ACC: System Error When Sharing Database on LAN Man/Workgroups

ID: Q100160

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Access versions 1.0, 1.1, 2.0

SYMPTOMS

Advanced: Requires expert coding, interoperability, and multiuser skills.

If you try to save a Microsoft Access database larger than 2000 bytes (approximately 2 MB) on a Microsoft LAN Manager server with a boot drive that uses the file allocation table (FAT) format, the following error message appears:

System error... Network error on drive <x>

This error occurs only on Microsoft Windows for Workgroups workstations if you attempt to open a database already in use by a Microsoft LAN Manager workstation or another Windows for Workgroups workstation.

CAUSE

The Microsoft LAN Manager server responds incorrectly to a request by Windows for Workgroups to share the file. The server responds with a message that is too long for Windows for Workgroups to process correctly, resulting in an error from the NetBIOS.

RESOLUTION

The following are two ways to work around this behavior:

Change the format of the Microsoft LAN Manager server boot drive from FAT to high-performance file system (HPFS), then place the Microsoft Access database you want to share on the boot drive.

-or-

Move the database to a Windows for Workgroups server.

Additional query words: w4w fat hpfs netbios boot drive


Keywords          : kbusage GnlOthr 
Version           : 1.0 1.1 2.0
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: March 24, 1999