How to Create a New WIN.INI Without Third-Party Information

 Last reviewed: November 23, 1994
Article ID: Q96698
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.1, 3.11
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

You can use your original Microsoft Windows or Windows for Workgroups disks to create a new WIN.INI file. This may be useful for troubleshooting or for replacing a damaged or deleted WIN.INI file.

NOTE: Before creating a new WIN.INI file, you can rename your current WIN.INI file and run Windows; this is often an effective first troubleshooting step.

MORE INFORMATION

To create a new WIN.INI file that does not contain any references to third-party information but is configured for your specific system, do the following:

  1. Rename the WIN.INI file to WIN.BKP.

  2. Expand the file WIN.SR_ from the original Windows 3.1 disks to your Windows directory with the following command 

          c:\<windows>\expand a:\win.sr_ c:\windows\win.ini

    where <windows> is your Windows directory.

    NOTE: The WIN.SR_ file is found on Disk 1 of the Windows 3.1 and 3.11 disks (both disk sizes), on Disk 3 of the Windows for Workgroups 3.1 disks (both sizes), and on Disk 2 of the Windows for Workgroups 3.11 disks (both sizes).

  3. Using an ASCII text editor, such as MS-DOS Editor or Edlin, edit the WIN.INI file. Make the following changes:

    a. Add the COOLSWITCH=1 line to the [windows] section.

    b. Add TXT to the DOCUMENTS= line. For example: 

             Documents=txt

   c. Delete the SetupWin=1 line from the [windows] section.

  4. Save the changes to your WIN.INI file and quit the text editor.

  5. Start Windows and run Control Panel.

    NOTE: The fonts displayed in Windows may be quite large and bulky. This is due to the absence of the [fonts] section in the WIN.INI file. The following steps should correct this problem.

  6. Reinstall your printer driver with the following steps:

    a. Choose the Printers icon.

    b. Choose your printer from the list of installed printers.

    c. Choose the Install button.

    d. Choose the Close button.

  7. Reinstall the TrueType fonts.

    a. In Control Panel, choose the Fonts icon.

    b. Choose the OK button.

    c. In the directories list, select the Windows \SYSTEM subdirectory.

    d. Choose the Select All button and then choose the OK button.

    e. Choose the Close button.

  8. Quit and then restart Windows.

  9. If the new WIN.INI file seems to correct the problem you are troubleshooting and your original WIN.INI file is available, you can cut and paste application-specific sections from the old WIN.INI file. If your original WIN.INI file is not available, reinstall the applications.

KBCategory: kbother kbtshoot
KBSubcategory: win31 wfw wfwg
Additional reference words: 3.10 recreate re-create win.src win.sr_ rebuild
t_shoot tshoot trouble shoot expanding 3.11 windrvr 3.5-inch 5.25-inch 1.2
megabyte 1.44

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Last reviewed: November 23, 1994
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