I have a PC with a docking 500 MB hard drive. I want to install DOS 6.22 (and later Win3.11), for which I have the 6.22 upgrade disks only. The original OS (DOS 5, I think) was deleted a long time ago. How can I use the upgrade disks to install DOS 6.22? This is legit as I owned the original DOS on a DELL but lost/tossed the old 5.25" disks. Sure would appreciate your help.

You will need a qualifying version of MS-DOS, maybe it is time to head over to EBAY, and buy a full version of 6.22, unless you need 5.25" floppies then they may be a little harder to source!

I know there is a way around this but for the life of me I can't remember how.

However, one way might be to find and download a boot disk on the ol' internet with a slightly earlier version, and then just use it to format/s or "sys" your hard drive.

I would think that the upgrade would go without a hitch.

However, I "know"..... there's a way.....

Try this---isn't there s switch or opting in the installer to create a basic "floppy?" Try doing that with the installer.

You don't need a prior version of DOS. I've installed it many times from the upgrade. Assuming the laptop sees the floppy first and then the "docking" drive next in line, insert disk 1 and bail-out (F3) before it decides you need a prior version. FDISK (destroy then recreate the bootable partition) from the "A:" floppy as normal. Then reboot, bail-out and FORMAT from "A:" as well. Run setup/g (to avoid a downgrade disk being made). After installing, run DELOLDOS to get rid of a few unneeded files (essentially you're upgrading DOS6.22 to DOS6.22)

Slight modification for above:

The FORMAT command on the 2nd reboot should be (without the quotes)

"FORMAT C:/S/U"

i.e. an unconditional format with a system-files transfer...

Thanks all for your comments. First, I want to clarify that this is a HP P3 desktop with a docking drive I added so I can change OS by inserting a different drive. Works great for win2k and win98.

I will try T-R-A's idea and post the results.

BTW, can I use a win98 startup disk to do any of this?

Success!! Just as T-R-A said!
Well, there were a few miss-steps, my fault. Before I posted on this forum, I had tried a Win98 Startup disk. Apparently this created a non-DOS partition on the whole disk so the DOS setup fdisk would see C as an invalid drive and setup would only allow me to make a 6.22 startup disks. Once I figured out the problem, I deleted the non-DOS partition, created a DOS partition and then I was home free. I mention all this in case someone else can learn from my mistakes. Again thanks to all for your posts on this thread. T-R-A, a BIG thanks to you!!

Glad to hear it worked. At least years of experience working with "junk" machines amounts to something...