Windows 95 / 98 Runnig extremely slow

[crosswinds]

VT-x is basically hardware accelerated virtualization. Most high end CPUs now support it, but it is disabled by default in most BIOSes, for reasons I don't know. You need to check online that your CPU supports VT-x (or AMD-v if it's an AMD processor), and if yes you go into the BIOS to enable it (look for "virtualization technology: enable" or similar), and also enable it in the VM settings in VirtualBox. Don't mistake VT-x for VT-d. The latter is a way to make real hardware visible to VMs, but it isn't widely supported. E.g. VBox only has experimental support on Linux hosts, and even there I don't think much hardware is compliant.

Again, thank you for your help.

That actually sounds very interesting. This computer does not seem to support it. Altough, iam going to order a new computer soon, and i might check for the hardware to support this if it makes a real difference? It may sound crazy but i really want to run these old systems, just because of nostalgic reasons. Should i look into motherboards support for this or CPU?

Your original post referred to the VMs permanently taking 50% of CPU (i.e. 100% of one core). ACPI fixes that, and so does Rain.

Is APM enabled and functioning in the guest? There should be no need to futz around with Rain or ACPI, but it's possible that some Windows 9x versions don't work correctly with the APM implementation in VirtualBox 4.1.x and older. If that's the case, forcing it to APM 1.0 may help.

No APM is not activated, and i cannot find that setting? Please tell me about it! Does it do the same thing as ACPI or is it something else?

[michaln]

That actually sounds very interesting. This computer does not seem to support it. Altough, iam going to order a new computer soon, and i might check for the hardware to support this if it makes a real difference? It may sound crazy but i really want to run these old systems, just because of nostalgic reasons. Should i look into motherboards support for this or CPU?

AMD-V and VT-x is a processor feature, not related to motherboards (other than it has to be properly supported/enabled by the BIOS).

Hardware virtualization makes a noticeable difference, especially on recent Intel CPUs with nested paging and unrestricted execution (I believe all recent Core i3/i5/i7 CPUs should support those).

No APM is not activated, and i cannot find that setting? Please tell me about it!

In the Device Manager, there should be an "Advanced Power Management support" device under System devices. If not, APM support isn't installed.

Does it do the same thing as ACPI or is it something else?

Yes and no. ACPI does more, but APM should be quite sufficient for Windows 9x (and it was supported since Windows 95, unlike ACPI).

[mpack]

Yes and no. ACPI does more, but APM should be quite sufficient for Windows 9x (and it was supported since Windows 95, unlike ACPI).

The point about ACPI support in Win98 is that it provides a processor idle. Are you saying that the default installation of Win98 would provide the same? - because that has not been the general experience, and it would mean that the "HOWTO" is wrong.

ACPI also of course provides support for the ACPI shutdown, convenient (and safer) in case you ever accidentally close the VM window.

[michaln]

The point about ACPI support in Win98 is that it provides a processor idle.

So does APM. When it works.

Are you saying that the default installation of Win98 would provide the same? - because that has not been the general experience, and it would mean that the "HOWTO" is wrong.

Yes and no. What I'm saying is that the actual APM implementation in VirtualBox may not have worked properly specifically with Windows 98. Does your Win98 VM have an APM device in the device manager (under system devices)?

ACPI also of course provides support for the ACPI shutdown, convenient (and safer) in case you ever accidentally close the VM window.

APM provides automatic shutdown too (VM closes itself if you shut down the guest OS), although it's not quite as integrated as ACPI shutdown.

[ghr]

Under Linux (Ubuntu 10.04) as well as Windows (64 bit), using VirtualBox 4.1.16: fine performance with Win98SE; use the /p j setup options, and modern goodies like VTx and Nested Paging; I did not use any of the Motherboard Extended Features. My CPUs are recent Intel i3 ones and I use SDD for display. Quickly looked into the tutorial but did not see a conflict (yet) between the above and the tutorial..... except perhaps that VBox settings might be more explicitly mentioned ? I dont see a big difference between these VMs and e.g. Win98SE running on physical hardware (e.g. a 500 MHz Pentium III). Some old-fashioned networking for connectivity and there I go The VT/X support of modern CPUs really makes a difference + the person who pointed to the /p j option..... OK, that's what forums (fora ?) are for !

[musenwoody]

Elder OS may be unsupported?

[herakles]

Hi everybody !

I have created, deleted, copied .vdi files between computers but still my Win 98 virtual runs smoothly ! The secret : upgraded 2 to 4 gb ram on an old dell laptop vostro 1015 !
I noticed that running VM's on mint 16 64 bit host , either windows or linux vm ( often at the same time !) is possible !
So if you want to upgrade win 98 vm performance ( running Riven-Myst Sequel and even Galactic Civilizations 2 is tremendous !!!)
By the way, I am trying to setup win95 but got a little issue ( see as per foto..)
Can you help me? lol!

Regards from Rodrigues Island

p.s : I downloaded from a german torrent win 95 ....

[mpack]

@herakles: My imperfect German is telling me: it's complaining that it's an upgrade edition, and can only be installed over a qualifying product.

You've admitted downloading a Win95 torrent, which puts you on a rather dubious legal footing. Happily as an upgrade edition you can't install it unless you have a good existing license, so I guess the copyright issue is academic.