Missing files for Win3.0 on a 486DX...help!

[Keith2]

OK...here's the story:
I just got my hands on an NCI 486DX. I got the 5 1/4" floppies for Windows 3.0 and DOS 5.0 with it. Upon booting up,I was able to get into the DOS Shell, but when I attempt to open Windows, I get a message saying "Cannot find a device file that may be needed to run Windows in 386 enhanced mode" and lists the following files:
int13
vshare
vmouse
I've reinstalled Win3.0 and DOS, but nothing different.
I want to be able to do a format of the hard drive and basic installation of Win95. However, Windows also does not recognize the CD-ROM. I downloaded the appropriate drivers from the manufacturer's website and installed them, and noticed they ARE being loaded on bootup, but after that, I'm totally clueless.
So where do I find these Win3.0 files, where do I put them once I get them, and how do I get Windows to see my CD-ROM drive, so I can install Win95 from my CD??
Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated!

[MR COMPUTER]

I hope your cdrom is not an old style proprietary. O.K. here goes. Create a startup disk for win 95 on your other computer.Use a second disk to copy "mscdex.exe",from your other computer. Put your cdrom drivers on a third disk. Set the bios on the 486 to boot A then C . Insert the startup disk,and boot the 486 up.When you get to the A: prompt, give it the old "format c:\q\s" command. If you survive this ,then copy the mscdex file onto your hard drive-add the cdrom driver-insert the WIN 95 cd-and let her rip!

[Keith2]

Thanks for your help, but I did what you suggested as for making the boot disc from my Win95 computer, but upon trying to boot up the 486 with this disc, it gives the old "non-system disc" error message.
Also, this 486 is set up as A-drive being the 5 1/4 floppy, B-drive the 1.44, and C the hard drive. It boots from the A-drive automatically, and there isn't any settings in the BIOS to change the bootup procedure, like in my Win95 computer's BIOS. There is an option on loading the default BIOS settings, but nothing to let me change them. So I've had to create the Win95 boot disc on the 1.44 floppy and then copy it onto a 5 1/4 floppy with the 486.
Is there a way of just erasing the hard drive completely and booting up with the boot disc I made from my Win95 computer and actually having the 486 recognize it? If not, can I use the system disc I made for the 486, and have the CD-ROM drivers installed afterwards? Will that work?
Thanks again for the help! I've messed with Win95 computers for about a year now, but working with DOS and all is something completely Greek to me, so I'm learning this as I go along.

[Eli]

Could you temporarily disconnect the 5 1/4 and use the 3 1/2, set up as the a:, to boot from? That might be easier than screwing around with trying to format a 5 1/4 disk as a system disk and copying files around.

[MR COMPUTER]

Go to a hd site such as MAXTOR, and download a hd utility.(MAX BLAST is good).Let the utility erase/partition/format your drive. When it looks for system files on drive A:,feed it the 95 startup disk you made on the other computer.Then mscdex/cd driver/Win 95 cd.Good call Eli. force the 486 to look at the 3.5 drive!

[Keith2]

Well, I messed with the ribbon cable connecting the two drives and switched them around and got my 1.44 floppy working as the A-drive, though I had to remove the drive since the cable was too short...oh, well. I went to the Maxtor site, downloaded and installed Maxblast, but it detected my hard drive as not being a Maxtor, so it won't continue.
I guess at this point, now that I at least have it booting to the 1.44 floppy, I'm going to concentrate on getting a good boot-disc made, format, and hope for the best. (yeah, right!), but I'll wait for a day or two, in case you have some other ideas I could try first that might increase my chances of a successful recovery from a format, with the CD-ROM working.

[MR COMPUTER]

Don't understand why maxblast wouldn't work. I use it on max,wd's,samsungs,seagates,etc.
What flavor hd you got? Go to their site-see if they post a downloadable utility.Dont give up now-you're almost there!

[Keith2]

Got it working, all! Thanks for your help!