Using CD-ROM Drive at MS-DOS Prompt to Reinstall Windows 95 (189369)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 95
This article was previously published under Q189369

SUMMARY

This article describes how to gain access to your CD-ROM drive at an MS-DOS prompt so you can copy the Windows 95 Setup files from the CD-ROM drive to a hard disk and then reinstall Windows 95. You may need to do this if:
  • You are unable to start Windows 95 in normal mode.
  • You do not have access to real-mode CD-ROM drivers.
  • Your CD-ROM drive was functional using protected-mode drivers before you became unable to start Windows 95 in normal mode.
  • You want to reinstall Windows 95.

MORE INFORMATION

To gain access to your CD-ROM drive, copy the Windows 95 Setup files from this CD-ROM drive to a hard disk, and then reinstall Windows 95, use the following steps:
  1. Restart the computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press F8, and then choose Safe Mode Command Prompt Only on the Startup menu.
  2. At the command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after each line:

    cd windows
    edit system.ini

  3. Locate the "shell=explorer" line in the [Boot] section of the System.ini file.
  4. Change the line to read shell=command.com.
  5. Press ALT+F, and then press S. Press ALT+F, and then press X.
  6. Restart the computer.

    NOTE: After your computer restarts, it should operate in an MS-DOS virtual machine with access to the CD-ROM drive, but this may not work correctly. If you are unable to access the CD-ROM drive, you may need to enable the Mscdex.exe line in the Autoexec.bat file or you may need to install real-mode drivers. To enable the Mscdex.exe line, use any text editor (such as Edit) to open the Autoexec.bat file in the root folder of drive C. Look for a line containing "Mscdex.exe," and then remove the "REM" statement at the beginning of the line. Save the changes, quit the text editor, and then restart your computer. For information about how to install real-mode drivers for your CD-ROM drive, contact the manufacturer of your CD-ROM drive or computer, or view the documentation included with your CD-ROM drive or computer.
  7. At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command:

    md flat
    <CD-ROM drive letter>:
    cd win95
    copy *.* c:\flat

  8. At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command:

    c:
    cd windows
    edit system.ini

  9. Locate the "shell=command.com" line in the [Boot] section of the System.ini file.
  10. Change the line to read shell=explorer.exe.
  11. Press ALT+F, and then press S. Press ALT+F, and then press X.
  12. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE, and then click Shut Down.
  13. Restart your computer, press the F8 key at the "Starting Windows 95" message, and then choose "Safe Mode Command Prompt Only".
  14. At the command prompt, type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command:

    cd\
    cd flat
    setup

  15. Follow the instructions on the screen to finish installing Windows 95.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:7/27/2001
Keywords:kbenv kbHardware kbhowto kbsetup KB189369
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.