Starting Windows 95 Setup

The Windows 95 Setup program (SETUP.EXE) is found on the Windows 95 installation disks, or it can be stored on a shared network resource. For information about the installation media, see "Options for Windows 95 Installations" earlier in this chapter.

This section describes methods for starting Windows 95 Setup on computers that will run Windows 95 from the local hard disk after installation. For information about setting up a computer to run a shared copy of Windows 95, see Chapter 4, "Server-Based Setup for Windows 95."

Caution Except for TSRs required for partition or hard disk control, network drivers, or device drivers such as CD-ROM, no TSRs or Windows-based applications should be running when you start Windows 95 Setup. Close any such applications before continuing with Setup.

To start Windows 95 Setup from Windows 3.1 or Windows for Workgroups

1. Start your computer in the usual way, and run Windows.
2. If you are installing Windows 95 from floppy disks, insert Disk 1 in the drive and make that the active drive in File Manager.

   – Or –

   If you are installing Windows 95 from CD-ROM, put the compact disc in the drive and make that the active drive.

   – Or –

   If you are installing Windows 95 from source files on a network server, connect to that server and switch to the shared network directory that contains the Windows 95 source files.

3. Double-click SETUP.EXE in the directory of the Windows 95 installation files.

   – Or –

   From the File menu, choose Run, and then type setup and press Enter.

4. Follow the instructions on-screen, as described in the following sections of this chapter.

To start Windows 95 Setup from MS-DOS

1. Start your computer in the usual way.
2. If you are installing Windows 95 from floppy disks, insert Disk 1 in the drive and make that the active drive. For example, type a: if the disk is in the A drive.

   – Or –

   If you are installing Windows 95 from CD-ROM, put the compact disc in the drive and make that the active drive.

   – Or –

   If you are installing Windows 95 from source files on a network server, connect to that server and switch to the shared network directory that contains the Windows 95 source files.

3. At the command prompt, type setup, and then press Enter.
4. Follow the instructions on-screen, as described in the following sections of this chapter.

To start Windows 95 Setup from a network computer using a setup script

1. Log on to the network, running the existing network client.
2. Connect to the server that contains the Windows 95 distribution files.
3. At the command prompt, run Windows 95 Setup by specifying the batch file that contains the setup script, using this syntax:

   setup msbatch.inf

   For example, type setup \\ntserver\win95\mybatch.inf to run Setup using a setup script named MYBATCH.INF that is stored in the WIN95 directory on a server named NTSERVER. For more information, see Chapter 5, "Custom, Automated, and Push Installations."

Note If Windows 95 is installed from a server, the location of that network directory is stored in the Registry. When you add a device or require additional support files to run Windows 95, Setup automatically attempts to retrieve the files from that same location on the server. This eliminates the need to maintain a permanent network connection on the computer and makes it easier to modify the configuration of a computer in a networked environment.