F7 Dual Boot?

[SinisterKidxX]

I have searched on how to do dual boot with 7/98, so please don't say search.

I'm looking to do a dual boot using 7 and 98 and have never attempted anything like this before. I'm semi savy with computers, I've built one from scrap and installed everything, but i'm not technical when it comes to the detail of software.

Now in class while starting up my laptop, Dell Inspirion 1545, i was hitting F7 and it came to this screen asking what version of windows I wanted to boot. Now it only had 7 since thats all thats on the comptuer but can i just load in a windows 98 disc and set it to where unless I hit f7 on start up itll just boot into 7?

Sorry if that's confusing. Help is appreciated I'm trying to play some good ol' 98 games which wont work on either xp or 7 and of course there are no patches to fix it

 

[not so gray matter]

Here's a tutorial for you:

THPC: Dual-Boot Windows 7 and Windows 98/Me on your Windows 7 computer

FYI: This was the first result of a "How to dual boot Windows 98 and Windows 7" google search.

 

[SinisterKidxX]

how am i supposed to do this if i dont have a windows 7 cd or key? the laptop came with it all installed like most computers bought at the store.

 

[si8mon]

Instead of dual booting you may want to run Windows 98 as a virtual machine inside of Windows 7. Your PC specs will support 98 running as a virtual machine. You can do this by using programs such as VMware Player or VirtualBox. I recommend using VMware player if you have the windows 98 cd because it much easier to set up (but that's only my opinion).

 

[gregrocker]

You do in fact have a Product Key on the COA sticker on your machine. That key will allow you to clean reinstall Win7 from any installer of your version, or the Recovery disks although they will have the preinstalled bloatware - but I would make them anyway for this purpose.

When you come across a clean-copy of your version Win7, it is a valuable find. A clean reinstall is a better install now than new computer, since new computers come with the bloatware that always compromises performance.

 

[SinisterKidxX]

Instead of dual booting you may want to run Windows 98 as a virtual machine inside of Windows 7. Your PC specs will support 98 running as a virtual machine. You can do this by using programs such as VMware Player or VirtualBox. I recommend using VMware player if you have the windows 98 cd because it much easier to set up (but that's only my opinion).

can anybody confirm this?? This sounds like it would be much much easier than dual booting.

 

[si8mon]

I can confirm it but i don't think you trust me.

I successfully have installed windows 98 on VMware player.

Details

These are instructions for setting up windows 98 which i have created for VMware player.

Download and install it. You can download Vmware player from http://www.vmware.com/products/player/. It is free but you have to register (All they need is an email and name).

Instructions

1. Open VMware player and click "Create a new virtual machine".

2. Install from disk (insert your Windows 98 disk in to the CD drive).

3. Select 'Microsoft Windows' and then 'Windows 98'.

4. Name your machine and select where you want to install it.

5. Select how big you want the disk size for Windows 98. If you going to use it a lot you want to have a few gigabites.

6. Click 'finish' if your happy with the hardware settings.

7. The start your 98 from the VMware player menu . Importent: keep the cd in because now vmware will install Windows 98. Once install has finished you can eject the cd.

8. You now have Windows 98 as a virtual machine running inside of windows. Vmware will ask you if you want to download VMware tools for windows 98 select yes (it enables advanced features of windows 98). Once the download has finished select to to boot from CD ROM. It will ask if if you want to enable a feature to use if big hard drives (over 512mb) select yes. Windows 98 will restart, when it has restarted select to boot from CD ROM again. The windows 98 install screen will now pop up. This will guide you through setting up windows 98. This took me about 40 minutes. Once windows 98 has been installed you may notice that windows 98 cant go full screen and certain drivers wont work. This can easily be fixed by clicking VM (on the top of the screen) and then clicking install Vmware tools. This should enable drivers and full screen once you have restarted windows 98. If it doesn't change the screen resolution you can go to http://www.helpwithpcs.com/tipsandtricks/change_resolution_win_98.htm.

Windows 98 will run in a window inside of windows 7 like any other application. When ever you want to start Windows 98, launch VMware player and select your Windows 98 Virtual machine from the menu.

 

[si8mon]

I have waaaaaaaaaayyyyyy to much time on my hands

This is how to set up Windows 98 as a virtual machine on VirtualBox.

I don't have windows 98 but i do know how to set it up on Virtual box.

But I recommend using VMware player before you try this.

Download and install virtual box. VirtualBox is free an you can download it from Downloads - VirtualBox.

Instructions
Insert Windows 98 cd into cd drive.
1. Open VirtualBox and click 'new'.
2. Click next and then select Microsoft Windows and then Windows 98. You can name it what ever you want.
3. Select how much ram you want Windows 98 to use. I would select 512 megabites or more if you are going to play games.
4. Select boot hard disk and then select create a hard disk.
5. Press next and select dynamically expanding.
6. Choose where you want to store Windows 98 and how big The disk space will be.
7.Click finish and then click finish again.
8. Now double click your Windows 98 machine.
9. A new window should pop up called "First Run Wizard" just click next.
10. Select 'CD/DVD-ROM Device'.
11. If your happy with the settings just click 'finish'.
12. Windows 98 will now install on Virtual Box.
13. To launch Windows 98 fist launch Virtual box and then double click your Windows 98 Virtual Machine.

 

[SinisterKidxX]

Not that I don't trust you... just want somebody else to back it up. But looks like you know what your talking about so i will try and do that all later today. hopefully it works! thanks!

 

[CommonTater]

how am i supposed to do this if i dont have a windows 7 cd or key? the laptop came with it all installed like most computers bought at the store.

There should be an icon on your desktop to "Make Recovery Disks" and you should do that.

Since you have a vaild win7 key, nothing stops you from downloading a copy and setting it up on a flash drive... Technically it's semi-illegal, but in reality it's the only way most people get a "clean boot" version and you did pay for Win7 when you bought the computer.