Copyright: CopyRight 1996/97 Theodore Fattaleh


Contents
ERS 98

         Emergency Recovery System 98

         For Windows 95 and Windows 98

•	    About

•	    Features

•	    Quick How to

•	    Legal Agreement

•	    Overview  and what is New

•	    Backup

•	    Restore

•	    AutoBackup

•	    Profiles

•	    Tips

•	    ERS Boot disk

•	    Install and Unistall

•	    FAQ

•	    Trouble Shooting

•	    Registration

•	    Other

•	    Virus Attack Backup


Features

ZDNet had this to say about ERS:

"Don't be a formatting expert, Recover gracefully from any system

crash with ERS98."

ZDNet awarded ERS98 a five star rating.

Microsoft & WUGNET has selected ERS32pro into their

Shareware Hall Of Fame and it is showcased as a

Microsoft/WUGNET Windows 95 Shareware Pick of the

Week for Jan 26, 1998.

The Windows Users Group Network [WUGNET], operators of

the oldest and largest independent support resource forum

[WINUSER] for Windows users  on CIS with over 1,000,000

active members is recognized in the press, user groups,

developers, and Microsoft as the foremost resource for

shareware publishers on CompuServe and the Internet.

This shareware application can be found in the WINUSER

Forum on CompuServe, an official distribution and support

online resource for future updates. Search for <ERS98.zip>

http://www.wugnet.com

PCWOrld magazine said:

"Here's a backup and recovery system for Windows 95 that will give

you some peace of mind"

Windows Magazine listed ERS in the top ten shareware

programs of the June 97 issue, and in their 1997 Winter edition,

called it "the must have utility".

No more "I can't access Win95, it locks me out and I am left out."

No more worries about the registry going bad on you.

No more valuable time wasted trying to fix Win95.

No more Win95 nightmares.

No more worry about editing the registry or Win95 System files.

Don't be left out in a black MS-DOS screens not knowing what to

do next.

Why waste valuable time in trying to figure out what went wrong.

Why risk your business and be without computer for hours perhaps days.

Why risk having to reformat your hard drive to get a fresh start?

ERS will get you a fresh start and save you many painful hours of

wasted time and effort. ERS creates backups of Win95 System and

Registry files. Should those files get corrupted, replacement backups

will then be available.

ERS works like "magic". In two minutes you can restore from backups

and will be on your way computing, instead of trying to manually

troubleshoot or reinstall Win95.

ERS is unlike other disappointing, copycat backup/restore programs,

its the legitimate original, proven to make successful restores since

February of 1996.

Some of ERS98 features:

3 day or 7 day rotary auto or manual Win95 system files backup,

3 manual system files backup,

Two Win95 222 Vital files backups,

Two Win95 10 Startup files backups,

3 Week rotary backups.

Windows and Windows\System files backup.

ERS Boot Disk,

Zip backups,

Scheduler for users that don't turn their computer off.

Add 3 files of your choice to backups with option to restore.

Associated file notations,

Profiles backup,

and Tool tips.

Vital files backup includes files that are over written by the Internet

Explorer 5.0.

Virus attack backups, click Options\Virus Attack Backup.

ERS keeps its data in its own registry (.dat files) instead of using

Win95 Registry. ERS doesn't make any modifications or entries to the

Registry or any other system files, it merely makes new ERS directories,

then copies ERS files to the appropriate directories. It places a Shortcut

icon in the Start menu for easy access.

LEGEND:

Where Win95 is mentioned it applies to Win98 also.

Where C:\ is mentioned, its considering "C" is the boot drive,

Where C:\Ers98  is mentioned, its considering you have installed

ERS98 in that same directory.

Where C:\Windows is mentioned, its considering Windows is the Win95

or Win98 Windows Directory.

Where ERS is mentioned, it's the same as ERS98 in this program.

ERS runs in NEC computers that uses A as the boot drive

and would recognize the Windows directory no matter what name

it is called.


ViruBack

Virus attack Backup and Restore

OverView

Please read ViruBack help for Virus protections tips, In ViruBack

click Help\Help.

This program was made when the Melissa, Papa and the CIH /SpaceFiller

viruses started flooding the Internet Mar, 1999.

It could be a nightmare if attacked by a virus and lost all executables

then have to reinstall Windows and all programs in your computer

just to restore the executables.

Zip files don't get infected unless they are opened and files

executed from it.

You may not loose infected files after an antivirus has disinfected

them but you will loose infected files creation date, so a restore from

ViruBack will restore computer original files untouched.

ViruBack will zip files that are most vulnerable to be infected

*.exe *.com *.sys *.doc *.xls *.ppt

with option to add and remove as you see necessary.

Option to backup the whole drive or the Windows directory.

Drives backup can be restored from within Windows, after the

Windows directory, computer boot files and Viruback.exe have been

restored from a bootdisk to get Windows started.

Each backup could use anywhere from 5 to 70 MB depending how many

programs you have installed and type of work that you do.

It will copy one restore batch file RestWinV.bat, Choice.com,

Pkunzip.exe, Edit.com, Attrib.exe, Msdos.bck(Msdos.sys backup)

and this program ViruBack.exe to a boot disk that you should

have ready or make from ViruBack Options menu.

Running RestWinV.bat from the bootdisk will restore Windows

executables and the computer boot files Io.sys, Command.com

and MsDos.sys.

It also restores ViruBack.exe to the ERS98 directory so you

can run it and be able restore the drive(s) executables from

within windows.

Recommend strongly to use the Win & Win\Sys backup in ERS98

and restore from if necessary.

Preparation before backing up

   a) The Recycle Ben is excluded from being backed up but better

      empty it before making backup(s).

   b) For faster backup, better empty all your Windows\Temp and

      Internet Temp files.

   c) Be sure the computer is virus free and you have scanned all

      drives thoroughly from within Windows also from MS-DOS

      using a MS-DOS antivirus software after a cold boot.

      (Please read the Virus checking tips section in ViruHelp.)

   d) Make and test run a boot disk, click Options\Make a bootdisk,

      select to "Full format" floppy and to "Copy System Files".

      If you don't full format it using a Win95/98 formatting tool

      then the bootdisk might fail to boot computer.

   e) Rename large self extracting EXE downloads extensions, such as

      Internet explorer 4.0/5.0, Netscape or any download that

      has the .exe extension that you don't want them to be backed

      up but in the same time protect them from being infected.

      Rename their extension to .ex_ for example.

Backup Instructions

Open ViruBack, start at the very top and select one of the two backup

options, "Drive Backup" or "Windows directory backup".

1) Select to backup the Windows directory or a drive one at a time.

2) Select destination where you would like to save the backup.

   Windows backup name should be in MS-DOS 8.3 short name and

   drive backup have to have the drive letter at the beginning

   of it.

   Example C_DriveV.zip, the C used to identify backup.

   Windows backup saved as WinVback.zip, it will be converted

   to MS-DOS 8.3 short file name format if it is more than eight

   letters.

   Best to keep and save the Windows backup in one of the hard drives,

   you can store the others in a Zip disk or CDR.

3) Add/Remove extensions, be sure to leave one space only in between

   each wildcard, no more and no less.

   *.exe *.com *.sys *.doc *.xls *.ppt

   Double check that only one space is in between.

   *.exe *.com *.sys (executables and system files, a must backup.)

   *.doc *.xls *.ppt (Microsoft Office, document, Excel and Power Point).

4) Options:

  a) Update backup

     A time saver when re-making a backup, it will add new files and

     replace old with newer files but will not remove any.

     Don't select to update if your backup is too old and you have

     uninstalled many programs, because when restoring it will restore

     all zipped files and will make path if path not found.

  a) Skip Locked Files(not recommended)

     It will skip files that are in use.

     If not selected and one file is locked, then backup will fail.

     To be sure that none are locked, close all applications then

     press Ctrl+alt+Del, End Task all except, Explorer, Systray and

     ViruBack before making the backup and you should be OK.

5) Click the backup button and wait, zip has to scan the drive first

   then it will start zipping.

   After Windows backup it will prompt you to copy the Windows

   restore batch file and necessary restore files to the boot disk.

   If you don't have a boot disk ready, then you can do it later

   by clicking Options\Copy Restore Batch to a Boot Disk.

To update backups:

   Double click from list to transfer backup configuration to Source

   and destination, it will transfer previously selected paths but you

   still have to Add/Remove extensions again.

Restore Instructions

Restoring and Starting Windows

After a virus attack such as the Monkey boot virus nothing would run.

Once you are sure that the antivirus have cleaned the computer,

deleted, renamed or removed virus from infected files.

(done by using a MS-DOS antivirus software).

Boot computer with the ViruBack boot disk in the floppy drive

to restore the Windows directory first,

once booted, type

RestWinV

It will restore all Windows executables.

It will restore Io.sys, MsDos.sys and the Command.com so you

can boot computer.

It will restore ViruBack.exe to the ERS98 directory so you can run

it and be able restore the drive(s) executables from within windows.

Above will get Windows started.

Recommend strongly to use the Win & Win\Sys backup in ERS98

and restore from a ERS98 bootdisk if necessary.

Restoring Drives

After you have restored Windows, only ViruBack.exe can be

ran from within windows.

Run ViruBack, start at the very top and select one of the

restore Action options.

Double click the the desired backup to be restored from

the list then click the Restore Backup button, be sure

drive and path the Destination drive are transferred correctly.

Menus

Edit Menu

1) To delete a backup, click Edit\Delete backup or right click and

   select Delete Backup.

2) To remove a listed backup without deleting it, click Edit\Remove from List

   or right click and select Remove from List.

Option menu

1) Copy Restore Batch file to boot disk, that will give you another

   chance to copy batch file, and all required files to the boot disk.

   Pkunzip.exe is copied from the ERS directory.

   Choice.com is copied from Windows\Command.

   Edit.com is copied from Windows\Command.

   Attrib.exe is copied from Windows\Command.

   NOTE: If you have Win95 950 (1995 release) installed from floppies then

   Choice.com will not be found in the Windows\Command directory, download at

   http://www.mslm.com/ersmore.htm

2) Make A Boot Disk, you can select to make a boot disk, be sure to Full

   format bootdisk with the option "Copy System Files" selected.

   Test boot disk to be sure it boots OK.

3) Set ZipTemp Drive

   Zipping needs a Temp working folder to do the work.(about 20% of the

   backup being backed up).

   Be sure there is enough free hard disk space for zipping.

   Don't set Zip Temp in a Network computer or non fixed drives.

   Change Zip Temp Path if you are backing up a hard drive

   and the Zip Temp is in the drive being backed up.


Quick How to

Simply make the backups by clicking the appropriate button.

Click the Notes Check box and add backup notes if you wish.

Select and add either the 3Day or 7Day rotary backup to the Startup

folder. By doing so, there after on each startup, Auto backup will check

backup time and date, will pop up if your last backup is more than

22 hours old (optional).

There is an automatic 50 seconds time delay (optional), you can cancel

the backup if you wish, or bypass the 50 seconds delay by clicking the

"Backup Now" button.

To change default backup interval or delay time, in the ERS98 click

Options\Change 7 Day or 3 Day Autobackup Settings.

Auto backup doesn't use resources, and it will pop up only if your

backup is 22 hours old. Increase the delay seconds, if you have

programs that run on startups, such as Antivirus.

Click Options\Add other files to backups, there you can add 3 extra

files of your choice to system files backups.

(system files backups are, 3 Day, 7 Day, BackupA, B and C)

Please don't add your personal notes or files to be backed up with ERS

backups if you selected these files be restored with ERS.

Select and add the Weekly backup to 3 Day or 7 Day by selecting one

of the check boxes in ERS 98 and it will backup once every 8 days.

Select to Add 3Wk rotary to the 3Day or 7Day, it will rotate three backups

once every 8 days.

Select to zip backups if you wish, saves on hard disk space but it

takes longer to do backup.

Note: You can set auto backup interval as much as 70 hours, which

will make the auto backup to backup once every three days instead

of daily, making the 3Day spread to 9Day and the 7Day spread to

21Day rotary backups.

Manually backup, "Vitals1", "Startup1" and system files backup

"BackupA" by clicking the proper buttons.

Backup all the files in the Windows and Window\System directory

by clicking "Win & Win\Sys" button.

To restore from backups:

Just remember the word "ERS".

Start or restart computer, when you see "Starting Windows 95 or 98",

quickly press F8 (might have to press Ctrl instead, in Win98).

Then select the "Command Prompt Only" from the menu,

don't select "Command Prompt in Safemode".

Type ERS at the command prompt, then Type one of the ERS restore

commands that will pop up on the screen. You will see backup's dates

and your notes, allowing you to decide which backup you need to

restore from.

Once restoring is finished, restart computer by pressing Ctrl+Alt +Del,

now your system is perfectly restored.

Don't ever type "Win" or "Windows" at the Command Prompt to return

to Windows.

If you upgrade to Windows 98 or to a newer operating system, click

Options\Update ERS for Win98 or new OS. Update again if you go back

to Win95.

NOTE: A free ERS scheduler called Timer.exe is available for those who

keep their computer on all the time.

If you already have a 3rd party scheduler running tasks, then there

is no need to run the ERS scheduler, you can set it to run ERS

auto backup by making it point to AutoErs.exe.

Click Option\ERS Scheduler, set backup time and select "Start timer

and Add to Startup", click Hide and it will place itself in the Systray.

Deselect 3Day or 7Day if already selected, click "Options\Change 3Day

or 7Day Autobackup Settings" and set interval hours to zero.

When you have time, make an ERS bootdisk, click Options\ Make

ERS Bootdisk.

Print the restore section of this help file, and save it for a rainy day.

NOTE: Click any of the backup date\time stamps to view the files of

that backup.

New:

Read Microsoft AutoScan and ScanReg viscous circles, in the

Restore section.

Virus attack backups, click Options\Virus Attack Backup.

Where Win95 is mentioned it applies to Win98 too.


Legal Agreement
THE LEGAL AGREEMENT

ERS 98 has have been thoroughly tested, and it has constantly been

successful in completing its design specifications of restoring Win95/98 all

System files listed in the Overview section.

NO LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES

In no event shall the publisher, the author, nor their suppliers be liable

for any damages whatsoever {Including, without limitation, damages for loss

of business profits, business  interruption, loss of business information,

or any other pecuniary loss) arising out of the use of, or inability to use

this product, even if being advised of the possibility of such damages.

Although some state jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation

of liability for consequential or incidental damages, the above limitation

still apply to you. It is your responsibility to read the readme.txt file

before installing.


About ERS32pro
ERS 98

Emergency Recovery System 98

For Windows 95 and Windows 98

Copyright © 1996/97/98. All Rights Reserved.

  Theodore Fattaleh author, programmer and publisher.

  All Program Names are Registered Trademarks of their

  Respective Owner.

http://www.mslm.com  same as

http://www.multisyslaunch.com

   My Email addresses:

   twf@flash.net

   2000@msn.com

   2000ted@compuserve.com

   Many thanks to all who contributed to get ERS out of beta.


Backup
CREATING BACKUPS

Explanations of backups.

Also see Auto backup.

(read the Restore section on how to restore.)

Where Win95 is mentioned it applies to Win98 too.

Read about Zipping below.

System Files Backups

Includes the Registry files and all Windows System files that normally

are the major cause when having trouble with Windows.

3Day Rotating:

This is a three day rotating backup. If you are using the seven day

rotating  backup, this will overwrite day 1, day 2 and day 3 of the 7

day backup routine.  {if you are indeed using the seven day rotating

backup}.

Once you execute the backup,

backup in day 3 will be deleted, backup in day 2 will transfer to day 3,

backup in day1 will transfer to day 2 and a fresh backup will be placed

in Day 1.

In other words , once you execute 3 Day rotating, today's backup will be

placed in Day 1, yesterday's in Day 2 and the day before yesterday will

be placed in Day 3.

7Day Rotating: (Recommended)

This is a seven day rotating backup, if you are using the three day

rotating backup and decide to go to the seven day rotating backup, this

will overwrite the routine Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3 of the 3Day Backup.

Once you execute this backup

backup in day 7 will be deleted, backup in day 6 will transfer to day 7,

backup in day 5 will transfer to day 6, backup in day 4 will transfer to day 5,

backup in day 3 will transfer to day 4, backup in day 2 will transfer to day 3,

backup in day 1 will transfer to day 2, and a fresh backup will be created in

Day 1.

Hope I didn't confuse you.

Day1->to->Day2->to->Day3->to->Day4->to->Day5->to->Day6->to->Day7

->gets Deleted, then creates new backup in Day1.

All above backups are made in C:\ERS98\D1, D2, D3..through...D7 folders.

If you don't understand the above, just click on 3Day Rotating then

7Day Rotating and notice the movements of the backup dates moving

from top to bottom.

3Week Rotating

3Week is a 3 rotating backups, it backs up once every 8 days, add it to the

3Day or 7Day by selecting the check box and it will backup along 3Day or 7Day.

When making a 3Week backup, it backs up independently the Vmm32.vxd file,

restore Vmm32.vxd only if you get a message that the VMM32.vxd is damaged,

there is no instructions on how to restore VMM32.vxd when you type ERS at the

Command Prompt Only, you need to remember that typing VMM1 restores

VMM32.vxd from this week, typing VMM2 restores from last week and VMM3

restores from the week before.

BackupA, BackupB and BackupC:

BackupA, BackupB and BackupC are manual backups of System files

that are made independent of each other.

These backups are made in C:\ERS98\BackupA, BackupB, BackupC

folders.

All the above are System files backups.

Vitals1 and Vitals2:

Are backups of about 222 Win95/98 essential files which are most likely

to get over written or corrupted, backing up these files could save you

a Win95 re-install or a  format of the hard drive, keep them current and

keep only one backup. After you install a new program do another

backup in Vitals2, wait few days then delete the older one.

You will find these backups in Vitals1, Vitalw1 and Vitals2,

Vitalw2 and uses about 14 MB of hard disk space if not zipped.

The letter S in Vitals1 stands for files backed up from Windows\System

directory.

The W in Vitalw1 stands for files backed up from the Windows directory.

The 1 stands for backup #1 and  2 stands for backup #2.

Startup1 and Startup2 backups:

These are the  Win95 startup files, if Win95 does not start and a restore

from System files backup did not help then hopefully this restore will restart

your computer.

These backups are kept in C:\Ers98\Startup1, Startup2, Wincom1 and

Wincom2.

Win and Win\Sys

All files in Windows, Windows\System, Windows\System\Vmm32,

Windows\System\Iosubsys and Windows\Inf, can be backed up in the

Win & Win\Sys backup.

The backup is zipped whether zipping is selected or not, uses any where

from 15 to 50 MB of hard disk space.

The backup is more power to you.

It is important to close all applications before making this backup, including

antivirus programs. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del, be sure only the Explorer, ERS98

and Systray are in the list, End task all others.

In version 8.66, a skip locked files option has been added to the Win & Win\Sys

backup and Vital backups, it will skip and not backup any files that are in use,

click Options\Skip Locked Files, click again to remove feature.

Note: The backup backs up only the files in the directories mentioned above,

it doesn't backup the whole Windows directory and subdirectories.

Backup file names are: WinDir.zip, WinSys.zip, Sysiso.zip, SysVmm.zip

and Wininf.zip.

Note: This Backup and Restore, restores important Read only files,

Hidden files are no problem.

If there is un-important files that has the Read Only attribute and you

would like them to be restored when restoring from this backup then,

set their attributes to Normal.

You can identify them using AttriBat by editing the AtNorm.bat,

download at:

http://www.mslm.com/free.htm

Virus attack backups

Click Options\Virus Attack Backup or find ViruBack in the StartMenu

and read Help in the ViruBack Help menu.

Backup other files:

Be sure files do exist before making backup, remove from ERS if they no

longer exist.

Click Options\Add other files to backup, select the file and double click

either window in the bottom to transfer file path and file name. Please don't

add your personal data to be backed up with ERS backups if you selected

to restore these files with ERS, nor backup the file Vmm32.vxd, because

if you restore from ERS it will restore these files that you selected and

backup could be outdated.

Deselect Check box, if you don't want these files to get restored with ERS.

If you have Added files to be backed up with ERS backup and selected to

restore these files when restoring from ERS, then these files should be in

DOS 8.3 short name format. Files added with Long file names will not be

converted to short file names when restoring.

Zipping

All zipped backups are saved in Ers98\Zipped folder.

A licensed Pkunzip.exe is distributed with the registered version of ERS.

The licensed Pkunzip.exe to be used with ERS 98 only and not to be distributed.

ERS98 shareware get the shareware Pkunzip.exe version.

Pkunzip.exe is used to de-compress backups in MS-DOS.

State of the art 32 Bit zipping software used to zip backups in Windows.


Restore
RESTORING

Where Win95 is mentioned it applies to Win98 too.

Please print this page and save it in a safe place for a rainy day.

To Restore: Start your computer at the "Command prompt only".

To do so:

Start or restart computer, when you see "Starting Windows 95"

or "Starting Windows 98",

quickly press F8 (might have to press Ctrl instead in Win98),

then select the "Command Prompt Only" from the menu.

Don't select any other option, select the "Command Prompt Only"

Don't select "Command Prompt in Safemode".

TYPE ERS or ERS.BAT at the command prompt to execute ERS.bat

which has to be in the root directory. This automatically changes the

directory and will place you in the C:\1Ers folder, which will then show

you all the notes you have previously written along with the dates of all

the backups, also produced will be a list of the required restoration

commands.(Please read After Installing at the bottom of this page)

Restore only from the most recent System files backup first,

restore only one. If that does not help, then go back and do a restore

from an older backup.

Don't restore from a Win95/98 Startup backup unless you have Win95/98

startup problems or error messages while starting and only after a restore

from System files backup. If restoration from all the available System files

backups didn't help then you can restore  from Vitals or Startup depending

what error messages or problems you are having, there is also the backup

of the whole Windows and Windows\System directory to restore from.

Don't restore from Vital files backup unless you have error messages that

could be caused by corrupted Win95 files other than System files, or if

you want to restore Win95 vital files that were over written.

System files backup and restore is what ERS is all about.

Vital files and the  Startup files backups adds more to your power for

Win95/98 Startup problems and Win95/98 Vital files.

If Vital or Startup backups are not current then a restore from them could

cause more errors. Contrary to the System files backup, you can go back

and restore from a one year old System files backup and with few updates

you can get Win95/98 running again, but I don't encourage you to restore

and depend on old System files backup unless that is the only choice you have.

If a program is giving you errors, then restoring from ERS is not the best

remedy. The way to proceed is to re-install the program, or un-install it,

restart computer and re-install it.

*************************

ERS.bat gets recreated every time you close ERS or do an Auto backup,

be sure you don't have Ers.bat open when closing ERS or an Auto backup

is in progress, then Ers.bat might not be recreated.

If accidently you had Ers.bat open when closing ERS98.exe then close

Ers.bat, open and close ERS98.exe.

(If for some reason typing ERS or ERS.bat didn't function, then type,

CD 1ers, to get  to the ERS restore batch files, there type Dir/p to view

the contents of the 1Ers folder.)

ERS.bat is copied to the 1Ers folder too, you can type ERS again to view

the restore commands while in the 1Ers folder.

Once there:

Type BackupA to restore from BackupA

Type BackupB to restore from BackupB

Type BackupC to restore from BackupC

Type Day1 to restore from Day1 backup( today's backup.)

Type Day2 to restore from Day2 backup (yesterday's backup.)

Type Day3 to restore from Day3 (day before yesterday's backup.)

so on down the line through Day4, Day5, Day6 and Day7

{that is if you backup daily}.

Type Week1 to restore from Week1 backup( this week backup.)

Type Week2 to restore from Week2 backup (last week backup.)

Type Week3 to restore from Week3 (week before last backup.)

Type Vmm1 to restore from Vmm32.vxd backup( this week backup.)

Type Vmm2 to restore from Vmm32.vxd backup (last week backup.)

Type Vmm3 to restore from Vmm32.vxd (week before last backup.)

Type Vitals1 to restore from Vitals1 backup.

Type Vitals2 to restore from Vitals2 backup.

Type Startup1 to restore from Startup1 backup.

Type Startup2 to restore from Startup2 backup.

Type Winfiles to restore the whole Windows and Windows\System

files.

Type RenStart to move the contents of the Startup folder to Startup1.

NOTE: If the Autoexec.bat, Config.sys and the Dosstart.bat files size

are equal to zero 0  bytes (or empty) then MS-DOS will give you

"file not found" while restoring, but will delete these files if they are

more than 0 in size and give you "Zero files copied" message.

What that means is, if the files are over written then they are deleted

but not replaced, but will restore your system back.

REMEMBER...!!! The word to type "ERS", at the

"Command Prompt Only"

NOTE: You may need to add the .bat extensions to the above restore

commands.

Explanation of the multiple MS-DOS modes in Win95 or Win98:

There can be up to four instances of MS-DOS in Win95.

In case of a "clean" Win95 install, there are only three.

BUT remember... Restore the ERS backups from only one:

That one is the "COMMAND PROMPT ONLY", this is the ONLY one

to select and use, in order to successfully restore Win95 system files

using ERS.

To do so, start or restart computer, when you see "Starting Windows 95",

quickly press F8 (might have to press Ctrl instead in Win98).

Then select the "Command Prompt Only" from the menu.

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES RESTORE FROM ANY OF

THE FOLLOWING

MS-DOS inside windows called MS-DOS Prompt. (don't use this one)

MS-DOS mode outside Windows, when you select to Shut down windows

the one appearing in the menu "Exit to MS-DOS".

(Still controlled by Win95, don't use this one)

When you start your computer and select F8 when says "Starting Win95"

from the menu you can select: "Previous version of MS-DOS" if you

installed Win95 on top DOS 6.22, you will have this option in the menu

to select.(don't use this one )

Also DON'T use the Command Prompt in Safemode,

absolutely NOT, you are in the Windows environment here, and MS-DOS

doesn't know Safemode.

NOTE: It may be a good idea to print this section and have it handy when

restore time comes.

After Installing ERS98:

Once ERS98 program is opened you will be prompted to

select shortcuts names.

Click the Done button if you are new to ERS or computers.

If you selected the default settings, then ERS is the word used

to restore from ERS98, otherwise it would be to what ever you

changed it to. In ERS98 click Help\Remind me to be reminded

of the word you changed it to.

Suggest to use the default settings

Move the contents of the Startup folder

The option will help if shortcut in the Startup folder is

causing Windows to freez-up after Windows Startups.

The batch file name is RenStart.bat, find it in the 1ers folder.

The batch file will move the contents of the Startup folder

from Startup to Startup1, you can move them back later on.

Delete Windows System Files

Added a delete batch file to delete all files in the

Windows, Windows\System, Windows\System\Vmm32,

Windows\System\Iosubsys and Windows\Inf directories.

The batch file is made after Windows backup is made.

It is useful to remove new corrupted hardware drivers or hardware

software that were added to the Windows directory and a restore

from Windows backup wouldn't help. Also good to remove added

junk after trying out and uninstalling software redeeming wasted

hard disk space. The batch file is made after a Win & Win\Sys

backup, strongly recommend to use it after testing a Win & Win\Sys

restore to be sure all backup are there.

The batch file name is DelSys.bat, find it in the 1ers folder.

Microsoft AutoScan and ScanReg vicious circles:

New feature when restoring from ERS98, ERS98 by-passes Microsoft

AutoScan in MsDos.sys, ScanReg and Auto restore. (Win98 and Win95 OSR2).

It does that by replacing default MsDos.sys and Scanreg.ini (win98 only)

with modified ones. Once computer is started then default MsDos.sys and

Scanreg.ini are restored.

RestDef.exe pops up after an ERS 98 restore and Windows Startup

and restores defaults. It does that only when restoring from ERS.

That is done by copying RestDef.exe to the Startup folder.

In non English Win95/98 that has extended characters in the Startup path

á, ú etc., a shortcut to RestDef.exe is permanently placed in the Startup folder

(only if you don't use the Auto Backup) which will detect an ERS98 restore on each

startup and restore default MsDos.sys and ScanReg.ini. Reason is because

MS-DOS doesn't recognize extended characters.

Just in case, if things didn't go as usual, default MsDos.sys and ScanReg.in

are backed up in the Ers98\DefBack folder, where you can restore them

manually. MsDos.sys goes in the root directory C and ScanReg.ini

goes in the Windows directory.

To disable Microsoft default settings permanently (strongly recomened),

click Options\Disable Microsoft AutoScan and ScanReg to disable features.

With Microsoft ScanReg and AutoScan, computer will go in vicious

circles which will not let you start computer at all if it couldn't fix and

restore computer.

To be sure that you are at the steering wheel, download freeware Win98Config

found in MiniApps. And read below for in detail instructions.

http://www.mslm.com/free.htm

MiniApps has over 25 very useful Freeware.

If you are using Win98:

Click Start\Run and type MSConfig, click the Advanced Tab, there deselect all

except "Disable Scandisk After Bad Shutdown", this option is pain if you are

having little problems, it un-necessarily scans the hard drive for errors wasting your

time.

Click Start\Run and type MSConfig, click the Startup Tab, deselect ScanRegistry

and both LoadPowerProfile(optional read below).

It will ask you to restart computer, click OK.

Once Restarted, open ERS98 and click Options\Disable Microsoft AutoScan

and ScanReg, it will disable AutoScan in MsDos.sys, Registry Optimization

and auto backup and restore.

The ERS98 tool  will ask you if you want to remove LoadPowerProfile, click yes

unless you are using Profiles and have different preference for Power Managemant.

The ERS98 tool will delete the following keys in the Registry:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run-]

or

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

Delete the Key ScanRegistry.

Delete the key LoadPowerProfile(optional read below).

You will find another LoadPowerProfile to delete in

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices-]

or

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices]

Note the dash after RunServices and Run.

LoadPowerProfile:

LoadPowerProfile is started twice to provide a power management profile before

and after you log on to Windows.

LoadPowerProfile starts as a machine service so that the default power management

settings are available when Windows 98 starts. It is loaded again after you log on to

Windows to process preferences for individual users of the computer.

This has nothing to do with Power Management, but Profiles Power Management.

Use it if you are using Profiles and have different preference for Power Management

(Not Recommended).

If you are using Win95 OSR2:

The ERS98 tool will disable AutoScan in MsDos.sys when restoring also.

Win98 Bug:

A bug in Win98 was found, it will set BootKeys=0 in MsDos.sys.

This means, you can't boot in the Command Prompt Only or any of

the MS-DOS startup menu.

ERS98 will notify you to make an ERS bootdisk if BootKeys=0 found

in MsDos.sys so you can boot in MS-DOS and restore from ERS98.

To be sure that BootKeys=0 is set to BootKeys=1,

click Start\Programs\Windows Explorer,

click View\Folder Option and click the View Tab,

there select Show all files.

Go to the root directory C, right click MsDos.sys and deselect Read Only

and click OK,

double click MsDos.sys and select to open it with Notepad,

in the very bottom be sure that BootKeys=1.

MS-DOS BUG

It doesn't recognize extended non English characters.

á, ú etc.

In Non English Win95/98 only, if extended characters detected then:

Instead of copying RestDef.exe to the Startup folder while in MS-DOS,

it makes a shortcut to RestDef.exe in the Startup folder while in

windows (only if you don't use the Auto Backup), then on each startup

RestDef.exe checks if a restore from ERS98 was made and restores

defaults.


AUTO BACKUP

Auto Backup feature doesn't use any resources, it is activated with

Win95 startups but will not open unless backup is more than

22 hours (optional) old, a 50 seconds (optional) pause before commencing

backup gives you a chance to cancel backup and doesn't overload Win95

startups.

You can change the default 22 hour setting and the  50 seconds pause by

clicking on the "Stop timer" when auto backup pops up.

Or click Options\Change 7Day or 3Day settings, to set preferences.

Do change the 50 seconds if you have a program that executes and will

be running on startup within the 50 second period and could clash with

AutoErs, such as antivirus auto scan.

Note: You can set auto backup interval as much as 70 hours, which will

make the auto backup to backup once every three days instead of daily,

making the 3 Day spread to 9 Day and the 7 Day spread to 21 Day rotary

backups. Setting the interval to 22, 46 or 70 instead of 24, 48 and 72 will

give you two hours, if you start your computer at different minutes at a

usual time. Let us say you start your computer at 8 AM daily, but

sometimes you start at 7:30 or 7 then backup will still commence.

There are two ways to backup using Auto backup.

The 3 Day or 7 Day, Please refer to the Backup section to read about

these two backup functions.

By Selecting 3 Day or 7 Day, ERS will backup daily automatically upon

startups, it will show up only once every 22 hours and will pause for 50

seconds before commencing backups giving you a chance to Cancel

backup it if necessary, also you can bypass the 50 seconds pause by

clicking on the "Bypass timer, backup now"

The name of the Auto backups file is AutoErs.exe,

the shortcuts that are placed in the Startup folder is called AutoErs.lnk.

You can select only one automatic rotating backup, 3 Day or 7 Day .

When you select 3 Day then 7 Day configuration are changed on

the same AutoErs.exe. (unlike ERS32pro where each had one exe.)

Notice view Window # 1 when you add or remove the 3 Day or 7 Day

Auto backup from the startup folder.

To view the Startup folder click on the label that says

"Auto back add to startup"

Timer: A free ERS scheduler called Timer.exe is available in the

ERS98 directory for those who keep their computer on all the time.

If you already have a 3rd party scheduler running tasks, then there

is no need to run the ERS scheduler, you can set it to run the ERS

backup by making it point to AutoErs.exe.

Click Option\ERS Scheduler, set backup time and select "Start timer

and Add to Startup", click Hide for it to go in the Systray.

Deselect 3Day or 7Day if already selected, click "Options\Change 3Day

or 7Day Autobackup Settings" and set interval hours to zero.

Don't copy any ERS files outside the ERS98 directory, third party

schedulers has to point to the location of AutoErs.exe in the ERS98.

If you are using 3rd party scheduler, open ERS Scheduler and select

3Day or 7Day and close it. Then delete the Timer shortcut in the Startup folder.

Note: When you close the ERS program is when ERS.bat gets

recreated in C:\  and gets copied to the C:\1Ers folder.

3 Week Auto backups

Select the check box to add 3Week Rotating backups to 3Day or 7Day,

backup will commence once every 8 days after the daily backup when due.

AutoErs checks daily on when the backup is due and executes it once

the 8 days has past.


Profiles
Win95/98 PROFILES

Note

Win95/98 Profiles are Desktop and Shortcuts settings that are selected

by different individual users, The next person who logs on to Windows

can change settings without affecting the settings you prefer.

The next time you log on, your settings will be restored.

In another words, if computer is used by more than one person, then

each person can set his/her Profile, each Profile well have Desktop

settings and a Start menu of their own. When you start computer you

can select your own Profile.

Each Profile has User-ID and Password to access it when starting

Windows.

Many computers have Profiles feature added as an option and users

don't know that they are added.

If you don't know about profiles and Profiles option is selected and

wondering what's happening to your shortcuts in the Start menu or

Desktop, you will find them in C:\Windows\Profiles.

If you decided to delete Profiles you will have to copy missing

shortcuts from C:\windows\Profile\Profile Name to the main StartMenu

and Desktop configured without profiles.

Be very careful in configuring and deleting profiles. To Select or

Deselect Profiles, go to the Control panel\Password Icon\Users

profile Tab.

End Note

Now in ERS... select the Configure Profiles check box, click the Browse

button select profile name(Long File names, spaces, under score is OK),

be sure the yellow folder of the profile name is in the open position and

click the Add To Profile # button to transfer profile name, do the

same with the other profiles.

To save settings, de-select the Configure Profile check box.

If you should change the profile name all backups of the older name will

be deleted.

The actual Profile files are:

User.dat and User.da0(Win95 only), these are different from the User.dat and

User.da0(Win95 only) in C:\Windows which are  backed up with ERS system files

backup. (Win98 doesn't use the .da0 files)

If Profiles are selected in Control panel\Password Icon\Users profile Tab.

then each  user will have his or her own User.dat and user.da0(Win95 only).

New windows will popup if you have selected and added profiles to ERS to

view these two files when backed up or deleted.

Check physically C:\98\Profiles, P1, P2, P3 ...etc. to P7 that all

files being backed up OK and the backup dates are valid, until you see

all is running OK. P1 to P7 follow the same backup routine as in the

3 Day  and  7 Day Rotating backups.


Tips
REMEMBER

Where Win95 is mentioned it applies to Win98 too.

Just type ERS or ERS.bat when restoring, typing ERS will guide you

and remind you how to restore.

Also it will change directories to C:\1Ers where all the restore batch

files are stored.

Just type ERS  or ERS.bat at the "Command Prompt only"

Once again as an additional reminder, REMEMBER TYPE ERS at the

"Command Prompt Only"

Don't use the "Command Prompt in Safemode".

USEFUL TIPS

Print the help text and save it for a rainy day or at least print the backup

and  restore section.

Always do good fresh  backups, don't say I don't need these  backups

because one day you will wish that you had a backup, trust me.

Always keep more than one backup,  get familiarized with this program

and make test runs.

When you do a restore, it will restore to the same settings that you had

when you did that last backup.

If you should unfortunately allow yourself to fall behind making backups,

and if you restore from old backup. And although this would get your

computer running once again, it may require a lot of work re-setting

interface parameters and  program setting defaults to fit your personal

needs and to meet the need of  more recent changes to your system.

Backups are fast and easy, so get into the routine of making a backup

with associated Notes before installing another program.

If everything works fine afterwards, make another one and wait few days.

Consequently if your system should display some sort of problem due

to the new program installation, uninstall it, then restart computer and

restore from ERS backups, using the backup made prior to the new

programs installation.  "Like magic", you are back where you started.

Double click ERS.bat in C:\  and get familiarized with it.

Copy Attrib.exe and Sys.com from C:\windows\command to C:\,

also copy Sys.com to any boot disk that you have or make.

The way I do it, always keep one good  backup in BackupA, Vitals1,

Startup1 and the Win Win\Sys.

Add the 7Day auto backup to the startup folder let it do backups daily

and add the Weekly backup to the 7Day to backup weekly.

If I edit the system files or install a new program then I do fresh backups

to BackupB, Vitals2 and Startup2 before I install the program or edit system

files, or even before I change setting in the Device manager.

If the changes I made to system files or program installation are

successful then I make another backup in BackupC, wait for few days

then delete unwanted backups.

I always use BackupC as a temporary backup if I had to make changes

and not sure which backup to restore from.

Never install two programs at the same time, always install only one,

wait a while, restart computer, check your computer then install the another.

Zip some of the good old backups instead of deleting them and save in a

good place. You can go back and restore from backups that are a year

or more old but then you may need to reinstall Win95/98, reinstall all new

hardware and software installed from that date, still better than starting

from scratch.

Copy some of the files from C:\Windows\Command to C, if you have

Win95 950 or 950a on floppies then you don't have Choice.com unless

you  have installed OLD-DOS from Win95 CD-ROM extras.

Before you upgrade to Win98, delete all these files and copy the new

Win98 DOS files.

Don't mix DOS files from different operating systems, Win95 950 DOS

files are different from Win95 950b, Win95 950c and Win98.

If you have Win95 installed on top DOS( 5.0 to 6.22), be careful with the

Command.com, there are two different ones, V 7.0 is in Windows\Command

directory and the older is in the C:\ root directory.


Other
OTHER FEATURES

Virus attack backups

Click Options\Virus Attack Backup or find ViruBack in the StartMenu

and read Help in the ViruBack Help menu.

CLICKING

View the Ers398.gif in the Ers98 directory for explanations of controls.

You can almost click on any label in ERS to view:

If you click any of the Date\Time Stamp label you can view the contents

of that backup on view Window #1.

Click the Vitals or Startup Date\Time Stamp label and view files backed

up from the system directory in #1 view Window and from the Windows

directory in the #2 View window. (don't get confused between the

Win95 startup files and the Startup folder).

Profiles View windows will pop up if you use profiles.

Click the label that says "Add 3Day or 7Day to Startup folder" and view

the startup folder in View window #1.

If you are zipping backups then the Zip folder will show where all the

zipped backups are stored.


ERS Boot Disk
Making an ERS Boot-disk

Windows 95 and Windows 98

ERS Boot disk comes handy if you can't boot into the system,

hopefully ERS can get the system started.

Virus attack, damaged drive sectors, loss of boot files is where

the ERS Bootdisk would have to be there to restore boot files that

are missing, lost in the damaged sectors or corrupted from the

virus attack.

Be sure to make a new ERS boot disk if you upgraded to Windows 98

or to a newer operating system.

First make certain that the floppy you are going to use for your ERS

Boot-disk, has been formatted using ONLY the Win95 or ERS

formatting tool.

Floppies formatted with MS-DOS or most third party, cannot be

used to make any Boot-disk. Trust me and don't waste your time.

Files that will be copied to the ERS boot-disk are:

You will get a message if any are missing, most of these

files are a must have to run the restore commands from the boot disk.

Attrib.exe  (From Windows\Command) (must)

Autoexec.bat  (Made by ERS98.exe)

Chkdsk.exe  (From Windows\Command)

Choice.com  (From Windows\Command)(must)

Command.com  (From the root directory C)(must)

Copybat.bat  (Made by ERS98.exe)

Deltree.exe   (From Windows\Command)(must)

Drvspace.bin  (From Windows\Command)(Optional)

Edit.com   (From Windows\Command)

Fdisk.exe   (From Windows\Command)

Format.com   From Windows\Command)

io.sys   (From the root directory C)( Hidden file)(must)

MsDos.bat (Made by ERS98.exe)

Msdos.sys  (Made by ERS98.exe)(must)

Reminder.bat (Made by ERS, copied from C:\ERS98\Ersfiles)

Sys.com  (From Windows\Command)

Xcopy.exe  (From Windows\Command)(must)

Xcopy32.exe  (From Windows\Command)(must)

Xcopy32.mod  (From Windows\Command, Win98 only)(must)

Pkunzip.exe (From ERS98\Ersfiles)(must)

21 ERS  Restore batch files   (Copied by ERS from the 1Ers folder

if they exist. In ERS98 all backups has to be made before you make

the boot disk to copy all the restore batch files.)

Total 41 files, plus a folder called "Backup"  created, and contains

a file  called "Msdos.sys" (about 2kb) in size.

When you boot from the ERS boot disk, you will be prompted to copy

the restore batch files from the 1Ers folder to the boot disk, it will copy

the most recent restore batch files and copies the ERS.bat and executes

it. Type Copybat to do it manually.

NOTE: The above Msdos.sys is different than the "MsDos.sys" (1Kb),

about one kilobyte in size, which has been written to the root directory of

the boot-disk. The latter is used  for booting the computer from the

boot-disk, while the former is the Win95 backup copy to restore from.

If the first is copied to hard driver then Windows will not start.

****************

NOTE: The reason MsDos.sys file is placed in the backup folder, is

because there is a bug in Win95. When you type Sys C: to transfer

system files from a boot disk to the "C" drive, the method might replace

your MsDos.sys with the wrong MsDos.sys.

So with the ERS boot-disk, just type msdos and the Msdos.sys in C

will get replaced  from the Backup folder in the boot-disk.

Note: All commands must be issued from the boot-disk, you can't

change directory to the C: drive, and make the restore commands.

Now, when you boot from the boot-disk, just type any of the ERS restore

commands to restore.

Note: Should you ever change Profile names, or the ERS98

installation path,  you will need to replace the restore batch files.

Also make a new bootdisk if you upgrade to Win98.

NOTE: MAGIC FOLDERS. If you use the program called "Magic folders"

then you will get runtime error making ERS boot-disk, enable

Chkdisk.exe from Magic Folders first.

NOTE: NEC COMPUTERS. For those using NEC computers with boot

floppy "C", please E-mail me for instructions to make an ERS boot-disk.

WARNING: OVERLAYS. If you are using overlays, use the boot-disk

supplied and select from options. Attempts to use the ERS boot-disk

will damage your data.

Where Win95 is mentioned it applies to Win98 too.


Install, Reinstall and Unistall
INSTALLATION

Windows 95 and Windows 98

Installation:

ERS98 is for Windows 95 and Windows 98 only.

There is ERS NT available for NT FAT parition only, download at

http://www.mslm.com/ersnt.htm

The full version (about 2.7 MB, which includes the VB5run, ERS

DLLs and OCXs) have to be installed in the computer first before you

can use any of the update versions.

Unzip and place ERS files into a temporary folder, double click

Setup.exe, and select the desired drive to install it in.

Note: ERS98 saves all backups in the drive it is installed in.

After Installing ERS98

Once ERS98 program is opened, you will be prompted to select

shortcuts names.

Click the "Done" button if you are new to ERS or computers.

Otherwise read the instructions when prompted on how to proceed.

Re-install:

Download one of the update(about 260 KB, 710 KB or 780 KB) versions

from http://www.mslm.com/ers98.htm.

Registered users, read the registration instructions that was sent to you.

Take care to see that the correct path to the previous installation

is shown in the path window.

Be sure not to double install, e.g. C:\Program Files\Ers98\Ers98.

When re-installing, don't delete the previous {older} Ers98 directory,

nor ERS98.exe. Merely selecting the "Reinstall" button will update

and replace all files and recreate any missing files or folders, while

keeping your previous {old} backups safely intact.

Un-install:

DO NOT... use any third party software to un-install any version

of ERS.

To remove {un-install} ERS correctly, you will find Remove.exe

in the ERS98 directory, run it from there ERS98 directory only.

Then delete the ERS98 directory and any other files that were

not removed by Remove.exe.

Installation Notes

After upgrading to Win98 are any new release:

If you are installing Windows 98 on top of Windows 95 and

you have ERS98 already installed, before going any further,

click Options\Update ERS for Win98. That will replace old Win95

MS-DOS files in the 1Ers folder with the new Win98 MS-DOS files.

Then delete all backups made in Win95.

If you think that you might want to go back to Win95, then save couple Win95

backups, be sure to note it.

If you went back to older version, then click Options\Update ERS for Win98 again

to replace new version with older.

If accidently made an ERS98 restore from a Win95 backup, then simply re-restore

from a Win98 backup.

If you are installing ERS98 on top of Windows 98 then you are ready to go.

ERS98 Version 8.69 and up should detect Windows build version changes

and notify you to update.

Choice.com

If while installing you get the message "Unable to find Choice.com",

this is an important file to have, it should be in the Windows\Command folder.

It didn't come with Win95 retail version that came on floppies in the 1995 release.

If you have Win95 retail version that was released in 1995 and you didn't

update it with the Win95 OLD MS-DOS update, then download Choice.com at

http://www.mslm.com/ersmore.htm

and copy it to the Windows\Command directory and C:\1Ers folder.

Windows\Temp

If you have a command line in the Autoexec.bat to delete Win95

temporary files in the C:\Windows\Temp upon startup then the DLL

update will not take affect if it prompts you to restart computer.

Remove the line from the Autoexec.bat when you are installing programs

that requires a reboot.

The DLL update are supplied by Microsoft and are absolutely safe,

it actually makes Win95 950a recognize the year 2000.

Win98 and OSR 2.53(that is OSR2c NOT OSR2b) already recognizes

the year 2000.

Internet Explorer 3.02 up and any of Microsoft software that were

released after October of 1997 have the same update.

Recognize doesn't mean remove all bugs associated with the year

2000 and up.

ERS keeps its data in its own registry (.dat files) instead of using

Win95 Registry. ERS doesn't make any modifications or entries to the

Registry or any other system files, it merely makes new ERS directories,

then copies ERS files to the appropriate directories. It places a Shortcut

icon in the Start menu for easy access.


TROUBLESHOOTING

Antivirus Programs

Some antivirus programs are getting too aggressive in auto detecting

viruses but then causing errors for other programs and do make

Windows 95/98 to run very sluggish.

If you get errors on Startups or while making backups, then disable

the antivirus program and look for an antivirus program that doesn't

cause errors and made by programmers that know how to handle

Windows programs. Or look for an antivirus that can be easily

disabled before making backups.

If an AntiVirus program is set to be too sensitive to direct file

manipulations such as those performed by ERS then errors will occur.

Anti-Virus programs can interfere because they are to slow in testing

files while Windows and ERS is much faster.

Weird Errors

If you get weird errors, such as "Not enough hard disk space"

while you know you do have plenty of space, then:

 Clean the Windows\Temp folder

 Clean the Windows\Recent folder.

   To clean the Windows\Recent, click

   Start\Settings\TaskBar and StartMenu,

   then click the Start Menu Programs tab and click the Clear button.

Errors while zipping

 Deletes zipping temp files if leftover in the Ers98\ZipTemp

 Clean temp files as in the Weird Errors above.

It is important to close all applications before making this backup, including

antivirus programs. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del, be sure only the Explorer, ERS98

and Systray are in the list, End task all others.

In version 8.66, a skip locked files option has been added to the Win & Win\Sys

backup and Vital backups, it will skip and not backup any files that are in use,

click Options\Skip Locked Files, click again to remove feature.

Deleting Temp files

If you have a command line in the Autoexec.bat to delete

Win95/98 temporary files in the C:\Windows\Temp upon startup then

the ERS installations will not take affect if it prompts you to restart

computer.

Remove the line from the Autoexec.bat when you are installing

programs that requires a reboot.

REGARDING Exit, and .dat files:

On Exit ERS feeds back all the information into:

Autoers.dat

ers.dat

ers1.dat

ers2.dat

Files.dat

profiles.dat,

shortcuts.dat

found in the Ersfiles in the ERS98 directory,

it also creates ers.bat in the root  directory C.

AutoErs.dat keeps track of AutoErs configuration.

ERS.dat, keeps track of the first 7 notes you write with the backups

(Day1 through  Day7).

When you open ERS98.exe, it will gather information from the above .dat

files, and before closing ERS it will feed information back into them

(.dat stands for data ).

Should  any of the .dat files get corrupted then ERS will not start.

Copy  all .dat files to a temporary directory, delete all .dat files in the

ERS98\Ersfiles directory then add them  back  one at a time to see

which is the corrupted one.

ERS creates new .dat files if none are found, so when you do move

back the .dat files as explained above, you need to over write those

already there.

In normal use, you should have no problem with the DAT files.

If you delete all then you will loose all settings and have to start

all over, be sure to delete Marker.txt in the Ers98\Ersfiles directory too.

If you see that ERS is acting as not as suppose to, then delete all

the dat files in the Ers98\Ersfiles and Ers98 directory only, don't

delete any other dat files in any other subdirectories.

The program has been tested and proven to work very well.  Always

look the view windows to see if files are backed up, it is also a good

habit to physically check through the backup folders in the ERS98

directory and be sure all files are backed up, you should have at least

10 files plus the Autoexec.bat, Config.sys and the Dosstart.bat if you

didn't delete them.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Please do not move, change, or open any of the ERS files. Nor open

any folders named  "Date". These folders are used to check the date/time

stamp when backup was made. If you should move any of those folders,

the information will be changed and they will then reflect the wrong

date/time stamp.

Be sure you don't have ERS.bat or any of the restore batch files open when

making a backup or closing ERS.


Registration
Ordering ERS98

Support shareware, please pay the low registration fee.

Pricing:

ERS98 $25 US$ that is single user

2 to 9 licenses @ $22

10 to 24 licenses @ $17

24 to 50 licenses @ $12

Schools, colleges and large institutes contact us for special pricing.

Shipping and handling:(applies only if you can't download software)

ER98 on CD:

USA and Canada $11.

All other countries $13.

One time mailing.

Pay by Credit Card: Credit cards are processed through a high security,

reputable Credit Card processing agency, linked from ERS homepage

http://www.mslm.com

Checks made out of the USA has to say payable to a USA bank,

payable to:

Theodore Fattaleh

1834 S Bentley Av. #202

West Los Angeles, CA 90025

USA

http://www.mslm.com  same as           http://www.multisyslaunch.com

Email addresses are:

twf@flash.net

2000@msn.com

2000ted@compuserve.com

Upon registration, you get the disabled functions of ERS98 enabled and

E-mail support.

Name:___________________________________

Your real name exactly as you want it to appear in the About

Window, for technical reasons initials cannot be accepted.

Address:__________________________________

             __________________________________

             __________________________________

             __________________________________

Your E-mail address: _______________________

IMPORTANT: If you don't hear from us in a few days, be sure send

us an E-mail us, most probably you submitted a wrong Email address.


OVERVIEW

Windows 95 and Windows 98

ERS has proven to be an excellent backup and restore program.

Using it, backs up Win95 and Win98 system files reliably including

the registry, allowing  you to quickly and easily restore from them.

The ultimate Win95/98 System files backup and restoration program.

ERS98, works like "magic" quickly and easily replacing system files

and registry which may get corrupted. improperly changed, or lost for any

other  reason.

ERS is the first Win95 recovery program ever made.

ERS was made when discovered that Win95 ERU, CFGBCK and

when Win95  prompts you to restore registry from backup are not

100% reliable.The well written ERS98 program (unlike other copycat

restoration utility being offered by third parties) is a winner, absolutely

unfailing and reliable in all circumstances.

Also Microsoft Win98 Registry backup and restore is not effective

as ERS and doesn't have the many extra features and flexibility

ERS98 has.

You will be amazed at the peace of mind this powerful, yet reliable and

easy to understand safety utility provides you.

Please do not expose yourself to the great danger of doing without it.

It can and will, save you many hours of mental anguish, worrying about

lost data and lost time. It's a must have helper application for all Win95

and Win98 users.

The ERS Backup is done from the Windows environment, but a

restore has to be done from the DOS Command Prompt only.

System Files Backups

Please see the Backup section for detailed description.

Are crucial files and the registry that gets over written and corrupted

very often.

Windows 95 Startup backup:

Windows Startup files are the files that start Win95/98, they do not include

the System files. If Win95/98 will not start after a restore from System files

backup then the other alternative to restore from the Startup files backup.

Windows 95/98 Vital files backup:

Windows 95 Vital files are files that could be over written by other

programs, but not as often as System files.

When you install a new program, do a second backup to Vitals2

backup after installation, wait couple days, and if everything is working

properly then you can delete the older backups.

You can restore from this backup if you get error messages from Win95

that this file is missing, corrupted or dated wrong then you don't have to

restore all these files but can pick out the ones that the error message

refers to and replace only  the damaged file{s}.

Also some programs uninstall option seems to have the destructive habit

of uninstalling some system files along with their own files, when

uninstalling.

There are about 222 windows vital files, if zipped consuming about 4 Mb

of hard disk space. Vital files include backups to the files that are over written

by the Internet Explorer 5.0.

Win and Win\Sys

All files in Windows, Windows\System, Windows\System\Vmm32,

Windows\System\Iosubsys and Windows\Inf, can be backed up in the

Win & Win\Sys backup.

The backup is zipped whether zipping is selected or not, could use

any where from 15 to 50 MB of hard disk space.

The backup is more power to you.

Note: The backup backs up only the files in the directories mentioned above,

it doesn't backup the whole Windows directory and subdirectories.

Some of its features:

3 day or 7 day rotary auto or manual Win95 system files backup,

3 manual system files backup,

Two Win95 222 Vital files backups,

Two Win95 10 Startup files backups,

3 Week rotary backups.

Windows and Windows\System files backup.

ERS Boot Disk,

Zip backups,

Scheduler for users that don't turn their computer off.

Add 3 files of your choice to backups with option to restore.

Associated file notations,

and Tool tips.

Vital files backup includes files that are over written by the Internet

Explorer 54.0.

Virus attack Backup.

What is new

October 31, 1999 Update

Added a batch file to move the contents of the Startup folder

from Startup to Startup1, you can move them back later on.

The option will help if shortcut in the Startup folder is

causing Windows to freez-up after Windows Startups.

The batch file name is RenStart.bat, find it in the 1ers folder.

Added a delete batch file to delete all files in the

Windows, Windows\System, Windows\System\Vmm32,

Windows\System\Iosubsys and Windows\Inf directories.

The batch file is made after Windows backup is made.

It is useful to remove new corrupted hardware drivers or hardware

software that were added to the Windows directory and a restore

from Windows backup wouldn't help. Also good to remove added

junk after trying out and uninstalling software redeeming wasted

hard disk space. The batch file is made after A Win & Win\Sys

backup, strongly recommend to use it after testing a Win & Win\Sys

restore to be sure all backup are there.

The batch file name is DelSys.bat, find it in the 1ers folder.

September 5, 1999 Update

Added buttons to Add Profiles name instead of double clicking

the Windows Profile Window.

Improved code.

Now it deletes zipping temp files if leftover in the Ers98\ZipTemp

before backing up.

July 26, 1999 Update

Typo in the shareware version.

June 12 1999 update

Help file update.

May 23, 1999

Now ERS98 can detect if you changed operating system from Win95

to Win98 or any other build and vice versa.

It will notify you to to click the

"Options\Update ERS98 for Win98 or new OS" to update Ms-DOS files.

April 9, 1999 update

With all the virus crises that has been spreading around recently.

ViruBack, a virus attack backup program has been added to ERS98, you

will find the shortcut in the StartMenu also you can open it from ERS98

Options\Virus Attack Backup menu.

Please read Help in the ViruBack Help menu.

A reminder message placed at the end of each backup, click

Options\Stop Messages After backup once you got the message,

click again to retain messages.

Skip locked files option has been added to the Win & Win\Sys backup

and Vital backups, it will skip and not backup any file that are in use,

click Options\Skip Locked Files, click again to remove feature.

March 9, 1999 update

This update affects Non English Win95/98.

No longer Restdef.exe is copied to the Startup folder,

if the Startup folder path has characters in it,

that if you have either AutoErs shortcut or the Timer shortcut

in the Startup folder.

In another words, at least one has to reside in the Startup folder.

Please read the November 6, 1998 update for more.

February 12, 1999 update

AutoErs.exe split in two files AutoErs.exe and AutErsN.exe.

Now AutErs.exe uses less resources and load when starting

computer when checking if backup is due.

If due, it will execute AutErsN.exe to make the backup after

the 30(optional) seconds wait is over and close itself.

Default wait changed to 50 seconds, suggest to change it to

what suits you best.

November 18, 1998 update

Improved the Restore section in help and added more explanation

about RestDef.exe.

Please read the paragraph under

(Microsoft AutoScan and ScanReg vicious circles:)

November 6, 1998 update

Another bug found in MS-DOS.

It doesn't recognize extended non English characters.

á, ú etc.

This update is made to makeup for the bug found.

In Non English Win95/98 only, if extended characters detected then:

Instead of copying RestDef.exe to the Startup folder while in MS-DOS,

it makes a shortcut to RestDef.exe in the Startup folder while in

windows, then on each startup RestDef.exe checks if a restore

from ERS98 was made and restores defaults.

November 3, 1998 update

Improved what was done on August 14/98, it hanged

on some computers, now fixed.

If computer has Win95 950 or Win95 950a, ERS98

doesn't apply the disable AutoScan or Scanreg when

restoring.

If computer is running 16 colors, then a 16 color

ERS98 logo appears in place of the 256 color logo.

Alarm no longer distributed with ERS98, download

MiniApps at http://www.mslm.com/free.htm. MiniApps has

20 freeware, Alarm included.

A 260 KB update version now available, it includes all

ERS98 files but non of the ERS98 DLLs.

Email address 2000ted@gte.net will be discontinued,

please use:

twf@flash.net

2000@msn.com

August 14, 1998 update

Added a new feature when restoring from ERS98, it bypasses

Microsoft AutoScan, ScanReg and Auto restore (Win98 and Win95 OSR2).

Click Options\Disable Microsoft AutoScan and ScanReg to disable

features.

With Microsoft ScanReg and AutoScan, computer will go in vicious

circles that will not let you start computer at all if it couldn't fix and

restore computer.

To be sure that you are at the steering wheel, download freeware Win98Config

found in MiniApps.

http://www.mslm.com/free.htm

MiniApps has 20 very useful Freeware.

For further information, please read the Restore section in this help file.

Win98 Bug:

A bug in Win98 was found, it will set BootKeys=0 in MsDos.sys.

This means, you can't boot in the Command Prompt Only or any of

the MS-DOS startup menu.

ERS98 will notify you to make an ERS bootdisk if BootKeys=0 found

in MsDos.sys so you can boot in MS-DOS and restore from ERS98.

To be sure that BootKeys=0 is set to BootKeys=1,

click Start\Programs\Windows Explorer,

click View\Folder Option and click the View Tab,

there select Show all files.

Go to the root directory C, right click MsDos.sys and deselect Read Only

and click OK,

double click MsDos.sys and select to open it with NotePad,

in the very bottom be sure that BootKeys=1.

What is new in ERS98 that wasn't in ERS32pro:

1) Zipping, now you can select to zip backups and you can switch back

    and fourth to zip or not to zip anytime you like.

2) All files in Windows, Windows\System, Windows\System\Vmm32,

    Windows\System\Iosubsys and Windows\Inf, can be backed up in

    the Win & Win\Sys backup.

3) Weekly backup, if you select 3 Day or 7 Day Auto backup and then

    add the weekly backup to it, it will auto backup once every 8 days with

    the 7Day or 3Day backups. Also the weekly backup does an independent

    auto backup of the file Vmm32.vxd. Please read the Backup and Restore

    section.

8) No longer have Sched3d.exe or Sched7d.exe, both are combined in

    AutoErs.exe.

    Also no longer have Timer3d.exe and Timer7d.exe, both are combined

    with AutoErs.exe.

9) You can add three files of your choice to backups, click

    Options\Add Other files.

    Don't use long file names files though if you have selected

    to restore these files when restoring from ERS.

10) You can have multi installation of ERS98 if you need more backups,

      also you can change the 1Ers folder name in C, the ERS.bat,

      and all the shortcuts.

11) Much improved code than ERS32pro.

12) ERS Scheduler is made a part of ERS98, click Options\ERS Scheduler.

13) Virus Attack backup.


FAQ
FAQ,  Frequently Asked Questions

   Where Win95 is mentioned it applies to Win98 too.

    **********************************

Q) If I upgrade to Windows 98, what would happen to ERS98 and

    what do I have to do.?

A) As soon as you finish installing Windows 98, Open ERS and click

    Options\Update ERS for Win98, this will replace the old Win95

    MS-DOS files with new Win98 MS-DOS files. Delete all backups

    made in Win95 and do backups on Win98.

    If you install ERS98 on top of Win98 then you should be ready to go.

   **********************************

 Q) My machine started up fine, but had a registry problem. Win95 told

    me to restore the registry from a backup. I didn't know how to do this

    so I clicked on the "OK" but when it restarted I got the same message.

    I guess my question is, how do I go about overcoming this problem?

 A) Provided you have had the foresight to avail yourself of the benefits

    of ERS, if such a messages should come up, just turn your computer

    power switch off. Then after waiting a few brief seconds, turn it back On.

    When you see the line "Starting Windows 95 or 98" appear on the screen

    quickly press the F8 key(might have to press Ctrl instead, in Win98),

    then  select the "Command Prompt Only" from the resulting menu.

    Once the Command Prompt is evident,  Type "ERS" or "ERS.BAT",

    doing so will automatically open the 1ers folder, which then show you

    all the ERS restoration commands. Follow the instructions, and select

    a recent backup that you know is reliable. The batch files in ERS will

    run, restoring your system to good order. You can then restart your

    computer.

     **********************************

 Q) I occasionally get an pop-up window during the reboot that says:

    " Windows encountered an error accessing the system

     registry. You should restore the registry now and restart

     your computer.

     If you ignore this error and shutdown your system,

     you may lose data.

     Restoring the registry will replace the faulty registry

     with a known good backup copy. However, this backup copy

     may not contain all of the information recently

     added to your system."

A) Above message is not from ERS and it is from Windows 98.

    Read the answer to the question above on how to restore.

    To disable this feature, open ERS98 and click

    Options\Disable Microsoft AutoScan and ScanReg.

    You can also download "Win98 Config" from

    http://www.mslm.com/free.htm

    Read, run and follow instruction to further disable Win98 from

    controlling your computer.

   **********************************

 Q) What happens if I start my computer, and the screen says "hit any key

     to restart". Or upon startup, it just sat there with cursor blinking while

     booting. In the past this has meant I had to reinstall Win95/98. How can

     ERS help me in such a situation?

 A) In such cases, should you have made an ERS BootDisk, which has

    all the  ERS restore commands copied to it.

    You could then restart your computer using the ERS boot-disk,

    which is designed to open to the "A" directory Command Prompt,

    then you could execute the ERS restore commands.

    I suggest you first restore the "System files" backup, then restart your

    computer again. If it starts, but it will not start Win95, then restore

    the "Startup files" backup.

    You should always have previously created ERS backups, for just such

    unhappy situations as you have mentioned. Always have ERS backups

    prepared  and ready ahead of time. If you have not done so, the results

    may be hours  and hours of frustrating hard work, just to get back to

    where you were.

    The rule you should follow is, make an ERS boot-disk, test the disk

    to be sure it starts your system (having an anti virus boot-disk is also

    a good plan of protection).

    Download the Win95 basic troubleshooting guide and how to be ready

    to fight a virus from http://www.mslm.com/tipstric.htm

    If non of the above solves the problem you likely have a hardware failure

    or possibly a bad connection inside the computer.

   **********************************

 Q) When I start my computer, I see that somebody has changed fonts,

     colors, and other personal custom settings. Not only that, but there

     seems to be something wrong with the way my computer runs.

     Would ERS actually restore my system to my customized and proper

     working configuration settings, fixing those problems?

 A) Yes indeed, it will even position the icons back where they were on the

    Desktop. Of course this all depends on your having made good current

    backups.

   **********************************

 Q) How about if  the ERS restore Batch files in the ERS  Boot-Disk

     are no longer valid, because I changed ERS installation path or

     Profiles?

 A) If you are using Ver 5.0 or newer (as everyone should be). Once booted

    from the ERS boot-disk, just type "Copybat", and all the restore batch

    files will be copied to the boot-disk. But it is better to have them

    previously copied to the boot-disk.

    **********************************

 Q)  How about if I didn't make ERS Boot-Disk?

 A) A standard Win95 boot-disk will work

    (you can even make one from another Win95 computer).

    But that doesn't mean don't make an ERS boot disk.

    Restart computer with using the boot-disk, once booted, type

    C:

    then type

    ERS

    if it didn't change directory to C:\1ers then type:

    CD 1ers

    Type ERS again.

    **********************************

 Q) When I boot from a boot-disk and change directory to C:, why is it

    that when I try the edit, delete, fdisk, format, xcopy, or copy,

    commands I get the "Bad command or file name"?

 A) Copy the contents of C:\Windows\Command, to C:\, to get full control

    of the DOS commands, or at least copy the following necessary files;

    Attrib.exe

    Chkdsk.exe

    Command.com

    Drvspace.bin

    Edit.com

    Find.exe

    Fdisk.exe

    Format.com

    Xcopy32.exe

    Xcopy.exe

    Choice.com

    Sys.com,

    Replace.exe.

    If you have Win95 installed on top  DOS( 5.0 to 6.22), be careful with the

    Command.com, there are two different ones, with  Version 7.0, being the

    Win95 issue.

    **********************************

 Q) I double clicked one of the .dat files in the ERS98 folder, opening

    it in Notepad, and it's icon changed to the Notepad icon, how do I

    restore it?

 A) Go to the Windows Explorer click View\Options\Files tab,

    scroll down to "Dat files", and click  the Remove button.

    Be very careful in there, don't delete other files unless you know what

    you are doing, backup the registry first.

    **********************************

 Q) Explain the functions of the Internet Explorer backup you are talking

    about?

 A) The ERS backup for the files that get over written by Internet Explorer

    4.0, are necessary because IE 4.0 over-writes many Win95 vital files.

    If IE4.0 uninstall should fail to uninstall correctly, replacing the previous

    Win95 vital files, then the ERS98 Vital file backup will restore those

    Win95 files, along with other Vital files. You also need a good System

    files backup, both backups should be made before you install IE40.

    ERS does restore settings for what IE4.0 has over-written, but ERS

    will not delete IE4.0 "leftover" files.

    **********************************

 Q) If any of Win95 programs stops functioning such as Dial-up Networking,

    Exchange, Scan Disk etc., would ERS Vitals or System file backups

    restore these programs to proper working condition?

 A) If what become unusable (corrupted) in these programs were it's

    configuration, the answer is yes, ERS will restore the proper

    workable settings. However, if the actual program files of these MS

    applets, get corrupted, the answer is no, it will not restore those program

    files. ERS Vitals and System files backups are the core files of Win95

    backup, not it's accessories.  A restore from Win & Win\Sys backup

    should restore these applets except WordPad.

    But to restore such programs, use the Control Panel\ Add Remove

    program dialog, click the Windows Setup tab, remove the damaged

    program, restart your computer, go back and add it.

     **********************************

  Q)When the computer is booting, it boots too fast and its hard to select

     F8 when the "Starting Windows 95" screen shows up?

  A)The boot delay can be set in Msdos.sys, step by step on how to do it.

     In the Windows Explorer, click View\Options and select "View all Files"

     and click OK. Scroll down the root directory C to Msdos.sys, right click

     it and select Properties, in Properties deselect Read Only and click OK.

     Double click Msdos.sys and select to open it with Notepad, scroll down

     to the bottom of the page and type

     BootmenuDelay=10

     10 stands for 10 seconds, click File\Save, then click File\Exit.

     Try it, if you want to change the setting again, then you have to again

     right click Msdos.sys and deselect Read Only, because once you restart

     Win95 Msdos.sys resets its attributes.

     **********************************

Q) I can't believe that ERS restores proper initialization settings. I

    usually spend many hours reinstalling applications to correct such

    problems. I don't believe in magic, but you say ERS works like magic?

 A) The term "like magic" is merely a figure of speech meant to highlight

    how quickly and relatively effortless ERS performs its marvelous feats

    of restoration. No, there is no magic in ERS, but it does provide an

    reliable and effective way to backup and restoring Win95 System files,

    and returning your system to the condition it was in, at the time you

    made the backup. In that sense, it is indeed "like magic".