Reasons for Windows 3.1 Setup to Fail While Upgrading (83548)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows 3.11
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11
This article was previously published under Q83548

SYMPTOMS

The Microsoft Windows version 3.1 Setup program fails while upgrading from an earlier version of Windows, and one of the following messages may be displayed:
Error loading

-or-

Error loading <driver.drv>
where <driver.drv> is the name of the system driver identified in the "SYSTEM.DRV=" line of the SYSTEM.INI file.

CAUSE

An invalid or missing (blank) driver setting in the [boot] section of the SYSTEM.INI file can cause the Setup program to fail during an upgrade.

Setup attempts to load drivers that end with the extension "DRV" that are located in the [boot] section when Setup shifts to protected mode.

For example "SYSTEM.DRV=SYSTEM.DRV" is a valid setting for a driver.

Setup may also fail if the video driver settings are correct, but the video card is not compatible with Windows 3.1. In this case, a message similar to the following is displayed:
Error loading COMM.DRV

WORKAROUND

The specific driver mentioned in the error message will vary. To troubleshoot this problem, install Windows, selecting EGA for the video graphics adapter. If the installation succeeds, then you have a problem with your video card.

Successfully Upgrading

The following are steps to successfully upgrade an earlier version of Microsoft Windows if the above errors are encountered:

  1. Edit the SYSTEM.INI file in the Windows directory.
  2. Locate the [boot] section.
  3. Change the SYSTEM.DRV= line to read as follows:

    SYSTEM.DRV=SYSTEM.DRV

  4. Restart the Setup program from the original Windows 3.1 system disks.

MORE INFORMATION

In addition to the above error messages, the following information is recorded in the BOOTLOG.TXT file in the Windows directory: 
   [boot]
   LoadStart = DRIVER.DRV
   LoadFail = DRIVER.DRV Failure code is 02
If the SYSTEM.DRV setting is blank, the following information is recorded in the BOOTLOG.TXT: 
   [boot]
   LoadStart =
   LoadFail =  Failure code is 02
NOTE: The BOOTLOG.TXT file that records errors during setup is located in the failed WINDOWS directory. This file can be viewed with a text editor (such as the MS-DOS 5.0 Editor) or a word processor.

Besides SYSTEM.DRV, the following invalid or blank settings may also cause an error during setup: 
   KEYBOARD.DRV=
   MOUSE.DRV=
   DISPLAY.DRV=
   COMM.DRV=
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/26/2003
Keywords:KB83548
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.