This article explains how to save system files when you upgrade to, or reinstall, Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition (SE), or Windows Millennium Edition (Me).
When you upgrade your Windows operating system, you are normally offered the option to save your current system files. This information is used to uninstall the new operating system and return it to the earlier configuration. This can be essential for recovering your system if an error occurs during the setup process.
NOTE: Failure to save this information prevents you from reverting the system to the earlier operating system.
This process is not the same as performing a system backup. Microsoft recommends that you back up your files completely before you upgrade your operating system. The
Save System Files option is designed only to restore the operating system to an earlier installation. It does not save any other data on your system.
This option may also be available during a reinstallation of the operating system.
Save System Files Option Is Not Available During Setup
If the
Save System Files option is not available during the setup process, please click the article number below
to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
232614Â
(http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=232614/EN-US/
)
The "Save System Files" Dialog Box May Not Be Displayed
File Names and Location
The uninstall information is normally stored in the root directory of the drive on which you are installing Windows.
The following system files are used by the given operating systems:
Windows 98:
- Winundo.dat
- Winundo.ini
- Winlfn.ini
Windows 98 SE:
- W98undo.dat
- W98undo.ini
- Winlfn.ini
Windows Me:
- W9xundo.dat
- W9xundo.ini
- Winlfn.ini
How to Remove Uninstall Information from Your System
The files used to store your uninstall information can typically be several hundred megabytes in size. This can be a significant amount of hard-disk space on some computer systems. Therefore, you have the option to remove this information from your system.
WARNING: By removing this information, you will no longer be able to uninstall the operating system and revert to the earlier installation. It is not recommended that you remove these files unless you are certain that you will not need to revert to the earlier installation of your operating system.
To remove these files, follow these steps:
- Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
- Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
- Select the Delete Windows Millennium uninstall information option.
- Click the Add/Remove button.
How to Reinstall the Same Operating System
When you reinstall the same operating system, the previously saved uninstall information files can be overwritten. To prevent this behavior from occurring, you should back the files up to another location.
For additional information about backing up your uninstall information, click the article number below
to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
195384Â
(http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=195384/EN-US/
)
How to Save the Uninstall Files Before the Reinstallation of Windows