Windows NT 3.1 October 1991 build

This build was the October 1991 COMDEX release. Interesting on this build is that is has no build number, meanwhile both earlier and later builds do have build numbers.

This build is one of the only early NT builds to have a fully graphical setup, this hasn't returned back until Longhorn build 4001 and its WIM setup.

Password authentication is not working in this build yet.

GUI setup

 * Adaptec AHA-1540 or compatible SCSI bus
 * (adequately emulated by the BusLogic SCSI HBA device in VirtualBox)


 * SCSI hard disk connected to SCSI port 0
 * SCSI CD drive connected to SCSI port 2
 * COM1 port enabled
 * At least 16 MB of RAM
 * Hard disk prepartitioned and preformatted in MS-DOS

Text mode setup (from MS-DOS)

 * 16 MB of RAM
 * COM1 port enabled
 * Prepartitioned and preformatted disk in MS-DOS

GUI Setup
To use the GUI setup, you have to have a SCSI CD drive, thereby your best bet is to use VirtualBox. Step-by-step 1. Go to VM settings and open the Storage tab.

2. Remove the IDE bus and add a SCSI one as a replacement. Change its type to Buslogic.

3. Add a hard drive, mount the vdi file and keep the SCSI port on no. 0.

4. Add a CD drive, mount the 10-91 ISO file and set the SCSI port to no. 2.

5. Add a floppy bus and add a floppy drive. Mount an MS-DOS bootdisk with FDISK and FORMAT.

6. Go to the Serial Port tab in VM settings.

7. Check the "Enable serial port" checkbox.

8. Select COM1 from the listbox, and select "Disconnected" as the mode.

9. Save the settings.

10. Start the VM. MS-DOS should boot. Run FDISK and partition the drive. Then format it with the FAT filesystem.

11. Mount the boot.img image file and press Right Ctrl+Del

12. Select the default option in OS Loader.

13. The initital Setup page should come up. Fill in your name and account name.

14. Select the Custom Setup option.

15. Click Continue on the hardware list.

16. Click Continue on the hard disk configuration page.

17. Select whether you want to install the free or checked/debug build.

18. Select optional components you want to install.
 * If Setup freezes when copying files, reboot and uncheck ALL the options in the optional components dialog. Why? 10-91 doesn't recognize the VirtualBox network adapter, MSTOOLS fail to install, etc.

19. Wait for the files to copy.

20. You're installed!