CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE YOU START WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO LOSE? If you have created files, menus and customized settings, you may not want to start from scratch. If you have a lot of installed programs, most of them will have to be reinstalled. If you don't get rid of troublesome files and settings, the problems you have may still be with you. If your Windows isn't working right, you might want to troubleshoot the problem. If the problem is hardware related your fresh installation will have the same problem. You will be spinning your wheels. If the problem is a "Boot Record" virus or worm, reinstalling, even formatting may not fix the problem. Many of these can be repaired with a simple command. Do you have all the installation disks and CDs in suitable condition for all of the programs you want on the system when you reload? Do you have access codes, installation ID numbers and setup instructions for internet and other programs? Of course if the system doesn't work at all, this may be moot. HOW DRASTIC DO YOU WANT THIS INSTALLATION TO BE? Do you want to start "clean"? Format and Partitioning may be the answer. Formatting removes all of your files so there is nothing left that was corrupt. Resetting you partition or changing the partitions can improve storage capacity and organization as well as improving reliability of the storage. It can also remove more possible viruses. Although it may take a while to reinstall all your programs, you can make changes as to file location and other settings that you can only do during and installation. Do you want to try to refresh Windows keeping your settings? You might be able to install over you existing Windows. If windows has corrupted or missing files, installation over your existing Windows may get it going again. While most upgrade versions will allow this, many OEM installations will not allow you to install over an existing installation. There, however may be ways around these limitations. It is recommended that you delete INI files as the installation generally will not overwrite newer files. If the problem is in the INI files, then the problem will still be there. I suggest moving them to another storage location or storing them in a ZIPPED file. This way you can edit from them if you need their commands or reinstall them after the reinstall is complete. Do you want to replace only the Windows? You can reinstall other programs and many will keep their settings just adding their drivers and settings to Windows. In this case you can delete the Windows directory only. Then reinstall Windows. Step-By-Step installation

 

Before you begin.       Windows 3.1 and 3.11 normally come in 3.5" or 5.25" floppy disk. The number of disks is usually 7 for the 1.44mb 3.5" disks. You should use Scandisk or a competitive utility to test all of the disks before you delete your Windows. If one of the disks has a defect, this could make it impossible for you to reinstall. Do you have a Startup/Boot disk which will give you access to your CDROM drive? If the installation files are on a CDROM, it will be necessary to have access to the CD Disk during the installation. The drivers for this are usually not a part of Windows 3.x. But it is possible that the files have been copied to the Windows Directory. If so, deleting the directory could leave you without drivers for some devices. Do you have the Product ID numbers for programs you will need to reinstall? Do you have the Drivers Install disk or CDROM disk for your Modem, LAN Card, Sound Card, Printer and Video Card? Do you have the install disks or CDROM disk to install programs you are using that you want to continue to use? Do you have the codes you need to setup your Internet Mail and Internet Connection? Next Step!

 

Finding the Product ID number If you can't find your Product Id number you can often get it from the computer. Sometimes it is listed under help, About. It also might be found in an INI file in that program's directory. Back to "Before you begin"

 

Question Are there any files already on the hard drive? Yes! No!

 

Question Do you want to keep the Windows you have and REFRESH It or add the new Windows in another directory (folder) or another drive? Do you want to replace the Windows you now have on the drive?

 

Windows can only be installed when there is already an operating system on the computer. While this could be a bootable floppy disk, normally this would be on the hard drive. Microsoft DOS uses IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS and COMMAND.COM in the root directory. These are necessary for the computer to boot. Additionally, there should be the AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files also in the root directory. Generally, Windows will need all of these present in order to install.       When DOS is installed, there will also be a DOS directory as well, which has other files needed by Windows and to facilitate the operation of the computer. You can generally delete any other files and directories before you install Windows. Question Do you want to keep the other files on the hard drive? Yes! No!

 

Deleting Windows If you want to install the Windows 3.x in the c:\windows\ directory, but you currently have a Windows in that directory, you can Rename the directory by typing at the DOS Prompt: ren c:\windows c:\win31 or move c:\windows c:\win31 To DELETE Windows 3.1, Type the following: deltree /y c:\windows Continue.

 

Question You can delete all the files quickly with a Quick Format of the drive. Or you can change the partitions of the drive to either combine several partitions into a single large partition or divide a large drive into several smaller partitions. If your drive is larger than 2.1 gigabytes, you will not be able to install Windows 3.1 unless you have an Windows 95b (OSR2) boot system that has been modified to allow the use of Windows 3.x. It also will not run on a Fat32 partition unless this modification has been made. In either case you will have to install a version of DOS on the drive before you can install Windows. Which would you like to do? Partition! Quick format! The drive is formatted and has DOS installed already!

 

Quick Format. From the DOS Prompt (Boot from your Startup/Boot Disk) type: a: format c: /q Continue

 

1. Do you have an Upgrade or OEM Installation CD?

 

Ready to install Windows. (DOS already installed) To install, if you are refreshing Windows 3.1, Start Windows and click RUN on the File menu. Otherwise, Boot to the DOS Prompt from the Hard Drive. Then, with Windows Installation SETUP DISK 1 in the Floppy A or B drive, type: A: setup In the above instances, substitute the A with B if the disk is in Drive B. If the files are on a CDROM, Type: D: cd D:\install\win311\ setup In the above instances, substitute the D with the CDROM's drive letter or the drive letter where the install files are. Replace \install\win311\ with the actual path to those files. NEXT STEP: The Install Process The Printable Install Process of above steps

 

The Install Process Step 1. The Setup Program will start. Follow its menus. When the setup program starts it will check the system for previous Windows. Then the welcome screen will appear. Press Enter to continue or F3 to quit. Go to Install step 2

 

 

The Install Process Step 2. Selecting Enter you are presented with 2 choices: Express Setup which puts everything that Windows thinks you might need on the drive, taking quite a bit of space. But, you won't have to make most of the decisions. Custom Setup let's you pick what to install (somewhat) and where. Select Custom Setup by pressing C. Go to Install step 3

 

 

The Install Process Step 3. The proposed Drive and Directory name for Windows will be displayed. You can change the name and/or drive. If you enter the same name and path for an already existing Windows, it will be overwritten. Go to Install step 4

 

 

The Install Process Step 4. When you press enter, the program will query what equipment is installed. If it can't identify something, it will probably alert you to that. If the Video card isn't identified you can either select VGA from the list and install the drivers later or provide the drivers now. Windows will be in 16 color mode until you install the correct drivers for your card. Most computers in use today are using components that didn't exist when Windows 3.1 was released. Go to Install step 5

 

 

The Install Process Step 5. An overview of settings will be displayed. If you press enter, the Temporary Windows Setup files are installed. After a few minutes, the Registration box will appear. You must enter a name, any name. Product ID is not usually needed by Windows 3.1/3.11. When you press Enter, a verification screen appears. Select "Continue". Go to Install step 6

 

 

The Install Process Step 6. Now you get more choices. (check the one(s) you want): Set up only the Windows components you select. Set up Printers. Set up applications already on the hard disk. The last item will look for EXE files to list on menus. Many you won't want. You can either add them later manually or let Windows list them during installation. Go to Install step 7

 

 

The Install Process Step 7. Next is another menu. These are optional programs and files. If you click on the Select Files buttons to the right, you can select individual programs under each heading. When you click "Continue", the actual Windows Files installation begins. Go to Install step 8

 

 

The Install Process Step 8.       After a while the Network Setup Box appears. Default Network Drivers Microsoft Netbeui and IPX/SPX compatible are listed by default. A card driver that Windows thinks will work for your card is presented.       If you have a Network Interface Card (NIC), you should select your specific card from the list or intall the correct drivers from a disk supplied with the card. If you are going to Network your computer, you may want to enable File and Print Sharing. These items can be added later.       When you click Ok, you may get the Interrupt to use option is next. This can be changed after installation if that is needed. Go to Install step 9

 

 

The Install Process Step 9. Now the name you entered in the Registrations box is brought up as the Computer name. You can change this name if you want. This will be the name your computer has on a LAN connection (Local Access Network). If you are on the internet and you do not have a security firewall in place, this name can be accessed. Therefore, it might be a good idea to use a fictitious "Handle". Go to Install step 10

 

 

The Install Process Step 10. Next more files are copied. Then a Box advising you that the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files need to be modified. You are actually asked before changes are made. There are 3 options: Let Windows make the modifications for you (it will make backup copies) Show you the changes so you can decide. Windows will want to use it's files. But, you may have later files if you are installing with programs already on the drive. Let you make the changes later. It will save the files it would use in the Windows directory. Choose what works for you. Go to Install step 11

 

 

The Install Process Step 11 Now the Setup Program will install the Windows Icons and set up the Groups. Go to Install step 12

 

 

The Install Process Step 12. Now you have reached the end. Now you have one last group of choices to make: You can take the Windows Tutorial. If you are new to Windows 3.x, it might help for learn what potential Windows has. You can quit to DOS. Since Windows 3.x is not the operating system, unless drivers that it needs were not installed in the boot files before this installation, it will be ready to go. You can Reboot the computer. If this is a new installation, many drivers may not have been loaded. There also may be some added that are need by Windows to run. The Installation Is Finished! The Printable Install Process