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Q89212: Maintenance Mode Setup Can Cause Corrupted WIN.COM

Article: Q89212
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.1,3.11
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 05-OCT-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

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

The MS-DOS-based maintenance mode of Windows 3.1 Setup may create a zero length
WIN.COM file if you change the video driver on a network installation of
Windows. This occurs only if the SETUP.EXE and SETUP.INF files have been copied
to and run from the user directory.

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

On a network installation of Windows, the Setup files should remain in the
shared directory on the network server. If WIN.COM has been corrupted, you
cannot start Windows.

The corrupted WIN.COM can be restored by completing the following steps:

1. Delete WIN.COM from the user directory.

2. Delete the SETUP.INF and SETUP.EXE files from the user directory.

3. Run Setup from the user's directory. Note: The shared directory has to be in
  the MS-DOS Path.

4. Select the appropriate video driver.

After completing these steps, a new WIN.COM is generated and the Windows
installation is functional again.

Additional query words: 3.10 3.11

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

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