QUESTION

Here's my system:

Intel Pentium 133 MHz Tower
1.06 GB hard drive
32 MB RAM
CD-ROM drive
15 inch monitor
33.6 Kbps modem
SoundBlaster 16 soundcard
ATI Mach 64 video card with 1 MB
DOS

I am going to be upgrading from Windows 3.1 to Windows 95 very shortly. My setup is very standard but I have heard that some people have had problems with this type of upgrade. Do you have any advice on making the upgrade as smooth as possible?

I also have several DOS games, such as Jet Fighter 3, in addition to the usual assortment of Windows word processors and spreadsheets. Would it be advisable to make a DOS boot disc to run JF3, etc., or will they run properly from the Windows 95 DOS mode?

--Martin Doyle

ANSWER

Sometimes you just have to try things out. I’ve upgraded many systems to Windows 95 from Windows 3.1, and the vast majority of the upgrades went beautifully. The most important thing to realize is that if you have hardware or other problems now, Windows 95 is not going to fix them. In fact, it’s probably going to make them worse.

However, if you’ve got a fairly clean running system, then you’re all set. I’d say just back up any data you really care about and then go for it. As to whether Jet Fighter 3 works in Win95 DOS mode, just try it out. I would keep a DOS boot disk around just in case it doesn’t, but you should really keep one around anyway.