QEMU/Guests/Windows 98: Difference between revisions

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This page details how to install Windows 98 in QEMU. '''Windows 98''' is an operating system created by Microsoft released in June 1998. There is an updated version dubbed Windows 98 Second Edition, which fixes some bugs and adds new features. Support ended in July 2006.
 
We strongly recommend Windows 98 Second Edition as it fixes many bugs from FE and has more application support.
==Starting up==
===QEMU=Prerequisites==
====installation=Windows 98 QuickInstall===
Windows 98 without any patches is very, very unstable under QEMU, with bugs such as hanging on reboot, hanging on DOS prompt, hanging randomly, you get the picture. For this reason, we'll be using the [https://github.com/oerg866/win98-quickinstall Windows 98 QuickInstall Project] for this guide, which bundles multiple patches to greatly improve the stability under QEMU.
This guide recommends you to use the [https://github.com/oerg866/win98-quickinstall Windows 98 QuickInstall Project], which includes all of the patches in one package ready for use. ([https://archive.org/details/win98qi_v0.9.3 example built ISOs are available here at archive.org]). Download either win98qi_v0.9.3_ALL.iso, if you want to have 98lite variants alongside stock 98SE or just download [https://computernewb.com/isos/windows/win98qi_v0.9.3_stock.iso win98qi_v0.9.3_stock.iso (computernewb mirror)] for only stock 98SE. The ISO comes with utilities inside for you to install if needed. This is currently the fastest way to install Windows 98 on any hardware.
 
You can download it through one of the following options:
Make a qcow2 image (or a raw image if you want) by typing
* [https://github.com/oerg866/win98-quickinstall Build it yourself]
* [https://computernewb.com/isos/windows/win98qi_v0.9.3_stock.iso win98qi_v0.9.3_stock.iso Download from Computernewb ISOs]
* [https://archive.org/details/win98qi_v0.9.3 Download from archive.org] (This link also has other ISOs that contain extra software and utilities. Pick whichever you want, it's your choice.)
===SoftGPU===
We'll also be using the SoftGPU driver, to add 32-bit color and high-res support, and also to enable 3D acceleration. Grab the iso [https://github.com/JHRobotics/softgpu/releases/latest here].
==Starting up==
===Installation===
First, create a disk image for the VM using a command like the following.
<pre>qemu-img create -f qcow2 win98.img 4G</pre>
 
'''4G''' can be replaced with however big you want the hard drive to be (with G standing for Gigabytes). Windows 98 is a very old OS and does not take up a lot of space.
 
When that's done, runstart theup followingQEMU with a command like the following:
 
<pre>qemu-system-i386 -hda win98.img -cdrom win98_iso_name.iso -device VGA,vgamem_mb=64 -cpu host -accel kvm -M pc-i440fx-2.0,hpet=off -netnetdev nicuser,modelid=lan -device pcnet,netdev=lan -netusb user-device usb-tablet -localtime</pre>
 
The machine argument is set to pc-i440fx-2.0, this is to get around the PCI Bus bug that persists within QEMU, And the VGA,vgamem_mb=64 parameter is useful for the recommended Video Driver in the guide, essentially it allocates 64MB of VRAM onto the generic VGA adapter QEMU provides to allow higher resolutions and color depths within 98SE.
 
We set the memory to 128 MB, but it can run on as low as 8 MB of RAM, although this isn't recommended if you want to be running any programs.
 
UponPress bootingany thekey ISOexcept ofF8 yourto choice,boot ifinto youthe areWindows using98 theQuick win98qi_v0Installer.9.3_ALL isoThe image,installation thenhere selectis whicheverpretty variantself ofexplanatory. 98If (oryou ME)used wouldthe "all" iso, you'll likebe prompted to installselect anda thenWindows version. We recommend 98 SE. proceedProceed to format a single FAT32 partition taking up all of available space and mark it as bootable, make sure to write changes to the disk and exit. Once prompted to install integrated device drivers, select Yes and continue. By any circumstances do NOT select slow PnP detection as this will hinder the installation process, let it install and reboot.
 
At this point if all went well, Windows should reboot, install drivers, and load the desktop. If you get a bluescreen or protection error, refer to the troubleshooting section. If it all worked, keep reading
===Enabling DMA===
The first thing you'll want to do is enable DMA on your hard disk ASAP, as it is not enabled by default and this can cause major instabilities.
[[File:Win98dma.png|thumb|right|alt=A screenshot showing how to enable DMA|Enabling DMA]]
# Open Control Panel from the Start Menu
# Select "System" and switch to the Device Manager tab
# Expand "Disk Drives" and double click "QEMU Hard Disk"
# Switch to the "Settings" tab and tick "DMA"
# Reboot windows
===Display driver installation===
We will now install the SoftGPU driver to enable higher resolutions and 32-bit color support.
[[File:Softgpusetup.png|thumb|right|alt=A screenshot of the SoftGPU setup program|SoftGPU installation]]
[[File:98se32bitcolor.png|thumb|right|alt=A screenshot of enabling 32-bit color on Windows 98 SE|Enabling 32 bit color]]
# Switch to the SoftGPU ISO by running a command similar to the following in the QEMU console: <pre>change ide1-cd0 softgpu-&lt;version&gt;.iso</pre>
# If the installer does not run on it's own, double click the CD in My Computer
# The SoftGPU installer will now open. You can pretty much accept the defaults here, however you may want to consider selecting "Nine" instead of Wine for DX8 and DX9 for improved performance at a slight potential stability cost.
# Click install. After a minute or two, you will be prompted to reboot. Click yes.
# Once windows reboots, right click the desktop, select properties, and switch to the "Settings" tab
# If all went well, you should now be able to switch the Colors to "True Color (32-bit)", and the resolution to 1024x768.
 
You may encounter a bug where not all color modes are available, and attempting to increase to one that is or change the resolution does not properly apply. Refer to the troubleshooting section for how to fix this.
 
===Finishing up===
 
Congratulations, you should now have a functioning Windows 98 install! Here is some recommended software to install:
 
* [https://winworldpc.com/download/48c2b151-2618-c39a-11c3-a4e284a2c3a5 Internet Explorer 6 SP1]
* [https://archive.org/download/10.63Opera1063IntSetup/10.63_opera_1063_int_setup.exe Opera 10.63]
 
==Troubleshooting==
===VXD or protection errors on first boot===
 
Upon rebooting from the quick installer into Windows 98, you may get a blue screen and error related to "VXD", or "Windows protection". This is usually caused by Windows 98 not being compatible with one or more features of your CPU. To solve this, change <pre>-cpu host</pre> in your QEMU startup command to <pre>-cpu core2duo</pre> and restart the installation. Windows should now install without issues
 
===Cannot change color depth or resolution after installing SoftGPU===
Once you make it to the Desktop, Open System Properties and head to the Device Manager, Open the Disk Drives selection and open the properties of the "QEMU HAR DDISK" drive and enable DMA on the Settings tab, after this let it restart and you're good to go. Don't forget to tick on "Disable Scandisk after bad shutdown" in msconfig's Advanced.. options, as this will really be helpful incase Windows 98 decides to crash. (and Scandisk is completely useless anyway)
 
After installing SoftGPU, you may find that you are unable to change the color depth or resolution, with Windows prompting for reboot and then resetting back to 16 colors, 640x480 afterward. Additionally, you may notice that all color depths are not visible in the settings menu.
==Display driver installation==
[https://github.com/JHRobotics/softgpu/ SoftGPU] is HIGHLY recommended.
 
This is usually caused by Windows failing to install an adequate monitor driver. To solve this, you'll want to do the following:
To install SoftGPU, download the latest release ISO from the GitHub repository, mount the ISO and refer to the documentation on the SoftGPU git itself.
[[File:98monitor.png|thumb|right|alt=A screenshot of switching the monitor driver on Windows 98|Installing the monitor driver]]
# Open Control Panel from the Start Menu and select System
# Switch to the Device Manager tab
# Expand "Monitors" and double click the monitor
# Switch to the "Driver" tab and select update driver.
# Select to show all drivers on the computer, and then all hardware.
# Select the "Standard Monitor Types" tab
# Install either the "Super VGA 1024x768" or "Plug-and-play Monitor" driver. Both have been reported to work for different people so if one doesn't, try the other
# Re-insert the SoftGPU CD if you removed it and reinstall SoftGPU. Agree when it asks to reboot
# You should now be able to use 32-bit color and higher resolutions
 
[[Category:Windows installation guides]]

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