KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q63694: Moving Windows 3.0 to Another Location

Article: Q63694
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 09-OCT-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.0a 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

You may install Microsoft Windows version 3.0, then later want to copy or move
it to a new location (on another directory, drive, or system). Although this is
not a problem with Windows versions 2.x, such an action causes difficulties with
Windows version 3.0. We recommend making a complete new installation if it is
necessary to change the Windows 3.0 location.

If you must move the existing installation, you must make the following
modifications:

1. Modify any entries in your .INI files that contain absolute paths (such as
  PROGMAN.INI and any others such as the [HPPCL,LPT2] section of the WIN.INI).

2. Your PIF files may contain the absolute paths to various applications that
  might differ on another system. These must be either recreated by Setup or
  modified by hand with the PIF Editor.

3. Your Program Manager group (GRP) files contain absolute paths, both to the
  Windows accessories and to any other applications detected by the Setup
  program. The standard groups normally created by Setup must be modified by
  hand with an ASCII text editor, such as Notepad. Setup can be used to help
  re-create the Windows Applications and Non-Windows Applications groups.

4. If you have changed machine types, you should run the character mode Setup on
  the target system before starting Windows and adjust any settings as
  necessary.

MORE INFORMATION
================

If you move your Windows installation from one machine to another by copying the
files with the MS-DOS program XCOPY.EXE or third-party programs such as Laplink
Release III or Brooklyn Bridge, then the following error messages will appear if
the SYSTEM subdirectory located in the WINDOWS directory is not copied at the
same time:
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Command | Message                                                                                                              | 
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| win     | Cannot find KERNEL.EXE needed to run in real mode; check to ensure the path is correct or reinstall Windows.         | 
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| win /s  | Cannot find DOSX.EXE needed to run in standard mode; check to ensure the path is correct or reinstall Windows.       | 
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| win /3  | Cannot find WIN386.EXE needed to run in 386 enhanced mode; check to ensure the path is correct or reinstall Windows. | 
+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
The SYSTEM directory could be copied over to the new machine, but this is an
improper installation and may not run correctly.

The only correct way to install Windows 3.0 on a computer is to run the SETUP.EXE
Setup program.

Additional query words: 3.00 3.00a 3.0 3.0a

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin300 kbWin300a
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.