Install Win95 by not using the restore disk

We need a little more information from you.  What type of restore cd-rom is this?  Compaq, IBM?  If so, they encrypt simple pkzip files on their restore cds.  In fact, for one customer, his 2.1 gig hard drive died.  Took me 6 hours to get the 8.4 gig to work!  I had to use the password PREATOR001 to break the password scheme and I just directly unzipped everything to the hard drive.

In terms of doing just a regular Windows 9x install, with an IBM, Compaq, HP, or other manufacturer that uses non-standard motherboards and parts, Windows 9x won't have the correct drivers for everything and thus your are focused to use the restore cd anyway.

Does the restore disk have a \Win95 folder on it with the setup & cab files in it?  Or, does the hard drive have an \Options\Cabs folder?

Do you have a startup floppy with your CD-ROM drivers on it?

Regards,
Ralph

Did you try booting with a DOS or Windows bootable floppy disk?  If you can, do a directory on the hard disk.  Look for a directory called C:\WIN95, or else C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS might contain the *.cab files.  You can run the install from these if you can boot and see them.

1. What do you mean with my computer cannot find Windows?
   Is the directory lost?
   Does your computer boots than? If yes in what OS does it boot?
2. Restore disk? Do you mean restore CD-rom?
   If you mean restore CD-rom keep in mind that most manufactures restore CD-rom's wipe out your complete HD, copy everything from CD-rom to your HD and than install the OS.
You tried to use the restore "CD-rom" but did you tell you BIOS to boot from cdrom prior than from HD?

Good luck,
Jepe

Is your CD Reader working, to allow you to restore your Hard Drive?

C'mon stone5150, if you've read the prior comments you know there has been no response from mkdotson in a week.
Without feedback from the questioner, proposing an "answer" is pure speculation, not a solution for the problem.