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Article ID: 96829 - Last Review: May 12, 2003 - Revision: 2.0

Explanation of the WINA20.386 File

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SUMMARY

The WINA20.386 file is a read-only file that is copied to the root directory on your hard disk (startup) drive when you set up MS-DOS 5 Upgrade, MS-DOS 6 Upgrade, or MS-DOS 6.2 Upgrade on a computer that is capable of running Microsoft Windows in 386 enhanced mode. Microsoft Windows version 3.0 cannot run in 386 enhanced mode without this file.

NOTE: You do not need the WINA20.386 file if you run any other version of Microsoft Windows, or if you do not run Microsoft Windows version 3.0 in 386 enhanced mode. For a discussion on running the 386 enhanced, standard, and real modes in Microsoft Windows, see the Microsoft Windows "User's Guide."
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MORE INFORMATION

If you do not have the WINA20.386 file and you try to run Windows version 3.0 in 386 enhanced mode, the following message is displayed:
You must have the file WINA20.386 in the root of your boot drive to run Windows in Enhanced Mode
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Installing the File

If you see this message, use the EXPAND command to expand and copy this file from your MS-DOS installation disk to the root directory of your startup drive. The file is located on the following disks: 
   MS-DOS Version        3.5-inch Disks   5.25-inch Disks
   ------------------------------------------------------

   MS-DOS 5.0 Upgrade          3                 5
   MS-DOS 6.0 Upgrade          1                 2
   MS-DOS 6.2 Upgrade          1                 2
   MS-DOS 6.21 Upgrade         1                 2
To install the file, insert your installation disk in your floppy disk drive, type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt, and press ENTER
expand <drive>:\wina20.38_ <startupdrive>:\wina20.386
where <drive> is the floppy disk drive containing your MS-DOS installation disk and <startupdrive> is your startup drive (usually drive C). For example if your floppy disk drive is drive A and your startup drive is drive C, type the following command:
expand a:\wina20.38_ c:\wina20.386
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Deleting the WINA20.386 File

You can delete the WINA20.386 file from your hard disk if you do not use Microsoft Windows version 3.0 in 386 enhanced mode.

To delete the file:
  1. Remove the read-only attribute by typing the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and pressing ENTER:
    attrib -r <startupdrive>:\wina20.386
  2. Delete the file by typing the following command:
    del <startupdrive>:\wina20.386
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Moving the WINA20.386 File

You can move the WINA20.386 file to a new directory as follows:
  1. Copy WINA20.386 to the new location. Type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and press ENTER
    copy <startupdrive>:\wina20.386 <path>:\wina20.386
    where <path> is the drive and directory to which you are moving WINA20.386. For example, if you are moving WINA20.386 to your Windows SYSTEM subdirectory on drive C, type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and press ENTER:
    copy c:\wina20.386 c:\windows\system\wina20.386
    NOTE: If you have MS-DOS 6 or 6.2 Upgrade, substitute MOVE for COPY in the command shown above and skip to step 4.
  2. Use a text editor, such as MS-DOS Editor, to open your CONFIG.SYS file. If you want to use MS-DOS Editor, type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and press ENTER:
    edit <startupdrive>:\config.sys
  3. Add the following command on a line of its own at the end of your CONFIG.SYS file:
    switches=/w
  4. Save your CONFIG.SYS file. If you are using MS-DOS Editor, choose Exit from the File menu. When MS-DOS Editor displays a dialog box prompting you to save your file, choose the Yes button or press ENTER.
  5. Use the text editor to open your Windows SYSTEM.INI file. (This file should be in your Windows directory.)
  6. Find the section that begins with the header [386Enh].
  7. Add this command under the [386Enh] heading
    device=<path>\wina20.386
    where <path> specifies the new location of the WINA20.386 file. For example, if you want to move the file to your WINDOWS directory, add the following command to your Windows SYSTEM.INI file:
    device=c:\windows\wina20.386
  8. Save your SYSTEM.INI file. If you're using MS-DOS Editor, choose Exit from the File menu. When MS-DOS Editor displays a dialog box prompting you to save your file, choose the Yes button or press ENTER.
  9. Restart your computer by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL.
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APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0a
  • Microsoft MS-DOS 6.0 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft MS-DOS 6.2 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft MS-DOS 6.21 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft MS-DOS 6.22 Standard Edition
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Keywords: 
KB96829
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Retired KB ArticleRetired KB Content Disclaimer
This article was written about products for which Microsoft no longer offers support. Therefore, this article is offered "as is" and will no longer be updated.
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