How to Use the Windows 95 Resource Kit

Article
02/20/2014

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The Microsoft® Windows® 95 operating system is the newest version of the Microsoft Windows operating system. It is the successor to MS-DOS®, Windows version 3.1, and Windows for Workgroups version 3.x.

Windows 95 was designed to provide network administrators and systems-support professionals with a variety of powerful tools and capabilities to better manage personal computers and reduce company support costs. In addition, Windows 95 offers new features and an improved user interface to help users be more productive.

This Windows 95 Resource Kit, written for administrators and MIS professionals, provides the information required for rolling out, supporting, and understanding Windows 95. This resource kit is a technical resource that supplements the documentation included with the Windows 95 product. For information about how to use Windows 95 features and utilities, see the product documentation and online Help information supplied with Windows 95.

This chapter describes the contents of the resource kit and lists conventions used throughout the document. The Guided Tour for Administrators, which follows, explores the benefits of implementing Windows 95 on corporate networks including cost reduction, system management, and user productivity. The remainder of the kit describes major topics related to installing and implementing Windows 95:

Part 1, Corporate Planning Guide.

Provides an overview for MIS managers and technical support personnel of the process for testing and deploying Windows 95 on the corporate network, plus details about how to make decisions and how to plan, test, and prepare for a major rollout of Windows 95.

Note: Be sure to read Chapter 1, "Deployment Planning Basics" and Chapter 2, "Deployment Strategy and Details" before attempting to deploy Windows 95 in your organization. These chapters provide essential information for developing, testing, and carrying out a deployment plan that will result in a successful company-wide installation of Windows 95.

Part 2, Installation.

Presents technical details for installing Windows 95 on multiple computers, including information about creating custom installations and installing Windows 95 from setup scripts. This part also presents technical details about internal processes for Windows 95 Setup and operating system startup.

Part 3, Networking.

Describes how to install and configure Windows 95 on different kinds of networks (such as Windows NT™ and Novell® NetWare®) plus information about installing Windows 95 to run with a real-mode network client from other network vendors. This part also presents technical details about configuring peer resource sharing services with Windows 95, plus details about configuring network adapters and protocols.

Part 4, System Management.

Describes the system-management features provided with Windows 95, including system policies, management tools, and remote administration capabilities. This part also describes how to take advantage of user profiles, and how to install and use various agent software provided for backup and other system-management tasks. Finally, this part also discusses how to monitor and change parameters affecting Windows 95 performance.

Part 5, System Configuration.

Describes how to install and troubleshoot devices, configure and run applications, and set up and manage printers.

Part 6, Communications.

Provides details about the built-in communications features in Windows 95, including configuring and using modems and related software, and setting up and using Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft Fax. This part also includes information about taking advantage of Dial-Up Networking (also known as remote network access), The Microsoft Network online service, and Internet access.

Part 7, Windows 95 Reference.

Provides technical details about the Windows 95 architecture and the Registry (which stores all the system configuration, networking, and software settings). This part also summarizes the Windows 95 features that make it easy to use among multiple languages and locales. Finally, this part provides a summary of how to troubleshoot problems in Windows 95 and how you can use the built-in tools to solve problems.

Part 8, Appendixes.

Provides a glossary and a summary of commands that can be used at the command prompt or in batch files. In addition, separate appendixes provide supporting details for creating custom setup scripts, configuring the network, using shortcuts and accessibility features, and finding more information about Microsoft resources supporting Windows 95 users and software developers.

Each part begins with a brief table of contents that summarizes the chapters contained in that part. In general, the first chapter is an introduction, providing background information related to the part topic and identifying the specific Windows 95 features or capabilities discussed in the remaining chapters. Each of the remaining chapters discusses benefits of a particular feature or functionality, covers implementation issues, and provides specific procedures that will help administrators take advantage of that feature or functionality.

Utilities Supplied with the Windows 95 Resource Kit

In addition to the printed book, the Windows 95 Resource Kit provides disks containing utilities for use with Windows 95. For a list of the available tools and information about how to use them, see the online Help and README files provided.

Microsoft also provides Windows 95 utilities in these other ways:

Windows 95 disks. In addition to operating system files, the disks contain network administration utilities (such as Server-based Setup, Network Monitor, and System Policy Editor), user-level utilities (such as WinPopup), and the complete Windows 95 Resource Kit documentation and online Help files.
Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95. This product contains advanced utilities for drive compression and maintenance, in addition to new font features, Type 1 font support, animated cursors, and a dial-up networking server.
The Microsoft Network and other online services. For information about what's available from Microsoft using online sources, see Chapter 29, "The Microsoft Network," and Appendix J, "Windows 95 Resource Directory."

Conventions

The following conventional terms, text formats, and symbols are used throughout the printed documentation for Windows 95.

Convention	Meaning
[brackets]	Enclose optional items in syntax statements. For example, [password] indicates that you can choose to type a password with the command. Type only the information within the brackets, not the brackets themselves.
... (ellipsis)	In syntax statements, indicates that you can repeat the previous items. For example, /route:devicename[,...] indicates that you can specify more than one device, putting commands between the device names.
\|	Stands for "or" and separates items within braces or brackets. For example, {/hold \| /release \| /delete} indicates that you must type /hold or /release or /delete.
@	Indicates the filename following this symbol is to be copied.
%...%	Used at the beginning and at the end of an item to indicate that it is a string identifier.
Bold	Indicates the actual commands, words, or characters that you type in a dialog box or at the command prompt.
Italic	Indicates a placeholder for information or parameters that you must provide. For example, if the procedure asks you to type filename, you must type the actual name of a file.
ALL UPPERCASE	Indicates a directory, filename, or acronym. You can use lowercase letters when you type directory names or filenames in a dialog box or at the command prompt, unless otherwise indicated for a specific application or utility.
Monospace	Represents examples of screen text or entries that you might type at the command line or in initialization files.
right-click	Refers to clicking the secondary mouse button, which is usually the right mouse button.
Windows NT	Refers to operating system and networking functionality that is available in the Windows NT operating system.
Windows directory	Refers to the Windows 95 system directory tree. This can be C:\WINDOWS or whatever other directory name you specified when installing Windows 95.
x86	Refers to computers based on 32-bit, x86-based microprocessors (such as Intel® 80386 or higher) or based on Intel Pentium® microprocessors.

The following are standard abbreviations or acronyms used throughout this Resource Kit, with their meanings.

Acronym	Meaning	Acronym	Meaning
API	Application programming interface	ISV	Independent software vendor
BIOS	Basic input/output system	K	Kilobyte or kilobytes
CPU	Central processing unit	LAN	Local area network
DLL	Dynamic-link library	MB	Megabyte or megabytes
DMA	Direct memory access	MIS	Management information system
FAT	File allocation table	OEM	Original equipment manufacturer
GB	Gigabyte or gigabytes	SMB	Server message block
HPFS	High-performance file system	TSR	Terminate-and-stay-resident
I/O	Input/output	UNC	Universal naming convention
IHV	Independent hardware vendor	VM	Virtual machine
IRQ	Interrupt request lines	WAN	Wide area network