This command creates a new QCOW2 image called windows98.qcow2 with a size of 2 GB.
Because Windows 98 was not built for virtualization, specific "tweaks" are required to prevent the OS from feeling sluggish or crashing.
In the age of modern, powerful PCs, there's a unique charm and necessity for running vintage operating systems like Microsoft Windows 98. Whether you're a retro-gaming enthusiast looking to play classic titles, a developer testing legacy software, or a nostalgia-seeker wanting to relive the late 90s, virtualization is the perfect solution. The open-source emulator QEMU (Quick EMUlator) stands as one of the best tools for this job. However, the key to a successful, flexible, and efficient Windows 98 virtual machine lies in choosing the right disk image format: . windows 98 qcow2
We need to emulate a mid-90s PC: Pentium (no SSE), 256MB RAM (Windows 98 crashes with >512MB), and an Intel 440BX chipset.
Run the following command to boot from your ISO. We use the sb16 (Sound Blaster 16) and cirrus logic cards, as Windows 98 has built-in drivers for these: qemu-system-i386 -m 256 -hda win98.qcow2 -cdrom windows98se.iso -boot d -soundhw sb16 -vga cirrus This command creates a new QCOW2 image called windows98
Windows 98 will run if you skip this step.
Windows 98 is sensitive to hardware. For the best compatibility, use these specifications: /dev/nonsense (Modern high-speed CPUs can cause "Timing Device" errors). 256MB to 512MB Whether you're a retro-gaming enthusiast looking to play
qemu-system-i386 -hda windows98.qcow2 -cdrom /dev/cdrom -m 256