Installing Win98 on my desktop with Win7

[Frank1]

The OS for my desktop is Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit. My BIOS is capable of vitalization. Since I have Home Premium, I know that I can't use Virtual XP. However, I do have a legal copy of Windows 98 which I purchased some years ago. If my understanding is correct I can install it on a virtual machine. Am I correct in saying that I have two choices to install a virtual machine, one of which is Virtual Box and the other is Windows Virtual Machine? If I am correct, which would be the best and/or most user friendly to use? I would appreciate any advice as I have some old applications that will not run on Windows 7. Thank you.

 

[Lemur]

I think you mean virtualization. You actually have a free third option - VMWare Player. I have used Virtualbox and VMWare Player. They are easy to install, as well as load one or more operating systems on. You might want to give VMWare Player a try first.

 

[Frank1]

I think you mean virtualization. You actually have a free third option - VMWare Player. I have used Virtualbox and VMWare Player. They are easy to install, as well as load one or more operating systems on. You might want to give VMWare Player a try first.

You're right, I did mean Virtualization. My

 

[Frank1]

Sorry, but I'm having a bad time with my keyboard tonight. Not the keyboard's fault, it's my not-so-nimble fingers. I'll give your suggestion a try tomorrow--if I can get my fingers to hit the right key. Thanks

 

[whs]

Virtual Box is my preferred option. Make sure you install the Guest Additions in the virtual machine. Then you have a seamless operation between 98 and Win7 and can use the full size of your screen.

 

[Kari]

As Whs, I normally recommend using VirtualBox for guest virtual machines that can not be run on Microsoft Virtual PC. However, the VirtualBox Guest Additions for Windows guest systems only work for Windows 2000 and later versions. VirtualBox Guest Additions, like Virtual PC Integration Components or VMware Tools, are needed to better integrate the guest system to your host. Without Guest Additions, you only get basic functions of Win98 installed in VirtualBox, and for instance only 16 colors. The same reason, missing integration components, makes it a real PITA to run older Windows versions in Virtual PC.

I use all three major virtualization applications, each has their pros and cons. My recommendation is Microsoft Virtual PC for XP, Vista and Seven virtual machines, VirtualBox for Linux and Unix virtual machines, and VMware Player for older Windows virtual machines.

For older Windows virtual machines the best alternative (IMO) is VMware Player, which you can download for free here: VMware Player: Run Windows 7, Chrome OS - Free Download for a Virtual PC

VMware Player has integration support also for pre Windows 2000 systems. Here for instance my Windows ME virtual machine running in VMware Player, with true 32-bit colors and fully integrated to my Windows 7 host. Works nice and fast:



If you need any help to set up your Win98 virtual machine, do not hesitate to ask.

Kari