problem installing Windows 3.1(3.x) on Microsoft virtual machine

i have a set of windows 3.1 disk's and when i create my virtual machine an virtual harddisk trough the setupit teles me the the specified directory is invalid so i enter C:\WINDOWS\    (on my virtual harddisk but i dont know the letter for this drive nor do i know how 2 acces the virtual harddisk in setup?)so ya i realy need help plz.

you need to install DOS on the drive first.

how i have an MS-DOS startup disk but thats all

how i have an MS-DOS startup disk but thats all

you need the installation disks.

a Minimum install can be done through a DOS boot disk ONLY if the disk has fdisk,format, and sys.com on it.

EDIT: a minimum DOS install to a unformatted/unpartitioned Hard drive, I mean.

where can i get these files

From a DOS Installation disk.

how?

what dos ver?

6.22 is the latest, but any of the 6.x earlier versions should work, too.

it says to remove media or disk's and reboot
ver3.1
 

Don't know what you mean or what you did.  Until you format and transfer system with DOS, it won't boot.

it says to remove media or disk's and reboot
ver3.1
 

Then it's not a DOS boot disk.

1.  Microsoft Virtual Machine.  Which virtual machine and service pack are you using (e.g. Virtual PC 2007 SP1)?

2.  Host Operating System.  What is the version and service pack of your "host" operating system?  That would be the "real" operating system running on your computer.

3.  Windows 3.1 Disk Set.  Is this a "Retail" or "OEM" set?

4.  DOS 6.22 Boot Disk.  Download and make the boot floppy from www.bootdisk.com.  I assume you want the 3.5 inch 1.44 MB version.

You may boot the virtual machine (not the real computer) from this floppy and use the following commands to set up your "virtual" hard drive.
     a.  fdisk - to partition the "virtual" hard drive.
     b.  format - the partition(s) of the "virtual" hard drive with the FAT16 file system.
     c.  sys - the primary active partition of the "virtual" hard drive to place the system files required to boot on it.

Note:  You may look up the proper syntax and options for these commands.  Be sure to perform the commands on the "virtual" hard drive, not the "real" hard drive.

5.  Windows 3.1 Install.  See reference "a" and/or "b" below:
     a.  http://www.windowsreinstall.com/install/textonly/win31.htm
     b.  http://www.windowsreinstall.com/install/msdos/install31/index.htm

On a startup disk, format the disk, use sys c:, copy the floppy to the hard drive, and install Windows. I did it before in 2007 on old MS Virtual PC.

To install it, you need a working version of DOS 6.x. A look in a thrift store will do it.

The point that people are making, although maybe not very explicitly, is that MS-DOS is not freeware. Neither are old versions of Windows. They are copyrighted Microsoft products, and because of this you need to get them legally. A full install set of Windows 3.1 includes an MS-DOS 6.22 full install set, does it not? So what are these disks you have?

A full install set of Windows 3.1 includes an MS-DOS 6.22 full install set, does it not?

No, Windows 3.1 didn't include any version of DOS; it had 7 disks and a manual.

the box should have said "DOS sold separately"

You SHOULD be able to run Windows 3.1 under FreeDos (A free equivalent to MS-DOS)

Freedos: http://www.freedos.org/

No, Windows 3.1 didn't include any version of DOS; it had 7 disks and a manual.

the box should have said "DOS sold separately"

I think I was getting confused because the Compaq I bought in 1993 came with both install sets.