2,001 Tips
Tips from the Top
Quick-and-Dirty Installation Guide

-- by John D. Ruley, Senior Technology Editor

Here are some simple-yet-sound tips for upgrading from Windows 3.1x to Windows 95.

• Make two complete backups of your hard drive.
• Make sure you have the original installation disks for all your essential software.
• Make on-disk copies of all critical system files (INI, GRP, DAT and PWD files, plus your AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files).
• Use MSD (Microsoft System Diagnostic) or a similar program to completely document your system setup.
• Record all system and application passwords and software registration, validation or unlocking codes.
• Choose one of the following options:Aggressive"Reformat your hard drive, reinstall minimal DOS and Windows.
• Conservative"Pare your CONFIG.SYS, AUTOEXEC.BAT, WIN.INI and SYSTEM.INI to the bare essentials, eliminating as many nonstandard, third-party or unusual items as possible.
• Delete or move your Startup group's contents.
• Switch to a temporary swap file.
• Switch to vanilla VGA or SVGA video.
• Take special care to make sure you can get your e-mail connections back if you encounter some incompatibility.
• Verify that everything's working properly.
• Back out to DOS, run SCANDISK.EXE and fix any errors you may encounter.
• Once you have as plain a setup as possible, you can install Windows 95 without the likelihood of running into problems. After your new operating system is running and stable, you can add or restore whatever unusual, custom or third-party items you desire.
  

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