Can't start windows 3.11 ws

[Theramlösaexperten]

Hi

When i try to start windows 3.11 when i type win after that popup screen comes after only a black screen with a white line in the left corner.
And windows doesnt start.
Here is what i use for stuff in my virtal machine:
Ram: 32 MB
harddrive: 2 GB
Video memory: 14mb
Network card: AMD Pcnet Fast III
Acceleration: VT-x/AMD-V, Nested Paging

Can someone help me plz.

P.S i have ms dos 6.22 with cd driver.

[Theramlösaexperten]

Help me!

[mpack]

Minimum information needed for assistance.

Also tell us how you installed the guest OS, e.g. describe the setups disks and where they came from?

Win9x is not a supported guest OS, so you can imagine how unsupported Win3x is. That said, I had no problem installing and running Win3.1 as a toy, using kosher setup disks I still had in a drawer from back in the day. However that VM is at home so I can't check the settings details right now.

[Theramlösaexperten]

pastebin /6Bh6nuq3

there is my guest log document.
and i use floppy disks from winworldpc

and what do you mean with kosher ?!

[mpack]

I'm not going to click anonymous links! Post files as attachments.

[Theramlösaexperten]

I'm not going to click anonymous links! Post files as attachments.

Ok sorry i did not know but here is the file

[mpack]

Windows 3.1 is working fine for me on VirtualBox 4.3.6. Specs seem similar except I gave it a 512MB hard drive.

Zip up and post the contents of your DOS CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files.

[Theramlösaexperten]

Windows 3.1 is working fine for me on VirtualBox 4.3.6. Specs seem similar except I gave it a 512MB hard drive.

Zip up and post the contents of your DOS CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files.

Here they come:

[dlharper]

The line in AUTOEXEC.BAT:

C:\WINDOWS\net start

means that this is Windows for Workgroups, and that you have told the system to set up a network. To do that you must have specified a network card driver. Which one did you use? Any of the card drivers supplied with Win3.11 will install - they do not check for compatibility at installation. However, none of them are compatible with the PCnet-Fast III, and it is anybody's guess what they will do with it. Most will probably refuse to run when you start Windows, but some may try and then screw up. I suspect this is where your problem lies.

If you want to set up a network in Windows 3.11 there are some instructions at viewtopic.php?f=28&t=859, but the thread is seven years old, and I don't know how many of the links to drivers will still work.

In any case, get DOS and Windows working without the network first. If you can do this, then you will know that it is the networking that is the problem.

[mpack]

PCnet-FAST III is the default in the Win3.1 template I think. The same NIC is selected in mine, though I never bothered trying to get networking running. It's selected in the recipe (NAT mode) but with no drivers it doesn't do any harm.

Here is my CONFIG.SYS for comparison :-

Code: Select all

device=c:\dos\himem.sys /TESTMEM:OFF
dos=high,umb
device=c:\dos\emm386.exe NOEMS
rem devicehigh=c:\cdrom\oakcdrom.sys /D:CD001
devicehigh=c:\cdrom\cdrom.sys /D:CD001
files=30
STACKS=9,256
buffers=20
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\SMARTDRV.EXE /DOUBLE_BUFFER

The important difference I see is the "dos=high,umb" followed by the "emm386" line. I would recommend adding that to yours.

And here's my AUTOEXEC.BAT :-

Code: Select all

@echo off
C:\WINDOWS\SMARTDRV.EXE
path=C:\WINDOWS;c:\dos;c:\djbin
SET TEMP=C:\WINDOWS\TEMP
lh c:\dos\mscdex.exe /D:CD001
rem lh keybuk
lh c:\djbin\keyb UK
lh dosedit
prompt $p$g
win

The only significant difference I see is the "load high" (lh) instruction on the MSCDEX line. I wouldn't expect this to matter though. And, I don't have that "net start" line.

@Theram: networking was hard for mere mortals to configure in DOS and Win3. It started to improve in Win98, and finally became really quite easy in XP. If I was you I would comment out all networking stuff until you have Win3 itself running. Then it will be time for some research.

[dlharper]

None of the lines in these files are essential, except the HIMEM.SYS line. Everything else can be omitted and Windows 3.11 will still run, albeit less than optimally. (You will have to CD to the WINDOWS directory before starting if you omit the PATH line.)

On curiosity is that you seem to have installed DOS and Windows in the same directory. This is unconventional, but I can't see any conflict arising from it.

I cannot duplicate your problem. I still think the network is the most likely culprit. I suggest you try and reinstall from scratch without it, and then try adding it in if you need it.

[Theramlösaexperten]

Thanks i reinstalled it and it work but i dont have any network and graphics, sound.

I have soundblaster 16 as sound.
And pcnet fast III as ethernet adapter.
And Standard VGA Adapter as graphics.

Do you think any of you guys have the drivers.

Or what should i do.

[mpack]

I suggest you read the Win 3.x advice in the Howtos and Tutorials forum.

[Theramlösaexperten]

Thanks so much mpack.
I looked on your tutorial.
And when i try to install the soundblaster 16 driver.
In the installation when i start it up this pop ups:

[Theramlösaexperten]

Help me