Tool like DosBox but for Windows 95/98?

Is there a DosBox type tool for Windows 95/98?

It seems there's support for Dos apps, but if you can't get Windows 95/98 apps running in XP or Vista you're screwed.

 

WinVista at least has a built-in Compatibility Mode for both Windows 95 and 98/Me.
Just right-click on the shortcut or executable and hit Properties, then click to the Compatibility tab and enable the Compatibility Mode you want!

 

Microsoft Virtual PC/Virtual Machine?

 

Compatibility mode does not work half the time.

Virtual PC only emulates an 8MB S3 video card, so there's no chance of rudimentary 3D graphics even. Mostly will run software mode anyhow, but you're restricted to 800x600 at 32-bit graphics.

Virtual PC runs OS's slower than Virtual Box (at least for XP and Vista), but Virtual Box kept hanging when trying to install Windows 98. Virtual PC installed it flawlessly, but it is very limited and isn't meant for gaming by any means.

Doing a google, I saw a nokia phone with Windows 98 using DosBox, but not sure how they managed to install Win98 and save the profile, since as far as I know, DosBox only understands executables?

 

do they make a Wine version for Windows (never searched if anyones made a port)? I know in Mac OS X (and Linux) I can run lots of old 95/98 games in Wine, and I Use DOSbox for DOS titles...

 

Well, it looks like I'll have to install Linux and then use Wine for Windows 98. LOL. Figures. Have to install Linux in order to install and run a Microsoft product. My question about Wine though, is do you need Linux drivers for your hardware or Windows drivers? Because if I need Windows drivers I doubt I'll find Win98 ones for the hardware I'm running.

 

Wine wont work with everything, but the older it is, the more likely it'll work. Wine basically is an attempt to make the win32 api work on non Windows systems... in a simple way to explain it, it basically translates information between the software and the OS so they understand eachother. It does not duplicate Windows, or run like a OS at all, there are no drivers or anything like that specifically for it. If you don't already run an OS that can use Wine, it may be easier to try to use a virtual machine.. like VMware, which has support for 3D rendering.

 

you tried vmware? i only see you mention virtual pc and virtualbox.

 

I know you're looking for a global fix, but what specific 95/98 app(s) are you trying to run?

 

Well since I posted this in the gaming forum, a few games:

- MechWarrior 2 (and expansions)
- Jane's F/A-18
- Jane's USAF

to start at least.

I don't want to invest a bunch of time to get them to run. I just was reading posts here and elsewhere and had a nostalgic moment to give them a try again. Unfortunately there has been no easy way to get them to run.

Regarding VMWare, I only see it as a pay-to-use software, no freeware. I'm not that interested.

 

technically yes... but... i don't know about the Windows version, i use it on OSX, but I am able to use unlimited free 30 day trials. Been using it many months and still haven't paid. Even when I do finally pay for it I wont have any problems doing so, it is still light years ahead of Virtual Box or Virtual PC, its awesome software.

 

I've tried Win98 in VMWare, it has zero DirectX support as of right now. Windows XP gets DX9 though.

 

Uhhh, all the licenses I see cost thousands of dollars. So I hope you have the cash to do so. For that amount of money I'll buy parts off eBay and make a Windows 98 machine. I probably have 90% of the parts anyhow (if they still work). Just annoying to have yet ANOTHER PC lying around.

 

thousands? your looking at the wrong products... they do have some expensive server related software. I just looked.. and no idea why the Windows version is so expensive.. its listed as $189.99 (VMware Workstation). I use VMware Fusion which is a Mac OS X version, and its only $79.99, and I just got a deal with them for 50% discount on that for students.. maybe you can see if you can get an academic discount if you have a .edu email address? Still dont understand why the Mac version is $110 cheaper... it must be only because of Parallels is that price, and no one would buy VMware if it cost that much more. They charge a ton for the Windows version cuz theres nothing that can compete with it nearly as good.

 

I run MechWarrior 2 under DosBox (obviously the DOS version...not the 3dfx enhanced), and it runs fine...unfortunately, I can't figure out how to get my old Sidewinder 3D to work with MW2 under DosBox...

If you have the Win95 versions, try this link...

http://warp13.co.uk/mech2

Or this link...

http://www.mech2.org/forum/index.php

As far as Jane's F-18, I simply installed it, applied the 1.01f patch, and then downloaded a that-which-we-cannot-talk-about-but-some-would-call-a-no-cd-version-of-the-exe, and it worked fine...no problems...

Never owned Jane's USAF so I can't help you there...going to buy Jane's F-15 off eBay when I get back from vacation if I can find one with a manual...

Jane's F-18 shouldn't be too time consuming to get running...MechWarrior 2 could possibly be time consuming especially if you're trying to get certain peripherals to work with it or get accelerated 3D to work...

The only games that I spent hours and hours trying to get working under XP were Longbow 2 (finally found a site where programmers had provided unofficial patches that allowed Longbow 2 to work), System Shock 2 (extremely painful but that was almost more hardware driven (multiple core CPU) than OS driven) and Worms 2...and I finally did get Longbow 2 and System Shock 2 to work flawlessly...although I haven't played either game all the way through so there will probably be a fatal error on System Shock 2 right at the end of the game...I gave up on Worms 2 because Worms - Armageddon worked fine after some tweaking, and I was tired of wasting time on Worms 2...

 

Thanks! Yeah, I'd like Longbow 2 to run as well. I LOVE that sim. I wish someone else would pick up the Jane's rights and make an updated F-15 and L ongbow 2 at least.

 

keep me updated if you get USAF running... I tried a few months back for a few days, and finally gave up, for now. I had seen some info on it working, but never got it figured out.

 

+1 VMWare, it is the best option if you plan to do 3D Gaming.

 

I'd just drag my old Pentium 133, 96mb ram, dual 800mb HDDs, 24xCDROM, VooDoo2 SLI desktop, which already runs Win98SE.