Run Windows 98 in VirtualBox: A Step-by-Step Guide

Windows 98, a nostalgic operating system for many, can still be useful for running legacy software or simply for a trip down memory lane. While it’s an older OS, it can be effectively run on modern hardware using virtualization software like VirtualBox. This guide will walk you through the process of installing Windows 98 In Virtualbox, ensuring a smooth and functional setup on your current system.

Creating Your Windows 98 Virtual Machine

First, you’ll need to create a new virtual machine in VirtualBox specifically for Windows 98.

1. New Machine Creation: Open VirtualBox and click “New” (or press Ctrl+N). Give your virtual machine a descriptive name, such as “Windows 98 VM”.
2. Operating System Selection: In the “Type” dropdown, select “Microsoft Windows”. For “Version”, choose “Windows 98”.
3. Memory Allocation: Set the “Memory size” to 256MB or 512MB. It’s crucial to keep this low during installation, as allocating more memory can lead to installation problems.
4. Hard Disk Setup: Click “Create” to proceed with hard disk creation. A minimum of 5GB is recommended for the virtual hard disk size. Choose the default options to create a new virtual hard disk and add it to your virtual machine.

Configuring Virtual Machine Settings for Windows 98

Once the virtual machine is created, you need to adjust its settings for optimal Windows 98 installation.

1. Boot Order: Go to “Settings” -> “System” -> “Motherboard”. In the “Boot Order” section, ensure “Floppy”, “Hard Disk”, and “Optical” are selected in that order.
2. Video Memory: Navigate to “Settings” -> “Display” -> “Screen”. Set “Video Memory” to 32MB or 64MB.
3. Storage Configuration: Go to “Settings” -> “Storage”.
   • Floppy Drive: Click on the floppy disk icon under “Controller: Floppy”. Click the dropdown next to “Floppy Drive” and select “Choose a disk file…”. Browse and select a floppy image file named patcher9x-0.8.5.ima. This is a modified boot image necessary for modern systems.
   • IDE Controller: Click on the empty CD/DVD drive icon under “Controller: IDE”. Click the dropdown and select “Choose a disk file…”. Browse and select your Windows 98 SE ISO file (or the equivalent installation CD).

Installing Windows 98 in the Virtual Machine

Now you are ready to start the virtual machine and install Windows 98.

1. Start the VM: Select your newly created Windows 98 virtual machine and click “Start”. The VM will boot from the floppy image, and you will see an “A:>” prompt.
2. Partitioning the Hard Disk: Type fdisk.exe and follow the prompts to partition your virtual hard drive. Typically, you would press Y, 1, 1, Y, Esc, Esc in sequence to create a primary DOS partition, use the maximum available size, set it as active, and exit fdisk.
3. Formatting the C: Drive: After partitioning, restart the guest OS (Host+R). At the “A:>” prompt, type format.exe C: to format the C: drive.
4. Initiating Windows 98 Setup: To start the Windows 98 installation, type d:setup.exe /p j /nm /ie at the “A:>” prompt.
   • /p j enables ACPI support.
   • /nm disables memory check.
   • /ie prevents the creation of a Startup Disk, which could overwrite the floppy image we are using.
5. Setup Process: The Windows 98 setup program will begin copying files. After the file copying phase, the virtual machine will restart. Do not remove the floppy image yet.
6. Post-Restart Steps: After the restart, you will be back at the “A:>” prompt. Now, remove the floppy image by going to “Devices” -> “Floppy Drives” -> “Remove disk from virtual drive”. Then, reset the VM again (Machine -> Reset or Host+R).
7. Windows Initialization: Windows 98 setup will continue initializing settings. During this process, it’s important to re-insert the floppy image again via “Devices” -> “Floppy Drives” -> “Choose a disk file…” and select patcher9x-0.8.5.ima. This is crucial to prevent potential startup issues.
8. Memory Fix Application: After another restart to the “A:>” prompt (with the floppy image re-inserted), run the memory fix by typing patch9x.exe. Press Enter to accept the default Windows system path, Enter again for default selection (2), and Y for Yes, followed by Enter.
9. Final Restart: Remove the floppy image again (Devices -> Floppy Drives -> Remove disk from virtual drive) and reset the virtual machine one last time.

Windows 98 should now boot into the graphical desktop environment. You can proceed with installing drivers and software to complete your retro virtual machine setup. Enjoy running Windows 98 in VirtualBox!