Introduction

This Technical Bulletin describes the options that you have when considering installing Windows 95.

You have two options when installing Windows 95. You can either install over the original Windows directory, or install Windows 95 into its own directory.

If you choose to install Windows 95 over your original version of Windows, you will have all your software automatically available to run under Windows 95. There will be an option to de-install Windows 95 if you run into any problems.

If you choose to install Windows 95 into a separate directory, you will have the option to start your computer with your previous DOS Setup. However, you will find that you will have to re-install some of your applications to run under Windows 95.

Windows 95 requirements

1. Operating systems requirements

For Windows 95 to be installed as an upgrade to an existing computer system, the minimum requirements for the system are:

• MS-DOS v3.2 or higher version.
• An equivalent version from the hardware manufacturer that supports partitions greater than 32 Mb.
• It is recommended however that you upgrade from MS-DOS 5.0 or a later version.
• Windows 3.X.
• Windows for Workgroups 3.1.
• Dual boot OS/2 (with MS-DOS).
• Dual boot Windows NT (with MS-DOS).

1.1 Windows 95 Setup requirements

You will be asked to supply a user name, computer name and workgroup name if the computer is connected to a network.

The Setup program needs at least 417K of conventional memory to run. The amount of disk space required varies depending on the type of hardware on the computer, the required drivers and the optional components installed.

The approximate disk space requirements for a new installation are:

• A [compact] installation that will take 30 Mb.
• A [typical] installation 40 Mb.

For a Windows 3.1 upgrade:

• A [compact] installation will take 20 Mb.
• A [typical] installation 30 Mb.

For a Windows for Workgroups upgrade:

• A [compact] installation will take 10 Mb.
• A [typical] installation 20 Mb.

1.2 System requirements for Windows 95

Computer 386 or above.

Peripheral Mouse or equivalent pointing device.

Memory 4 Mb Video display SVGA.

Disk space 20 Mb of free hard-disk is required for a local installation.

Also required is free disk space for a swap-file depending on how much RAM (Random Access Memory) the computer has. As a guide line you will need at least 14 Mb of memory which can be divided between the RAM and hard disk space.

1.3 Partition requirements

Windows 95 Setup cannot install Windows 95 unless a FAT partition exists on the hard disk. Windows 95 Setup recognizes and begins installing over the existing MS-DOS FAT partitions if the partitions are large enough to accommodate the Windows 95 files, including swap files.

2. Before installing Windows 95

Check that the computer’s hardware is supported and meets the minimum requirements for Windows 95.

• Read the Windows 95 [Readme file] and [setup.txt] on the installation disks to find any notes related to your computer hardware.
• Check that the computer components meet the minimum requirements.
• Check the MS-DOS version, type VER at the command prompt.
• Close all applications and disable unnecessary TSRs.
• Back up your config.sys and autoexec.bat files.
• Disable all TSRs and device drivers loaded in CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
• Except those required for partition or hard disk control, network drivers or any driver required for operation of a device such as video, CD ROM.
• Leave HIMEM.SYS and EMM386.EXE.
• Check and de-fragment the hard drive and back up key files.
• Be sure to de-fragment all compressed drives, because a highly fragmented compressed disk reports more available disk space than is available.

The files you should back up before running Windows 95 Setup include the following:

• All initialization files (.INI) files.
• All Registry data (.DAT) files.
• All Password (.PWL) files.
• All program manager group (.GRP) files in the windows directory.

CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT

CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT in the root directory.

• Proprietary network configuration files and login scripts.

2.1 Starting Windows 95 Setup

To start the Windows 95 Setup from Windows 3.1 or Windows for Workgroups:

• Start your computer in the usual way and run Windows.
• Start file manager.
• If using floppy disks, insert disk 1 in the drive and make that the active drive.

or

• If using CD ROM, put the compact disk in the drive: and log onto that drive and change to the Windows 95 directory.
• From the File menu, choose Run.
• Now type setup and press [Enter].
• Follow the instructions on-screen.

2.2 To start the Windows 95 Setup from MS-DOS

• Start your computer in the usual way.
  If using floppy disks, insert disk 1 in the drive and make that the active drive.

or

• If using CD ROM, put the compact disk in the drive and make that the active drive.
  At the command prompt, type Setup and press enter.
• Follow the instructions on-screen.

2.3 Running Windows 95 Setup

2.3.1 Choosing the Windows directory

The first step in the Setup program is to specify the installation directory. By default the directory containing the existing Windows installation is selected.

If you wish to have a dual-boot machine that keeps your old copy of Windows 3.x, you must first choose a new directory for your Windows 95 installation. Select the ‘Other directory’ option and then type in the name of the directory that you want to install Windows 95 into.

If you choose to install Windows 95 into a new directory, you might need to re-install your Windows based applications. This is because Windows 95 uses a different method from Windows 3.x for storing configuration information (not .ini files). Because the application support files such as DLLs will be missing from the Windows 95 directory, Windows 95 Setup cannot transfer this information automatically.

If you choose to overwrite your existing Windows directory you will have the option to backup your old system.

This is highly recommended.

2.3.2. Selecting the Setup type

The next screen asks you to select the type of Setup you want. The default option is ‘Typical Setup’.

The other options are:

• (Portable), Windows 95 will be set up with the options that are useful for portable computers.
• (Compact), to save disk space none of the optional components will be installed.
• (Custom), recommended for advanced users and system administrators only, this allows you to customize all available Setup options.

It is recommended that you install the "Typical Setup" for all desktop machines. It is possible to de-install most options at any point after installation if you decide that you have installed a component that you really do not need.

It is equally as simple to install components that were not installed originally and you later find useful.

2.3.3 Checking disk space for Windows 95

Setup will now check the hard disk, prepare the directory and verify that there is enough free disk space for Windows 95. If there is a problem, Windows 95 Setup will warn you about the lack of space, and display the minimum space requirements and the complete installation space requirements.

If you continue even though there is insufficient disk space, the installation will be incomplete. If Setup runs out of disk space it will stop and display an error message. You will then need to free additional disk space and run Setup again.

If you choose to overwrite an existing version of Windows, you will then be given the option to create 2 backup disks which will allow you to de-install Windows 95.

2.3.4 Providing User Information

Windows 95 Setup will then ask you to type in your user name (mandatory) and company name (optional).

Windows 95 Setup will then ask you for a product identification number (mandatory). Setup will not continue without one. The product ID number can be found on your Windows 95 disks or Certificate of Authenticity.

2.3.5 Analyzing the computer

Windows 95 Setup will now prepare for the hardware detection phase. For a typical Setup you can choose to skip detection for certain hardware such as CD ROM or multimedia devices. If Setup proposes to skip detection of certain hardware, but you know that these types of devices are attached to your computer, you can override the suggestion and have Setup detect the devices.

The detection screen will ask you if you want Setup to look for all hardware devices. The recommended option is yes, select this checkbox and press enter to move on.

Hardware detection can take several minutes. Windows 95 Setup can stall or hang-up at this point if the hardware detection fails for a particular system component. You may also be asked additional questions about your hardware.

2.3.6 Selecting software components

The next screen to appear, will ask you to specify if you want to choose the accessories and other software to be installed with Windows 95.

Then select the options that you wish to make additions or subtractions to.

If you just press [Enter] you will accept the default settings.

Remember you can always de-install unwanted components from your system at a later date.

2.3.7 Copying Files and Creating a Start-up disk.

In the start up disk screen, Windows 95 Setup offers to create and emergency start-up disk that contains basic system files. You can use this disk to start Windows 95 when you cannot start the operating systems from the hard disk.

During this phase the Windows 95 files are copied into the destination drive and directory.

The system will ask you if you want to create a startup disk. This does not need to be formatted or empty, any information on this disk will be permanently deleted. Press [Enter] to say yes and the disk will be created. After the basic installation steps are completed you will be asked to remove the disk from the floppy drive. Press [OK] again and Setup will continue.

2.3.8 Other configuration settings

• Setting the Local Time Zone.
• Go into the Control panel.
• Select the Regional setting icon.
• Select you country from the pull down list.
• Select your time zone from the list.

3. Installing and Configuring a Printer

If you are installing Windows 95 in a new directory, or on a computer that did not have a previous version of Windows, Windows 95 Setup automatically runs the Add Printer wizard the first time that Windows 95 is started after the basic installation is complete.

If you have installed Windows 95 over a previous version of Windows, the previous printer configuration is incorporated into Windows 95. The Add Printer wizard will not run.

To install a printer, press [Next] and follow the instructions on the screen.

If you do not want to install a printer press [Cancel].

3.1 Configuring Microsoft Exchange

This will only be activated if you have selected Microsoft Exchange from the software component installation list as part of point 2.3.6.

3.2 Completing Windows 95 Setup

When Windows 95 Setup has finished it will tell you that installation was successful and prompt you to restart the computer.

3.3 If you have a problem during Windows 95 Setup

If Setup encounters an error or stops during hardware detection so that you have to run Windows 95 Setup again, the Safe Recovery option in Setup automatically skips previous problems so that Setup can be completed.

When the Safe Recovery dialog box appears you should select the use "safe recovery" option.

4. Creating a dual boot machine

If you have installed Windows 95 into a new directory and still have an earlier version of Windows on your machine, or want your machine to go to the command prompt (DOS 7) instead of straight into Windows, you will have to create a start-up menu.

To create a dual boot machine you need to make changes to the MSDOS.SYS file.

• Then the message "Starting Windows 95" appears, press the F8 key.
• You will then be presented with a menu, select "command prompt only".
• From the command prompt, you must first make the file readable, type:

attrib MSDOS.SYS -r -s -h

• Edit the MSDOS.SYS file and add the following lines under the section [Options] if any are not present.

BootMulti=1

BootMenu=1

BootMenuDefault=N

BootGUI=1

• N is the option that you want for default.
• If you want the machine to default to Windows 95, set N to 1.
• If you have a network card and you want the machine to default to the (DOS 7) command prompt, set N to 6.
• If you do not have a network card and you want the machine to default to the DOS 7 command prompt, set N to 5.
• If you have a network card and you want the machine to default to the previous version of MS-DOS, set N to 8.
• If you do not have a network card and you want the machine to default to the previous version of MS-DOS, set N to 7.

5. Save the changes end exit back to the command prompt

When you start up your machine this menu will appear every time with the chosen default option highlighted. You will have a time allowance of 30 seconds to change the selection if you wish.