Errors Running Setup on Diskless Network Workstation

Q107557

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When you run Setup and select the Workstation Installation option to install Word version 6.0 for Windows on a diskless network workstation, several error messages may occur:

  1. The following error message may occur after you start Setup:
    Setup was unable to determine a valid default destination directory. You will need to specify a destination directory.


  2. After you select a destination directory and choose the Workstation Installation button, the following error message may occur if SHARE.EXE is not located in the MS-DOS directory on your floppy disk drive:
    Setup was unable to find SHARE.EXE on your system. It is required to run this application. Please fix your system and rerun Setup.
    Note: This may happen even if SHARE loads successfully when you start your workstation and is already running.

    If this error message occurs, Setup will stop, and the error described in number 3 below does not occur.

    For information about this error message and SHARE.EXE when you run Setup on a standalone computer, query on the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    share.exe and word and 6.0 and cannot and find


  3. If the error message described in number 2 above does not occur (if Setup does not stop), Setup displays the following dialog box after you select the Program Manager group for your Word icons:
    Not Enough Space on Drive C:

    The following options have been selected for installation on drive C:\.

    Workstation Shared Microsoft Word 4K
    Word is attempting to install 4k of information to the C:\ drive even when all components are to be installed on the network.

    If you choose the Install Now button, Setup continues, but then the following error message occurs:
    Could not open the file named: 'C:\AUTOEXEC.TMP'.
    After you cancel this dialog box, Setup notifies you that it did not completely install Word.



STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Word version 6.0 for Windows Setup program. This problem was corrected in Word version 6.0a Setup.


CAUSE

Errors number 1 and 3 occur because Setup looks for your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files only on a system (bootable) hard disk (usually the C drive), which does not exist on a diskless network workstation.

Error number 2 occurs because Setup cannot find the MS-DOS SHARE command unless SHARE.EXE is located in the MS-DOS directory on your floppy disk drive.


WORKAROUNDS

Use one of the two workarounds described below so that Setup searches drive A instead of searching unsuccessfully for drive C. Do the following for both workarounds (this avoids error number 2 above):

Place a copy of SHARE.EXE in an MS-DOS directory on a disk in drive A before you run Word Setup. You do not have to start SHARE from this location; it only needs to be there so Word Setup can find it. You can place SHARE.EXE on a non-system disk if you do not start (boot) your computer from the floppy disk drive; if you start your computer from the floppy disk drive, you should place SHARE.EXE in the MS-DOS directory on your system disk.

Workaround 1: Use SUBST

Notes: This workaround is best if you start (boot) your computer from the floppy disk drive. The MS-DOS SUBST.EXE utility must be available when you start your workstation.

  1. Place the following MS-DOS SUBST line in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file for your workstation:
    SUBST C: A:\
    You should place this line after the network login commands (such as IPX, NETX, and LOGIN) in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.


  2. Place a copy of SUBST.EXE on the system floppy disk you use to start your workstation.


  3. Restart your computer using the modified system disk.


  4. Start Windows and run Word Setup. The above errors no longer occur, and Setup adds the following line to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file on your system floppy disk: 
    
      @LOADHIGH A:\DOS\SHARE.EXE /L:500 /F:5100


  5. When Setup proposes C:\WINWORD as the destination directory, you should change it to your network user directory.


  6. (optional) After you install Word, you can remove SUBST.EXE from your floppy disk, and you can remove the SUBST line from your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.


Workaround 2: Map to the User Directory (Use with Novell)

Map drive C to a valid network directory, such as the user's directory. As the network administrator, you may want to choose this method if your users do not have the SUBST.EXE file. Once you have run Word Setup, you can remove the mapping. This solution is the optimal to use with a Novell network.

Use the following syntax to map DRIVE C: to a valid network directory such as the user's directory: 

   MAP C:=SERVER/VOLUME:DIRECTORY/SUBDIRECTORY
Example: 

   MAP C:=PSS/SYS:USERS/ANTOINES
When Setup proposes C:\WINWORD as the destination directory, you should change it to your network user directory.

When you use this workaround, Setup installs Word correctly. However, Setup cannot modify the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, so error number 3 in the Symptoms section above still occurs. You will receive a message stating:
Could not open...'C:\AUTOEXEC.TMP'
Choose Cancel. You will then receive the message:
Setup was not successful...
Choose OK. No group or icon will be created. In addition, you must manually modify the AUTOEXEC.BAT file after Setup is complete to include the line:
LOADHIGH A:\DOS\SHARE.EXE /L:500 /F:5100

Additional query words: 6.0 officeinterop word6 winword

Keywords : kbsetup
Issue type :
Technology :


Last Reviewed: November 4, 2000
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