Compaq Advanced Network Control Utility Fails with Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 2 (163005)

SYMPTOMS

The Compaq Advanced Network Control utility included on Compaq's support software disk (SSD) 1.18 or later (up to SSD 1.20a at the time this article was written) fails to work properly after applying Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 2. The utility starts up after some time, but does not have all the information it had before the service pack was applied. The utility fails whether it is installed before or after the service pack has been applied. Removing the service pack causes the utility to start working correctly again.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, do either of the following:

Obtain the hotfix mentioned in the STATUS section of this article.

-or-
Use the Netflx3.sys driver that comes with the Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 2 media. There is a new Netflx3.sys driver (version 1.51) in the Drvlib\Netcard\Netflx3 directory. Because this is a Drvlib (OEM) driver, there is no mechanism to automatically update the service pack installation with the new driver. In other words, you must manually copy the Netflx3.sys driver that comes with the service pack to the target system. When this is done, the Compaq utility works as expected.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0 Service Pack 2.

A supported fix is now available, but has not been fully regression- tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. Unless you are severely impacted by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Service Pack that contains this fix. Contact Microsoft Technical Support for more information.

MORE INFORMATION

The Compaq Advanced Network Utility uses a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows a user to install, configure, update, and monitor the status of all Compaq network controllers containing the TLAN chip set. It uses the Netflx3.sys file to configure network controllers for redundancy or stand- alone configurations.