How to Install Windows 95 from a Hard Disk

Last reviewed: June 3, 1997
Article ID: Q169501

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 95

SUMMARY

This article describes how to install Windows 95 from a hard disk. This process is also known as installing Windows 95 from a flat folder.

MORE INFORMATION

You may want to install Windows 95 from a hard disk for any of the following reasons:

The installation process is faster.
If you cannot access your CD-ROM drive, you still have access to the Windows 95 Setup files.
When you need to reinstall Windows 95, or add or remove Windows 95 components, you are not prompted to insert the Windows 95 CD-ROM.

To install Windows 95 from a hard disk, use the appropriate method:

Windows 95 Already Installed

Click the Start button, point to Programs, and then click MS-DOS Prompt.
At the command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line:
```
      cd\ 
      md w95flat
```
Insert the Windows 95 CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive.
At the command prompt, type the following line, and then press ENTER
```
      copy <drive>:\win95\*.* c:\w95flat 
```
where <drive> is the drive letter assigned to your CD-ROM drive.
If you want to reinstall Windows 95 now, continue to the next step. If you do not want to reinstall Windows 95 now, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base for information about how to change the Windows 95 Setup source path:
```
      ARTICLE-ID: Q131652
      TITLE     : How to Change the Setup Source Path in Windows 95
```
Click the Start button, click Run, type the following line in the Open box, and then click OK:
```
      c:\w95flat\setup.exe
```
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation of Windows 95.

Upgrading Windows 3.x to Windows 95

Double-click the Main program group, and then double-click MS-DOS Prompt.
At the command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line:
```
      cd\ 
      md w95flat
```
Insert the Windows 95 CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive.
At the command prompt, type the following line, and then press ENTER
```
      copy <drive>:\win95\*.* c:\w95flat 
```
where <drive> is the drive letter assigned to your CD-ROM drive.
On the File menu, click Run, type the following line, and then click OK:
```
      c:\w95flat\setup.exe
```
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation of Windows 95.

Additional query words: 95
Keywords : kbsetup win95
Version : 95
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto

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Last reviewed: June 3, 1997
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