Installing Windows 95 over Windows 3.x

If you have Windows 3.x or Windows for Workgroups 3.x, you can either upgrade the current installation to Windows 95 (the preferred method) or install this version of Windows 95 in a new directory.

If you choose to upgrade your existing Windows installation, Windows 95 Setup uses existing configuration information to set installation defaults and to set other configuration options. Windows 95 Setup converts all Windows 3.x Program Manager groups to folders inside the Programs directory, so they appear on the Windows 95 Start menu. These folders can be opened or explored to find the applications previously contained in them. Windows 95 automatically creates a shortcut for each original icon you had under the previous version of Windows.

Windows 95 Setup checks for the following files to determine whether the current installation is an upgrade to Windows 3.x: WINVER.EXE, USER.EXE, WIN.COM, SYSTEM.INI, and WINI.INI, plus PROTOCOL.INI for Windows for Workgroups 3.x. When searching for these files, Windows 95 Setup also checks the files for version information. (False files with the same name won't work.)

To upgrade from Windows 3.1 or Windows for Workgroups to Windows 95

1. Start Windows 3.1 or Windows for Workgroups on your computer.
2. Insert the first Windows 95 Setup floppy disk or the compact disc in the appropriate disk drive.

   – Or –

   Connect to the shared network resource that contains the Windows 95 source files.

3. In File Manager, select the disk drive you used in step 2.
4. Click the File menu, click Run, and then type setup

All of your current system settings (such as program groups and desktop preferences) are moved automatically to Windows 95. Windows 95 Setup also saves settings so that you can continue to use the network configuration that you had previously.

To upgrade from Windows 3.0

1. Start your computer with MS-DOS. Do not run Windows 3.0.
2. Insert the first Windows 95 Setup floppy disk or the compact disc in the appropriate disk drive.

   – Or –

   Connect to the shared network resource that contains the Windows 95 source files.

3. Switch to the directory that contains the Windows 95 source files. At the command prompt, type setup and follow the directions on screen.