Windows Setup Fails If No WIN.INI or SYSTEM.INI

Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
Article ID: Q82498

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

Setup fails to upgrade an existing installation of Microsoft Windows if the WIN.INI and/or SYSTEM.INI file has been deleted.

MORE INFORMATION

Before upgrading Windows over previous versions, you should not delete the existing WIN.INI or SYSTEM.INI file located in the Windows directory by default. These files contain important information regarding desktop settings, display drivers, and overall customization, which are not preserved if the files are deleted. Additionally, Setup may fail if these files are deleted.

NOTE: Setup does not check for existing .INI files before upgrading Windows.

If you deleted these files, you can correct your installation by reinstalling your earlier version of Windows or performing a full installation of the new version.

KBCategory: kbsetup kbdisplay
KBSubcategory: win31
Additional reference words: 3.10 3.11

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Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
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