Migrating Windows 3.1 Groups After Installation

This article was previously published under Q102884

When a user is logging on to Windows NT for the first time after setting up Windows NT over an existing version of Windows 3.1 or Windows for Workgroups, and if the user has not chosen to migrate their WIN.INI, CONTROL.INI, and program groups, you can still perform this migration by using REGEDT32.EXE. You can do this by doing the following:

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system- wide problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT to correct them. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk.

1. If Windows NT is installed in a directory other than the directory containing the Windows or Windows for Workgroups files, copy all of the initialization files (*.INI) from the Windows directory to the Windows NT directory (\WINNT).
2. Log on as the user you want to modify.
3. Run REGEDT32.EXE (located in the SYSTEM32 subdirectory).
4. Choose the window titled "HKEY_CURRENT_USER on local machine."
5. Choose and highlight the subkey called WINDOWS 3.1 MIGRATION STATUS.
6. Press the DELETE key to remove that subkey and those below it, answering Yes when prompted.
7. Quit REGEDT32 by clicking Registry and then Exit from the menu.
8. Quit Windows NT by pressing CTRL+ALT+DELETE and choosing Logoff.
9. Logon again as the user and choose OK to migrate.