Article ID: 192276
Article Last Modified on 10/18/2005
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Platform Software Development Kit-January 2000 Edition, when used with:
- Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
This article was previously published under Q192276
SYMPTOMS
If you call the GetMailSlotInfo function in Microsoft Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2 (OSR2) or Windows 98 without a network client installed, you may receive an incorrect value (a large positive or a negative number) for the lpNextSize parameter. If you repeatedly call the function, it usually returns the correct value.
CAUSE
This problem occurs only when you do not have a network client installed. If any network client is installed, the function works correctly.
RESOLUTION
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.
To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.
The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:
Date Time Version Size File name Platform
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
08-04-00 05:02am 4.00.00.1117 185,922 Ifsmgr.vxd Windows 95 OSR2
08-04-00 04:54am 4.00.00.2002 186,438 Ifsmgr.vxd Windows 98
08-09-00 01:26pm 4.00.00.2224 186,438 Ifsmgr.vxd Windows 98 Second Edition
WORKAROUND
You can also use any of the following methods to work around the problem:
- Install the Dial-Up Networking adapter on any computers that are experiencing the problem. You do not need to configure the adapter; simply installing it corrects the problem. To install the Dial-Up Networking adapter, use the following steps:
- Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
- Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
- Click the Windows Setup tab.
- In the Components box, double-click Communications.
- Click to select the Dial-Up Networking check box.
- Click OK, and then click OK. Note that you may be prompted to insert your Windows installation disks or CD-ROM. Follow the instructions on the screen. After the installation is finished, you are prompted to restart the computer. After you restart your computer, the GetMailSlotInfo call should work correctly.
- Put a loop around the GetMailSlotInfo call that continues to call it until the lpNextSize parameter returns a positive value that is within the expected limits of the mailslot information, or zero. However, this workaround causes unnecessary processing and might affect the
performance of other programs.
- Install the Client for Microsoft Networks service by using the
Network tool in Control Panel.
STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows 95 OSR2, Windows 98, and Windows 98 Second Edition.
MORE INFORMATION
This problem only occurs with Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2 and later.
The GetMailSlotInfo function works correctly on the original version of Windows 95 and Windows 95 with Service Pack 1 installed.
Keywords: kbnofix kbmailslot kbqfe kbnetwork kbipc kbprb kbhotfixserver KB192276