VSHARE.386 Does Not Work with Novell DOS 6.0 or 7.0 (122987)

This article contains information about using Windows and Windows for Workgroups with third-party products or configurations that have not been tested and are not supported by Microsoft.

SYMPTOMS

When you try to run an application, you receive an error message similar to one of the following

<Product Name> requires VSHARE.386 to be installed.
-or-
<Product Name> requires SHARE.EXE in order to run.
-or-
You must exit Windows and load SHARE.EXE in order to run <Product Name> where <Product Name> is the application you are running.

CAUSE

Many Windows-based applications that support OLE 2.0 require file-sharing and file-locking capabilities to be enabled. This is accomplished by loading VSHARE.386 in the [386Enh] section of the SYSTEM.INI file or by loading SHARE.EXE in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

If you use Novell DOS, VSHARE.386 does not function properly, and file- sharing and file-locking capabilities are not properly enabled.

The following applications are known to encounter such errors when SHARE.EXE or VSHARE.386 is not present:

Microsoft Access version 2.0
Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 5.0
Microsoft Project for Windows, version 4.0
Microsoft Publisher version 2.0
Microsoft Word for Windows, version 6.0
Microsoft Works for Windows, version 3.0

RESOLUTION

There are two possible resolutions to these error messages:

Install and use a supported version of Microsoft MS-DOS rather than Novell DOS.

-or-
Use the DOS level terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR) program SHARE.EXE provided by Novell DOS instead of VSHARE.386. To do this:
1. Open the SYSTEM.INI file with a text editor, such as Windows Notepad.
2. Place a semicolon in front of the VSHARE.386 setting in the [386Enh] section as follows:
```
         [386Enh]
         ;Device=VSHARE.386
						
```
3. Open the AUTOEXEC.BAT file with the text editor.
4. Add the line for SHARE.EXE to this file.
  
  NOTE: For specific instructions about the settings that can be used with SHARE.EXE, consult your Novell DOS manual.
5. Quit Windows and reboot your computer.

MORE INFORMATION

Microsoft Windows 3.11 and Windows for Workgroups 3.1 and 3.11 ship with VSHARE.386. Some applications (such as Microsoft Word 6.0 for Windows) ship and install VSHARE.386 on systems not already equipped with it.

VSHARE.386 is a virtual device driver (VxD) and does not use conventional memory. Microsoft recommends that you use this VxD rather than SHARE.EXE.