                         RAMWIN Emergency Windows 95
      Requirements:
      PKZIP and PKUNZIP command line (version 2.50) from PKWARE.COM
      XMSDSK.EXE from Franck Uberto (if it is to run on a RAMDISK)
      Windows 95 CAB files
      
      You can create a directory on your computer to build the files on. For
      instance you can (at the DOS Prompt) type
      md c:\makewin
      cd c:\makewin
      
      Next unZIP the downloaded file into that directory. The following files
      must be in that directory:
      boot.zip    (This contains some of the boot disk files)
      cab95b.bat  (This is the program to create the RAMWIN)
      win95b.zip  (This contains modified files needed to make RAMWIN work)
      
      When you are ready, make sure you are in the directory these files are
      in and type cab95b and press Enter.
      
      The batch file will create the RAMWIN using files from the WINDOWS 95
      install CDROM or where ever you have the CAB files located. You can
      enter the path to those files.
      
      Method 1:
      The RAMWIN can be created at pure DOS using only the CAB files if
      Windows cannot be started. Extracting the files at DOS from the CAB
      files can take more than an hour. This is the best form of the files
      as they are not altered by program updates.
      
      Method 2:
      The batch file can also copy the files from your Windows then add
      missing files. This method can be far faster. However, you will have
      to examine the files and delete files that have been modified. When
      you run the batch file again, those files will be replace from the
      CAB files.
      
      After the OEM Windows files are present, select the Verify option. If
      the files are all there, select (A) add Downloaded files. When this
      operation is complete, select (M) Make program disk and files from
      the opening menu.
      
      When either of these operations is complete, RAMWIN will be ready for
      storage. At this point it is created in a temporary directory on your
      computer where you specify. The next phase will set up the boot disk
      and either a single file, which can be stored on a CDROM disk, ZIP
      disk or a Hard drive, or the files will be stored on four 1.44 floppy
      disks. It will fit on 3 disks. But I like to include tools such as
      Scandisk, Notepad and DOS commands.
      
      Operation:
      When you boot from the floppy disk, a RAMDISK is created where the
      program will run from. Franck Uberto's Ramdisk can have the drive
      letter assigned. I selected R for RamWin. This drive (10mb) or more
      is created from RAM memory. The zipped files are uncompressed by
      PKZIP onto the RAMDISK. You will need more than 20mb of total RAM
      memory for the program to run. You can load a CDROM Drive and/or a
      ZIP drive. These must be done on the boot disk.
      
      Uses:
      When you run the RAMWIN, you can copy or modify files on your
      computer. You will have Long Filenames, which you can't have at DOS.
      You can (if you include a ZIP program) ZIP the files on you drive and
      copy them to a ZIP disk or even a Network drive.
      
      I recently used RAMWIN to recover files from a failed hard drive. The
      drive developed bad sector in the boot file area. Consequently
      Windows could not launch on the second drive as it still needed to
      boot from the first drive. And that drive would not slave to the
      other drive. Using the RAMWIN I was able to copy the files from the
      failed drive to the good second drive, salvaging most of the files.
      Since RAMWIN is not running on the hard drives, you don't get
      interference from Windows.
      
      For preventative measures I boot on RAMWIN and PKZIP the files on my
      hard drive. Then in normal computer operation, I copy those zip files
      to CDRW disks. If my Windows crashes, I can completely restore from
      the CDROM using RAMWIN. Unlike Disk Images which you restore
      complete, I can access the ZIP files to get any files I want.
      
      Flexibility:
      I have used this RAMWIN on a 386sx 20mhz, 486, Pentium 200mmx,
      Pentium 400 and AMD 400. The AMD was hit and miss as I do not have
      the patch installed. Since it is in 16 bit color standard VGA mode, 
      it works the same on several computers. I haven't had any
      compatibility problems yet.
      
      Using Windows 95b files, you can access anything from DOS to Windows
      98 and Windows ME.
      
      If memory is a problem, you can run the program from a Doublespace or
      Drivespace compressed disk. Or you can run it from a ZIP disk or a
      Network drive. It can also be run from a CDROM disk, However this is
      difficult as it can make no changes to compensate for changes. I get
      a lot of error messages when running from a CDROM (as well as very
      slow operation).
      
      The common point for all of these is that the drive letter must be R.
      For this reason it works fine whether you have a single hard drive,
      compressed drives, or multiple partitions, just as long as you aren't
      already using the drive letter R.
      
      Customizing:
      You can add programs such as PKZIP for Windows into the RAMWIN
      directory. Then you can add that to the DISK 1 OPTIONS.ZIP by typing:
      pkzip -rP -whs a:\options ramwin\*.*
      Depending on the total size, you may have to incease the size of the
      RAMDISK. In the autoexec.bat you will see xmsdsk.exe. change the
      number to change the size. 10000 creates a 10mb drive.
      
      On the boot disk you can add a CDROM drive and/or a ZIP drive. You
      can also load a network ad DOS before starting Windows. If there is
      space in the disk, you can add that to the disk. Otherwise you must
      start in DOS mode and load the Network before starting RAMWIN.

              RAMWIN 95b Creator Batch v1.0 November 30, 2000
                www.geocities.com/politalk/win95/ramwin.htm
====================================================================