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o DOS INT 21 function 0E to read the value of the lastdrive statement in the CONFIG.SYS.
if no parameter is specified in the CONFIG.SYS, then E: is the default.
o BIOS INT 11 to read the equipment byte of the system. Bit 0 of AX indicates if the
system is diskless or not.
o If the workstation is not diskless, then the network drive is always made to be one more
than the value specified in the lastdrive statement in the config.sys. if no value is
specified, then F: is selected.
o If the workstation is diskless, then netx will check the drive tables using DOS int 21
function to verify that there is truly no physical disks mapped to logical disks. it
specifically checks the C: disk. If physical disks are matched to C:, then the netware shell
will automatically select A: as the network drive.
The equipment byte of a VP is set to 0 IDEntifying itself as a diskless station. since there
is not a physical c: Drive installed, the netware shell will always choose a: drive as the
network drive in a diskless VP.
Why do the clones select F: as the network drive? The equipment byte returned on those
systems using BIOS INT 11 is probably indicating that it is not a diskless workstation.
either that or the DOS drive tables indicate that a physical drive is mapped to the logical c:
drive.
NOTE: There is nothing wrong with the VP. It is working as designed. There is also
nothing wrong with the netware shell. It is working as designed.
Temporary work around - There are two ways to circumvent the problem, or lack
thereof. One is to use netware's new VLM shell. If the customer uses this shell, he/she
can specify in the net.cfg what they want the network drive to default to. Unfortunately
this option was not available in the netx version of the shell. The other option is to have
two sets of disk images, one for the clones and one for the Valuepoint systems. The one
for VP would login to the server using the A: network drive. This requires more
administration because there needs to be a file in the server called bootconf.sys that
specifies which machines get which image after login the user can map everything over to
the F: if he/she feels more comfortable using that drive.
Permanent fix - None - both the netware shell and VP are working as designed. see
temporary work around section on how to circumvent the problem if required.
Please see the LEGAL - Trademark notice.
Feel free - send a 
for any BUG on this page found - Thank you.