Windows 98 in DOSBox: Tips and Tricks for a Smooth Experience
H3: Prepare a hard disk image H3: Copy Windows 98 setup files H2: How to install Windows 98 in DOSBox H3: Boot from the setup files H3: Run the setup program H3: Reboot into Windows 98 H2: How to run Windows 98 in DOSBox H3: Mount the hard disk image H3: Boot from the hard disk image H3: Optional: Convert file system to FAT32 H2: Conclusion H2: FAQs **Table 2: Article with HTML formatting** Windows 98 img dosbox download: How to run Windows 98 in DOSBox
If you are feeling nostalgic for the old days of computing, or you want to try some retro games and software that only run on Windows 98, you might be wondering how to get this operating system on your modern PC. One way to do this is to use a DOS emulator called DOSBox, which can run Windows 98 as well as many other DOS-based programs. In this article, we will show you how to download, install, and run Windows 98 in DOSBox.
windows 98 img dosbox download
What is Windows 98?
Windows 98 is a graphical operating system that was released by Microsoft in June 1998. It was the successor of Windows 95 and introduced many new features and improvements, such as better support for USB devices, Internet Explorer 4, Active Desktop, WebTV, and more. Windows 98 was also one of the first operating systems to support the FAT32 file system, which allowed for larger hard disk partitions and files. Windows 98 was popular among home users and gamers, and it remained in use until it was discontinued in July 2006.
What is DOSBox?
Why run Windows 98 in DOSBox?
There are several reasons why you might want to run Windows 98 in DOSBox. For example:
You have an old game or application that only works on Windows 98 and not on newer versions of Windows.
You want to experience the nostalgia of using Windows 98 and its classic interface.
You want to learn more about the history and evolution of Windows and its features.
You want to have fun and experiment with Windows 98 without affecting your main operating system.
Whatever your reason, running Windows 98 in DOSBox is a great way to enjoy this old but still functional operating system.
How to prepare for Windows 98 installation in DOSBox
Modify DOSBox configuration for Windows 98
Before you can install Windows 98 in DOSBox, you need to modify some settings in the DOSBox configuration file. This file is located at C:\\Users\\\\AppData\\Local\\DOSBox\\dosbox-0.74-3.conf, where is your Windows username. You can open it with any text editor, such as Notepad.
Here are some of the settings you need to change:
In the [sdl] section, change fullscreen=false to fullscreen=true if you want DOSBox to run in full screen mode.
In the [cpu] section, change core=auto to core=dynamic and cycles=auto to cycles=max. This will improve the performance of DOSBox and Windows 98.
In the [dosbox] section, change memsize=16 to memsize=64. This will increase the amount of memory available for Windows 98.
In the [render] section, change aspect=false to aspect=true. This will maintain the correct aspect ratio of Windows 98.
In the [mixer] section, change rate=44100 to rate=48000. This will improve the sound quality of Windows 98.
Save and close the configuration file when you are done.
Prepare a hard disk image
A hard disk image is a file that acts like a virtual hard drive for DOSBox. You need to create one for Windows 98 installation and usage. To do this, you need a tool called IMGMAKE, which is included in DOSBox. You can find it at C:\\Program Files (x86)\\DOSBox-0.74-3\\IMGMAKE.EXE.
To create a hard disk image, follow these steps:
Open a command prompt window by pressing Win+R, typing cmd, and pressing Enter.
Navigate to the DOSBox folder by typing cd C:\\Program Files (x86)\\DOSBox-0.74-3 and pressing Enter.
Type IMGMAKE HDD.img -t hd_2gig -nofs and press Enter. This will create a 2 GB hard disk image named HDD.img in the DOSBox folder. You can change the name and size of the image as you like, but make sure it is not larger than 8 GB.
Type exit and press Enter to close the command prompt window.
Copy Windows 98 setup files
To install Windows 98 in DOSBox, you need to copy the setup files from the ISO image of the Windows 98 CD to the hard disk image you created. To do this, you need a tool called WinImage, which you can download for free from http://www.winimage.com/download.htm.
To copy the setup files, follow these steps:
Install WinImage on your computer and run it.
Select File > Open and browse to the location of the ISO image of the Windows 98 CD. Click Open.
Select Image > Change Format and choose FAT16 as the file system type. Click OK.
Select File > Save As and browse to the location of the hard disk image you created. Click Save and overwrite the existing file.
Select File > Open and browse to the location of the hard disk image you created. Click Open.
Select all the files and folders in the ISO image by pressing Ctrl+A.
Drag and drop them into the hard disk image window.
Select File > Close All when you are done.
How to install Windows 98 in DOSBox
Boot from the setup files
Now that you have prepared everything, you can start installing Windows 98 in DOSBox. To do this, follow these steps:
Run DOSBox from your desktop or Start menu.
Run the setup program
After booting from the setup files, you will see a blue screen with some options. Choose Start Windows 98 Setup from CD-ROM and press Enter. The setup program will start and perform a scan of your system.
After the scan, you will see a welcome screen with some information about Windows 98. Click Continue to proceed. You will be asked to accept the license agreement. Click Yes to agree.
Next, you will see a screen where you can choose the directory where Windows 98 will be installed. The default is C:\\WINDOWS. You can change it if you want, but it is recommended to leave it as it is. Click Next to continue.
Then, you will see a screen where you can choose the type of installation. The default is Typical, which installs the most common components of Windows 98. You can also choose Portable, Compact, or Custom if you want more control over what is installed. For this tutorial, we will choose Typical and click Next.
Next, you will see a screen where you can enter your name and organization. Type your name and optionally your organization and click Next.
Then, you will see a screen where you can enter your product key. This is a 25-digit code that is printed on your Windows 98 CD case or manual. Type it carefully and click Next.
Next, you will see a screen where you can choose your computer name and workgroup. The computer name is how your computer will be identified on a network. The workgroup is a group of computers that share resources on a network. You can leave them as they are or change them if you want. Click Next to continue.
Then, you will see a screen where you can choose your startup disk options. A startup disk is a floppy disk that can help you start your computer in case of problems. You can choose to create one or skip this step. For this tutorial, we will skip this step and click Next.
Next, you will see a screen where the setup program will check for available disk space and copy files to your hard disk image. This may take several minutes, depending on the speed of your computer and DOSBox.
Reboot into Windows 98
After the file copying is done, you will see a screen where the setup program will restart your computer to complete the installation. Click Restart Now to reboot.
DOSBox will close and reopen automatically. You will see a black screen with some messages and then a Windows 98 logo with a progress bar. Wait for it to finish loading.
You will then see a screen where Windows 98 will perform some final tasks, such as detecting hardware devices, setting up plug and play devices, updating system settings, and registering components. This may take several minutes as well.
After that, you will see a welcome screen with some tips and information about Windows 98. You can click Next to go through them or Skip Tutorial to skip them.
Congratulations! You have successfully installed Windows 98 in DOSBox!
How to run Windows 98 in DOSBox
Mount the hard disk image
To run Windows 98 in DOSBox, you need to mount the hard disk image that contains it every time you start DOSBox. To do this, follow these steps:
Run DOSBox from your desktop or Start menu.
the hard disk image as the C: drive in DOSBox.
Type boot -l c and press Enter. This will boot from the hard disk image.
Boot from the hard disk image
After booting from the hard disk image, you will see a black screen with some messages and then a Windows 98 logo with a progress bar. Wait for it to finish loading.
You will then see a screen where Windows 98 will perform some final tasks, such as detecting hardware devices, setting up plug and play devices, updating system settings, and registering components. This may take several minutes as well.
After that, you will see a welcome screen with some tips and information about Windows 98. You can click Next to go through them or Skip Tutorial to skip them.
Congratulations! You have successfully booted Windows 98 in DOSBox!
Optional: Convert file system to FAT32
If you installed Windows 98 from an ISO image of the original release (not the Second Edition), your hard disk image will have the FAT16 file system by default. This file system has some limitations, such as a maximum partition size of 2 GB and a maximum file size of 4 GB. You can convert your file system to FAT32, which has higher limits and better performance, by following these steps:
Click Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Drive Converter (FAT32).
Click Next on the welcome screen.
Select your C: drive and click Next.
Click Next on the confirmation screen.
Click Finish when the conversion is done.
Restart your computer when prompted.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to download, install, and run Windows 98 in DOSBox. This is a great way to enjoy this old but still functional operating system on your modern PC. You can run many retro games and software that only work on Windows 98, or just have fun and experiment with it without affecting your main operating system.
We hope you found this article helpful and informative. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below.
FAQs
Q: How can I change the resolution and color depth of Windows 98 in DOSBox?
A: You can change the resolution and color depth of Windows 98 in DOSBox by following these steps:
Right-click on the desktop and select Properties.
Click on the Settings tab.
Use the slider to adjust the resolution and the drop-down menu to select the color depth.
Click Apply and OK.
Restart your computer if prompted.
Q: How can I mount a CD-ROM or a floppy disk image in Windows 98 in DOSBox?
A: You can mount a CD-ROM or a floppy disk image in Windows 98 in DOSBox by following these steps:
Press Ctrl+F4 to switch back to DOSBox's command prompt.
Type mount d -t cdrom or mount a -t floppy and press Enter. Replace with the actual location and filename of the image file.
Type exit and press Enter to return to Windows 98.
You should see a new drive letter for your CD-ROM or floppy disk image in My Computer or Explorer.
Q: How can I enable networking in Windows 98 in DOSBox?
A: You can enable networking in Windows 98 in DOSBox by following these steps:
Edit your DOSBox configuration file and add ne2000=true under the [ne2000] section.
Restart DOSBox and boot Windows 98.
Click Start > Settings > Control Panel > Network.
Add a new adapter by clicking Add > Adapter > Microsoft > Microsoft Loopback Adapter > OK.
Add TCP/IP protocol by clicking Add > Protocol > Microsoft > TCP/IP > OK.
Select TCP/IP -> Microsoft Loopback Adapter and click Properties.
Select Specify an IP address and enter 10.0.0.1 as the IP address and 255.255.255.0 as the subnet mask. Click OK.
Select File and Print Sharing and check both boxes if you want to share files and printers on your network. Click OK.
Click OK on the Network window and restart your computer when prompted.
Q: How can I enable sound in Windows 98 in DOSBox?
A: You can enable sound in Windows 98 in DOSBox by following these steps:
Edit your DOSBox configuration file and add sbtype=sb16 under the [sblaster] section.
Restart DOSBox and boot Windows 98.
Click Start > Settings > Control Panel > Add New Hardware.
Select No when asked if you want Windows to search for new hardware. Click Next.
Select Creative Labs Sound Blaster 16 or AWE32 from the list of manufacturers and models. Click Next.
Select IRQ 7, DMA 1, and High DMA 5 as the resources for the sound card. Click Next.
Click Finish when the driver installation is done.
Restart your computer when prompted.
You should now hear sound in Windows 98 in DOSBox.
Q: How can I enable 3D graphics in Windows 98 in DOSBox?
A: You can enable 3D graphics in Windows 98 in DOSBox by following these steps:
Edit your DOSBox configuration file and add voodoo=opengl under the [pci] section and glide=true under the [glide] section.
Restart DOSBox and boot Windows 98.
Download and install the FastVoodoo2 driver from http://www.falconfly.de/voodoo2.htm.
Restart your computer when prompted.
You should now be able to run games that support 3Dfx Glide in Windows 98 in DOSBox.
Q: How can I transfer files between Windows 98 and my host operating system?
A: You can transfer files between Windows 98 and your host operating system by following these steps:
Create a folder on your host operating system where you want to store the files.
Edit your DOSBox configuration file and add mount d -t dir under the [autoexec] section. Replace with the actual location of the folder.
Restart DOSBox and boot Windows 98.
You should see a new drive letter for your folder in My Computer or Explorer.
You can copy files between this drive and your C: drive as you normally would.