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Netware Client for Windows 95/98 - zxnet

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Novell NetWare Client for Windows 95 and Windows 98

This page provides most (perhaps all) releases of the NetWare client for windows 95 and 98 along with such patches as I could find. Unless you have specific requirements (like not installing SP1 for the Windows 95 Retail release) you should be fine running the final 3.4 Update C client with the beta servloc patch. There is also a Microsoft client built into Windows 9x/ME which is an alternative though the Novell client has more features.

Download v3.4 C

Download and install 34clt95e.exe first, then download and install the other two patches in order following the instructions in their readme files. If you need it, This is the Installation Manual for v3.4 as well as the NT client.

File Readme Date Description
34clt95e.exe 31 July 2003 Client version 3.4 - the final Windows 9x client which went out of support on 30 June 2006.
34pkc.exe Readme 4 October 2004 Update C: The final major patch. This is cumulative so no prior patches are required.
34_srvloc.exe Readme 3 September 2004 This fixes a regression in Update C which could cause a hang while starting the system. It likely made never made it out of beta due to limited interest in the 9x client by 2004.

System Requirements

Documentation

Minimum/Maximum Client Versions

Summary: The original release of Windows 95 (boxed retail and original OEM) appears to be stuck at client 2.5 unless you install service pack 1 (should be in here somewhere) - everything else can run the latest client (3.4C). If your goal is to run the oldest client possible, refer to the table below. Note that earlier versions than the minimum client may work - the minimum is often just the minimum because older clients were out of support and so not tested for compatbility.

9x Version Minimum Client Maximum Client Notes
Windows 95 2.1 2.5* Retail and original OEM release
Windows 95 A 2.1 3.4C This is the Retail version plus SP1 nor OSR1
Windows 95 B 2.12 3.4C OSR2, USB Supplement to OSR2, OSR2.1
v2.12 specifically mentions adding OSR2 support.
Windows 95 C 3.02 3.4C OSR 2.1. First client readme file to mention support is 3.02.
Windows 98 2.2 3.4C Minimum version according to TID 2938710. Not mentioned in a client readme until 3.01
Windows 98 SE 3.2 3.4C The earliest client with a readme that mentions support for 98SE is v3.2.
Windows ME Not officially supported by Novell though some versions of the 95/98 client work. The Microsoft client is available too and seems to work fine..

* Note: I can not find documentation for the 3.0 release. Version 3.01 specifically says the original release of 95 is not supported while 2.5 does not. So for now I am taking 2.5 as the highst supported client version on the Retail version of 95

All Downloads

Where possible updates and other utilties are included for each client. Some updates are cumulative, some are not - check the associated readme files. Earlier patches and, indeed, earlier client releases are provided for historical interest; for most uses 3.4 C should be sufficient.

Some clients and patches have no download link because while I could find references to them existing and in most cases its release date no copies appear exist in my archives or to have survived online.

Version Date Notes Link
3.4
3.4 B
3.4 C
31 July 2003 The final release for windows 98/98. 3.4 Update C is as far as this platform goes. Note that these updates appear to be cumulative so Update C alone should be enough. Read the readme file for install instructions (its not automatic).

Support for this client ended on 30 June 2006 (link).

Included fixes
Release notes

Updates:
Update B, 27 February 2004: 34pkb.exe
Update C, 4 October 2004: 34pkc.exe, Readme
srvloc.nlm beta patch, 3 September 2004: 34_srvloc.exe, Readme

The srvloc.nlm beta patch fixes a regression in Update C - if you don't have update C applied its not necessary. This patch never made it out of beta likely due to limited interest in the Windows 9x client by 2005.
34clt95e.exe
3.32 6 March 2002 Two download options are provided:
w98332e.exe - the original release
c332sp1e.exe - bundled with SP1
The SP1-included version is missing a file or two which breaks Automatic Client Upgrades but probably no one is using that anymore. However, if you want to play with ACU there is a fix that provides those missing files (ncsp1acu.exe, readme).

Updates:
Updates are cumulative - you only need to apply nc332sp2.exe plus, optionally, the two post-SP2 patches if you care about the issues they fix: 302776.exe and ndpc4831b.exe
nc332sp1.exe, Readme - SP1
logn3321.exe, Readme - Post-SP1 LOGIN update files
276667.exe, Readme - Post-SP1 fix for Win9x hanging when attempting to connect to an unreachable IPX address
nc332sp2.exe, Readme - SP2
302776.exe, Readme - Post-SP2 LOGIN update file
ndpc4831b.exe, Readme - Patch to fix problems associated with NDPS RPM and drivers not being installed
w98332e.exe,
c332sp1e.exe (incl. SP1),
Readme
3.31 17 October 2001 This is the version shipped on the September 2001 Clients CD.

The supplied readme is not exactly informative but there is a list of included fixes available.

Updates:
95331pt1, Readme
w95331e.exe,
Readme
3.3 13 September 2000 Updates:
33sp3, Readme - Support Pack 3
253829.exe, Readme, TID2958354 - 2002-08-29 - Updated NWWS2NDS.DLL for Novell Client 4.8 for Windows NT/2000, Novell Client 4.71 for Windows NT/2000, Novell Client 3.3 for Windows 95/98, and Novell Client 3.21 for Windows 95/98.
w9x33e.exe,
Readme
3.21 26 April 2000 Netware 4.11 and 4.2 servers require an update before using this client. See readme file.

Updates:
These patches are apparently cumulative - only patch 5 needs to be applied
95321pt1, readme - Patch 1 - unable to locate
95321pt2, readme - Patch 2 - unable to locate
95321pt3, readme - Patch 3
95321pt4, readme - Patch 4
95321pt5, readme - Patch 5
253829.exe, Readme, TID2958354 - 2002-08-29 - Updated NWWS2NDS.DLL for Novell Client 4.8 for Windows NT/2000, Novell Client 4.71 for Windows NT/2000, Novell Client 3.3 for Windows 95/98, and Novell Client 3.21 for Windows 95/98.
w95321e.exe,
Readme
3.2 12 January 2000 This is the version shipped on the January 2000 Clients CD

Updates:
Unable to locate patches 1 and 2. Unsure if patches are cumulative or not.
9532pt1, Readme - Patch 1
9532pt2, Readme - Patch 2
9532pt3, Readme, TID - Patch 3
w9532e.exe,
Readme
3.1 18 February 1999 Odd that the included readme is nearly two months older than the newest file in the release. It also doesn't mention Windows 95C support that is likely an oversight.

This release adds Netware 5.0 SP1 support, enhanced support for the Netware 5 Migration Agent and IP/IPX Gateway. It also improves auto reconnect, desctop accessibility on congested networks, NDPS support and reduces login time (archived copy of download page).

Updates:
Installing 9531sp2 then 9531pt2 should bring this client fully up-to-date - SP2 includes all the SP1 fixes and 9531pt2 appears to contain all fixes from 9531pt1.
9531sp1, Readme - SP1
9531sp2, Readme - SP2
9531pt1, Readme - Post SP-2 Updates 1. Unable to locate a copy
9531pt2, Readme - Post-SP2 Updates 2
w9531e.exe,
Readme
3.03 This was apparently present (possibly in beta form?) in the ZENworks 1.11 beta kit (ref). The copy of bcltsp.exe I have is dated 1998-12-22 so possibly 3.03 only existed here and the final version of ZENworks 1.11 included client 3.1.
3.02 10 December 1998 Adds border manager v3.0 IPX/IP gateway support according to the readme:
"You are not required to update to this version of the client. This client is provided on the Support Connection for customers that are using Border Manager v3.0 and need the Novell IPX/IP Gateway support."
w95302.exe,
Readme
3.01 27 October 1998 This is the version shipped with Netware 5 on the September 1998 Clients CD. Filename suggests its 3.0 but client properties window shows 3.0.1.

New features and changes in v3.01

Updates:
Patch 9530p1.exe appears to include the fix from 9530ipx.exe so no need to apply both.
9530ipx, readme - Fix excessive RIPs.
9530p1, readme - Updates for Client v3.0, v3.01 for Win 95/98
w9530e.exe,
Readme
3.0 Unable to find a copy of this. Its not on the Netware 5 CD (that has 3.01) - perhaps it was on a beta CD?

Updates:
9530p1, readme - Updates for Client v3.0, v3.01 for Win 95/98
2.50 15 April 1998 Readme says:
"This is an old version of the Novell Client. This client is provided on the Support Connection for customers that are using Border Manager v1.0 or NIAS and need the Novell IPX/IP Gateway support."

Updates:
95250p1.exe, readme - 23 September 1998 - First patch
95250p2.exe, readme - 24 March 1999 - Second Patch.
w9525.exe,
Readme
2.20 16 June 1997 In six parts. See note on authenticity. There is also a mystery alternate version in two parts which also claims to be 2.20 with all the same module versions but has few modified and extra files compared to the six part version. No idea what the difference is.

This version is also available on CD 2 of the DeveloperNet Essentials March 1998 release.

Updates:
95220p1.exe, readme - Patch
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3,
Part 4, Part 5, Part 6,
Readme
2.12 3 April 1997 Major updates include: Updates to Client32.nlm, Updates to ODINSUP.SYS to provide support for the OSR2 release of Windows 95, Updated ODI Lan drivers

Release notes

Updates:
w95it2a.exe - Interim release update (beta / internal test release?)
clty2kp1.exe, Readme - Y2K Patch
Net Install,
Readme
2.11 22 October 1996 This is the version shipped with netware 4.11 and IntranetWare.

Updates:
clty2kp1.exe, Readme - Y2K Patch
w95unc.exe, readme - Uninstall program
Net Install
2.1 23 February 1996 First release version of Client32?

Updates:
c3295d.exe, readme - Update for 2.1; adds new features and fixes a number of bugs.
clty2kp1.exe, Readme - Y2K Patch
w95unc.exe, readme - Uninstall program
Net Install,
Diskette Install,
Readme

Identifying installed client versions

From v2.20 and up you can get the client version from the client properties in the network control panel. For older versions, refer to the table below. Source of the table is TID 2922501 and this usenet posting containing an updated version (24SEP1998) of that TID. Typing MODULES | MORE at a command prompt will also give version information.

File Date Installer Notes
Client32.nlm 26 January 1996 C3295N.EXE Original shipping version 2.1.
Client32.nlm 1 July 1996 C3295D.EXE C3295D.EXE update
Client32.nlm 21 August 1996 95ENU_N2.EXE 2.11 release Client.
Client32.nlm 11 December 1996 95ENU_N3.EXE 2.12 release Client.
Client32.nlm 27 February 1997 W95IT2A.EXE Interim release update
Client32.nlm 30 June 1997 Novell IntranetWare Client for Windows 95 version 2.20.
Client32.nlm 9 December 1997 Version 2.20 with the update patch.

Screenshots

v2.20 Authenticity Note

This one proved very hard to track down as none of the pages describing the download (filename, number of files, size, etc) were on archive.org - just the page for the beta and the page for the release. The actual download itself does not appear to have been archived either.

Its hard to be 100% sure that the v2.20 copy here is authentic and unmodified. All I've really got to go on is This usenet thread saying its in six parts and pointing to this 6 part copy here and this usenet thread in russian giving a list of the files with filesizes that match the six part copy. The six self extracting zip files all have a novell copyright in the comments field so they appear legitimate and the date stamp on the six parts (1997-08-28 @ 15:31:16, 15:32:12, 15:33:06, 15:33:52, 15:34:38, 15:35:22) is only a little over a month after the date in the readme file.

To complicate matters, putting the first filename, enw95221.exe, into google brings up this page which appears to have a two part copy that is a few months newer than the six part version (1998-03-31). These two files also have the novell copyright in the comments field but their contents do not exactly match that of the six part version. There is an extra DLL file (NDPP95R.DLL) and differences in a three client files (NWMSG95.HLP, NWNET.DLL and NWPOPUP.EXE) plus a bunch differences in other files that appear to be to do with the install program

At this stage I've no idea what the two part copy is - both copies carry the same version (2.2.0.0) in the client properites window and the modules command lists all the same modules and versions for both. Perhaps the two part version has some minor patch I can't find documented anywhere already applied?

See Also

Other Links

Disclaimer & Comments

I'm not a netware expert, don't have any of those fancy novell certifications and have never administred a netware network; I've just played with it at home occasionally since 2004 or so. Email me if you've got any suggestions or corrections for this page or any extra information you think is worth including here. My address is david at this websites domain name (without the www bit of course).