upgrading from Windows 3.11 to Windows 95

Where in the world did you ever get the idea that you HAD to update
your BIOS before installing Win95? That is just not true.

But if you do insist on updating your BIOS, the first thing you should do is backup all crucial files. Now be very careful that you update the BIOS with the correct update. Updating with the wrong file could make your system BIOS totally useless. I know - it happened to me! (With a Packard Bell.)

If you're not sure that you're using the correct update, DON'T GUESS!

A good starting point for your PC would be:

http://support.packardbell.com/index.asp

Hope this helps but remember - You don't HAVE TO update it.

It sounds like you have answered my question, and gave me the information on how to go about it as well. Wish me luck and Thanks!
dimpledr

Yeah, that will put Win95 on your 'puter, but you'll lose a lot of advantages.
Win3 uses 16 bit FAT which wastes a LOT of HDD space (among other drawbacks).
The best route is to back up all of your valuable data on another storage device (2nd HDD, Zip or Jazz drives,etc.) and do a clean install of Win95 using FAT32.
You will utilize your HDD space more effectively and with a little tweaking your 'puter will operate faster (depending on the resources of your system).
You'll need a MINIMUM of 32mb RAM to help repel those nasty General Protection Faults and other bug-a boo's.
You can get by with less, but you're going to see more problems if you don't upgrade your RAM.
If you format your HDD before the clean install you will remove all of the little bugs that show up in an upgrade from Win3X to Win9x.
They are totally different operating systems and do have compatibility problems.
Plus...if you have a total system crash your chances of recovery are MUCH better if you have done a clean install rather than an upgrade.

Glad to help Dimpledr,
We do wish you good luck and come back if we can help again.
                        Mrbreeze

I now have 24 Meg or RAM and the reason that I'm thinking about doing the upgrade route is because I have several dos programs on my hard disk that I don't want to lose, or their information either. I have x-tree and quattro on the computer and I really want to save the quattro, the x-tree I guess I could live without. I have saved everything else that I want other then the quattro. Would I still be able to do a clean install after trying the upgrade and am not satisfied with the results? You've got me debating now. Any more ideas?

Thanks
dimpledr

The computer that I'm going to do this to is a Packard Bell 486DX2 66Mhz with 24 Megs of RAM. Just in case that makes a difference.
dimpledr

You can do a clean install at any time you choose. It is always best to do it clean, it just avoids potential problems, but Win95 shouldn't have any problems using what you have.

If you do a clean install you have to load all the drivers for the components you have as well all the programs. Since you are installing on top of Win 3.11 it is going to keep what you have.

Try the upgrade and if it doesn't work satisfacturely then do a clean install. We can help you with that to make it go as smooth as possible.
                            Mrbreeze

Thank you for awarding all the points to Mrbreeze. What exactly did you not like about my answer?

Sorry about that, but I needed more information about how to go about doing it as well as the question about the bios. Everyone of you have helped me understand more about how to fix my problem, but your answer came to me at the same time as did Mrbreeze, and I found his more complete. I'm sorry if I didn't give you more time to reply to a further question.
I want to thank you anyway, if that helps any, but I'm sorry about rejecting your answer, I hope that you understand.

dimpledr

So much for the early bird gets the worm...

Mrbreeze,

I tried installing Windows 95 from the disk that came with my latest computer. I did as you mentioned above, and as it started the installation, it came up with this message:

Warning SU0168
Your computer already has an operating system installed, which cannot be upgraded by this version of setup. Please obtain the Windows 95 upgrade.

I guess this means doing a clean install of Win95 which is okay with me. I will be willing to add more points for help with this process, but I don't know how to do it and still stay with you to do it. If you are still willing to give me a hand let me know.

Thanks,
dimpledr