Description of Windows 95 Files Located in the Root Folder

• Microsoft Windows 95

SUMMARY

This article describes some of the Windows 95 files you may find in the root folder of your hard disk.

MORE INFORMATION

Autoexec.bat - Windows 95 configuration file

   This file contains commands that should be run by Windows 95 before
   the 32-bit portion of the operating system is started.

   This file is necessary only if you need to load a real-mode driver.

   This file contains the original Autoexec.bat file from the previous
   operating system. It is used if you boot the previous operating
   system.

   This file records the progress of the previous Windows 95 startup
   process. When you request a logged boot (or if Windows 95 performs one
   automatically), the previous Bootlog.txt file is renamed to Bootlog.prv
   before the new Bootlog.txt file is created.

   This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows 95 and
   can be deleted.

   This file records the progress of the Windows 95 startup (boot)
   process. It is created if you request a logged boot, and is also
   created automatically by Windows 95 if Windows 95 detected that the
   previous boot was unsuccessful.

   This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows 95 and
   can be deleted.

   This program is the Windows 95 command line processor.

   This file is necessary for the proper operation of Windows 95 and
   should not be deleted.

   This file contains the original Command.com file from the previous
   operating system. It is used if you request to boot the previous
   operating system.

   This file contains the original Config.sys file from the previous
   operating system. It is used if you boot the previous operating
   system.

   This file contains parameters that describe the real-mode (16-bit)
   drivers that should be loaded into memory as part of the Windows 95
   startup process.

   This file is necessary only if you need to load a real-mode driver.

   This file records the progress of the previous Windows 95 hardware
   detection process. When you request that new hardware be detected, the
   previous Detlog.txt file is renamed to Detlog.old before the new
   Detlog.txt file is created.

   This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows 95 and
   can be deleted.

   This file records the progress of the Windows 95 hardware detection
   process. It is created during hardware detection and is consulted by
   the hardware detection recovery process if the previous attempt to
   detect hardware caused problems.

   This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows 95 and
   can be deleted.

   This file contains the original Io.sys file from the previous operating
   system. It is used if you boot the previous operating system.

   This file contains Windows 95 MS-DOS.

   This file is necessary for the proper operation of Windows 95 and
   should not be deleted.

   This file contains the Windows 95 logo that is displayed as part of the
   startup process.

   This file contains the original Msdos.sys file from the previous
   operating system. It is used if you boot the previous operating
   system.

   This file contains parameters necessary for the early phases of the
   Windows 95 startup process. For more information, please see the
   following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

      ARTICLE-ID: Q118579
      TITLE     : Contents of the Windows Msdos.sys File

   This file is necessary for the proper operation of Windows 95 and
   should not be deleted.

   This file records the progress of the Windows 95 OEM preinstallation
   process.

   This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows 95 and
   can be deleted.

   This file is created by the ScanDisk program to record the result of
   the most recent disk scan.

   This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows 95 and
   can be deleted.

   This file is created by Windows 95 Setup to record the progress of the
   installation procedure. It is consulted by Windows 95 Setup as part of
   installation recovery.

   This file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows 95 and
   can be deleted.

   This file contains a copy of all Master Boot Records and Partition Boot
   Records on the system both before and after the upgrade to Windows 95.
   This file is used by Windows 95 Uninstall to restore the hard disk
   master boot sector as part of the uninstall process.

   To remove this file, click "Old Windows 3.x and MS-DOS system files" in
   the Add/Remove Programs tool and then click Add/Remove.

   This file contains a copy of the original registry created by Windows
   95 setup.

   Although this file is not necessary for the proper operation of Windows
   95 and can be deleted, it is recommended that the file be retained
   because it can be used to restore the registry should it become
   damaged.

   This file contains a compressed backup of Windows 3.x files that were
   replaced as part of the Windows 95 installation process. It is created
   by Windows 95 Setup and is used as part of the Windows 95 uninstall
   process.

   To remove this file, click "Old Windows 3.x and MS-DOS system files" in
   the Add/Remove Programs tool and then click Add/Remove.

   This file contains a listing of files backed up in the W95undo.dat
   file. It is created by Windows 95 Setup and is used as part of the
   Windows 95 uninstall process.

   To remove this file, click "Old Windows 3.x and MS-DOS system files" in
   the Add/Remove Programs tool and then click Add/Remove.