I tried to load Windows 3.1 onto an old computer after it wouldnt run 95 due to some missing files. But now i found out that the MS DOS is not compatible with it. I get the following error message: You started your computer with a version of MS-DOS incompatible with this version of Windows. Insert a startup diskette matching this version of Windows and then restart. The system has been halted press alt+ctrl+del to restart your computer. Problem is i don't have an old version of MS-DOS. Is there somewhere on the internet that i can?

Sounds as if you have a little bit of two operating systems, but not enough to make one fully work.

As mentioned, you are going to have to choose to run either 3.1 or 95. With 3.1, you also need the DOS 6.2 disk set. Probably be best then to format and install 6.2 and then go into installation procedures for 3.1 afterwards.

Many years ago, I obtained the operating systems noted by going to electronic swap meets. They usually sold them for $5 to $10 per original set. Now they seem to be getting about $20 for the same.

Otherwise look for 95 and go with that. It too is getting hard to find original disks.

Wm.

did you install ms-dos 6.22 onto the hdd before you installed windows 3.11. If your using the 95 dos, format the hard drive and then install ms-dos 6.22.

i would like to go with the windows 95.. i just got the windows 95 on 15 diskettes but now its giving me another error which i posted on the windows 95 forum if anyone could help me out. if no one has guessed , i'm really new to all this stuff but want to learn. how do i format the drive? and where do i get ms-dos 6.22?

if you want to format before installing win 95 youll have to use a bootdisk to start up the computer.
Although you wont be able to get a link for dos off this forum due to copyright rules, i can give you a link for bootdisks you can extract to floppies and use (i assume you've got access to a computer you can extract these on, otherwise you wouldn't be posting here...)The dos disk requires winzip or some such to extract it but
the win95 one is self extracting so you wont need any other program to use it- just have a formatted floppy ready and enter the file name and the floppy drive (like at the C:> prompt go C:>mybootdsk a:).
Once youve made either a dos 622 or win 95 disk and started up your computer with it,you can format your drive by entering at the a:> prompt 'format C: /u' (dont include the ' and the /u is optional but guarantees a full and complete format, so i hope you realise that all the data on the drive will be permanently erased...)
then you can put the first win95 disk in the drive and start up, and it should install without a hitch..
This is the dos one http://LightspeedRefPage.homestead.com/files/Win3xbot.zip

or for the win95 one-
http://www.dewassoc.com/download/95aboot.exe

good luck