Install from DOS? Do you mean from the command prompt?
If you are in DOS then you allready have windows installed or using a very old version of it.
Try fdisking and reformating your HD to either FAT32 or NFTS and see if that works.
You do have a bootable CD correct?
If so you should be able to use any version of windows to fdisk and reformat your HD then use the boot CD to do a clean install of windows XP.
After it loads the drivers and goes into the setup routine you should be able to hit "enter to install" and when it goes through the check promt you to insert a previous version of windows which will then allow you to install the rest.
I am not sure exactly what file you need but if that don't work for you then you can prolly do a google search and find that file that it looks for and just put that on your HD.