How to run win98 on vm on win7/64?

[raygg]

Never loaded any vm software or played around with it - but I DID replace my XP Pro 32 windows OS installation with WIn 7 64bit installation on my Lenovo T61 w/4gb. I have a game I run in win98 compatibility mode but I would like to know about doing the following.

Could I install VM software (something free like the virtual box from Oracle) on my win7/64 SP1 and then load win98 and then run my game on it? Is it necessary to reload the win98 OS every time I want to play the game? Will the sound work ok? Will the graphics work ok? BTW my win98 installation disk has a valid license.

Would you recommend a link that gives a good video tutorial on this with examples?

I have a large HD but is it necessary to permanently partition the HD for the VM software? If so how much s/b set aside for this? I currently have a 750gb HD with 500gb free.

Ray

 

[vacunita]

Could I install VM software (something free like the virtual box from Oracle) on my win7/64 SP1 and then load win98 and then run my game on it?

Its very possible to do that.

Is it necessary to reload the win98 OS every time I want to play the game?

If by reload, you mean install, then no. You would have to run the virtual machine to have access to the OS, and by extension the game.

Will the sound work ok? Will the graphics work ok? BTW my win98 installation disk has a valid license.

No way to tell, depending on the configuration you set fo the virtual machine will be what is available to it.

I have a large HD but is it necessary to permanently partition the HD for the VM software? If so how much s/b set aside for this? I currently have a 750gb HD with 500gb free.

No, virtual machines do not require hard drive partitioning. Think of a virtual machine as an application on your current computer.
It Opens a Window and runs the OS in there. For the Virtualized Os the environment seems like an actual computer.

The Virtual Hard Drive is nothing more than a file on your PC. Some Virtualization software offers the ability to have dynamic disks. That is you can set a maximum size of the virtual HD, but the file will not be that size, it will grow as needed until it reaches the limit. This is a more efficient way of managing storage, as you don't have the entire say 20 or 30 GB taken form your hard drive at once.

As far as running the game, unless you are having issues running it with the compatibility setting, the virtual Machine route will just be more cumbersome as you would need to boot up the Virtual PC each time you want to play the game.

You may want to have a read here:

http://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch01.html

.

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Phil AKA Vacunita
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Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

Web & Tech

 

[spamjim]

If you have one of the advanced versions of Win7 (ie 'Pro') then you already have (or have access to) VirtualPC and a Windows XP license. From there, you could run your game in Win98 compatibility mode.

If you have the home version of Win7, then VirtualBox or the free VMware Player is fine. Just start it and insert your Win98 install disk. These virtual player programs are very easy to use lately. You can probably set up a system without any need for training. Just 'create a new machine' and follow the programs' directions.

 

[raygg]

To spamjim:

I have win7 Pro/64 -- where is /how do I access/install Virtual PC? Is there any major differences between this and Virtual Box that would make me choose one over the other for this installation? Someone told me that virtual box comes with all the win98 virtual drivers I would need incl graphics, sound - know anything about that? Again - I have never played with or installed VM in any form. This is all new to me - but professionally I have Unix/Linux admin training and have several years as an Oracle DBA.

 

[spamjim]

I do not recall if VirtualPC is already installed or if you need to manually install it. I would start out by installing Microsoft's default "XP mode" and see if your Win98 program can run in it using XP's Win98 compatibility options. Only if it cannot would I install Win98. I would not trust a Win98 system to be secure in today's world.

https://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/

https://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx

VirtualPC comes with its own XP license. There's no need to key in a code. If you use VirtualPC to install other systems like Win98, you'll need your license code.

I'd lean toward Microsoft's own (actually bought from Connectix) VirtualPC as it would fall under Microsoft's own ecosystem. It is a relatively painless installation. VirtualPC can only run on Windows hosts. However, if you had a desire to use a VM on Linux, I would use VirtualBox. VirtualBox is the most portable option for hosting on various platforms and for its open licensing.

 

[BadBigBen]

Ray,

where is /how do I access/install Virtual PC?

Windows Virtual PC

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx

Is there any major differences between this and Virtual Box that would make me choose one over the other for this installation?

Yes, Windows XP Mode, is a full fledged XP install, which runs under VirtualPC (that gets downloaded along side of it), where as VirtualBox, is a VM bar any previous installed OS...

Someone told me that virtual box comes with all the win98 virtual drivers I would need incl graphics, sound - know anything about that?

quite correct...

I have never played with or installed VM in any form. This is all new to me

There is always a first time... and believe me, it is easy as pie to get started...

but professionally I have Unix/Linux admin training

and they did not show you any training on XEN or CITRIX?

My opinion: For what you want to do (learn and play) I would stick with VirtualBOX or VMWarePlayer (Workstation is too expensive for private use imho)...


Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[linney]

Windows Virtual PC
Download Windows XP Mode

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx

Windows XP Mode (Windows 7 only, but not any of the Home versions) "You are not eligible to download Windows XP Mode. You must have Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate to run Windows XP Mode". If you have an old XP CD (or other older Windows CD) available you can just download the Virtual Machine and skip the XP Mode download.

This covers the whole gambit of virtual machines in "Home" versions if you want to have a look at it. Of course you will need a licensed copy of XP (or 98) to install and run in any of them (except XP in XP Mode).

VirtualBox is an impressive VM contender

http://windowssecrets.com/search/?c...ender+&sa=Search&advWS=1&advSAN=1&advPages=15