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jwdietrich

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Windows 95 install cd to 3.5 floppy

I have a windows 95 installation CD.  I just bought an older laptop that only has a 3.5 floppy.  Can I copy the CD onto 3.5 floppy to install somehow?
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Aristiana

Not really, the files are too big.

You can always try to copy the WIN95 folder from the CD onto another computer, compress it with Winzip so it will create a load of small files suitable for a floppy, transfert it one floppy at a time and then uncompress. But this will takes a lot of time! And also, if the old laptop doesn't have any operating system you will also need a bootdisk and a command-line version of pkzip/pkunzip.

If you're ready to give it a try... Good luck!

Clo.
I've done this.

Copy the contents of the Win95 CD into an empty folder on another computer.  Use Winzip to archive the files and span them onto floppies.  Copy them painstakingly onto the laptop, using a file like PKZIP (i.e. http://nct.digitalriver.com/fulfill/0018.4 ) to expand them into an empty folder.  Then, once that's all done, just start the laptop's SETUP.EXE.   (Incidentally, if I recall, it took 23 floppies to get the files over).

Hope that helps.
Avatar of ☠ MASQ ☠
You might find this helpful also:
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/20948682/Windows-95-Install-diskette-1-Wich-files.html
Trying to do something similar.

Alternatively you might be able to format & then swap the drive out of your old laptop with another laptop with a CD drive (or even a desktop - but you need a fairly cheap IDE ribbon cable adaptor) and then copy the WIN95 folder across, return the drive and run setup from the hard drive.
There is a way to format 1.44 floppies to make them hold the larger CAB files of the win95 install CD, but I think the idea of copying the install files to the HD and install from there is a good idea. Another solution is to find a parallel port ZIP drive, boot with a floppy that has appropriate drivers and use a ZIP disc with the install files. Copy to HD and run install. Take a look at all the format options, though. This seems "legacy" enough to warrant a comment about using format with the option to leave space for system files on HD...
Don't forget the old intersvr and interlnk utilities of DOS 6. If you have one other computer and a null modem cable, you can transfer file to and from the laptop quite easily.
/RID
It's a shame we don't get to hear what was eventually used.  DMF Formatting and floppy solution included in my link but worth PAQ'ing for the install to swapped drive/Intersvr null modem solution.
To be honest all the suggestions could work but I just don't relish the idea of spanning that many disks!
No feedback at all, but interesting comments. PAQ and NO refund is my suggestion.
/RID
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LeeTutor
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to rid
Members I am faced with this exact problem but unfortunately ide ribbon cables seem not to be available on market arround this part of uganda. so  I resorted to using rid's comments one because i have a Parrallel port Zip drive(iomega 250mb) but on  booting with with windows 98 startup floppy disk i discovered that the iomega zip drive was not loaded What should I do in this case?
two I considered using the intersvr and interlnk but the the lap does not have a modem is it posible to use serial ports/cable to connect the pc and coppy files

btw my laptop lacks the the following dot sys himem,dblbuff and ifshlp. is there any other posible way to go about this problem? thanks
to rid
Members I am faced with this exact problem but unfortunately ide ribbon cables seem not to be available on market arround this part of uganda. so  I resorted to using rid's comments one because i have a Parrallel port Zip drive(iomega 250mb) but on  booting with with windows 98 startup floppy disk i discovered that the iomega zip drive was not loaded What should I do in this case?
two I considered using the intersvr and interlnk but the the lap does not have a modem is it posible to use serial ports/cable to connect the pc and coppy files

btw my laptop lacks the the following dot sys himem,dblbuff and ifshlp. is there any other posible way to go about this problem? thanks
As for the ZIP drive, you need to load the IOmega drivers (there's a program on the IOmega driver floppy called "guest.exe") to be able to use LPT port connecte ZIP drive.

Second: You can use intersvr/interlnk using a null-modem or parallel file transfer cable. Null-modem is most likely to work without any problems. Slow but secure.
/RID