Windows 98 Resurrection Plan (4): Install Windows 98 System on DOSBox Pure | T Kebang

After knowing how to use DOSBox Pure to execute DOS games, the next step is to install the Windows 98 operating system to facilitate the execution of corresponding games.

Install Windows 98

DOSBox Pure can directly simulate the DOS environment. As for the Windows part, the player needs to install the operating system by himself. It is recommended that the player prepare the Windows 98 installation CD by himself, and use the burning software to read it as an ISO format image file for backup.

During the process, DOSBox Pure will be generated under the “RetroArch/system” folder.img image file (depending on the image file name of the installation CD), and ask about the capacity of the image file, it is recommended to choose 1GB.

After the installation is complete and the emulated system is started, DOSBox Pure willThe .img image file is mounted as the C slot, and the loadedMount the .dosz compressed file or the game disc image file as the D slot or E slot CD drive, and write the changes to the D slot to the “RetroArch/save” folder.save file, please refer to the diagram below for details.

The author explains the Windows installation steps through diagrams below.

▲ When DOSBox Pure executes Windows, if only the system image file is loaded but no game is loaded, the changes to the C slot will be written.img, while D slot changes are written< System >.save。

▲ If the game compressed file is loaded,The content of the .dosz body will be mounted on the D slot, and the change will be written< Game >.save。

▲ If you load a game disc image file,The content of the .iso body will be mounted on the E slot, and the transaction will be written to the D slot< Game >.save. It is recommended that players install the game in slot D so as not to occupy space in slot C.

Menu->Pause the game when not in window operation” in the main menu of RetroArch to off. In addition to allowing the emulator to install in the background, according to the author’s own experience, the installation process can also be avoided Crash.” width=”720″ height=”611″ src=”https://cdn2.techbang.com/system/images/663491/original/dbbddf127bdbf989526eefb42be30333.jpg?1674010122″ class=”lazy”/> ▲ Before starting the installation, it is recommended to set “Settings->Menu->Pause the game when not in window operation” in the main menu of RetroArch to off. In addition to allowing the emulator to install in the background, according to the author’s own experience, the installation process can also be avoided Crash.

▲ The first step to install the Windows operating system is to find the installation CD image file (the example is Windows 98 SE.iso) through the file browser in the “Load File” of the main menu of RetroArch, and choose to execute through the DOS (DOSBox-Pure) kernel.

▲ After loading the file, the DOSBox Pure startup menu will appear, select here[Boot and Install New Operating System]。

▲ DOSBox Pure prompts to generate a Windows 98 SE.img image file, and asks for the capacity of the image file. It is recommended to choose 1GB, and you can choose a larger capacity if necessary.

▲ Then it will enter the Windows installation program. Players need to press the “Scroll Lock” on the keyboard to enter the Game Focus mode, and select “Boot from CD-ROM” through the keyboard to boot from the CD.

▲ Select “Start Windows 98 Setup from CD-ROM” to install.

▲ After entering the Windows installer, press “Enter” to start the installation.

▲ Then press “Enter” to start the system check.

▲ After checking, press “Right” to select “Exit”, and press “Enter” to enter the next step.

▲ Then you can operate with the mouse, click “Continue” and follow the on-screen instructions.

▲ Install the operating system in the C:/WINDOWS directory.

▲ Generally, you can choose a typical installation.

▲ Choose to install the most commonly used components.

▲ Enter the name of the computer you want in the visual information.

▲ Basically the process is to keep pressing next and waiting.

▲ If you feel that the installation is too slow, you can press the “Scroll Lock” on the keyboard to leave the Game Focus mode, and press the fast forward (the default is a blank key) to speed up the installation process.

▲ If you encounter a crash during the installation process, you can try to load the disc image file again in the RetroArch main menu, and then select[Run Installed Operating System], and select the image file just created, there is a chance that the installation can be continued successfully. If you can’t continue, delete the image file and start from scratch.

▲ After the installation is complete, you will enter the nostalgic Windows 98 start screen.

Set up MIDI and “return card”

Since many early games use MIDI sound sources, we can enhance the music performance by applying different SoundFonts. For example, place the Roland SC-55 SoundFont file with the extension sf2 in the “RetroArch/system” folder. Then load the file Windows 98 installation CD image file by RetroArch, and select[Run Installed Operating System]Enter the system, set according to the graphic process below, and you can enjoy the effects of different synthesizers.

On the other hand, the author also recommends turning on “Discard OS Disk Modifications”. This function is a bit like the “restore card” in computer classrooms or Internet cafes in the past. It can automatically “restore” the system to the current state every time it is turned on, which can avoid Incorrect operation or crash will cause system damage.

However, it should be noted that no matter if you want to install a new program or install a game to the D slot in the future, you need to turn off this function first, and then turn it on after the installation is complete.

Core Options -> Audio Options -> MIDI Output” to select the SoundFont to use.” width=”720″ height=”504″ src=”https://cdn2.techbang.com/system/images/663508/original/4cc0a3d8b027dc4ea7801cb2dd1483ce.jpg?1674012269″ class=”lazy”/> ▲ If you want to use a new player and want to replace the MIDI synthesizer, you need to put the SoundFont file in the “RetroArch/system” folder first, and call the shortcut menu during DOSBox Pure execution (the default hotkey is F1 on the keyboard), go to the “Quick Menu” -> Core Options -> Audio Options -> MIDI Output” to select the SoundFont to use.

Add New Hardware” to install the MIDI synthesizer.” width=”640″ height=”480″ src=”https://cdn2.techbang.com/system/images/663509/original/485b3018e5acf4deee54681704ab045c.png?1674012271″ class=”lazy”/> ▲ Then shut down the simulated Windows system, choose to load the Windows installation CD or the image file of the corresponding driver CD and restart, and then go to “Control Panel -> Add New Hardware” to install the MIDI synthesizer.

▲ Basically, let the system automatically search for the driver, and keep clicking Next to complete the hardware installation.

Multimedia -> MIDI”, select the newly added MIDI synthesizer in the single instrument device, in the example it is Roland MPU-401, and you can enjoy the effects of different synthesizers.” width=”640″ height=”480″ src=”https://cdn0.techbang.com/system/images/663511/original/7920f10ae94d9caae855a24439e7f098.png?1674012274″ class=”lazy”/> ▲ Then go to “Console -> Multimedia -> MIDI”, select the newly added MIDI synthesizer in the single instrument device, in the example it is Roland MPU-401, and you can enjoy the effects of different synthesizers.

▲In the second half of the experimental video, the author first shows the effect of the Roland SC-55 SoundFont, and then shows the effect of the built-in components. It can be heard that the music performance is obviously different.

Core Options -> System Options -> Discard OS Disk Modifications” to ON, so that changes to the C slot will not be writtenThe .img image file can avoid system damage.” width=”720″ height=”504″ src=”https://cdn1.techbang.com/system/images/663512/original/f2cb32654cfa2dc21123d1c28e47fb60.jpg?1674012276″ class=”lazy”/> ▲ After the system is installed and set up, it is recommended to set “Shortcut Menu -> Core Options -> System Options -> Discard OS Disk Modifications” to ON, so that changes to the C slot will not be writtenThe .img image file can avoid system damage.

▲ After enabling this function, all the changes in the C slot will be deleted after DOSBox Pure is turned off, which is equivalent to turning on the system again, and the system will automatically restore to the previous state.

With everything in place, the only thing left to us is a hands-on Windows game in our next article.

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