QEMU/Guests/Windows NT 3.x-4.0 (MIPS): Difference between revisions

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<noinclude>'''[[How_to_install_Windows_NT_4.0_in_QEMU|< Windows NT 4.0]]''' | '''[[How_to_install_Windows_2000_in_QEMU|Windows 2000 >]]'''</noinclude>
 
[[File:1650668919_m3smGmwKPx.png|thumb]]
'''Windows NT 4''', along with Windows NT 3.51 and 3.5 can successfully run and install in QEMU's MIPS emulation. Windows NT 3.1 BSODs on setup, so it is not installable. Service Pack 1 was the last supported service pack on MIPS Windows NT 4. Currently, PowerPC and Alpha ports of Windows NT 3.x & 4 do not run in QEMU.
While it is very cool to see and play with a non x86 Windows environment, it's not very usable - programs made for x86 Windows NT do not run without wx86, and there were virtually no commercial products made for Windows NT 4 MIPS. So, it is really more of a curiosity than a usable OS.
 
There are no USB 1.1 drivers for Windows NT 4 MIPS, so proper mouse alignment is impossible, but is not a big deal. <s>The bigger deal comes from the insane memory leaks that QEMU MIPS has when formatting the system partition. This memory leak is actually enough to bring a server with even 64 GB of RAM down to its knees in a matter of seconds. Once you are booted into the OS, the memory leaks are no longer present.</s> ('''UPDATE''': This was fixed in QEMU 2.9.0. If you want to hostuse this, use QEMU 2.9.0 or above. Once you are booted into the OS, the memory leaks are no longer present.)
 
==Starting up==
First, download the following file and extract it somewhere: http://web.archive.org/web/20150809205748/http://hpoussineau.free.fr/qemu/firmware/magnum-4000/setup.zip
 
One of the files will be called NTPROM.RAW. Rename this to mipsel_bios.bin.
 
Now we're going to make a hard drive. The maximum size you can make it is 2 gigabytes, butso therewe iscreate reallythe nodisk needlike to make a beefy hard drive, due to lack of software. 500 MB of space will be just fine.this:
 
<pre>qemu-img create -f qcow2 ntmips.img 500M2G</pre>
 
Next, we start QEMU with the following arguments. Take note to not set the memory above 128 or 64 MB, because the Magnum machine can't run more than 128 MB of RAM.
Next, we'll start QEMU.
 
<pre>qemu-system-mips64el -hda ntmips.img -M magnum -net nic -net user,model=dp83932 -cdrom win_nt_4_iso.iso -m 128 -global ds1225y.filename=nvram -global ds1225y.size=8200</pre>
 
A break down of this command: <code>qemu-system-mips64el</code> is the name of the QEMU emulator, obviously. <code>-hda ntmips.img</code> tells the emulator to use the hard drive we just created. <code>-M magnum</code> tells QEMU to emulate the Magnum machine. There are multiple MIPS machines emulated by QEMU, you can type <code>-M ?</code> for a full list. <code>-nic user,model=dp83932</code> adds a virtual NIC (in this case, the 10 mb/s SONIC DP83932 network NIC). If you don't want internet you can remove this flag. <code>-cdrom win_nt_4_iso.iso</code> inserts a Windows NT 4 into the emulated cd-rom. If you have a physical copy of NT 4 you could change it to i.e. <code>-cdrom /dev/sr0</code>. <code>-m 128</code> sets the memory, in this case, 128 MB. And finally, <code>-global ds1225y.filename=nvram -global ds1225y.size=8200</code> adds a persistent nvram which is vital for saving the system state.
Note, do not set the memory to anything other than 128 or 64 MB. The Magnum machine can't run more than 128 MB. Hit enter on "Run Setup".
 
Now that all that's done, let's get the OS installed.
A problem you might notice is that the date is set to the year 2033. The clock also might be set to "8:85:00" or something similar.
 
==Installation==
This is a bug in the emulation but can be really easily fixed. Just go to "Initialize system", "Set time" and then set the proper date. An important note: If you don't properly set the clock, Windows NT will set the date to January 1, 1601 at 5:00 PM.
AWhen you start the machine a problem you'll mightlikely notice is that the date is set to the year 2033. The clock also might be set to "8:85:00", or something similar.
 
This is a "bug" in the emulation butthat can be really easily fixed. JustThere are two ways to fix it. The first is to add something like <code>-rtc "base=1995-07-08T11:12:13,clock=vm"</code> to the QEMU command line. The second is to go to "Initialize system", "Set time", and then set the proper date. An important note: If you don't properly set the clock, Windows NT will set the date to January 1, 1601 at 5:00 PM.
 
Now we'll set the environment variables. Choose the following variables:
 
*Select monitor resolution: 1024x768 (or anything below 1280x1024)
*Select floppy size: 3.5 1.44 M
*Is there a second floppy: No
*Enter SCSI Host ID (0 - 7): 7
 
Next, set the default environment to "Scsi hard disk".
NOTE: If you set the monitor to 1280x1024, the self-test at the BIOS will "fail".
 
Next, set the default environment to "Scsi hard disk".
 
Check the ethernet address if you want internet, although it isn't required.
 
Check the ethernet address if you want internet. Return to main menu.
 
Hit "Exit".
When we're done with that, exit and run the following: <code>cd:\mips\setupldr</code>
 
From then on, it installs pretty much exactly like x86 NT. SkipMake sure you skip the disk scan, go through the setup, and congratulations, you'll have a working NT MIPS environment!
 
==Software==
Windows NT 4 MIPS, surprisingly, has quite a bit of software ported over to it. Below are links to ported softwares and original software designed for the system.
 
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