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Install Rudimentary DOS

Copyright (C) 1996 By Steve Litt: Steve Litt's email address 
LEGAL NOTE: I have done my best to make this document complete and accurate. However, any hardware or software installation carries the possibility of problems, including possible data loss and possible irreparable hardware damage. I take no responsibility for any problems you might encounter as a result of your use of this document, including errors and omissions in this document. If you cannot accept this, do not use this document.
This document is copyrighted, but I hereby give you permission to print a paper copy for yourself, to refer to while your computer is taken apart. Be sure to print the sub pages also.

Install Rudimentary DOS

This section assumes that you want to start from scratch, and that you're willing to blow off the contents of your existing hard disks (obviously they must be backed up). This section (and the rest of this document) assumes that you're using the UPGRADE version of Windows 95, rather than the full version. After all, almost everyone had DOS and Windows 3.1 by 1995. If you have a separate physical drive for your data (I recommend this), skip all references to Fdisking and Formatting *that* physical drive.

Place your "System Builder" diskette in the A drive, and power down and up. From the A:\DOS prompt, run FDISK to partition your physical drives into logical drives. Note that one partition is more convenient, but wastes disk space due to huge clusters. At the minimum, I recommend that all your data (as opposed to programs), be on a separate logical drive. A separate physical drive would be even better. Make sure that the first partition of the first physical drive is active. Make sure the combined capacity of all logical drives on a physical drive approximately equals the capacity of the physical drive. Note that physical drives with greater than 2.1 Gig capacity must have more than one partition because Windows 95 supports a maximum of 2.1 Gig partitions. If you're not familiar with the FDISK program, consult your DOS manual or ask a more knowledgeable friend.

After you've partitioned your drives, you must format them. First system format your C drive with the command:
FORMAT C: /U /S
where the /U is for "Unconditional, don't confirm, don't provide for unformat", and the /S is for"install operating System".

Format each additional logical drive with this command:
FORMAT X: /U
(Substitute the actual drive letter for the X). When you're done, remove your diskette and reboot the system. You should boot to a C:\DOS prompt. Make sure you can see all the logical drives (all but C: and any you didn't FDISK and Format will be empty). If you can boot to C: and see all your drives, you're ready for the next step. Otherwise, check your work, troubleshoot, or get help.

After all your drives are formatted, run the A:\DOS\XFER batch file you created earlier to copy a rudimentary DOS onto the C drive, and enough Win31 to trick your Windows 95 upgrade into thinking Win31 is installed.

Test Your Printer

Power down your computer and your printer. Hook up your printer to the printer port. Power back on, make sure the printer is on-line and has paper, then from the DOS prompt type this command
copy c:\autoexec.bat lpt1:
The printer's data or formfeed light should go on. If it's a dot-matrix or daisy wheel printer, you should hear it print. Take the printer off-line, then press its formfeed button. You should see a copy of your autoexec.bat printed on the paper. If you don't, try the following:

Reboot and go into BIOS setup. Your printer will be configured as either Normal, Bi-Directional, EPP, or ECP. In my experience ECP is unreliable for running printers, so if it's ECP change it to EPP. If your motherboard has only one parallel port (typical), and if you haven't installed a card with another parallel port, your port parallel port should be configured as follows in BIOS setup:
Address: 378-37F (or just 378)
IRQ: IRQ7
If it's not configured that way, change to EPP, 378 and IRQ7, save, reboot, and see if it prints now. If it doesn't, check the cable and printer against another computer (borrow a laptop from someone if necessary). If the problem isn't in the printer or the cable, consult the store that sold you the motherboard. When you can print your autoexec.bat, go on to the next step.
 
 

[ If All Else Fails ]

Install Your CD-ROM Drivers

Your Windows 95 installation program probably comes on a CD-ROM, meaning you must have a working CD in DOS before installing Windows 95. Therefore you must install the CD-ROM drivers. Usually this is as simple as inserting the diskette that came with your CD, and typing INSTALL or SETUP. After the install or setup is complete, take out the floppy and reboot the machine. Place a CD in the CD-ROM drive and try to read it (probably on your highest drive letter). If you can't, try placing LASTDRIVE=W in your CONFIG.SYS, reboot, and try again. If still no luck, check all your cable and power connections to the CD-ROM drive, check the master/slave jumpers of the CD-ROM drive and any hard drives attached to the same IDE cable, and check your BIOS setup for CD-ROM parameters. If your BIOS can auto-detect a CD-ROM, auto-detect it. Make sure MSCDEX.EXE exists in your DOS directory, and that it's being run in AUTOEXEC.BAT. If you have a later version of DOS, try stepping through the boot sequence with the F8 key (consult your DOS documentation). If you need to, seek help. Once you can read from your CD-ROM, you're ready for the next step.
 
[ If All Else Fails ]

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Copyright (C)1996 by Steve Litt. -- Legal