Thomas Conrad Network Cards May Need BUFFER.COM (86347)

SYMPTOMS

If you use an earlier Thomas Conrad token ring network card with Microsoft Windows version 3.1, you may receive the following error message when you start Windows 3.1 in 386 enhanced mode:

Error loading [display].DRV

where [display] is the video driver being used by Windows.

The system may also stop or return to an MS-DOS command prompt without an error message.

NOTE: Windows runs correctly in standard mode.

WORKAROUND

Loading the BUFFER.COM program provided by Thomas Conrad may correct this problem. Some earlier Thomas Conrad token ring cards require that the BUFFER.COM file be loaded in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file before running Windows 3.1 in 386 enhanced mode. This file is necessary to allow the network driver to co-exist with the HIMEM.SYS memory manager. The BUFFER.COM file can be found on Disk #1 of the Thomas Conrad Network Drivers disks in the NW_WKSTN directory.

Another alternative is to download the TOKIPX.EXE file from the Thomas Conrad bulletin board service (BBS). This is a self-extracting file containing the necessary updates to allow the Network card to work successfully with HIMEM.SYS. After you update these files, you won't need BUFFER.COM.

MORE INFORMATION

For further information, contact Thomas Conrad technical support.

The Thomas Conrad products included here are manufactured by a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.