OFF97: Installing Windows 95 to New Folder to Troubleshoot Office Problems (178400)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office 97 for Windows
  • the operating system: Microsoft Windows 95
This article was previously published under Q178400

SUMMARY

This article describes how to install a second copy of Microsoft Windows 95 to a new folder on your computer for troubleshooting problems that arise during installation or usage of the Microsoft Office programs. This is also useful in determining if your current installation of Windows 95 is functioning properly.

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

In order to use the instructions listed 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 the Start button, 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:

    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. On the taskbar, click the Start button, 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.
  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\<directory>

    where <directory> is the name of the folder where the current copy of Windows 95 is installed. If your Windows 95 directory is named "windows" (the default), the syntax would look like this:

    cd\windows

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

    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:

    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:

    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 in order 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. On the taskbar, click the Start button, 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:

    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 <directory>

    where <directory> 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:

    deltree win95

  4. At the command prompt, type the following line, and then press ENTER:

    cd\<directory>

    where <directory> 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:

    cd\windows

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

    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:

    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.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/28/2005
Keywords:kbhowto KB178400
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