OFF2000: How to Install Windows 95 to a New Folder

ID: Q200375

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 95

SUMMARY

This article describes how to install a second copy of Microsoft Windows 95 to a new folder on your computer.

Requirements for Installing a Second Copy of Windows 95 to a New Folder

In order to use the instructions in this article, you need:
  • Approximately 100 megabytes (MB) of free hard drive space for the second copy of Windows 95. If you plan to install Windows programs (such as Office) under the new copy of Windows 95, you will need additional disk space as required by each program.


  • The Windows 95 compact disc (CD) or access to the Windows 95 installation files.


  • Your Windows 95 CD Key, which is normally located on the Windows 95 CD sleeve. If you are using an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) version of Windows 95, you will need your OEM Product ID, which is located on your Certificate of Authenticity.


  • A Windows 95 Startup disk. If you should encounter problems following the instructions below, it may be necessary to use the Windows 95 Startup disk to start the computer.



MORE INFORMATION

Create a Windows 95 Startup Disk

If you do not have a Windows 95 Startup disk, you will need to create one. To do so, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.


  2. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon.


  3. Click the Startup Disk tab.


  4. Click Create Disk.


How to Install a Second Copy of Windows 95 to a New Folder

  1. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click MS-DOS Prompt.


  2. At the command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line:


    3. 
cd\ 
md w95flat
  3. Insert the Windows 95 CD into the CD-ROM drive.


  4. 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.


  5. At the command prompt, type exit and press ENTER.


  6. Click Start, and click Shutdown. In the Shutdown Windows dialog box, click Restart the Computer, and then click Yes. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8 key, and then choose Command Prompt Only.


  7. Make a backup copy and rename the system files in case you decide to return to your original installation of Windows 95 later. To do so, type the following lines at the command prompt. Press ENTER after each line. 
    
attrib -s -h -r bootlog.txt
attrib -s -h -r bootlog.prv
attrib -s -h -r detlog.txt
attrib -s -h -r drvspace.bin
attrib -s -h -r msdos.sys
attrib -s -h -r setuplog.txt
attrib -s -h -r system.1st
copy autoexec.bat *.xxx
copy config.sys *.xxx
ren bootlog.txt bootlog.xxx
ren bootlog.prv bootlog2.xxx
ren detlog.txt detlog.xxx
ren drvspace.bin drvspace.xxx
ren msdos.sys msdos.xxx
ren setuplog.txt setuplog.xxx
ren system.1st system.xxx
    NOTE: If you receive a "File not found" error message entering any of the previous lines, ignore the error message and proceed to the next line.


  8. At the command prompt, type the following line, and then press ENTER: 
    
cd\<folder>
    where <folder> is the name of the folder where the current copy of Windows 95 is installed. If your Windows 95 folder is named "windows" (the default), the syntax would look like this:


    9. 
cd\windows
  9. At the command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line:


    10. 
attrib -r -h -s system.dat
attrib -r -h -s system.da0
attrib -r -h -s user.dat
attrib -r -h -s user.da0
ren system.dat system.xxx
ren system.da0 system2.xxx
ren system.ini system3.xxx
ren user.dat user.xxx
ren user.da0 user2.xxx
ren win.ini win.xxx
  10. If you are using an upgrade version of Windows 95, proceed to step 11. Otherwise, at the command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line:


    11. 
ren user.exe user3.xxx
ren win.com win2.xxx
ren winver.exe winver.xxx
    NOTE: If you receive a "File not found" error message entering any of the above lines, ignore the error message and proceed to the next line.

  11. Type the following line, and then press ENTER:


    12. 
cd\w95flat
  12. To run the Windows 95 Setup program, type setup and then press ENTER.

    During the Windows 95 setup, specify a new folder for the Windows 95 installation. Make sure not to use the folder for your current installation of Windows 95.

    NOTE: When you install Windows 95 to a new folder, you must reinstall all Windows-based programs in the new Windows 95 installation.


How to Restore the Previous Copy of Windows 95

Note that if the problem you are troubleshooting still occurs in the new copy of Windows 95, your problem may not be software-related or it may be necessary to format your hard drive to resolve your problem.

These steps explain how to restore your original copy of Windows 95 if you determine that the installation of Windows 95 to a new folder did not resolve the problem.
  1. Click Start, and then click Shutdown. In the Shutdown Windows dialog box, click Restart the Computer, and then click Yes. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press the F8 key, and then choose Command Prompt Only.


  2. At the command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line:


    3. 
attrib -s -h -r bootlog.txt
attrib -s -h -r bootlog.prv
attrib -s -h -r detlog.txt
attrib -s -h -r drvspace.bin
attrib -s -h -r msdos.sys
attrib -s -h -r setuplog.txt
attrib -s -h -r system.1st
del autoexec.bat
del bootlog.txt
del bootlog.prv
del config.sys
del detlog.txt
del drvspace.bin
del msdos.sys
del setuplog.txt
del system.1st
ren autoexec.xxx autoexec.bat
ren bootlog.xxx bootlog.txt
ren bootlog2.xxx bootlog.prv
ren config.xxx config.sys
ren detlog.xxx detlog.txt
ren drvspace.xxx drvspace.bin
ren msdos.xxx msdos.sys
ren setuplog.xxx setuplog.txt
ren system.xxx system.1st
    NOTE: If you receive a "File not found" error message entering any of the previous lines that use the ren command, ignore the error message and proceed to the next line.

  3. At the command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line. Note that you will be asked to confirm each line when you press ENTER. Type 
    
deltree w95flat
deltree <folder>
    where <folder> is the name of the folder where the new copy of Windows 95 is installed. If your new Windows 95 directory is called "win95", the syntax would look like this:


    4. 
deltree win95
  4. At the command prompt, type the following line, and then press ENTER: 
    
cd\<folder>
    where <folder> is the name of the folder where the original copy of Windows 95 is installed. If your Windows 95 directory is called "windows" (the default), the syntax would look like this:


    5. 
cd\win95
  5. At the command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line:


    6. 
ren system.xxx system.dat
ren system2.xxx system.da0
ren system3.xxx system.ini
ren user.xxx user.dat
ren user2.xxx user.da0
ren win.xxx win.ini
  6. If you are using an upgrade version of Windows 95, proceed to step 7 now. Otherwise, at the command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line:


    7. 
ren user3.xxx user.exe
ren win2.xxx win.com
ren winver.xxx winver.exe
  7. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart the computer. When the computer restarts, your original copy of Windows 95 will be restored.


Additional query words: OFF2000 tshoot kbtshoot

Keywords : kbdta kbdtatshoot
Version : WINDOWS:95
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: November 17, 1999
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