IP-TEC - Infopeople Technical Service Archive: Re: Question about Security - C:\WINDOWZ

Re: Question about Security - C:\WINDOWZ

Bill Moseley (moseley@netcom.com)
Thu, 16 May 1996 09:34:16 -0700

At 10:03 PM 5/15/96 -0700, you wrote:

>JoAnn,
>
>The best way that I know of to change the name of the Windows directory is
>to do a reinstall into a directory with another name. It just makes things
>a lot easier to do this. Otherwise, do be certain to include your new
>Windows directory in your path statement.
>
>Cary

I agree. Here are a few steps to look over before you start.

1) Make sure you have all the software disks you need - Windows, obviously,
but also the disks that came with your printer, and the software you want to
use on the computer, such as Netscape. You might first go online and
download the current release version of the software you will be using.
Plus, check for any updated drivers for your video card and printer and
download these as well.

2) Use the MOVE command to rename the current version of Windows to
something else. Then you will have a backup that you can look at if needed.
For example, at the C:\ prompt type: move windows old.win

3) Use "Custom" installation when installing Windows 3.1. Select a
non-standard directory name - like windir.lib, for example. Using an
extension makes a bit more unusual.

Don't install all the accessories - you don't need to install all the
programs that windows comes with. Go through the custom setup and remove
the checks on programs you don't need.

4) Install your printer (and video) drivers.

5) Install Netscape and other programs you will use - and use non-standard
directories here as well. (You may wish to install Netscape and other
programs that you use in a subdirectory of your new windows directory - it
may make it a bit easier to create a backup of your system since everything
will be in the windows directory tree.)

You don't really need to add Windows to the path - that just lets you run
Windows (win) from the c: prompt, plus lets you run programs in the windows
directory without using the full path name. I typically don't add windows
to the path since all icons have the full path to their programs. Plus, I
run windows as the DOS shell (by adding a SHELL line to config.sys). This
prevents windows from exiting to DOS. This adds security, but requires a
bit of an advanced setup -- namely, you need to look carefully at
AUTOEXEC.BAT to see if there are any *required* TSRs loaded.

Now, this if from memory (mine). If you have any questions let me know and
I'll fire up my Win 3.1 computer and run through the exact steps.

Bill Moseley
mailto:moseley@netcom.com