Expanding Files from the Original Windows Disks

• Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.0, 3.0a

SUMMARY

Most of the files on the Microsoft Windows version 3.0 disks are in a compressed format. The only way to tell if these files are compressed is to compare the file sizes in your WINDOWS directory with the file sizes on the disks. The exception is the *.SYS files, which are marked compressed with a "$" as the last letter of the file extension. For example, HIMEM.SY$ is the compressed file for HIMEM.SYS.

MORE INFORMATION

To expand a single compressed file, use the EXPAND.EXE program. This program is located on the Windows Disk 2 on both the 1.2MB 5.25-inch and 720K 3.5-inch disk formats. For example, to expand CALC.EXE to the WINDOWS directory on Drive C, do the following:

1. Copy EXPAND.EXE from the Windows Setup disk to the WINDOWS directory of your hard drive.

2. Switch to the WINDOWS directory on Drive C.

3. Insert the disk with CALC.EXE on it. This is located on Disk 3 of the 1.2MB 5.25-inch format and Disk 3 of the 720K 3.5-inch format.

4. Type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt:

         EXPAND A:\CALC.EX_ C:\WINDOWS\CALC.EXE
   

   Input file <filename> already in expanded format

To expand more than one file at a time, refer to the "Putting Windows on a Network" Section on Page 553 of the "Microsoft Windows User's Guide."