Disaster Recovery Backup in Win95

Last updated: 14 June, 1998

FAT32 Update: the procedure described here does work with FAT32 (Win95 OSR2.x), but you must use version 2.2 of DOSLFNBK.EXE, available here. This is now shareware. Also, when using MSBACKUP.EXE in the version of DOS that comes with OSR2, I have not been able to get my Zip drive to work. And of course, earlier versions of DOS do not recognize FAT32, so no more backups to the Zip drive. I've been using a separate partition on my hard drive.

Summary:
1. Keep an updated Win95 startup disk
2. Save msbackup files, DOSLFNBK files to c:\backup (d:\backup is better, if you have this option)
3. Clean boot to DOS prompt
4. Save long file names with DOSLFNBK
5. Run msbackup (DOS 6.22 version), back up all files on c:
6. Make sure you have all files from x:\backup on a floppy, along with dos drivers for Zip drive, tape drive, etc.
7. Format c: /s
8. Reboot to c:\>
9. Recreate c:\backup (or d:\backup, if necessary)
10. Restore c: files
11. Restore long file names with DOSLFNBK
12. Ready to boot c:
13. Check attributes on c:\windows\fonts, etc. Reset if necessary.

This procedure for Windows 95 (FAT16 or 32) is designed to restore your boot drive (assumed to be c:) to a formatted c: drive. It also can be used to copy your existing Win95 setup to a new hard drive. It uses the DOS 6.22 version of MSBACKUP (because it spans Zip disks, backs up ALL files and does not require a reinstall of Win95 or DOS) and a shareware program called DOSLFNBK.exe (get it here). These are fine programs but must be used with care. Note the following possible problems:
First of all, during lengthy experiments with small backups, I could not get DOSLFNBK to work properly under DOS 6.22 (at least with Win95's DOS 7 on the same drive). It does work in DOS 7, though, provided you work from a clean boot (not from a RESTART IN DOS MODE or a DOS WINDOW).
Second, I have not attempted to do incremental backups using the method below. Only a full backup/restore of your drive (assumed to be c:) is covered.
Third, DOS7 apparently will not allow MSBACKUP to overwrite removable disks. Either erase all files from your backup disks or add to existing files.
Fourth, MSBACKUP does not save all directory attributes. These must be reset manually. See the addendum at the end of this file for more info on this.

THE SETUP

1. If you haven't done so, make a WIN95 startup disk. In WIN95, go to Control Panel/ Add-Remove Programs to do this. You'll, of course, want to do this before any crashing takes place :-).
2. From WIN95, make a directory such as c:\backup (actually, d:\backup is better if you have a d: partition) and put these files into it:

(these are the MSBACKUP files from your old c:\dos dir. (if it still exists) OR from DOS 6.22 disks. These are dated 5/31/94, 6:22 AM. You'll also need:

3. In this same directory, create a couple of .bat files (I called mine save_c.bat and rest_c.bat).

save_c.bat has this single line:

rest_c.bat has these three lines:

(Note: remove the "lock" and "unlock" when using FAT32.)

You can execute these instructions from the command line, but it's convenient to have these files ready to go. Note if you're backing up your d: drive instead of c:, create files save_d.bat and rest_d.bat and, in the files, replace all occurences of c: with d:.

The entire backup is done from this directory (x:\backup) after a clean boot to DOS7.

THE BACKUP

1. This is IMPORTANT! Clean boot to DOS 7 (WIN95 DOS) mode. (Press F8 when the 'Starting Windows 95' message appears on your screen and select 'Command Prompt Only' from the menu.) Change directory to c:\backup.
2. Run save_c.bat. Mine takes only a few seconds for > 1300 LFNs. Your LFNs have now been stored in a file called backup_c.lfn in the same directory you're working in. DO NOT LOSE THIS FILE! (BTW, the LFNs have not been stripped from their files the way MS's LFNBK.EXE does. They've just been saved.)
3. Run MSBACKUP.EXE (it may need to configure itself - let it do this.) Be sure to check that no files are excluded from your backup (hidden, system, etc.). Select your entire c: drive for backup.
4. MSBACKUP will put the catalog for the backup in the same directory the program was in (x:\backup, as created above). This file should be kept, too, although it can be recovered from the backup volume.
5. Copy the entire x:\backup directory to a floppy or a drive that will still work after your c: drive is wiped. Also, have available on floppy any drivers you need to activate your backup drive. The Parallel Zip Drive is ideal for this, by the way. The 'Guest' drivers are on the Zip install floppy. (Note: Zip doesn't seem to work when backing up FAT32.)

THE RESTORE

Remember, this assumes you wish to restore your c: drive completely from the backup you made above.
1. Clean boot to DOS 7 (WIN95 DOS) mode. (Press F8 when the 'Starting Windows 95' message appears on your screen and select 'Command Prompt Only' from the menu.) You can also use your Win95 startup disk to boot to an A:> prompt. Either way, type:

format c: /s

This puts just enough of the DOS 7 system on your c: drive to run your backup. If necessary, install drivers for Zip Drive, etc.
(If your c: drive is already formatted, you need only type sys c: from your Startup disk.)
2. From the floppy or other source created in step 5 above, copy all files to your hard drive. Run MSBACKUP from there and restore the entire backup to c:.
3. Run rest_c.bat to restore LFNs.

That's it. Your exact c: drive as you backed it up (including the Registry) is now restored. You can now reboot to WIN95 as usual.

Addendum: Here are some directories in Win95 with special attributes. After restore, check these out. Some may be restored, some may not (esp. Fonts, which will cause problems).
C:\Windows\Fonts - s
C:\Windows\Pif - h
C:\Windows\Spool - h
C:\Recycled - hs
C:\Program Files - r
C:\Program Files\Accessories - r
C:\Program Files\Plus!\The Microsoft Network - r

If necessary, reboot to command prompt and enter:

attrib c:\windows\fonts +s

to fix the Fonts directory, etc.

Alternate plan: add the following to the file rest_c.bat created to restore LFNs:

attrib c:\windows\fonts +s
attrib c:\windows\pif +h
attrib c:\windows\spool +h
attrib c:\recycled +h +s
attrib c:\progra~1 +r
attrib c:\progra~1\access~1 +r
attrib c:\progra~1\plus!\themic~1 +r

Feedback? E-mail me.

Back to the C-creature Page

© 1998 Richard Caron