WFWG Err Msg: Error 58 on Protocol 0 (114370)

SYMPTOMS

When you start Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11 with Novell connectivity installed through IPXODI, the following error may occur:

The following error occurred while loading protocol number 0.

Error 58: The network has responded incorrectly. You may need to reconfigure the protocol using Network Setup. If your computer is a portable, make sure it is connected to its docking station."

NOTE: Choosing OK in this dialog box allows Windows to load; however, the Microsoft Windows Network is disabled.

CAUSE

When you install Novell IPXODI support in Windows for Workgroups 3.11, Setup must make certain assumptions about the IPXODI configuration since Windows for Workgroups 3.11 does not ship with any of the Novell ODI files. One of the assumptions concerns the specific name of the multiple link interface driver (the Novell ODI network interface card driver). This name is referenced in the PROTOCOL.INI file on the Bindings= line(s). If the driver name specified on the Bindings= line does not match the name of the multiple link interface driver (MLID) being used, the above error may be generated.

RESOLUTION

To correct this error, make a note of the actual name of the MLID file listed after LSL.COM in the AUTOEXEC.BAT or STARTNET.BAT file. Edit the PROTOCOL.INI file and verify that the Bindings= line matches the MLID file described above. If the Bindings= entry does not match the MLID name, correct the line so that it does.

NOTE: On some configurations there may be two Bindings= lines.

Example

The following example uses a 3Com Etherlink III (3C5x9) NIC, which is one of the more common cards with which the above error message occurs. Below are excerpts of the files created by Network Setup.

AUTOEXEC.BAT:

   C:\WINDOWS\NET START
   C:\<PATH>\LSL.COM
   C:\<PATH>\<3C5X9.COM>    (This is the MLID.)
   C:\<PATH>\IPXODI.COM
   C:\WINDOWS\ODIHLP.EXE
   C:\<PATH>\NETX.EXE

PROTOCOL.INI:

   [NWLINK]
   Bindings=3C509

   [NETBEUI]
   Bindings=3C509

Note that the MLID filename in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file is 3C5x9.COM, but the PROTOCOL.INI file references 3C509; including the file extension will result in the problem not being resolved. The corrected PROTOCOL.INI should read as follows:

   [NWLINK]
   Bindings=3C5x9

   [NETBEUI]
   Bindings=3C5x9

For more information about this error in non-ODI configurations, query on the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

netbeui and wfwg and ndis and tshoot