Windows 3.1 not booting

[smiley325]

I have a laptop, which was formerly installed with Windows 2000, and decided to downgrade it to Windows 3.1 (please dont ask why). However, this laptop will display the error message "Invalid system disk. Please replace then press any key." whenever I do not have a DOS 6.22 boot disk in, or I have the CD-drive in. Now, begin able to boot the computer without boot disk is very important to me, because having an old laptop means it cant carry floppy and CD-drive at the same time. And I need to have CD-drive in. And obviously it is not a good idea to take out floppy-drive while computer is still running.

The exact steps I took when downgrading my computer:

- Put DOS 6.22 boot disk in
- Restart and boot from floppy
- Type in FDISK
- Format entire hard drive
- Create new disk/partition
- Put in Windows 3.1 setup disk
- Install Windows to C:\WINDOWS\
- Oops! Forgot to run LOCK command first, so Setup fails
- Restart computer, boot from DOS 6.22
- Run LOCK command, locks the hard drive
- Restart setup
- Here we go again...
- Finally Windows 3.1 installs
- It runs fine
- Then I shut down computer to put back CD-ROM drive because I need to
- Start up computer
- Oh no! "Invalid system disk" error
- I put back in floppy drive, stick in the DOS 6.22 disk
- Oh my goush it works
- But then I realize theres a problem. I need CD drive!
- So I come to Computer Hope forums in search of an answer.

Some pieces of info that may help:

- When Windows 3.1 installed, it automatically set DOSPRMPT.PIF to point to A:\COMMAND.COM. hmmm.......
- Also, there was nothing in the root directory. No autoexec.bat, no config.sys, no nothing. hmmmmm........

Please help! Thx, smiley325.

[Fed]

Did you fully install DOS?

[smiley325]

There was no DOS installed automatically with Windows 3.1 for some reason.

[Fed]

You need to install DOS first.
6.22 with enhanced tools is only 3 disks, I'm looking at them now.
I can give them to you, of course I'd then destroy the originals to keep it legit.

[smiley325]

so those DOS disks will have an install tool on them? or do i have to manually install the files?

[Fed]

It's been over 10 years but I'm sure all you need to do is boot to the 1st disk & go from there.
Just follow the onscreen instructions and use your common sense.
There should be old DOS disks everywhere.

[smiley325]

k thx

[GX1_Man]

Fed is right,of course. You boot wish DOS disk 1 and it will set up the partitions and format the drive and finish the install with the other 2 disks. THEN you can install Windows 3.1

Remember that DOS will limit hard drive to 2 gig, so you may end up with multiple partitions to get full use of the drive.

What is your goal in this exercise? What are the specs of the laptop and make/model would be helpful.

[GX1_Man]

You can use the DOS setup disks to partition and format just as well. When you get the welcome screens you can press F3 to exit and you will end up at a DOS prompt. FDISK, Format, et al are available right then.

[GX1_Man]

Yes, unless it is a "step up" disk set rather thann a full install.