Moving Windows 3.0 to Another Location (63694)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 3.0
  • Microsoft Windows 3.0a
This article was previously published under Q63694

SUMMARY

You may install Microsoft Windows version 3.0, then later want to copy or move it to a new location (on another directory, drive, or system). Although this is not a problem with Windows versions 2.x, such an action causes difficulties with Windows version 3.0. We recommend making a complete new installation if it is necessary to change the Windows 3.0 location.

If you must move the existing installation, you must make the following modifications:

  1. Modify any entries in your .INI files that contain absolute paths (such as PROGMAN.INI and any others such as the [HPPCL,LPT2] section of the WIN.INI).
  2. Your PIF files may contain the absolute paths to various applications that might differ on another system. These must be either recreated by Setup or modified by hand with the PIF Editor.
  3. Your Program Manager group (GRP) files contain absolute paths, both to the Windows accessories and to any other applications detected by the Setup program. The standard groups normally created by Setup must be modified by hand with an ASCII text editor, such as Notepad. Setup can be used to help re-create the Windows Applications and Non-Windows Applications groups.
  4. If you have changed machine types, you should run the character mode Setup on the target system before starting Windows and adjust any settings as necessary.

MORE INFORMATION

If you move your Windows installation from one machine to another by copying the files with the MS-DOS program XCOPY.EXE or third-party programs such as Laplink Release III or Brooklyn Bridge, then the following error messages will appear if the SYSTEM subdirectory located in the WINDOWS directory is not copied at the same time:
CommandMessage
win
Cannot find KERNEL.EXE needed to run in real mode; check to ensure the path is correct or reinstall Windows.
win /s
Cannot find DOSX.EXE needed to run in standard mode; check to ensure the path is correct or reinstall Windows.
win /3
Cannot find WIN386.EXE needed to run in 386 enhanced mode; check to ensure the path is correct or reinstall Windows.
The SYSTEM directory could be copied over to the new machine, but this is an improper installation and may not run correctly.

The only correct way to install Windows 3.0 on a computer is to run the SETUP.EXE Setup program.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/7/2005
Keywords:KB63694
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