PC Hardware —

Installing and Configuring Windows 3.x

There might be occasions when, as an A+ technician, you are required to install or make configuration changes to a Windows 3.1 system. This section points out some of the key issues that you could encounter when working with Windows 3.x operating systems.

Windows Setup

A standard Windows 3.1 setup or installation is done by placing the Windows Disk #1 in floppy drive A and typing:

 a:\setup

Several switches can be used with the setup command that allow special options to be chosen:

  • SETUP /A: Places Windows on a network server for installation across the network or for file sharing. Files are designated as read-only.

  • SETUP /B: Set up for a monochrome display-useful with older laptops.

  • SETUP /I: Windows will start without performing any automatic hardware detection.

  • SETUP /N: Sets up a shared copy of Windows on a workstation.

  • SETUP /P: This can be run from within Windows (winsetup /P for 3.11 version) and will rebuild the default Program Manager groups (Main, Accessories, Games).

Express setup installs the program to C:\Windows directory, selects hardware automatically, chooses U.S. English as the default language, allows selection of printer(s), and configures existing applications.

Custom setup installs the program, but allows the user to choose many options such as drive and directory, hardware, country, optional components, and to confirm changes to startup files. Windows automatically sets up icons and program groups for any application it finds.

NOTE
Applications that are made specifically for Windows (such as Microsoft Office and Lotus SmartSuite) should be installed after Windows has been installed.

After Windows is installed, type Win from any directory and Windows will load. To configure Windows to automatically start when the computer boots, add WIN as the last statement in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.