Re-installing Win-95 and
Start With A Fresh Set of Files:
If you have Windows-95/95a --- then try to use the CD and choose the option to replace corrupted files first before you completely re-install----if you have W-95b---then read on.
Removing all profiles and installing Windows 95
for a fresh start:
Re-create the registry files by reinstalling Windows 95.
To do this, perform the following steps.
NOTE: Be sure you have a bootable floppy (as per my boot page)
If you cannot access the CD-ROM drive from the command prompt,
consult the CD-ROM drive's documentation or manufacturer for
assistance with loading the real-mode drivers for the CD-ROM drive.
1.Restart the computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press
the F8 key, then choose Command Prompt Only from the Startup menu.
2.Type the following line and then press ENTER to remove all user profiles:
deltree c:\windows\profiles
3.Rename the existing registry files by typing the following lines. Press ENTER after each
line:
cd \windows
attrib -s -h -r system.dat
ren system.dat system.xxx
attrib -s -h -r user.dat
ren user.dat user.xxx
attrib -s -h -r system.da0
ren system.da0 system.yyy
attrib -s -h -r user.da0
ren user.da0 user.yyy
cd \
attrib -s -h -r system.1st
ren system.1st system.zzz
4.Run Windows 95 Setup.
DONE!!!
OK, more re-installs:
First make a start-up disc from your add/remove
programs tab with a formatted 3.5. Next, locate your CD driver in your system where ever
it is (mine is pbidecd.sys) and add that to your disc. Next, make sure (MSCDEX) is on the
disk also (it will be in the Windows\Command folder) OK.
We need to make sure the floppy is bootable and the CD driver works, So stick the floppy
in the drive, start your computer and when it boots to the A:\>type DIR D: and see if
it works (ok)?? if not--stop, don't format and fix it so it does. Check your autoexec.bat
& config.sys files to see if everything is pointing to your CD driver.
If you need BOOT disk help--click the link.
Assuming it works---- to keep things moving,
FORMAT C: /s
Format will create your msdos.sys file so when it's done, reboot and then copy the contents of (A) to your hard drive;
xcopy a: c: /s/e/h/r/k
You might get an error message --- just ignore it, command.com
tries to copy the win386.swp file and windows doesn't like it, Ha.It's ready to RUN your windows set-up, re-boot (assuming your CD drive is D) and your DONE.
NOTE: Just so you know why and what's going on ok.
On that xcopy command, it may be over kill on switches but;
Info. on the switches;
x/ =disables extended int13 support/don't need it under 8gig drives
s/ =instructs to copy all sub's & dir's outside of 1 single
h/ =include all hidden sub-dir's
e/ =to overwrite readon files
r/ =preserve file/dir attributes
k/ =xcopy to support long ext's
AND of course you can go to Microsoft's knowledge base article( q166172 ).
Win95B OSR2 is meant to be installed ONLY on a new PC, without an existing operating system. Therefore OSR2 cd-rom Setup won't let you install it over ANY OTHER Windows version.
But there is a FIX. All you have to do is start a search throughout ALL your hard drives for all instances of WIN.COM. The easiest way to do this is to run the small batch file included with W95-11D.ZIP, called FIND.BAT (from any DOS prompt), for each hard disk in your system.
Example:
FIND WIN.COM
Rename all WIN.COM copies you found to something like WIN.XXX. To rename a file at the DOS prompt, run:
CD \WINDOWS
REN WIN.COM WIN.XXX
from inside each folder where Win.com resides.
This "fix" fools Win95B OSR2 Setup into thinking you don't have a previous MS Windows copy installed.
An Alternative to Formatting---A re-install via Your CD or Disks:
To reinitialize W-95 hardware drivers and leaving your settings intact--not by me but from Microsoft at:
http://www.support.microsoft.com/c.asp?PR=CHS&FR=0&M=SRun REGEDIT
Click The ( + ) sign HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Delete the ( Enum ) and re-boot with CD/Disks in hand
Windows will ask you to provide the disks for your drivers and you may need to re-boot several times.
