WFWG and Novell: LASTDRIVE=Z Makes [ and ] Active Drives (89558)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11
This article was previously published under Q89558

SYMPTOMS

The following symbols appear as NetWare login drives when Novell NetWare Connectivity is loaded in Windows for Workgroups and the line LASTDRIVE=Z is included in the CONFIG.SYS file: 
     "[" and "]"

CAUSE

Setting LASTDRIVE=Z conflicts with Novell NetWare NETX.COM and NETX.EXE because they use drive letters after those set by the LASTDRIVE= statement in the CONFIG.SYS file.

WORKAROUND

To correct this problem, change the line to LASTDRIVE=P, instead of Z.

MORE INFORMATION

The value of the LASTDRIVE statement is set to P by default when Novell NetWare connectivity is loaded in Windows for Workgroups. The LASTDRIVE statement specifies the range of drive letters you can use for connecting to other Windows for Workgroups computers. For example, if your LASTDRIVE is set to P, you can use letters from A to P to connect to other Windows for Workgroups computers.

If you set up Novell NetWare connectivity, the letter that follows the LASTDRIVE value is your login drive. (This is because Novell uses LASTDRIVE +1.) For example:

  • If LASTDRIVE=P, then your login drive is Q. Although you can use any letter to connect to NetWare directories, letters after the value of the LASTDRIVE statement (that is drives after P) are reserved for NetWare directories only.
  • If LASTDRIVE=F, then your login drive is G, and drives after F are unavailable for connecting to other Windows for Workgroups computers.
NOTE: If your login script(s) has been set up to use drive F as the login drive, setting LASTDRIVE=P may result in errors during bootup. To resolve those errors, change your login script(s) to reflect the login drive change, or change LASTDRIVE to E. Please note the following limitations:

  • If you set LASTDRIVE to E and your users have machines with single hard disk drives (C), you are limiting them to two network connections (D and E).
  • If you set LASTDRIVE to E, and your users have local hard disk drives with only two partitions (C and D) and a CD-ROM drive (E), they cannot establish any network connections.
Novell NetWare is manufactured by Novell, Inc., a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty implied or otherwise regarding these products' performance or reliability.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/12/2003
Keywords:KB89558
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.