:

   set windir=c:\windows
   choice/c:DU Docked or Undocked configuration
   if errorlevel 2 goto docked
   if errorlevel 1 goto undocked
   goto end

   :docked
      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

   :undocked
      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

   :end
      rem all done

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.

REFERENCES

For additional information about setting up multiple configurations, double-click the Help.com file in the Other\Oldmsdos folder on the Windows 95 CD-ROM, and then click Multi-config on the Command References page.