Maintaining OLE Functionality when Reinstalling Windows 3.1 (83051)

SUMMARY

A lot of time may be spent setting up object-linking-and-embeding (OLE) information in the Registration database, especially if the only way to reregister an application is to run its Setup program again.

It is necessary to preserve OLE information when reinstalling the Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.1. A new directory should be created to install Windows 3.1 into, and the current REG.DAT file should be copied into this directory before installing Windows.

MORE INFORMATION

All OLE registration information is stored in the file REG.DAT in the Windows directory. Link information is stored with individual documents that reference information in the Registration database.

If Windows 3.1 is installed over Windows 3.0 or Windows 3.1, then the REG.DAT file is preserved and OLE and shell registration information for the Windows 3.1 programs packaged with Windows are added to the database.

The same is true if Windows 3.1 is installed to a directory that already has a REG.DAT file in it. Therefore, if you set up a new installation of Windows 3.1 (rather than an upgrade), a new directory should be created to install Windows 3.1 into, and the current REG.DAT file should be copied into this directory before installing Windows.

If Windows 3.1 has already been installed into a new directory, you can copy the REG.DAT file from the old Windows directory to the new Windows directory. Be sure Windows is not running when you copy the REG.DAT file. Then use the following steps to update the REG.DAT file:

Start Windows.
From the File menu, choose Run.
Type the following command in the Command Line text box:
REGEDIT SETUP.REG
Choose OK.

If there are more .REG files to merge into the database, use File Manager to search for them and either double-click each one (press ENTER), or drag and drop all of them (at one time or individually) onto the REGEDIT window.

Until Windows 3.1 is reinstalled with OLE information, the old Windows 3.1 directory and all subdirectories should not be deleted because applications are installing OLE servers in the Windows directory tree. In addition, shared DLL files may be in the SYSTEM directory.