oh my god i have managed to install DOS but now i do not no what to type at the DOS prompt i did type (dir\) and i can see file 1386, and smartdrv exe but not to shore how to run the file to install xp i'm getting there this is a good step in the right way just a bit more help please and i will have a laptop once more thank's to you lot.colin

Just look at that website I mentioned I think they have most if not all the commands there
To change directory just type cd space and then the name of the directory
like cd I386
Any exe files you can just type the name without the extension like smartdrv
or winnt

ok Hi, ALL
now i have installed dos on hard drive and the 1386 file an smartdrv exe,
when at DOS prompt i type,
cd 1386,
invalid directory

c:\1386\winnt.exe
Bad command or file name


c:\smartdrv.exe
Your program caused a divide overflow error.

dir
directory of c:\
smartdrv exe
1386 <dir>
dos71 <dir>
command com
config sys
autoexec bat
logo sys
ifslp sys
temp <dir>


Can anyone tell me what i need to type to get windows xp to install plz

Right ok i was making a silly mistake i was typing 1386 (file name)
WHEN I SHULD OF BEEN TYPING I386 (1) INSTEAD OF (I) HA HA LOL
Well still smartdrv will not run (divide overflow error)
but it is starting to install useing \winnt.
i have a long wait
thankyou to you all thank's very much

just a quick one dus anybody no how long it takes to install useing winnt file and not smartdrv. Cos i'v been sat on the screen that says
(please wait while setup copies files to your hard disk.) but not a lot is happening been on same page for 40 min's How long shud i give it before trying again????

It can take some time as it is dependent upon what specs are on your computer as to how fast it is.... that is why smartdrive is used as it speeds things up tremendously.

yes thank's once again to all of you,
It's been runing now for about 3 to 4 hours it is working it's at 30%
I have to say i am chufed to monkys thank again for your help... colin

You Are

Why do you think smartdrive did not work?
dos prompt
C:\smartdrv.exe

your program caused a divide overflow error

can you help?

This is just a guess on my part but I think it could be memory related
I remeber back in the old days of dos and windows 3.1 something about setting the config.sys
It's a file that can be manually edited
I remember something about himem.sys and having to install it first
There are some samples online that you may want to campare with but then you have to learn how to edit the file so I am not sure you want to go into that

I know it takes a long time without smartdrv installed I forgot to install it recently and after about 5 minutes I realized this is going to take forever and rebooted and installed smartdrv from a windows 98 floppy