Hi all. Lately I've been trying to get some rather old operating systems working on my computer. So far I've got MS-DOS 6.22 working and MS-Windows 3.11 kind of working. Here's my specs, which probably explains a lot of my problems:

Intel Core 2 Duo T7500 (2.20 GHz) processor
nVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT DDR2 graphics card
2 GB PC-5400 DDR2 RAM
160 GB, 7200 RPM Hard Drive
TSST DVD-R/W Drive
Four USB 2.0 Ports
FireWire (IEEE1394) port
10/100 Ethernet
56.6 kbps Modem
ExpressCard slot
DVI port (I think - haven't used it yet)

I successfully figured out how to get MS-DOS 6.22 working perfectly (relatively easy), and to get it to dual-boot with Vista (much harder). Now I've got MS-Windows 3.11 installed and booting. However, I have two problems. The first is that my mouse isn't working. It's a Microsoft mouse, $20 at your local computer store, USB connection and optical. I think it came with a USB/PS/2 connector, but that doesn't help since I don't have a PS/2 connector on my computer.

No cursor appears on the screen at all. I selected "Microsoft or PS/2 mouse" during Windows setup and have a file called "mouse.drv" installed in my Windows 3.11 System folder. Other options included a Logitech mouse option (can't remember them all right now). I'd really like to get the mouse working because it makes everything much easier to use. It didn't appear during the final part of Windows Setup, either (the part with the GUI).

I know USB support is supposedly nonexistant until Windows 98, but Windows 3.11 (and indeed DOS 6.22) is able to fully recognize and utilize my USB 2.0 flash drive with no tweaks at all. So I'm thinking if the flash drive works, surely there's a way to get the mouse working.

The other problem is that windows startup crashes and beeps loudly at me if I press too many buttons while it gives me a blank screen if I don't start in Standard Mode (as opposed to 386 Enhanced). I'm not enough of an expert to know what (if any) adverse effects there are, but given the NAME I would assume something is enhanced.

Help appreciated. It took awhile, but I was eventually able to get MS-DOS up and running. Provided I can get the mouse working in Windows I'll actually be able to load some old software that doesn't work in Windows NT on it!Is legacy support for USB enabled in the BIOS ? ?
Even so i doubt you will be able to get Win3.1 to recognise a USB mouse.
Did you ste this up as a virtual install such as VPN or is it fully bootable from it's own partition ? ?

I'll do some more hunting around meanwhile...Never mind, figured out how to get it working. For whatever reason the third time I booted it the mouse cursor was there, ALBEIT moving quite quickly. Then I found an old Microsoft mouse suite at http://www.oldfiles.org.uk/powerload/download/mouse901.exe, and installed it. That enabled me to change the cursor speed to something reasonable. There's still a huge difference between the trackpad speed (very slow) and mouse speed (standard), but at least one of them works normally and the other can if I change the settings.

I believe legacy USB support is enabled in the BIOS. Didn't have to change it to get this working.

DOS and Windows 3.11 are both booting from their own FAT16 partition, and both are recognizing my USB devices now. Rather surprised they do given the lack of USB when they were around, but I'm not complaining.

Internet access is proving quite a pain, however. Right now I have to download stuff from Vista and put it on the FAT16 partition in Vista. I downloaded a trial of a software called Trumpet Windsock that is supposed to allow a connection, however it involves a large degree of manual configuration including ISP, DNS Server, Domain Server, Netmask, and Gateway (all of which I have) and Vector (which I don't). It also looks like I might need to install some drivers in DOS - all in all it's a bit overwhelming so unless there's a nice automated way I might just WAIT until I can get Windows 98, which connected straightaway from within a VM (albeit only on wired Internet).

Performance is as good as in a VM despite Standard Mode graphics. DOS takes awhile to boot due to HIMEM checking extended memory, though - about as long as Vista. So much for an old OS booting faster than a new one. Add/Edit the following to your config.sys:

\HIMEM.SYS/TESTMEM:OFF

If you want to post your modem/hardware specs i'll dig out some of my old notes and we'll have a go of it.
There are a few other Resident EXPERTS here on older OS's as well such as Dusty and Sidewinder just to name a few...

Let us know.