3C90x - Windows 95 OSR2 - Error: Windows Protection Error

Problem: Error: "Windows Protection Error. You need to restart your computer."

Cause: Microsoft Windows 95 OSR2 allocates memory differently than the original version of Microsoft Windows 95.
After installing the 3Com NIC or other software, the memory space assigned to this driver may also be assigned to
another driver already present on the system. The Windows Protection Error will appear on bootup with the following
error message on a blank screen: "Windows Protection Error. You need to restart your computer."
This error does not occur with the retail release of Microsoft Windows 95 or with Microsoft Windows NT. 3Com changed
the memory allocation scheme of the NDIS3 miniport driver for the 3C90x family of NICs.

Solution: Install the latest driver
1. Download Etherdisk version 3.1 or later
a. To download v.3.01 Disk 2 (3C90xx2.exe) from 3Com's web site, access the following URL:
http://support.3com.com/infodeli/tools/nic/3C905.htm
b. Under Shipping Drivers, Click on HTTP or FTP to download 3.01 EtherDisk
c. Scroll down to Disk 2 and click HTTP ro FTP to download 3C90xx2.exe

If error still appears after updating driver, remove the file w95el90x.inf from CABS directory:
1. Click START>SETTINGS>CONTROL PANEL>SYSTEM>DEVICE MANAGER
2. Double-click Network Adapters
3. Highlight and remove 3Com Fast EtherLink XL
4. Click START>FIND>Files or Folders
5. Click Advanced tab
6. Type: VEN_10b7&DEV_9050 and click Find Now
7. Select all files (including w95el90x.inf located in Windows\Options\CABS directory) and move to Recycle Bin
8. Empty Recycle Bin
9. Restart Microsoft Windows 95
10. Microsoft Windows will find new hardware
11. If prompted for 3Com EtherDisk, insert Disk2
12. Make sure files are copied from the root: a:\
13. When prompted for Windows 95 files:
a. Path out to Win95 directory on Windows 95 CD (if CD ROM drive letter is E, type E:\Win95)
b. Or C:\windows\options\CABS directory

The Windows Protection Error is a general error message that may occur due to several factors. In the case that this
driver does not resolve the issue you may try the following:

1. Change 3Com driver to 16 bit NDIS mode:
a. Click START>SETTINGS>CONTROL PANEL>NETWORK
b. Highlight 3Com Fast EtherLink XL and click Properties.
c. In Driver Type tab, select Real mode (16 bit) NDIS driver (default setting is Enhanced mode)
d. Click OK to close this window
e. Click OK to close Network Configuration window
f. Restart Windows 95 for the changes to take effect

2. Rename SMARTDRV.EXE:
a.Click START>FIND>Files or Folders
b. Type smartdrv.exe and click Find Now
c. Highlight the file
d. From the File menu, select Rename
e. Rename smartdrv.exe to smartdrv.old
Refer to Microsoft Article ID Q157924 on their web site (www.microsoft.com) for details

3. For Microsoft Office 97 users, install the service release for Office 97 from Microsoft's web site
(URL - http://www.microsoft.com/office/SR1OFF97.EXE)

4. Load memory management device drivers in the CONFIG.SYS, for example:
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS

5. On several models of the Hewlett Packard Vectra series there is a BIOS setting, MEMORY HOLE, that can be
set to resolve this problem. To access the BIOS on the HP Vectra and make this change:
a. Press F2 upon boot up to enter the BIOS
b. Go under CONFIGURATION-->MEMORY AND CACHE
c. Select the MEMORY HOLE parameter and toggle it to 15-16MB