Version Conflict Adding Components or Reinstalling Windows 95

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Windows 95
• Microsoft Windows 95 OEM Service Release 1

SYMPTOMS

When you reinstall Windows 95 or when you use the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel to add a component, you may receive the following error message:

   A file being copied is older than the file currently on your computer.
   It is recommended that you keep your existing file.

      File name:    <filename.ext>
      Description:  <description of file>
      Your version: <version number>

   Do you want to keep this file?

CAUSE

You may receive the error message in any of the following scenarios:

Scenario 1

You have the Windows 95 retail upgrade pre-installed on your computer, but the source (compact disc or floppy disks) you are using to reinstall Windows 95 or install a component is the Windows 95 Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Service Release 1.

Scenario 2

You have the Windows 95 Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Service Release 1 pre-installed on your computer, but the source (compact disc or floppy disks) you are using to reinstall Windows 95 or install a component is the Windows 95 retail upgrade.

Scenario 3

A third-party application or component that you have previously installed has overwritten one or more Windows 95 files.

RESOLUTION

Scenario 1

Contact the OEM vendor for assistance in properly resolving this issue.

NOTE: Using the OEM Service Release 1 compact disc to upgrade Windows 95 is not supported by Microsoft.

Scenario 2

Contact the OEM vendor so that the vendor can provide you with the correct source files for the version of Windows 95 installed on your computer.

Scenario 3

Choose "No" to the error message mentioned in the "Symptoms" section so that Windows 95 overwrites the files on your system with the original Windows 95 files. This may cause one or more of your third-party programs to stop working properly. If this occurs, you may need to reinstall any affected programs.

NOTE: When you reinstall your third-party program(s) (as discussed earlier), the third-party programs may overwrite some Windows files. Therefore, you may find that some Windows components no longer work properly.

MORE INFORMATION

Some OEMs may ship computers with a mismatch between their pre-installed version of Windows 95 (OEM Service Release 1) and the Windows 95 compact disc or floppy disks (retail Windows 95 upgrade) included with the computer. The Windows 95 OEM Service Release 1 includes several updates that are not included in the retail Windows 95 upgrade. The following is a partial list of files that may be displayed in the error message mentioned in the "Symptoms" section:

   Nwnp32.dll
   Lpt.vxd
   Mapi32.dll
   Cdvsd.vxd
   Voltrack.vxd
   Umdm16.dll
   Umdm32.dll
   Unimdm.tsp
   Unimodem.vxd
   Esdi_506.pdr
   Scsihlp.vxd
   Modemui.dll
   Ole32.dll
   Shell32.dll
   Mspwl32.dll
   Vredir.vxd
   Nwredir.vxd