Err Msg: This Version of Windows Does Not Run on MS-DOS 7.00

Last reviewed: March 20, 1998
Article ID: Q178151

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you start your computer, you may receive one or more of the following error messages:

This version of Windows does not run on MS-DOS 7.00 or earlier.
The following file is missing or damaged: WIN.COM
File creation error.

CAUSE

You can receive any of these error messages if you are using the Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2 (OSR2) version of the Win.com file with the system files from Windows 95 (retail release) or Windows 95 OEM Service Release 1 (OSR1).

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use the appropriate method:

OSR2 Is Installed

If OSR2 is installed on your computer and the Sys.com file from Windows 95 version 4.00.950 (retail release) was used to transfer system files to your hard disk, follow these steps:

Start your computer with an OSR2 Startup disk. If you already have an OSR2 Startup disk, skip to step 2.
If you do not have an OSR2 Startup disk, create one from a computer running OSR2. To do so, use the following steps:
a. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
b. Double-click Add/Remove Software.
c. Click the Startup Disk tab, and then click Create Disk.
d. Close Add/Remove Software, and then close Control Panel.
At the command prompt, type the appropriate command, and then press ENTER.
If drive c is not compressed, use the following line:
```
      sys c:
```
If drive C is compressed, use the following line:
```
      sys c: h:
```
You should see a message that says "System transferred."

NOTE: If you are unable to access a computer running OSR2 to create the Startup disk, then you must reinstall Windows 95. If you need to reinstall Windows 95 from CD-ROM, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q135174
   TITLE     : Cannot Access CD-ROM Drive from MS-DOS Mode or Command
               Prompt

Windows 95 Is Installed

If Windows 95 version 4.00.950 (retail release) is installed on your computer and the Win.com file was replaced by the Win.com file in OSR2, rename the Win.com file, and then extract the file from the original Windows 95 floppy disks or CD-ROM. To do so, use the appropriate method:

Windows 95 CD-ROM:

Press F8 when you see "Starting Windows 95" and choose Command prompt only from the Windows 95 Start menu.
At the command prompt, type "dosstart" (without the quotes). This should load the driver for your CD-ROM drive.
NOTE: If the CD-ROM driver does not load, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
```
      ARTICLE-ID: Q135174
      TITLE     : Cannot Access CD-ROM Drive from MS-DOS Mode or Command
                  Prompt
```
Type the following lines, pressing ENTER at the end of each line:
```
      cd \windows
      ren win.com win.xxx
```
Insert the Windows 95 CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive.
Type the following line at the command prompt, and then press ENTER
```
      extract /a <drive>:\win95\win95_02.cab win.cnf /l c:\windows\win.com
```
where <drive> is the drive letter assigned to your CD-ROM drive.
Restart your computer normally.

Windows 95 Floppy Disks:

Press F8 when you see "Starting Windows 95" and choose Command prompt only from the Windows 95 Start menu.
Type the following lines, pressing ENTER at the end of each line:
```
      cd \windows
      ren win.com win.xxx
```
Insert disk 3 of the Windows 95 disks into the floppy disk drive.
Type the following line at the command prompt, and then press ENTER
```
      extract /a <drive>:\Win95_12.cab win.cnf /l c:\windows\win.com
```
where <drive> is the drive letter assigned to your floppy disk drive.
Restart your computer normally.

MORE INFORMATION

For information about how to determine the version of Windows 95 you are using, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE ID: Q158238
   TITLE     : How to Determine the Version of Windows 95 in Use

For additional information about the EXTRACT command, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q129605
   TITLE     : How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files

Additional query words: 95
Keywords : win95 kbenv kberrmsg
Version : WINDOWS:95
Platform : WINDOWS

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Last reviewed: March 20, 1998
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.