Microsoft KB Archive/97833

= Restoring Previous Version of MS-DOS After Uninstall Fails =

Article ID: 97833

Article Last Modified on 11/21/1999

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft MS-DOS 6.0 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q97833



SUMMARY
This article discusses restoring a previous version of MS-DOS when the Uninstall disk does not work. The following situations are covered:


 * You Have Not Removed DoubleSpace
 * You Have Already Removed DoubleSpace But Cannot Use Uninstall
 * How to Return to MS-DOS 5.0 If Uninstall Fails
 * How to Return to a Version of MS-DOS Earlier Than MS-DOS 5.0



You Have Not Removed DoubleSpace
If you have not removed DoubleSpace, carry out the procedure in section 7.6 of the README.TXT file or query on the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base to find an article with instructions for removing DoubleSpace and preserving your files:

remove and doublespace and preserve

You Have Already Removed DoubleSpace But Cannot Use Uninstall
If you have already removed DoubleSpace but cannot use the Uninstall program, you may still have some hidden DoubleSpace files in the root directory of drive C. To remove these files type deltree /y c:\dblspace.* at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER. Also, use MS-DOS Editor to remove any DEVICEHIGH=C:\DOS\DBLSPACE.SYS /MOVE commands from the CONFIG.SYS file. After doing so, restart the computer with the Uninstall disk in drive A.

How to Return to MS-DOS 5.0 If Uninstall Fails
If you have not installed DoubleSpace, carry out the procedure on page 179 of the &quot;Microsoft MS-DOS 6 User's Guide&quot; to restore MS-DOS 5.0. If this procedure does not work, or if you have installed DoubleSpace, carry out the following procedure:

NOTE: Use this procedure only if you are restoring MS-DOS 5.0. If your previous version of MS-DOS is earlier than 5.0, do not use this procedure.

 To remove DoubleSpace and save your files, carry out the procedure in section 7.6 of the README.TXT file, which is in the directory that contains your MS-DOS files (usually C:\DOS). Use the SETVER command to specify to the Setup program that your computer uses MS-DOS 5.0. For example, type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt:

setver setup.exe 5.00

 Remove the read-only attribute from the COMMAND.COM file on drive C by typing attrib c:\command.com -r at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER. Restart your computer by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL. Run the MS-DOS 5.0 Setup program.

How to Return to a Version of MS-DOS Earlier Than MS-DOS 5.0
To return to a version of MS-DOS earlier than MS-DOS 5.0, carry out the following procedure:

 If you have repartitioned your hard disk drive, you may be unable to see your partitions when you start your computer with a previous version of MS-DOS. If this is the case, you must do the following:

 Back up your data.</li> Repartition your drive(s).</li> Format your drives. Be sure to use the /S parameter when you format drive C.</li> Restore your data.</li></ol> </li> If you did not repartition your drive(s) after you installed MS-DOS 6.0, restart your computer with a system disk from your previous version of MS-DOS in drive A.</li> If you can see all your partitions (using the DIR command), use the SYS command to transfer the MS-DOS system files to drive C. For example, type sys a: C: at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER.</li> If the SYS command fails because it cannot find room on drive C, you can do the following:

<ul> Use a third-party utility (such as Norton Utilities by Symantec) to make drive C bootable. -or-

</li> Use the FORMAT command with the /S parameter to reformat drive C and transfer the MS-DOS system files. For example, type format c: /s at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER.</li></ul>

WARNING: Using the FORMAT command erases all the files on drive C. If you back up your hard disk prior to formatting it, be sure to use a backup utility that is compatible with your earlier version of MS-DOS.</li> Copy all the MS-DOS program files from the original MS-DOS disks to the directory that contains your MS-DOS files (usually \DOS).</li></ol>

Additional query words: 6.00

Keywords: KB97833

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