DOS Share

An external command that provides file sharing and file locking in a network environment. It manages files that are used by multiple applications at the same time. Some applications automatically install the SHARE.EXE utility, others alert you that it is required. SHARE.EXE is generally loaded from AUTOEXEC.BAT by adding the line:

                \dos\share

Starting with DOS 5, Share can be loaded in the CONFIG.SYS file with the Install command:

           install=\dos\share.exe

Share is required for Windows programs that support OLE Version 2 even on stand-alone machines. Windows for Workgroups automatically installs Vshare, the Windows version of DOS Share. In this case, SHARE.EXE is not required unless one or more DOS applications need it.

The Windows for Workgroups VSHARE.386 driver cannot be used in Windows 3.1. However, a Windows 3.1-compatible version of VSHARE.386 is available from Microsoft.

For DOS 4 Users Only!
Under DOS 4.01, Share was often automatically loaded to provide compatibility for an obscure situation. Under DOS 4.01 only, Share allowed earlier programs written to run under DOS 1.0 to use disks larger than 32MB. See DOS AUTOEXEC.BAT and DOS FCB.