I receive the following error message when
I try to start Windows 3.1 on my 386 PC.
(cannot find %)
(error loading program.exe)

Any ideas on how to fix this problem.

Boot into Dos (using a floppy or by pressing F5 when starting MSDOS. Then, navigate to the Windows directory by entering CD\WINDOWS. See if progman.exe is present in the windows directory by entering DIR PROGMAN. (Note that's progman, not program!) You should see progman.exe. If you see "file not found", then the file's missing. If it's there, it might be corrupt.
In either case, you should replace it by extracting it from the 3.1 setup disks.
You may also want to check system.ini (also in the c:\windows directory) to be sure that the "shell=" line reads shell=progman.exe.
Running windows 3.1 setup from the setup disks would also probably fix the problem, but may be unecessarily drastic.
I have also found that it is good practice to run scandisk if you have it, or chkdsk whenever file errors occur, before trying to otherwise fix the problem.

I have an old computer that has Phoenix 80386
ROM BIOS Version 1.1 1985-1988 Setup 4.03.00
Hard Disk Type 30. I need a start up disk for it. It will not boot without it. Thanks Bob