Win98

[KevinMcCready]

I installed virtualbox for Linux xenial.

When I open it, it has options for Win98 but it's labelled "inaccessible". Then it says
Runtime error opening '/home/k/VirtualBox VMs/Windows98/Windows98.vbox' for reading: -102(File not found.).

So I'm curious, why does this happen on a brand new install? How can I get a copy of Win98. I assumed it came with Win98 if it comes up when I start the program.

[towo2099]

VBox does not ship any OS!

[michaln]

I assumed it came with Win98 if it comes up when I start the program.

It doesn't come with any OS and it doesn't come with any VMs. If you have a VM after installing VirtualBox, the host system already had VirtualBox installed on it in the past.

[KevinMcCready]

OK Thanks. I threw out my old disks of Win98. Can I download it? When I went to microsoft they don't make it available (or I couldn't find it).

[BillG]

Did you really expect the download to include all of the operating systems available in that list? Can you imagine how long that would take to download (quite apart from the licensing problems)?

[KevinMcCready]

Thanks Bill
Clearly you know more about it than I do. So I was hoping you could help. Why does the virtual box come with Win98 options popping up as if they were an option? How do I get a copy then of Win98 to put into it?

[BillG]

The VirtualBox program provides a software emulation of a physical machine. The options provide you with a "recipe" so that the virtual machine suits a particular OS - for instance it emulates the network and video cards which were common at the time and that have the drivers included in the OS installation media, so that it will run "out of the box".

Win98 is no longer available from Microsoft, nor are W2k or XP. Your best bet is probably ebay, but you need to be careful that you get a genuine retail version.