Q87290: What Is a Clean Boot for Windows 3.1?
Article: Q87290
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.1,3.11
Operating System(s):
Keyword(s):
Last Modified: 20-SEP-1999
3.10 3.11
WINDOWS
kbtlc kbtshoot
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The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows versions 3.1, 3.11
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SUMMARY
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A "clean boot" (starting your computer after all unnecessary commands have been
removed from your CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files) is used as a basic
troubleshooting step to test possible conflicts between Windows 3.1 and various
terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR) programs and device drivers. There are
different types of clean boots; the correct one to use depends on whether or not
Microsoft Windows has been installed.
More information about clean booting can be found on pages 99-100 of the "Getting
Started with Microsoft Windows" version 3.1 manual and on pages 528-531 of the
version 3.1 "Microsoft Windows Users Guide."
NOTE: This article explains how to clean boot your system up to the point when
you start Windows. To start Windows without loading any third-party programs,
you must clear the StartUp group, clear the LOAD= and RUN= entries in the
WIN.INI file, and ensure the SHELL= entry in the SYSTEM.INI file is loading
PROGMAN.EXE. Also, make sure the SYSTEM.INI file does not include third-party
virtual device drivers (VxDs) or other third-party Windows components.
MORE INFORMATION
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Before Clean Booting
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Create a bootable floppy disk that contains the MS-DOS system files and any other
files that are required to make the system operational, such as disk-compression
utilities (for example, Stacker), disk partitioning drivers (for example, Disk
Manager), and other third-party device drivers.
To Clean Boot Before Running Windows 3.1 Setup
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If there is no disk compression software, disk partitioning software, or other
third-party drivers necessary to boot the computer, the machine can be booted on
a floppy disk that contains only the MS-DOS system files, without a CONFIG.SYS
or AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
If there is disk partitioning, disk compression, or other third-party software
required to boot the computer, the startup files on the disk created above
should appear as follows:
CONFIG.SYS AUTOEXEC.BAT
---------- ------------
FILES=45 PROMPT $P$G
BUFFERS=20
<Third-party disk partitioner>
<Third-party disk compression driver>
<Other third-party driver>
AFTER Windows 3.1 is installed, a clean boot should appear as follows:
CONFIG.SYS AUTOEXEC.BAT
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FILES=45 PROMPT $P$G
BUFFERS=20 PATH=C:\WINDOWS;C:\DOS;C:\
DEVICE=C:\<dir>\HIMEM.SYS SET TEMP=C:\<valid path>
<Third-party disk partitioner>
<Third-party disk compression driver>
<Other third-party drivers>
STACKS=9,256
SHELL=C:\<valid path>\COMMAND.COM /E:1024 /P
Exceptions
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The following are examples of drivers that SHOULD NOT be removed; they are used
when the computer is turned on to make the hard drive accessible. This is not a
complete list, but it does include most of the commonly used drivers:
Hard Disk Drivers: SQY55.SYS, SSTBIO.SYS, SSTDRIVE.SYS,
AH1544.SYS, ILIM386.SYS, ASPI4DOS.SYS,
SCSIHA.SYS, SCSIDSK.EXE, SKYDRVI.SYS,
ATDOSXL.SYS, NONSTD.SYS
Disk Partitioners: DMDRVR.BIN, SSTOR.SYS, HARDRIVE.SYS,
EDVR.SYS, FIXT_DRV.SYS, LDRIVE.SYS,
ENHDISK.SYS
Disk Compression Utilities: STACKER.COM, SSWAP.COM, SSTOR.EXE,
DEVSWAP.COM
If the purpose of a device driver or program is unknown, DO NOT remove it. Most
device drivers and programs will display a message describing their purpose when
they are initialized.
A clean boot DOES NOT include:
- DOS=HIGH,UMB
- EMM386.EXE
- INSTALL=SHARE.EXE
- INSTALL=FASTOPEN.EXE
- Third-party memory managers
- RAM disk devices
- JOIN, GRAPHICS, PRINT, SUBST, APPEND
- MODE for printer redirection
- Multiple path statements
- MS-DOS-level mouse drivers
- Third-party disk caches
- Various third-party TSRs
- LOGIMENU, CLICK
- Virus checkers
- Drivers for scanners/fax
- Drivers for CD ROM/network
- Tape backup spoolers/redirectors/buffers
- Data acquisition units
- Keyboard accelerators/buffers
For information on clean booting Windows 3.0, query on the following words in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:
clean and boot and windows and 3.0
Additional query words: tshoot clean-boot PRINT.COM RAMDRIVE.SYS JOIN.EXE PRINT.EXE MODE.COM GRAPHICS.COM SUBST.EXE 3.10 3.11 cleanboot
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Keywords :
Technology : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin310 kbWin311
Version : WINDOWS:3.1,3.11
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