when i run windows 3.1 it comes up that my version of ms-dos is not compatable with this windows...says about start up disk..which i dont have...can anyone help?

... kinda vague, cheri
What's your DOS version (type 'ver' without the quotes)? Win31 is compatible with DOS5 to 6.22 (perhaps even earlier versions)
It doesn't work well with the DOS bundled with Win9x - there's a patch though, I think.
Has Win31 ever worked on this machine?
What is the exact error message, and what causes it?
For DOS, a "startup disk" or boot disk is created on a floppy diskette by typing:
sys a:
which allows the PC to start from the floppy - usu for situations where the C: drive is damaged or not set up.

now its comming up himem.sys is missing..no this laptop hasnt had any windows before...im trying to set something up to communicate with my son..when i open the config sys in c: i get nuthin...when i bring up c: windows..alls i see is himem.sys

i cant get it to format now either..
cheri

cheri... I must confess, I'm a bit confused by what you are trying to do here.
I'm willing to try and help, as (I'm sure) are others, but a clear explanation is essential.
The error messages you are reporting sound very much like Win95 error messages.
Please describe your present operating system (DOS or Win95 etc), its version, and what you are attempting to install or set up.

im attempting to add 3.1 to a dos only laptop. im using a bott disk made from win 98..and not getting very far

Ok, well no wonder...
Forget about the bootdisk - you probably don't need any kind of boot disk at this point... let alone a win98 one.
Does the machine (without a startup disk) boot up to a C:> 'prompt'?
If so type and enter:

ver

the MS-DOS version should be reported - post back with the version number.
Generally, to install Win31, just put the first installation disk in the floppy drive (often A:),
switch to A: then type and enter:

setup

... that's it, just keep putting in the disks as requested.
If you can't get the C:> prompt, that's another story - post back and we'll try from there.

no i dont get a promptit says invalid system dis
replace the disk and the press any key

(do you have msn messenger? or icq? would maybe be easier to communicate.) my msn is nodak43@hotmail.com

Ok, I put you on my "list" ;-)
What you need to do though, is get an earlier version of DOS...MS-DOS 622 is a pretty good version - anything after 5.
If all you want to do is install Win31, and don't care about DOS one bit, you could get by with a simple boot disk - you could get one here:

http://www.powerload.fsnet.co.uk/bootdisk.htm

You need to unzip the file you d/l, then use the program there to create a bootdisk on a blank floppy. Once that is done, boot with the brand new boot disk then type and enter:

sys c:

you will get the mesage 'system transferred'

Now your machine can boot into DOS on its own - you will have the bare bones of DOS - should be enough to install Win31, just let it boot on its own, then insert the first Win installation disk, switch to that drive (A: prob'ly) then type and enter:

setup

... should do the trick, just follow the instructions.

Ok, cheri - if you do get a bootdisk from the site mentioned in my previous post, you will need the WinImage program (or similar) to create the bootdisk - click on the 'homepage' link by my name to d/l WinImage.

believe it or not i found the boot that came with the laptop...totally forgot about the floppy in the box....(hits forehead)...reloaded win 3.1 now says himem missing..

also...downloading 3.1...never does call for the 6th disk.? how come

Well, that's good that you found the disk - it can come in handy. What version of DOS is this?
When you say "downloading" Win31... do you actually mean "installing" - it's been a while since I installed a win3xx version, I do seem to recall that the last disk was for setting up a printer (mostly).
Have you been able to successfully install Win31? Normally (I think), Win31 will setup its own version of himem.sys etc - however, if it is stuck you could setup himem for DOS first - most recent versions of that file should work.

its dos 5 and yes 3.1 is installed ..and yes its stuck..it wont bring up win just says missing himem...even tho it shows in the directory

Ok, hopefully the laptop is at least a 386, and there is extended memory (RAM) present.
If you have some sort of plain text editor, use it to open c:\config.sys and at the beginning of the file, add these lines:

DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
DOS=HIGH

there is a chance that himem.sys is in the windows directory, rather than the DOS directory... in that case, the lines should be:

DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS
DOS=HIGH

Your machine will need at the very least 1 Mb of RAM to use this command - can't remember, I think DOS5 has the mem command:

mem

will give you an idea of your RAM - so should the 'startup' screen when you first boot the computer.
Have you transferred the system files from the DOS5 floppy to the c: drive - that is, will the machine start into DOS on its own, without a floppy disk?

thanks so much for all your hellp!!!
cheri

Does this mean that you got it going?

... if you did, great!

;-)