Support #714
Updated by Daniel Curtis over 8 years ago
{{>toc}} This is a guide on how I installed Windows 3.1 in a VirtualBox VM. This guide used 64-bit Arch Linux as the VM host, but any host that VirtualBox can run on should work. h2. Create the Virtual Machine # Start by create a new VM in VirtualBox. *# Give the VM a name. *# Set the type to +Microsoft Windows+. *# Set the version to +Windows 3.1+. # Set the memory size to +64MB+ # Create a new virtual hard disk *# Set the type to +VDI+. *# Set the storage type to +Dynamically allocated+. *# Set the file name and give it +1.0GB+ h3. Setup DOS 6.22 Boot Disc # Select the Win3.1 VM and click on the +Settings+ button. # Go to the +Storage+ tab and add the *DOS 6.22* boot disc to the Virtual CD Drive. # Close the +Settings+ window, and boot the VM. h2. Install DOS 6.22 # Format the hard drive using fdisk: <pre> fdisk </pre> *# Choose *1* to Create DOS partition drive. *# Choose *1* to Create primary DOS partition. *# Choose *Y* to use maximum available space and set the partition as active. *# The VM will reboot when partitioned. # Create the filesystem and copy the DOS system files onto the hard drive: <pre> format /u /s c: </pre> # Power off the VM, this must be done by closing the VirtualBox window and choosing to power off the machine. h2. Install Windows 3.1 # Boot the Win3.1 VM. # Set the date and time # Click on the +Devices -> Floppy Drives -> Choose disk image+ and choose the *first* Win 3.1 image. # Change the current drive to the virtual floppy drive: <pre> a: </pre> # Then run the Windows 3.1 setup executable: <pre> setup.exe </pre> *# Press +ENTER+ to begin the installer *# Press +ENTER+ to use the express setup option *# Click on the +Devices -> Floppy Drives -> Choose disk image+ and choose the *second* Win 3.1 image, then press +ENTER+. *# Click on the +Devices -> Floppy Drives -> Choose disk image+ and choose the *third* Win 3.1 image, then press +ENTER+. *# When the GUI starts, enter in a name and click +Continue+, then +Continue+ again. *# Click on the +Devices -> Floppy Drives -> Choose disk image+ and choose the *fourth* Win 3.1 image, then click +Retry+. *# Click on the +Devices -> Floppy Drives -> Choose disk image+ and choose the *fifth* Win 3.1 image, then click +Retry+. *# Click on the +Devices -> Floppy Drives -> Choose disk image+ and choose the *fourth* Win 3.1 image, then click +Continue+. (I don't know why, but I was prompted to reinsert the fourth disk) *# Click on the +Devices -> Floppy Drives -> Choose disk image+ and choose the *fifth* Win 3.1 image, then click +Continue+. (I don't know why, but I was prompted to reinsert the fifth disk) *# Click on the +Devices -> Floppy Drives -> Choose disk image+ and choose the *sixth* Win 3.1 image, then click +Retry+. *# Click on the +Devices -> Floppy Drives -> Choose disk image+ and choose the *seventh* Win 3.1 image, then click +Continue+. *# Select *Do not add a printer*, then click +Install+. *# Click on +skip tutorial+ *# Click on the +Devices -> Floppy Drives -> Remove disk from virtual drive+ *# Click +Reboot+ *# When the VM finishes rebooting and the DOS prompt appears, start Windows: <pre> WIN </pre> h3. Fix 100% CPU Usage # Boot the DOS VM. # Download and mount the *dosidle.img* file in the virtual Floppy drive *# Create the DOSIDLE folder: mkdir DOSIDLE *# Copy the dosidle program to the DOSIDLE folder: <pre> copy a:*.* DOSIDLE </pre> # Download and mount the *wqghlt.img* file in the virtual Floppy drive *# Copy the wqghlt program to the DOSIDLE folder: <pre> copy a:\wqghlt.386 c:\windows\system </pre> # Start Windows: <pre> win </pre> # Go to +Accessories -> Notepad+ *# Click on +File -> Open+ and open *@c:\autoexec.bat@*; make sure to change the file type from .txt to all file types. *# Add the following to the end of the autoexec.bat file: <pre> C:\DOSIDLE\DOSIDLE.EXE </pre> *# Save and exit. # Go to +Accessories -> Notepad+ *# Click on +File -> Open+ and open *@C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI@*; make sure to change the file type from .txt to all file types. *# Add the following to the *[386Enh]* section of the @SYSTEM.INI@ file: <pre> [386Enh] device=WQGHLT.386 ... </pre> *# Save and exit. # Reboot the VM to check that it works. h3. Autostart Windows 3.1 # Start Windows: <pre> win </pre> # Go to +Accessories -> Notepad+ # Click on +File -> Open+ and open *@c:\autoexec.bat@*; make sure to change the file type from .txt to all file types. # Add the following to the end of the autoexec.bat file: <pre> WIN </pre> # Save and exit. Then reboot the VM to check that it works. h2. Resources * http://www.legroom.net/howto/msdos * http://www.allbootdisks.com/download/iso.html * http://windowshistorylessons.mini-sites.timurtripp.com/Windows-3.1/download.html * https://www.kirsle.net/blog/entry/ms-dos-and-windows-3-1 * https://www.kirsle.net/msdos