KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q95743: Recovering Windows 3.1 After Installing WFWG

Article: Q95743
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 3.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.1
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 22-SEP-1999

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

- Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.1 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IMPORTANT: Read these instructions before proceeding. Microsoft cannot
guarantee this procedure to work in every situation. If this procedure
fails, you must reinstall Windows 3.1 and Windows-based applications
to a new directory.

SUMMARY
=======

If you installed Windows for Workgroups over Microsoft Windows version 3.1, you
can use the following procedure to restore Microsoft Windows version 3.1.

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

NOTE: This procedure can be used ONLY if you ran the Setup program for Windows
for Workgroups one time. If you ran the Setup program more than once, it is not
possible to restore the original Windows configuration files; therefore, Windows
3.1 must be reinstalled to an empty subdirectory. Also, any third-party software
that replaces Windows virtual device drivers (VxDs) may need to be reinstalled
after reinstalling Windows version 3.1.

1. Start the machine with MS-DOS.

2. Edit the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files to remove the Windows for
  Workgroups network device drivers. These drivers are PROTMAN.DOS,
  WORKGRP.SYS, and the network interface card driver (media access control
  [MAC] driver). If NetWare connectivity has been added, also remove the
  referenced lines.

  Below is an example of lines to remove:

  CONFIG.SYS

     DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\PROTMAN.DOS /I:C:\WINDOWS
     DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\WORKGRP.SYS
     DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\EXP16.DOS   ;or other specific MAC driver
     DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\MSIPX.SYS   ;If Netware Connectivity added

  AUTOEXEC.BAT

     C:\WINDOWS\NET START
     C:\WINDOWS\MSIPX    ;If Netware Connectivity added
     C:\WINDOWS\NETX     ;If Netware Connectivity added

3. Copy the files from the WININI.W31 and SYSINI.W31 to a floppy disk. These
  files should be located in the WINDOWS subdirectory.

4. Run the Windows version 3.1 Setup program. Choose the Custom Setup option. A
  message will appear stating that setup has found a previous version of
  Microsoft Windows on your system and recommends that you perform an upgrade.
  Specify the Windows for Workgroups directory as the target directory and
  press the ENTER key to upgrade. When the System Information screen appears,
  change the following line:

  Network = Windows for Workgroups (version 3.1)

  -to-

  Network = No Network Installed (or the specific network in use)

  The Windows 3.1 Setup program detects some newer drivers (for example,
  COMM.DRV) and prompts you to replace them with the Windows 3.1 drivers. In
  the following example, Setup detects conflict(s) between the version of
  COMM.DRV currently on your system and the version that Setup is attempting to
  copy. You can choose to use the currently installed file or replace it with
  the file that Setup is trying to copy.

  Current file : Version 3.10a Language: U.S. English 220800 bytes 10/1/92 3:11

  Proposed file: Version 3.10 Language: U.S. English 220800 bytes 03/10/92 3:10

  The replacement file is an older version than your current file.

   - To keep your currently installed driver file, press ENTER.

   - To replace the currently installed driver file, press ESC.

  Press the ESC key, to replace each driver file.

  After Setup loads Windows, the setup program begins to copy files, again
  finding newer versions than those provided with Windows 3.1. Setup prompts
  you for action on each conflicting file as follows:

     The following file conflicts with the version already on your system:

     File: CLIPBRD.EXE

     Description: Windows for Workgroups

     The new version of the file ((Unknown)) you are trying to
     install is older than the currently installed version (3.10a).

     Do you want to replace the file that is already on your system?

              Yes      Help        No

  Replace these files by choosing the Yes option when prompted. The files that
  Setup finds version conflicts for are:

     COMM.DRV      DDEML.DLL    GDI.EXE    MAIN.CPL      USER.EXE
     PRINTMAN.CPL  WINFILE.EXE  SHELL.DLL  COMMDLG.DLL   CLIPBRD.EXE

5. From the floppy disk used in step 3, copy WININI.W31 to the WINDOWS directory
  as WIN.INI and SYSINI.W31 to the WINDOWS directory as SYSTEM.INI.

6. Reboot the system, and start Windows 3.1 by typing WIN at the command prompt
  and pressing ENTER.

7. Remove the program icons that were added by the Windows for Workgroups Setup
  program.

  Delete the following icons from the Main Group:

  Clipbook Viewer <A0><A0> Mail <A0><A0> Schedule+

  Delete the following icons from the Accessories Group:

  Chat <A0><A0> WinMeter <A0><A0> Net Watcher

  Delete the following icons from the Games Group:

  Hearts

8. Remove the files from the WINDOWS and WINDOWS\SYSTEM sub- directories that
  are specific to Windows for Workgroups.

  Files in the WINDOWS directory to delete:

  CARDS.DLL     IMPEXP.DLL    MSSCHED.DLL  NDDENB.DLL    SCHEDMSG.DLL
  TRNSCHED.DLL  WGPOMGR.DLL   CLIPSRV.EXE  MSHEARTS.EXE  MSMAIL.EXE
  MSREMIND.EXE  NET.EXE       NETDDE.EXE   NETWATCH.EXE  SCHDPLUS.EXE
  WINCHAT.EXE   WINMETER.EXE  MSMAIL.HLP   MSHEARTS.HLP  NETWATCH.HLP
  SCHDPLUS.HLP  WINCHAT.HLP   WFWNET.HLP   NET.MSG       NETH.MSG
  RINGIN.WAV    RINGOUT.WAV

  Files in the SYSTEM directory to delete:

  WFWSETUP.CPL  VBROWSE.386   VCD.386      VDMAD.386     VNB.386
  VNETBIOS.386  VNETSUP.386   VPD.386      VPICD.386     VREDIR.386
  VSERVER.386   VSHARE.386    VWC.386      AB.DLL        COMMCTRL.DLL
  DEMILAYR.DLL  FRAMEWRK.DLL  MAILMGR.DLL  MAPI.DLL      MSSFS.DLL
  NDDEAPI.DLL   PABNSP.DLL    SENDFILE.DLL STORE.DLL     VFORMS.DLL
  WFWNET.DRV    MAILSPL.EXE   NETWORK.INF  MIDIMAP.OLD   LM21DRV.UPD

After you follow these steps, Windows 3.1 should be successfully reinstalled.
However, if Windows 3.1 does not perform as expected (for example, if you
receive error messages, system lockups, and so on), you must reinstall Windows
3.1 and all Windows software to a new subdirectory.

For additional information on reinstalling other Windows versions, query on the
following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  windows and reinstall

Additional query words: tshoot 3.10 3.11 Uninstall remove removing recover deactivate

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbWFWSearch kbWFW310
Version           : WINDOWS:3.1

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

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.