Installing Windows 3.1 in VirtualBox

Okay, as you can see, I have a bad habit of posting the installation process AFTER I upload a video of the already installed OS running. Anyway, you'll see that installing Windows 3.1 (or MS-DOS 6.22 more specifically) is a pain in the you-know-where for the average user, if you use the same ISO image I did.

I've installed MS-DOS 6.22 off of an ISO image I found somewhere and used the floppies to install Windows. This was done in VirtualBox 3.0 on a Windows XP Home SP3 host.

The CD image I used was crappy, but I made it work. If you are able to find floppy images or a better ISO, the DOS installation should be easier. However, I haven't tested this.

MS-DOS 7.10 can be downloaded here: http://www.box.net/shared/fr3743fg0v

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Win
• Windows
• 3.1
• 3.11
• VirtualBox
• Sun
• xVM
• XP
• host
• MS-DOS
• DOS
• 6.22

[misdrevenous]

My windows 3.1 in vitual box is running slow. I wonder why.

[MadDawg010]

@misdrevenous Perhaps you're using an older DOS version? I honestly don't know what would cause this issue.

[gtwynet]

Has anyone tried this with the ISOs from TechNet?

[MadDawg010]

@etrax2000 Hmmm... YouTube's comment system needs improvement... Anyway, to answer your questions, no I don't think a program exists that will fix the hierarchy, and if you format the drive, ALL data on it will be destroyed (well, it's technically still there, but that's getting quite technical), so you'll be able to start from scratch if you need to.

[etrax2000]

@MadDawg010 Is it safe to delete some comand files and start from scratch.this is a very small hard drive and I do not wish to do too much overw ritting of files which themselves are not that important but if I do a format will I still have the files that came with the lapop such as TOSHIBA information or does everything disolve into hyperspace. Technicaly these are more than one question, but soufuly,only one !I

[etrax2000]

@MadDawg010 Is there a small program that can automaticaly correct, diagnose Windows hyarchy files and establish them in the proper directries.directing all programs and files to "GET BACK IN LINE" i have several dos versions in conflict, when I use winver I see 3,11 when I use MSD I see 7.

[etrax2000]

@MadDawg010 LAST QUESTION (i swear) as I see this iste is for those who know what they are doing and wish to do more while I am still discovering exactly how ittle i do know but enjoying the solutions to rectify it(both the problems andmy ignorance). I just used the dos command DIR/s and discovered that I had over 8000 files on my hard drive instead of the 489 files that simply using DIR gave me. I am sure that the required proper files exist on the drive but in a state of confusion.

[MadDawg010]

@etrax2000 As far as I know, you'll end up deleting everything on the drive if you try to partition the drive using old partitioning tools. I recommend slaving the hard drive to another computer and using GParted or EaseUS Partition Master to resize the existing partition. After that, you can create another partition, install Windows, and deal with the files on the old partition. This is assuming you want to keep the data that's on the drive.

[etrax2000]

@MadDawg010 Will I be able to use win 3.11 and then later restore the older files on another partion with a partition creator?I see programslisted that can create a partition. would my original factory files be deleted or is there a way to restore to factory settings with the ability to install windows as an operating system or will I just get a blank hardrive with no way to install anything?

[etrax2000]

@MadDawg010 THANKS VERY MUCH !. I have ni idea of what I am doing, but I intend to do it anyway (LOL), I will beat this moster back into submission. I am seeing into the Windows system in ways that i never knew they wanted anyne to lnow about.. My file directory is corrupted with several different versions of Windows competing against each other.One last question, Can you tell me is there a way to create a partition on a small hard drive without damaging the fmain file system?