Installing a New Program in Windows Version 3.0 or 3.1

Technical Support Note:

Installing a New Windows Program


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This is the general procedure for loading Windows 3 programs. Before following these guidelines, check the new program’s “Getting Started” manual, or the “Installation” chapter of the program manual, or instructions on the disk label.

To be on the safe and conservative side, first create a subdirectory called “BACKUP”. From the DOS prompt:

MD C:\BACKUP

Next, copy several key files to it:

COPY \CONFIG.SYS \BACKUP

COPY \AUTOEXEC.BAT \BACKUP

COPY \WINDOWS\*.INI \BACKUP

COPY \WINDOWS\*.GRP \BACKUP

Now if something goes wrong you can restore your original configuration.

Make sure you are at the Program Manager screen and all windows are closed. Your screen should look something like this:

(Windows Program Manager screen)

Click on File.

Click on Run.

At the command line, type A:SETUP (or B:SETUP, or D:SETUP or E:SETUP if installing from a CD-ROM). You may have to substitute another word for SETUP: possibly INSTALL or something similar.

Click on OK or just press the Enter key.

There may be a significant delay here as the program’s installer loads from the floppy disk. If the floppy drive’s green activity light is on, just be patient. Eventually the installer screen will appear. Just follow on-screen directions to install the program.

If the instructions in the above paragraph do not work, you may have to read the source disk’s directory and determine the name of the installer program. In that case, do the following:

Instead of typing A:SETUP on the command line, click on BROWSE, then click on the DRIVES down-arrow to select a disk, then click on Drive A:, B:, D:, or E: as appropriate. One or more program names will appear in the FILE NAME window. Click on the most likely name for the installer (usually SETUP), then click on OK or just press the Enter key. Note: If you have a choice between SETUP and INSTALL, select SETUP. The general rule is that SETUP is for Windows programs, and INSTALL is for DOS programs. Often the program disk lets you install one or both versions of the program.

After the program has loaded and created a new program group window, do the following to close the window:

Close the new window by double-clicking in its upper left-hand corner.

Click on OPTIONS. If there is no check mark next to SAVE SETTINGS, click once on it. This alerts Windows to “remember” the look of all icons and windows next time it loads.

Now prepare to exit the Windows program itself. Either double-click in the upper left-hand corner of the Program Manager window, or select FILE, then EXIT. Windows takes a “snapshot” of the screen.

Go back to OPTIONS, then click on SAVE SETTINGS to turn OFF the save feature.

It’s a good idea to exit Windows, then reboot the computer before running new programs that you have loaded.


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