Using the freeware dos version of PKWARE pkzip you can zip archive the
entire win95 cd setup folder to diskette, and uncompress it to the laptop.
This is going to be extremely painful, as cab files will not compress, so
you end up using the zip software simply for its foolproof cut / reassemble
large files feature. You could search the web for a similar utility that
cuts large files to fit on diskette, remembering it has to be dos since the
laptop won't run windows until it is installed!
Pkzip has the major advantage over other utilities I have seen in that it
will operate on the entire folder using one command, saving you from having
to cut and reassemble each and every cab file one at a time.
The syntax to disassemble the cab files into an archive called setup95.zip
is:
pkzip -rP a:\setup95 D:\win95\*.*
if your cd is in drive D:
On the laptop, you need to install pkunzip.exe into the c:\ folder. The
command syntax at the c:\ dos prompt is:
pkunzip -d a:\setup95
it will ask for the last diskette then ask for the first diskette, then it
will start copying to the laptop. This is so it knows the what the folder
directory should be before it starts so it can track errors if any occur.
For my version B of win95, you will need approximately 57 diskettes. The
original version of win95 on cd, or the windows 3.1 upgrade to win95 version
on cd, would be considerably smaller. Mine has a complete internet explorer
4.0 on it.
Once the win95 folder exists on the laptop, I think all you need to do is
copy setup.exe from the d:\ folder to the laptop's C:\ folder, and then type
at the laptop's dos prompt"
setup
You will of course need to keep the win95 folder for future reference, so I
hope your hard disk is big enough. Win95 does not have all the laptop
drivers on cd like the later versions of windows, so you may have to choose
a generic driver for the mouse, and you may have trouble getting the modem
recognized.
It would be better to to find a website that explains dos networking, so you
could link the laptop to a desktop and network the whole cd contents into a
folder on the laptop. This would require a pcmcia network card for the
laptop, but these are pretty cheap now, and a definite must have if you do
not intend to get a cd device for this laptop.
8 to 12 meg will be adequate for pretty snappy performance unless you
install the network as I suggest. That will raise the suggested ram to 16
meg to keep performance satisfactory. Unless the cpu and the hard drive are
good performers, you will probably top out in performance at 32 meg,
certainly at 64 meg. More ram above a given top out level will not
compensate for the faults of the other components.
Tom Turak
-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin R Romano [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2002 11:16 PM
A question to the group: Does anyone know a way to create an install for
Win95 on floppies? How many it would take? I have a friend with a very old
laptop that has no CD-ROM drive, so doing this by floppy disc would be the
only way. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
"Hold No Punches.." Rode brings you great shareware/freeware
programs with his honest opinions in this weekly column.
http://freepctech.com/rode
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