Windows 95 Evaluation & Migration Planning Kit

The On-line Microsoft Windows Evaluation & Migration Planning Kit contains tools and information to help Information Systems (IS) professionals prepare for the migration to Windows 95.  All documents included in this Kit were created using Microsoft Word.  If you do not have Word, or a compatible word processor, click here WordViewer to access a viewer that will allow you to view and print these documents.   

As new and updated materials become available, they will be placed on this site.  To receive up-to-date information on all Windows 95 activities, you can subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter by sending e-mail to enews33@micrososft.nwnet.com with the words “Subscribe Winnews” as the only text of the message.  To provide feedback on this kit and the tools included, please send e-mail to MigReply@microsoft.com.  Although we welcome your input, please be aware that this is a feedback-only alias, no product or program questions will be answered.

The following is an overview of what’s included on this site.

BUSINESS IMPACT

Financial Impact:  Provides a framework to quantify the financial impact of Windows 95 in your organization.  This tool is completely customizable so that you can input assumptions relevant to your individual organization.  Default data is provided based on the Business Value studies cited below.  The current version runs in Microsoft Excel 5.0 or higher.

Business Value Studies:  Provides independent studies on how Windows 95 will improve the effectiveness of different parts of an organization:
•	Rescue for the HelpDesk  - Reviews the impact Windows 95 will have on supporting end users through a help desk.  Researched and produced by the Workgroup Technologies Corporation.
•	Windows 3.1 vs. Windows 95: Quantification of Learning Time  - Quantifies the learning time and effect on the productivity that migrating to Windows 95 has on existing Windows 3.1 users.  Researched and produced by Usability Sciences corporation.
•	Windows 95 and  NetWare: A Networking Insight  -  Describes how Windows 95 improves integration and management of clients on Novell Netware based networks.  Written by noted Novell expert and author Charles Rose.
•	Gartner Group - Total Cost of Ownership  - Describes how the total cost of owning a PC is affected by migrating to Windows 95.  This document could not be published here, but can be acquired from your local Gartner Group representative.
•	Windows 95 DataSheet for Information Systems Professionals - Provides an overview of how Windows 95 will help IS managers reduce their support burden, increase control over client desktops, and increase the productivity of end users.

•	Case Studies: Check back here for case studies that will provide first hand accounts from organizations already in the process of or finished with their migration to Windows 95.
	
EVALUATION MATERIALS

Windows 95 Auto Demo:  This guided tour through Windows 95 provides an interactive mulitmedia demonstration.   This tool includes sound, so a multimedia PC is recommended for use.  

Windows 95 Feature Review Guide:  This 350 page book provides a complete overview of Windows 95 and all of its new features and functionality.  Microsoft Press offers a printed version of this book under the title Introducing Microsoft Windows 95.  Call (800) MS-Press to order a copy;  ISBN 1-55615-60-2.

MIGRATION TOOLS

Compatibility:  Tools to help you determine Windows 95 compatibility within your organization
•	Hardware Compatibility List:  A helpfile of the hardware that has been tested with Windows 95 to date.  Note: items that do not appear in this list are likely to work just fine; they just have not been through are testing lab yet.  Since testing is ongoing this list will be revised on a regular basis 
•	Software Compatibility List:  A helpfile list of  the >2500 existing applications we have tested.  Except where noted, according to our tests these applications will run as well or better under Windows 95.  Of course, you’ll be the final judge.  Note: application that do not appear on this list are likely to work fine; they just weren’t part of our internal testing effort. 
•	Windows 95 System Check:  A standalone application that can be used to ensure existing hardware meets the minimum requirements to run Windows 95.  This application checks for processor type, hard disk space, RAM, and certain applications that are known to cause problems during setup.

Deployment Planning:  Tools to help in planning for the migration to Windows 95
•	Deployment Planning Guide: Provides an overview of the key steps in the deployment of Windows 95.
•	Deployment Planning Template: A Microsoft Project template that follows the 7-step roll-out model outlined in the Deployment Planning Guide.  This outline can be customized for individual organizations.  This template requires running the setup program included, and requires Microsoft Project 4.0 or Microsoft Project for Windows 95 to open.
•	Deployment Planning Template (sample):  A completed template created by a Fortune 100 company during their migration.
	
End User Training:  Tools to help train your end users.
•	Introducing Windows 95:  This 95-page guide provides a basic overview of Windows 95 from an end-user’s perspective.  Useful for determining end user training requirements during the sample deployment phase of migration.  Note: this is the same documentation that ships with the retail product.
•	End User Course Materials:  A complete set of student and instructor materials for use in training your end users. This course was developed by the Microsoft User Education department, to be used in conjunction with the Introducing Windows 95 guide.  These materials allow you to do training in a just-in-time, just-enough fashion. 
•	End User Evaluation Form:  A simple form that you can use to evaluate your end user’s perception of the migration and training process.

TECHNICAL REFERENCE

Technical Reference:  Technical resources to help in testing and deploying Windows 95
•	Windows 95 Resource Kit:  The complete Windows 95 Resource Kit in a helpfile.   The printed version of the Windows 95 Resource Kit  is now available in stores or by calling  (800) MS-PRESS; ISBN 1-55615-678-2.  Please note that this helpfile only runs under Windows 95.