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# WFWG 3.11: How to Create a Boot Disk to Load Real-Mode Network

Article ID: 114425

Article Last Modified on 9/19/1999

APPLIES TO

- Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11

This article was previously published under Q114425
3.11
WINDOWS
kbnetwork kbsetup kbusage
This article discusses using Microsoft Windows for Workgroups with a floppy disk configuration. Although the information outlined in this article does allow Windows for Workgroups to access the network from a floppy disk, Microsoft does not support this procedure. If the steps or procedures described in this article do not function properly, a standard Windows for Workgroups configuration should be used to access the network.

## SUMMARY

The steps below describe how to create a bootable floppy disk that loads the real-mode network, which allows you to connect to a Windows for Workgroups 3.11 server. Once connected to the server, a full or a network setup (SETUP /N) can be run to a local hard disk drive or to a directory on a server machine. This setup disk is ideal for running a large number of installations to local hard disk drives without needing the Windows for Workgroups 3.11 disks for each installation.
This article assumes the following things:

- The network hardware is already installed.
- All machines are using the same network adapter card with the same hardware settings. (If different network cards are being used, follow the instructions in the note in step 3.)
- The workstation has at least 4 megabytes (MB) of RAM if run from a diskless workstation or 3 MB of RAM if run from a machine with a hard disk drive.
- SETUP /A will be installed to a C:\WINSHARE directory.
- SETUP /N will be installed to a C:\directory.

## MORE INFORMATION

1. Create a bootable floppy disk.
   NOTE: If you are using MS-DOS 6.x and you are not using DoubleSpace, you can delete the DBLSPACE.BIN file from the floppy disk to create more disk space.
2. Run an administrative installation (SETUP /A) of Windows for Workgroups 3.11 to a C:\WINSHARE directory. This machine will be referred to as the server machine.
3. From the C:\WINSHARE directory, run a shared network installation (SETUP /N) to the server's hard disk drive (for example C:\KBNETWORK). Use the Custom Setup option to perform the following steps:
   1. Clear the Set Up Printers and "Set Up Applications Already on Hard Disk(s)" check boxes.
   2. Select None for the Swapfile setting.
   NOTE: To create a second floppy disk for a different type of network adapter card, simply repeat step 3 but choose a different directory name when you run SETUP /N. Ensure that the appropriate network adapter card and its settings are detected during Setup.
4. Delete the following files from the C:\directory to free additional disk space for the floppy disk:

   *.CLN
   *.WIN
   BOOTLOG.TXT
   EMM386.EXE
   MOUSE.INI
   MSCDEX.EXE
   NCDINFO.INI
   SPART.PAR

5. Copy the contents of the C:\directory to the root of the floppy disk you formatted in step 1.
6. Create an AUTOEXEC.BAT file and a CONFIG.SYS file on the floppy disk with at least the following entries:

              CONFIG.SYS
              ==========

              Files=30
              Buffers=20
              Lastdrive=z
              Device=A:\HIMEM.SYS
              Device=A:\IFSHLP.SYS
              Device=A:\RAMDRIVE.SYS 1024 512 512 /E
              <Third-party disk partitioner>
              <Third-party disk-compression driver>
              <Other necessary third-party driver>

   NOTE: If the workstation has a hard disk drive, the Device=A:\RAMDRIVE.SYS is not necessary and can be removed from the CONFIG.SYS file.

              AUTOEXEC.BAT
              ============

              A:\SMARTDRV A+
              Path=a:\;w:
              A:\NET LOGON UserName Password
              A:\NET USE W: <\\SERVER>\<ShareName> /p:No
              Set Temp=C:\

   NOTE: <\\SERVER> is the name of the machine that contains the Setup /A (C:\WINSHARE) copy of Windows for Workgroups. <\\ShareName> is the name given to the C:\WINSHARE directory when it is shared. (See step 9 for more information.)
7. Edit the SYSTEM.INI file on the floppy disk and set the DEVDIR entry in the [Network Drivers] section to equal A:\.
8. Edit the SYSTEM.INI file in the C:\directory and delete the AutoStart=FULL line from the [Network] section.
9. Reboot the server machine and run Windows from the hard disk drive. Share the C:\WINSHARE directory from File Manager.
10. Boot a workstation with the floppy disk you created.
    NOTE: The first time you use this floppy disk, you must reenter the password you entered in the logon line in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
11. At the A:\ prompt, change to the W: drive and install Windows for Workgroups to this workstation's hard disk drive, or just run Windows from the floppy disk by typing `win`.

NOTE: If you need help using the network commands at the MS-DOS command prompt, you type `net /?` or `net use /?` to access online help and syntax for most network commands.

Additional query words: 3.11 boot system disk diskless workstation

Keywords: KB114425