PRB: Visual J++ Requires a Protected Mode CD-ROM Driver (157877)

SYMPTOMS

Windows 95 requires a protected-mode CD-ROM driver to access the Visual J++ 1.0 product. If you use a real-mode CD-ROM driver, the following problems occur:

Autorun.inf does not execute upon placing the CD in the drive.
If you try to execute Setup.exe manually by using the Run option on the Start menu, you receive the following error message:
Cannot find the file "drive letter: \setup.exe" (or one of its components). Make sure the path and file name are correct and that all required libraries are available.
If your path includes a directory where another Setup.exe resides, this file is found and executed instead.
If you try to execute Setup.exe manually by double-clicking on the file name in Explorer, you receive the "Program Not Found" dialog box.

If your path includes a directory where another Setup.exe resides, this file is found and executed instead.
You cannot open certain folders on the CD, and you receive the following error message:
The folder "drive letter:\foldername" does not exist.
The following folders cannot be opened:
- Cab&Sign
- Cool Tools
- MSDev
- Welcome

CAUSE

Windows 95 requires a protected-mode CD-ROM driver to access file names that do not conform to the 8.3 conventions of MS-DOS.

Windows 95 can use a real-mode CD-ROM driver to view the CD; however, it cannot access the files or folders that do not conform to the 8.3 conventions. Real-mode CD-ROM drivers include the following:

Drivers that must be loaded in the Config.sys file.
The Microsoft CD-ROM Extensions (MSCDEX) driver (or third-party equivalent) that must be loaded in the Autoexec.bat file.

The Java language uses long file names and lowercase letters as part of its naming convention standards--for example, MySampleApplet.java and MySampleApplet.class. The Visual J++ product, therefore, implements this naming convention, requiring a protected-mode CD-ROM driver in Windows 95.

Some CD-ROM drive manufacturers do not provide protected-mode CD-ROM drivers; therefore, these drives cannot be used with the Visual J++ product.

WORKAROUND

Using another machine with a protected mode CD-ROM driver in Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0, use the following steps:

Copy the complete Visual J++ CD to a network hard drive and install it over the network.
Share out the Visual J++ CD-ROM drive and install over the network.
If you are using Windows 95, establish a Direct Cable Connection and install over that connection.
If these options are not readily available, installation of a new protected mode CD-ROM driver is necessary. Manufacturers are responsible for providing protected-mode CD-ROM drivers, some of these drivers are available as part of the Windows 95 product.

If a compatible protected-mode CD-ROM driver is not available as part of the Windows 95 product, contact your manufacturer or use an Internet search engine to find a protected mode CD-ROM driver (suggested keywords: "Windows 95 CD-ROM driver," and your manufacturer's name).

REFERENCES

For information on this naming convention see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

100108 Overview of FAT, HPFS, and NTFS File Systems

For information about protected-mode CD-ROM drive support in Windows 95, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

151634 Protected-Mode CD-ROM Drive Support in Windows

For information about CD-ROM drives that do not support protected- mode drivers, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base and the suggested workarounds section below:

131499 CD-ROM Drives Requiring Real-Mode Drivers

For information about using Direct Cable Connection, see Windows 95 Help; search on: "Direct Cable Connection, setting up a direct cable connection"

For information about installing protected-mode CD-ROM drivers, see Windows 95 Help; search on "CD-ROM drives, installing"

For the latest Knowledge Base articles and other support information on Visual J++ and the SDK for Java, see the following page on the Microsoft Technical Support site:

http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/java/