loading windows 3.1, need boot disk,help

You need to install MS DOS, prefferably versionm 6.22 before you can install Windows 3.1

Unlike Windows 95 and later, Windows 3.1 is not a "stand-alone" operating system.

It uses some of the DOS files and commands to run.

After you install DOS, you can just run setup from the first Windows Floppy.

Chas

I took a look at www.bootdisk.com, and they do have links to DOS boot disks.

However, this will not take care of your problem.

Windows 3.1 requires that a version of DOS (preferably MSDOS 6.22) be installed on the PC.

Unlike Windows 95 and newer, Windows 3.1 is NOT a stand-alone operating system.

Get a copy of DOS, install it on the PC first, then you will be able to run setup on the Windows 3.1 floppy and install windows.

Chas

Boy! I knew hanging on to my DOS and Windows 3.1 floppys would come in handy. DOS 6.22 is 6 floppys. send me some floppys and I'll make up a set for ya. Send me an emai

dannarasm@aol.com

got a copy of a boot disk from bootdisk, works and let me load win3.1, but will not let me load dos 6.22. and still asks for a boot disk. when i try to load 6.22 i get "incorrect dos version". any and all suggestions welcomed. thanks for the help sofar.

Humm.. If I remember right [having to load DOS, W 3.1, has been quite some time ago] I ran across this problem when I used a 3rd part partitioning software [System Commander/Partition Commander]. Systems Commander would install a boot ini and command com onto the master boot record of the hard drive and whenever I tried to load DOS, I would get the same error. Wrong DOS version. When I cleared the master boot record (gods, what is the command line syntax for that?.[del mbr/]???) the problem went away. Try removing your third party partitioning software (everything including any entries in the Master Boot Record). That should allow you to use your DOS Disks.

Now I see what your problem is.

For a drive with ez-bios installed, you need to follow a specific sequence to boot from the floppy, and install DOS.

If you simply boot from a floppy, ez-bios is not enabled, and the hard drive will not be properly recognized.

You need to boot up WITHOUT the boot floppy in the hard drive.
When the prompt for ez-bios appears, you need to enter ez-bios, and select boot from floppy.
Then, place the MS-DOS disk 1 in the floppy drive.
You should be okay now.

If you formatted the drive and used the system switch, or the sys command, you will need to run the sys command (sys C:) from the DOS startup disk as the command.com file from the W9X startup disk IS the wrong version for a DOS/3.1 PC.

Note:anytime you need to boot from a floppy you need to enter ez-bios before booting.

Chas

To load DOS 6.22 onto a PC, you must boot with the DOS 6.22 diskette.

Diskette number 1 of DOS 6.22 IS a bootable diskette. If your system won't boot from it, there is something wrong with your diskette.

Are these the original MicroSoft DOS 6.22 Distribution Diskettes you are using? Or are these a copies? If these are a copies were they made bootable before copying the files to them? They must be made bootable from a system running DOS 6.22

You can download an image and make the disk. Look at: http://www.powerload.fsnet.co.uk/bootdisk.htm for instructions and images.

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have to find a active set of dos, and reload.the set i have was downloaded as .zip file and when opened will not install. thanks for all your help.