Knowledge Base

Err Msg with Word or Excel Installed: Cannot Read from Drive C

Article ID: 118574

Article Last Modified on 10/9/1999

Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11

This article was previously published under Q118574

SYMPTOMS

When you run some Windows-based applications under Windows for Workgroups, the following error message is displayed on some systems:

Cannot Read from Drive C

This error occurs with the following applications:

Microsoft Excel 5.0 for Windows
Microsoft Word 6.0 for Windows
Microsoft Works 3.0 for Windows

CAUSE

This error can occur if the following Device= line is missing from the CONFIG.SYS file:

     device=c:\windows\ifshlp.sys

RESOLUTION

Open the CONFIG.SYS file in a text editor (such as Windows Notepad) and add the following line

device=<c:\windows>\ifshlp.sys

where <c:\windows> is your Windows for Workgroup program directory.

MORE INFORMATION

The IFSHLP.SYS file is used to provide real-mode support for the Installable File System (IFS) Manager, which is responsible for passing data to the appropriate device, whether the device is installed locally or elsewhere on the network.

Additional query words: 3.11

Keywords: KB118574