OFF2000: How to Install Windows 95 to a New Folder to Troubleshoot Office

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 use of Microsoft Office programs. The second installation is also useful for determining whether 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 in this article, you need the following:

• Approximately 100 megabytes (MB) of free hard disk 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 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 need your OEM Product ID, which is located on your Certificate of Authenticity.
• A Windows 95 Startup disk. If you encounter problems following the instructions below, it may be necessary to use the Windows 95 Startup disk to start the computer.

Create a Windows 95 Startup Disk

If you do not have a Windows 95 Startup disk, you need to create one. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
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 or DVD-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 or DVD-ROM drive.
5. At the command prompt, type exit and press ENTER.
6. Click Start, and 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 F8, and then click 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 when you enter 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\<folder>
   							

   where <folder> is the name of the folder where the current copy of Windows 95 is installed. If your Windows 95 folder 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 when you enter 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 disk 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. Click Start, 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 F8, and then click 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 when you enter 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 are asked to confirm each line when you press ENTER. Type

   deltree w95flat
   deltree <folder>
   							

   where <folder> 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\<folder>
   							

   where <folder> 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\win95
   						

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+DELETE to restart the computer. When the computer restarts, your original copy of Windows 95 will be restored.