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Q83051: Maintaining OLE Functionality when Reinstalling Windows 3.1

Article: Q83051
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.1,3.11
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 04-OCT-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows versions 3.1, 3.11 
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SUMMARY
=======

A lot of time may be spent setting up object-linking-and-embeding (OLE)
information in the Registration database, especially if the only way to
reregister an application is to run its Setup program again.

It is necessary to preserve OLE information when reinstalling the Microsoft
Windows operating system version 3.1. A new directory should be created to
install Windows 3.1 into, and the current REG.DAT file should be copied into
this directory before installing Windows.

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

All OLE registration information is stored in the file REG.DAT in the Windows
directory. Link information is stored with individual documents that reference
information in the Registration database.

If Windows 3.1 is installed over Windows 3.0 or Windows 3.1, then the REG.DAT
file is preserved and OLE and shell registration information for the Windows 3.1
programs packaged with Windows are added to the database.

The same is true if Windows 3.1 is installed to a directory that already has a
REG.DAT file in it. Therefore, if you set up a new installation of Windows 3.1
(rather than an upgrade), a new directory should be created to install Windows
3.1 into, and the current REG.DAT file should be copied into this directory
before installing Windows.

If Windows 3.1 has already been installed into a new directory, you can copy the
REG.DAT file from the old Windows directory to the new Windows directory. Be
sure Windows is not running when you copy the REG.DAT file. Then use the
following steps to update the REG.DAT file:

1. Start Windows.

2. From the File menu, choose Run.

3. Type the following command in the Command Line text box:

  REGEDIT SETUP.REG

4. Choose OK.

If there are more .REG files to merge into the database, use File Manager to
search for them and either double-click each one (press ENTER), or drag and drop
all of them (at one time or individually) onto the REGEDIT window.

Until Windows 3.1 is reinstalled with OLE information, the old Windows 3.1
directory and all subdirectories should not be deleted because applications are
installing OLE servers in the Windows directory tree. In addition, shared DLL
files may be in the SYSTEM directory.

Additional query words: 3.10 scratch

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin310 kbWin311
Version           : WINDOWS:3.1,3.11

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