Got it resolved- by my computer expert pal! He emailed me three missing files that I had to add to the WinNT / System32 folder. The files were called, respectively, autoexec.nt, CONFIG NT, and command.com. (Two of them replaced older copies already there.)
Afterwards, voila!- I clicked on the CD, and it opened!
I can email the files to anyone in the unlikely event of someone with similar problems. Send me a PM.
Thanks to all,
Tosh