Window 95 defenses against installers overwriting files with older versions
a day ago
- #Windows 95
- #Installation Issues
- #System Components
- In 16-bit Windows, system components were redistributable, allowing programs to include and install them.
- Installers were supposed to overwrite files only if the new version was higher, but many ignored this rule.
- Windows 95 kept backup copies of commonly-overwritten files in a hidden directory to fix installer mistakes.
- Blocking file overwrites caused more issues, as some installers failed or took extreme measures like rebooting.
- The best solution was to let installers overwrite files and then clean up the mess afterward.
- Some components provided their own installers to prevent direct file overwrites by untrusted programs.
- Windows 95 did not distinguish between installers and applications copying files.
- Developers were expected to create their own versions of certain components, like WinSock, to support various network protocols.
- Users were sometimes asked to decide whether to overwrite system files, often without understanding the implications.