Article: Q97020
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22
Operating System(s):
Keyword(s): msdos
Last Modified: 19-NOV-1999
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The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22
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SYMPTOMS
========
If you are using MS-DOS 6.0 or 6.2 with a Novell network, you may receive the
following error message or your system may stop responding (hang).
Bad or missing Command Interpreter
CAUSE
=====
Because the Novell NET.COM file requires that you use SETVER (set for MS-DOS
version 5.0 by default), the OS_VERSION environment variable is set to the
current version as follows:
OS_VERSION=V5.00
Many Novell system login scripts map the COMSPEC environment variable to the
OS_VERSION variable. (This is not an MS-DOS environment variable.) Under this
configuration, when MS-DOS needs to find the transient portion of COMMAND.COM,
it looks in the V5.00 directory on the network and may lock the computer or
generate the error message above.
WORKAROUND
==========
To temporarily work around this problem, do the following:
1. Create a directory for the MS-DOS files called V4.60 on the network.
2. Copy the MS-DOS 6.0 files to the V4.60 directory.
3. Modify the SETVER.EXE table by typing the following at the MS-DOS command
prompt:
" setver netx.com 4.60 " (without the quotation marks)
4. Restart your computer by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL.
NOTE: This procedure requires that you use a directory name with a version number
earlier than 5.0 (4.40, 4.50, and so forth). The actual directory name doesn't
matter since NETX depends on the major version number only.
MORE INFORMATION
================
The new Novell shell (version 3.32) is compatible with MS-DOS 6.0. The new shell
is available for download from the NOVFILES area on CompuServe in the file
DOSUP7.EXE.
NOTE: To make this version work correctly, you must remove the SETVER entry for
NETX.EXE, BNETX.EXE, EMSNETX.EXE, or XMSNETX.EXE. For example, type "setver
netx.exe /d" (without the quotation marks) at the MS-DOS command prompt and then
press ENTER.
If you are using MS-DOS 6.2 with the Novell 3.32 shell, you still need to use a
directory called V6.00 if you want to use %OS_VERSION. This information may
change when Novell releases an MS-DOS 6.2-compatible version of its shell.
Additional query words: 6.22 6.00 6.20 %osver% os_ver os ver netware osver invalid OS_VER=DOS5.00
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Keywords : msdos
Technology : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS621 kbMSDOS622 kbMSDOS620 kbMSDOS600
Version : MS-DOS:6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22
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