installing Windows 95 through ISO file

[mrwitticism]

Hey there, I'm a newb to VirtualBox, and so you'll have to pardon me if this question is dumb, ignorant, already asked (though I couldn't find it after looking at the 10 most recent pages of this forum), etc. In fact, when I registered for this forum so I could ask this question, I began to think that using VB is a bit beyond my abilities. I didn't even understand how to find out what VBox Version I'm using (OSE Debian? Fedora? Mandriva?? Self-compiled??? I haven't a clue what any of those are, and put "OSE other" finally. Isn't it enough that I know I'm using version 4.0.4 r70112?)

Anyhow, here's the problem: I'm trying to use VB to run Windows 95 on Windows 7 host computer using an ISO file I downloaded. I open up the VirtualBox Manager and hit run (or double-click "Windows 95," as I've named it, in the left window panel) and a dos window comes up with a list of operating systems to choose from. I move the cursor down to number 5, Windows 95 and... that's it. That's where I'm stuck. The WIndows 95 OS does not start running. If I hit Enter, some info about the device and driver comes up, followed by "unidade especificada n|=o e valida" -- something to the effect of unit specified not valid, I'm guessing -- and a prompt: A:\> So what exactly am I supposed to be doing at this point to bring Windows 95 up on my virtual machine? All I want to do is play an old computer game, and this is becoming a lot more complicated that merely using an emulator to run rom files...

I don't know if it was necessary in this version for me to do -- as a lot of the ins and outs of this technical stuff goes right over my head -- but I went under Settings>Storage and, used the Add CD/DVD for the ISO file, and Add Hard Disk for the VDI file so that those two files are now listed under IDE Controller Panel. However, this had no effect on making it work. What am I doing wrong?? Thanks in advance for any info you can provide.

(If any of the above doesn't make sense -- and no one would blame you if you thought that -- screenshots can be provided to clarify the matter)

[mpack]

I'm trying to use VB to run Windows 95 on Windows 7 host computer using an ISO file I downloaded

"using an ISO file I downloaded"? Well, unless you can reference the Microsoft site you downloaded from then I'm afraid we can't help you.

[mrwitticism]

This wasn't from a Microsoft site.

[stefan.becker]

No help possible.

[mrwitticism]

Pardon me for asking a(nother) dumb question, but why not?

[stefan.becker]

Because of the source of the image.

In a public forum only legal configurations can be discussed. Win95 is not Opensource and so a downloaded image cant be legal.

[mrwitticism]

Perhaps I didn't obtain it legally, however I once owned a computer with Windows 95 on it (for some reason I wasn't given a disk with that program to go with the computer), and I still have the documentation with the Product ID code on it. Could you then direct me to a site where I could legally obtain the iso file for Windows 95? Thanks.

[Perryg]

My understanding way back then was the product key is what you really purchased to be able to run the product. If you still have a valid key and can find the OS then it should be fine to use. However that may prove hard to do since it has long past been retired. I would be careful downloading anything from the web though. It would be a lot safer asking some of you friends if they still have the original install CD. You might even be able to ask Microsoft if you can still purchase the CD. They did have them available for a while but here again you may not succeed and even if you do the OS will not run properly in a virtualizer as it was based on DOS and is not supported.

[mrwitticism]

Thanks for the info, Perryg. I see in the VirtualBox User Manuel it says,

DOS / Windows 3.x / 95 / 98 / ME

Limited testing has been performed. Use beyond legacy installation mechanisms not recommended. No Guest Additions available.

Again, this is another place where the terminology goes over my head. According to searchdatacenter.com, "legacy installation mechanisms" means "legacy applications and data are those that have been inherited from languages, platforms, and techniques earlier than current technology." OK, I think I understand that, but I'm not sure exactly what that means in the above context.

If Windows 95 will have as much trouble working in VirtualBox as you say, another possibility for the game I'm trying to play would be to install a later OS, such as Windows 2000 or XP and hope my game will play on it.

[Perryg]

Windows 2000 does work fairly well and XP works great.

I think the will work and will work properly is where the break over happens. Pretty much if the OS does not have guest additions then in my mind it can't really be supported since the experience will not even be near what it was native and most likely will never be.

Perhaps this will help. http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Guest_OSes

[mrwitticism]

Thanks again for the info. Using the Windows XP iso, I somehow managed to make it work (after initially having the same problem -- it just giving me a OS list to chose from rather than just booting up the OS), miracle of miracles. Now I have a different problem: the guest machine doesn't recognize the game disc in the E drive (the host computer does, so I know the disc is being read). On the guest computer, it reads NOVO (E:) and has these folders listed as being on that drive:

HD
OEMLogo
PMagic8
Powertoys
Util
Win95
Win98
WinMe

It's very frustrating to win one major battle and then lose the next!

BTW, I can get rid of NOVO by "ejecting" the "disk" though it still won't recognize that there's actually a disk physically present in the E drive.

[Perryg]

Try with the cd passthrough turned on in the guest settings.

[mrwitticism]

Thanks for all your help, Perry.

[mrwitticism]

Now if someone can direct me to a thread I thought I read on why the game is playing in such a small window, and what to do about it...

[Perryg]

Since there are no guest additions for Win 95 you can't do a lot about it. It is what it is I am afraid.
You can read about how to make it bigger here. http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewforum.php?f=28