Installing Win 98 in VirtualBox for Mac OS X w.o floppy

[BFH]

Hello,

I am trying to install Windows 98 in a VirtualBox VM under Leopard.7 so that I can install and run an obsolete statistics program from 1999.

The Windows 98SE CD evidently is not bootable; when I lauch VirtualBox with the FreeDOS VM installed and running, the CD’s icon dismisses from my Mac OS X desktop. After I quit the VM, the Windows 98SE CD reappears on the desktop.

I also created a new VM for Windows 98SE, and the same thing happened; when I inserted the CD in my Mac's optical drive, the CD's icon displayed on the desktop until I turned on the VM, then the CD's icon dismissed from the desktop and returned after I quit the VM.

My Macintosh has a SuperDrive, but no floppy drive.

Could someone please explain to me, in very explicit terms (the last time I used DOS was over 15 years ago!), the necessary steps so that I could install Windows 98SE from the CD into a VirtualBox VM on my Macintosh?

Many thanks in advance!

Barry

[vbox4me2]

See the sticky in the Guests forum, essentially you need DOS boot floppies to boot from, fdisk the VDI and start the w98 setup. The CD is not bootable.

[BFH]

Hi vbox4me2,

Many thanks for taking time to reply.

Yes, I am familiar with the need to boot from DOS floppy with a nonbootable Windows 98 CD.

However, as mentioned in the title of my posting and within my posting, my Mac does not have a floppy drive.

What are the installation steps in this situation?

[baf]

If you have the diskettes and access to a computer with diskette drive then you could create images of those and boot from them.

[BFH]

Hi baf,

Thanks for your reply.

As mentioned in my previous posting, my Mac has an optical drive, no floppy drive. Nor do I have access to a Mac with a floppy drive (how 1990s!).

Also, as mentioned in my previous posting, I have a Windows 98 nonbootable CD. I do not have Windows installer floppies.

Lastly, as mentioned in my previous posting, I am seeking explicit, step-by-step instructions on how to accomplish installation of Windows 98 in a VirtualBox virtual machine.

Vague, general instructions do not help. :O(

[dmcgraw]

Lastly, as mentioned in my previous posting, I am seeking explicit, step-by-step instructions on how to accomplish installation of Windows 98 in a VirtualBox virtual machine.

Vague, general instructions do not help. :O(

Most of the answers posted on this forum come from volunteers. No one is going to take the time to hold your hand and give you exactly what you want.

If you need this type of support, it would probably be best to purchase VMware or another commercial product.

[BFH]

Hi dmcgraw,

Thank you for taking time to reply.

I am aware of that. I freely volunteer my time and knowledge in Apple discussion forums.

If someone asks for help accomplishing a goal, I spell out the steps.

In fact, it takes me less time to spell out the steps than it does to give general, vague comments which lead the questioner to post again, and go through multiple questions and answers.

My question is not about VirtualBox per se. I understand how to use and configure it. The question, instead, is how to install Windows 98 from a nonbootable CD.

I've read the tutorial posted elsewhere in these forums. I need further clarification on how to perform the steps on a Mac without a floppy drive rather than on a Linux box equipped with a floppy drive.

[Perryg]

I don't know if this will fall within the EULA of Windows 98. It was designed to be installed by using the DOS floppy. It was included in the package and as we all know Microsoft it is more than likely covered in the EULA as well. My Win98 install floppy has a restricted use statement on it and that it is to be used to install Win 98.

As such we have decided that we will not discuss this as it falls outside the scope of VirtualBox. And since we can not determine the legality of it we can not discuss it either.

I do know that if you search the web you will figure it out but not here I am afraid.

[vbox4me2]

I've read the tutorial posted elsewhere in these forums. I need further clarification on how to perform the steps on a Mac without a floppy drive rather than on a Linux box equipped with a floppy drive.

One simple hint, you need to emulate the floppy drive in order to image the floppies, without a real drive this isn't possible, surely a mate of yours must have a drive you can use for this.

[BFH]

Hi Perryg,

Many thanks for your reply.

Oh, now I get it. Many thanks for explaining.

The last version of WIndows that I installed/used was 3.1. Thus, I was unaware of the floppy issue.

Will do. :O)

[BFH]

Hi vbox4me2,

Thanks for taking time to reply again.

Surprisingly enough, although I know that USB floppy drives exist, I not know anyone how owns one. Too 1990s!

As mentioned before, I installed FreeDOS and got it up and running. However, it has been so long since I last used DOS that I do not know the necessary commands to do whatever is required to then run SETUP.EXE from the legal Windows 98 SE CD that I have.

[novel_compound]

Barry,

Sorry that nobody helped you. Try this:
• Go to http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm
• Download win98sc.zip by clicking the Win98SE link

Inside that zip file is a floppy disk image that VirtualBox can boot from. It should contain the CD-ROM driver that will then let you boot from your Win98SE CD.