Cannot Add Microsoft Service for NetWare Directory Services

When you try to add the Microsoft Service for NetWare Directory Services information service in Network Properties, the information service may not be listed for you to add.

This issue can occur if the Novell Client32 information service was installed on the computer.

To resolve this issue, extract the Ndscli.inf file to the Windows\Inf folder, and then delete the Drvidx.bin and Drvdata.bin files in the Windows\Inf folder.

For information about using the Extract tool, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: In Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2 and Windows 98 the Ndscli.inf file is located in the PreCopy2.cab cabinet file.


To add the Microsoft Service for NetWare Directory Services, follow these steps:

1. When you install Novell Client32, the Novell setup program replaces the Microsoft file Netdef.inf, renames it Netdef.bnw, and then deletes the NDS setup file Nwnds.dll. The result is that after uninstalling Novell Client32, Microsoft Services for NetWare Directory Services does not install. To work around this problem:
   1. Find the file Netdef.bnw and then rename it Netdef.inf.
   2. Copy the Nwnds.dll file to the Windows\System directory on your hard disk by completing the following procedure:
      • Insert your Windows 98 Second Edition installation CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive.
      • Open an MS-DOS window.
      • Change to the Windows 98 directory on your CD-ROM, and then type the following at the command prompt: extract /a /l c:\windows\system precopy1.cab nwnds.dll
2. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
3. Double-click Network.
4. Click Add, click Service, and then click Add.
5. Click Service For NetWare Directory Services, click OK, click Cancel, and then click OK.

When the Novell Client32 information service is installed, it removes Microsoft Service for NetWare Directory Services from the list of services to prevent you from installing both information services. If you remove Client32, it does not add Microsoft Service for NetWare Directory Services to the list again. The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.