Adding software windows 3.1

Discussions about using Windows guests in VirtualBox.
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C00lz0mb1e
Posts: 4
Joined: 27. Jan 2022, 11:04

Adding software windows 3.1

Post by C00lz0mb1e »

Hi all,

Just started messing with VB and successfully installed DOS, Windows 3.1 and Windows 98 buy following some useful guides on YouTube. All well and running fine.
My question is, how do I add software to these operating systems? ISOs are easy enough by mounting them but I'd like to add some EXE to a floppy or even on an ISO I've created (blank) so I can access these through the VM.

For example, I'd like to add screenantics.exe to a virtual floppy and access it through the windows 3.1 virtual machine.

Thanks for any pointers you can offer.
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: Adding software windows 3.1

Post by mpack »

Look at the virtual ISO feature - that would be the most convenient way to get files into those really old OS. Note however that you can't get files out that way - or any other method typically available to modern PCs.

Attaching a blank ISO to a Win 3.1 VM would be pointless. It would give you a read-only empty CD inside the VM (VirtualBox doesn't provide you with a virtual CD burner).

If you attach a blank floppy image then you can write to that, but I don't know how you would extract the files on the host.
C00lz0mb1e
Posts: 4
Joined: 27. Jan 2022, 11:04

Re: Adding software windows 3.1

Post by C00lz0mb1e »

I'm not concerned with taking files away from the guest os but can't figure how to get an exe into the guest os. What options do I have? Considering 3.1 would never had access to usb devices etc.
I just want to install a few programs in 3.1 but can't find a way. How do I put files on a created iso? Or floppy in fact?
C00lz0mb1e
Posts: 4
Joined: 27. Jan 2022, 11:04

Re: Adding software windows 3.1

Post by C00lz0mb1e »

All I really need to know is how to create floppy or iso images with the files I want to use on them. I may be incorrectly thinking VB can do this or do I need a 3rd party program to achieve this?
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: Adding software windows 3.1

Post by mpack »

VirtualBox has no tools for creating disk images other than the "virtual ISO" that I already mentioned.

You should use third party tools to create actual ISO images, for example ImgBurn.

I don't know of any tools to create floppy images. That doesn't mean they don't exist, just that I've had no need to look for them.
C00lz0mb1e
Posts: 4
Joined: 27. Jan 2022, 11:04

Re: Adding software windows 3.1

Post by C00lz0mb1e »

Thanks for your input. I'll have a look at 3rd party apps.
Kurt_Aust
Posts: 37
Joined: 10. Apr 2009, 04:48
Primary OS: MS Windows 2003
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: XP x64, W2K, 98se

Re: Adding software windows 3.1

Post by Kurt_Aust »

Have you considered installing Windows 3.1 in DosBox ?

Yes I know it's a bit off topic but you hardly need a full VM for Win 3.1 and under DosBox you can easily mount a local directory as your C: drive, then you just drop whatever you need in there with your file explorer.

Just a thought.
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