I got an old IBM 486 to fix up for my nephew to play games on and I need some help from an expert.

Here’s what I’ve done so far…..
I removed the Network card, I wiped out all the files (del *.*) except for the operating system which is 6.3 and I loaded Windows 3.11. I’ve loaded 3.11 many times before for but I’ve never had to use all 8 disks until now. It’s almost as if this computer thinks it’s still connected to a network because disk 8 seems to include network files. When I start the computer everything goes smoothly until it shows…..
C:\>C:\WINDOWS\NET START then I get…..
C:\>C:\WINDOWS\ODIHLP.EXE
Microsoft Work Groups ODI/NDIS3 Mapper Version 1.0
Error: Cannot find LSL
Press any key to continue…..
I hit enter and I do get a C:\> prompt but when I type “win” to get into Windows I get another error message….
“Error: MSODISUP failed to load
ODIHLP.EXE must be loaded before starting windows
ODIHLP.EXE should be loaded in Autoexec.bat after LSL.COM
Cannot load a device file that is specified in SYSTEM.INI
The performance of Windows should not be affected without this file
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSODISUP.386
press any key to continue…..
When I hit enter I get the message…..
Error loading PROGMAN. EXE
I can’t get into Windows to disable the network, I can’t even get into Edit Autoexec.bat, it’s not accepting the command.

GOT ANY SUGGESTIONS? YOUR HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS!!!

Autoexec.bat is loading network info for Windows with those commands. Switch to your \dos\ directory and you should be able to run edit to change autoexec.bat. But if you've deleted everything and are going to install Windows again, you should just format the hard drive. That will ensure that you don't have any leftover files causing problems like this... Make sure you use the /s option too, so that the hard drive will be bootable.

Hello InvisiBill
I tried switching to “dos” as you suggested in order to edit my autoexec.bat but it would not accept that command. I scrolled throughout my computer (Dir /p) and looked everywhere but I can’t even find autoexec.bat. I decided to try formatting but it won’t accept that command either. At the C:\ prompt I typed format with every possible variation and included the /s as you told me to. I had a friend suggest using Fdisk. Do you know anything about this command? After cleaning out the drive I’m told I have to install the full operating system. The computer I’m working on has an operating system of 6.3. I only have systems for 6.2 and 6.22, does it matter what system you install once you Fdisk? Thanks lots for your help!!

For anyone that's interested...
I needed to be in Dos to use the format command (Da). I did format successfully and also was able to install the MS-Dos 6.22 operating system. Formatting isn't as hard as I imagined it would be. My Windows 3.11 loaded without any problems and this old 486DX works great.

Glad to hear that you have your computer up and running. I gather from what I had read that you had use the "MS-DOS Prompt" icon from the windows enviroment. A common mistake for computer users. But you also figured out that you must fully EXIT windows to DOS or press F5 to by-pass the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat just moments after the computer starts up to enter the DOS enviroment.