This article discusses the Windows 95 Setup process and steps to troubleshoot Setup problems. Starting Setup ============== Microsoft Windows 95 can upgrade Windows version 3.0 and higher and Windows for Workgroups version 3.1 and higher. If you are using Windows 3.0, you must run Setup from MS-DOS. If you are using Windows 3.1 or Windows for Workgroups 3.1 or higher, you can run Setup from MS-DOS or Windows. Windows 95 can upgrade MS-DOS, PC-DOS, or OEM-DOS version 3.2 and higher. Setup Step-by-Step ================== Understanding the steps that Setup performs may help you to troubleshoot problems you encounter during the Setup process. Setup performs the following steps: Step 1 - Initializing Setup --------------------------- In this step, Windows 95 prepares your computer for installation by performing the following functions: - If you run Setup from MS-DOS, Windows 95 searches the local hard disk for a previous version of Windows 3.1 or later. If a previous version is found, Setup recommends that you quit Setup and then run Setup again from inside the existing Windows version. - Setup checks for the minimum system configuration. - Setup checks for an extended memory manager (such as HIMEM.SYS) and a disk cache program (such as SMARTDRV.EXE). If either is not found, Setup loads one. - Setup checks for the presence of "dirty" or "deadly" terminate-and- stay-resident programs (TSRs) that are known to cause problems with Windows 95 Setup. - If you run Setup from MS-DOS, Setup installs the necessary components for mini-Windows. Setup stores these files in a temporary directory it creates called WININST0.400. - Setup starts the graphical user interface (GUI) and displays the "Welcome to Setup" message. At this point, Setup switches the processor into 386 enhanced mode and makes extended memory available. - If Setup finds an OLD_DOS.X directory, it asks you if you want to delete this information to free hard disk space. Step 2 - Preparation for Smart Recovery --------------------------------------- If for any reason Setup does not finish and the computer needs to be restarted, the following lines in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file prompt you to run Setup again and choose the Smart Recovery option: @if exist c:\wininst0.400\suwarn.bat call c:\wininst0.400\suwarn.bat @if exist c:\wininst0.400\suwarn.bat del c:\wininst0.400\suwarn.bat Step 3 - Read the SETUPLOG.TXT File ----------------------------------- Setup reads the SETUPLOG.TXT file to see if Setup failed previously. If Setup did fail previously, Setup prompts you to run Smart Recovery or to continue using the Full Install option. Step 4 - Gathering Information ------------------------------ Setup collects information from you (such as your name and the directory in which to install Windows 95) and writes that information to the SETUPLOG.TXT file for use when copying files. Step 5 - Hardware Detection --------------------------- Hardware detection is the most intense portion of Setup. Windows 95 maintains a database of known legacy (non-Plug and Play) devices and the resources that they use. Setup polls all of these resources (I/O ports, IRQs, DMA channels, memory addresses, and so on) and looks for responses to determine what device is using each resource. If Setup detects a Plug and Play device, it adds that device's configuration information to the registry. Setup creates the registry and puts the SYSTEM.NEW, USER.NEW, and DETLOG.TXT files in the root directory of drive C. To help speed the process of searching through the extensive .INF files, Setup uses two indexing files, DRVIDX.BIN and DRVDATA.BIN, from the temporary directory (WININST0.400). Step 6 - Windows Components --------------------------- When you select the components to install (or accept the default components), Setup writes them to the SETUPLOG.TXT file with the other Setup information. Step 7 - Startup Disk --------------------- If you chose to create a Startup Disk, Setup copies these files now. After the Startup Disk is created, Setup uses the SETUPX.DLL file to create a list of files to copy based on the components you chose earlier. Step 8 - Finishing Setup ------------------------ After copying all the necessary files, Setup upgrades the existing copy of Windows and replaces the existing MS-DOS version with the Windows 95 operating system. After Setup reaches 100% complete, it writes information to the hard disk's master boot record (MBR) and renames the IO.SYS and MSDOS.SYS files to IO.DOS and MSDOS.DOS. At this point you are prompted to click the Finish button so that Setup can restart your computer and complete the installation. Step 9 - Configuring Hardware ----------------------------- Setup updates the configuration files by running WININIT.EXE to process the options in the WININIT.INI file. The WININIT.INI file tells Setup to create the VMM32.VXD file and to rename the files that were used by Setup initially but are no longer needed. Step 10 - Run-Once ------------------ Setup runs the Run-Once module. This module is specified in the registry and installs certain device configurations and printers, converts .GRP files to Windows 95 format, sets the time and date, and sets up the Help system for Windows 95. Step 11 - Second Reboot ----------------------- This step does not occur on all computers. Setup may restart your computer a second time so that it can finalize the hardware settings. This extra step lets Setup detect hardware that could not be detected during the original hardware detection. For example, if your computer contains a sound card with a built-in SCSI controller, Setup detects the sound card and SCSI controller during the initial hardware detection phase. Setup restarts your computer a second time so that it can load the SCSI enumerator and detect whatever is attached to the SCSI controller (such as a CD-ROM drive). Troubleshooting Setup ===================== Before you try any of the following steps, create a boot disk for your current operating system. Copy any files you need to start your computer (including the AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files) to the boot disk. Make sure to include any necessary device driver files (such as a device driver that gives you access to the hard disk). For instructions about how to create a boot disk, please consult your operating system's documentation. Clean Boot ---------- If you have problems installing Windows 95, you should first try a clean boot. If no disk-compression software, disk partitioning software, or other third-party driver is necessary to start your computer, follow these steps to try a clean boot: 1. Rename the CONFIG.SYS file to CONFIG.XXX. To do so, type the following line at a command prompt: ren c:\config.sys c:\config.xxx 2. Rename the AUTOEXEC.BAT file to AUTOEXEC.XXX. To do so, type the following line at a command prompt: ren c:\autoexec.bat c:\autoexec.xxx 3. Restart your computer and run Setup again. Setup from MS-DOS: If disk partitioning, disk compression, or other third-party software is required to start your computer, the AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files should appear as follows: CONFIG.SYS -------------------------------------- FILES=45 BUFFERS=20 SHELL=C:\\COMMAND.COM /E:1024 /P AUTOEXEC.BAT --------------- PROMPT $P$G PATH=C:\DOS;C:\ Setup from Windows: If disk partitioning, disk compression, or other third-party software is required to start your computer, the AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files should appear as follows: CONFIG.SYS -------------------------------------- FILES=45 BUFFERS=20 DEVICE=C:\\HIMEM.SYS STACKS=9,256 SHELL=C:\\COMMAND.COM /E:1024 /P AUTOEXEC.BAT -------------------------- PROMPT $P$G PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\DOS;C:\ SET TEMP=C:\ NOTE: These examples assume you are not running Setup from a network. If you are running Setup from a network, please consult your network administrator for instructions on using a minimal boot. Setup Stops Responding (Hangs) ------------------------------ Some computers include a feature that prevents applications from writing to the boot sector of the hard disk, often in the form of anti-virus protection. Such features may be set in your computer's CMOS memory. If anti-virus protection is running, Setup cannot finish the installation, or Windows 95 does not load properly. To work around this problem, disable the anti-virus feature in your computer's CMOS memory and then run Setup again. For information about how to change CMOS settings on your computer, please contact your computer manufacturer. Setup Hangs on Disk 2 --------------------- This problem can be caused by either of the following situations: - Bad disks. To test for bad disks, follow these steps: 1. Copy the EXTRACT.EXE file from Disk 1 to the root directory of drive C. To do so, type the following line at the command prompt: copy a:\extract.exe c:\ 2. Create a temporary directory on your hard disk by typing the following line at the command prompt: md c:\win95tmp 3. With Disk 1 in drive A, change to that drive and copy all the files to the new directory you created in step 2 by typing the following lines (press ENTER after each line): a: copy *.* c:\win95tmp 4. With Disk 2 in drive A, extract PRECOPY2.CAB and WIN95_02.CAB to the directory you created in step 2: extract /e precopy2.cab /l c:\win95tmp extract /e win95_02.cab /l c:\win95tmp NOTE: You must use the EXTRACT command on all the disks except Disk 1, due to their format. If you cannot copy or extract these files, you may need replacement disks. 5. Run Setup from the directory you created in step 2 rather than from Disk 1: c: cd\win95tmp setup - Change-line support is not working properly. If Setup cannot read Disk 2 after it reads Disk 1, try the following steps: 1. Add the appropriate line to the CONFIG.SYS file: For a 1.44-MB drive A: DRIVPARM=/d:0 /f:7 For a 1.44-MB drive B: DRIVPARM=/d:1 /f:7 NOTE: Because the /C switch is not included in these lines, MS-DOS is instructed to not depend on change-line support. If the CONFIG.SYS file contains a DRIVER.SYS line, disable it by placing the REM command at the beginning of the line. 2. Restart the computer and run Setup again. If Setup works correctly, change-line support is not functioning properly. Leave the DRIVPARM statement in the CONFIG.SYS file. If Setup still does not work correctly, remove the DRIVPARM statement from the CONFIG.SYS file and consult your computer manufacturer to make sure that the computer's CMOS settings are correct. Setup Hangs During Hardware Detection ------------------------------------- If Setup hangs while it is detecting hardware in your computer, try the following steps: 1. Turn your computer off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. NOTE: Do not use the reset button or press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart your computer. 2. Run Setup again and choose Smart Recovery when you are prompted. If Setup continues to hang at the same place during hardware detection, follow these steps: 1. Run Setup with the /id switch to avoid hardware detection. For example, type the following line to start Setup: setup /id 2. Click the Custom Setup option button when you are prompted. 3. When you are prompted "Do you want Setup to look for all hardware devices?" click "No, I want to modify the hardware list." 4. In the Hardware Types list, click only the following types: Display Floppy Disk Controller Hard Disk Controller Keyboard Mouse 5. If Setup continues to hang during hardware detection, run Setup again and select different combinations of hardware types. For example, select only Display, Floppy Disk Controller, Keyboard, and Mouse. Setup Hangs While Creating the Startup Disk ------------------------------------------- Setup may hang or generate a general protection (GP) fault error message when it tries to create the Startup Disk. This problem may be due to the presence of a virtual device driver (VxD) from Norton Utilities. To work around this problem, use either of the following methods: - Start Setup again. When you are prompted whether you want to create a Startup Disk, click No. - Remove the "device=symevnt.386" line from the [386Enh] section of the SYSTEM.INI file and then run Setup again. Use any text editor (such as Notepad or EDIT.COM) to edit the SYSTEM.INI file and remove this line. If you choose not to create a Startup Disk during Setup, you can create one after Setup is finished. To do so, follow these steps in Windows 95: 1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, then click Control Panel. 2. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon, then click the Startup Disk tab. 3. Click the Create Disk button to create a Startup Disk. Setup Hangs After the First Reboot ---------------------------------- Setup may hang after the first reboot for one of the following reasons: - There is a video driver conflict, or an incompatible real-mode hard disk driver. Try to start Windows 95 in Safe Mode by following these steps: 1. Restart Windows 95. Press the F8 key when you see the "Starting Windows 95" message. 2. Choose Safe Mode from the Microsoft Windows 95 Startup menu. If Windows 95 starts, change the video driver to the standard VGA driver by following these steps: 1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, then click Control Panel. 2. Double-click the Display icon. 3. Click the Settings tab, then click the Change Display Type button. 4. Click the Change button in the Adapter Type section, then click the Show Compatible Devices option button. 5. Click "(Standard Display Types)" then double-click Standard Display Adapter (VGA). Click OK. 6. Restart Windows 95 normally. - There may be a damaged Windows 3.1 group (.GRP) file. To correct this problem, turn your computer off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. Run the Group Converter tool (GRPCONV.EXE) to rebuild each .GRP file individually. Setup Generates "Incorrect System Disk" Error Message ----------------------------------------------------- You can work around this problem by manually installing the Windows 95 system files on the hard disk. To do so, follow these steps: 1. Start your computer with the Startup Disk created during Setup. 2. Make a backup copy of the current MSDOS.SYS file by typing the following lines at the command prompt: c: cd\windows\command attrib c:\msdos.sys -r -s -h ren c:\msdos.sys c:\msdos.xxx 3. Use the SYS command from the Startup Disk to transfer the system files to the hard disk by typing the following lines at the command prompt: a: sys c: 4. Replace the new MSDOS.SYS file with the backup copy by typing the following lines at the command prompt: c: cd\windows\command attrib c:\msdos.sys -r -s -h del c:\msdos.sys ren c:\msdos.xxx c:\msdos.sys attrib c:\msdos.sys +r +s +h