386 Enhanced Mode Boot Sequence for Windows for Workgroups

This article describes the startup process that is performed when you start Windows for Workgroups in 386 enhanced mode.

Because of the integrated network functionality present in Windows for Workgroups, the boot process below is different from that of 386 enhanced mode in Windows 3.1.

1. The user starts WIN.COM by typing win at the MS-DOS command prompt.
2. WIN.COM invokes the MS-DOS EXEC function to load the Windows 386 enhanced mode system loader (WIN386.EXE).
3. WIN386.EXE loads the following:
   
   
   • The Virtual Machine Manager (VMM)
   • All virtual device drivers (VxDs) specified in the SYSTEM.INI file
4. The network support VxD (VNETSUP.386) initializes the Windows for Workgroups VxDs. The NetBEUI protocol (VNB.386) and the NETBIOS interface (VNETBIOS.386) are bound together. The VNB.386 and VREDIR.386 are bound to the WORKGRP.SYS device driver.
5. The network redirector VxD (VREDIR.386) starts the redirector workstation service. (This is like typing net start workstation at the MS-DOS command prompt.)
6. WIN386.EXE loads the 386 enhanced mode kernel (KRNL386.EXE).
7. KRNL386.EXE loads the following files:
   
   
   • The Windows drivers (identified as *.DRV in the SYSTEM.INI file)
   • GDI (GDI.EXE)
   • User (USER.EXE)
   • Supporting files (for example, fonts)
   • The Windows for Workgroups network driver (WFWNET.DRV)
8. The network server VxD (VSERVER.386) starts the server service.
9. The persistent network shares as configured by the Windows for Workgroups workstation are shared on the network.
10. WFWNET.DRV loads the Network DDE background application (NETDDE.EXE) and the ClipBook Server background application (CLIPSRV.EXE).
11. WFWNET.DRV prompts the user to log onto the network if the user has not done so already. If the user logs onto the network successfully, the WFWNET.DRV then restores the persistent network connections (for example, printer connections and file connections made during the last Windows for Workgroups session).
12. KRNL386.EXE launches the Windows shell as identified by the shell= entry in the [boot] section of the SYSTEM.INI file. By default this is the Windows Program Manager.

Windows for Workgroups version 3.1 "Resource Kit," page 2-20