Sun Virtualbox: Cannot Install Windows 95 or 98

Question

I'm running XP and I've tried to install Windows 95 and 98 with the official CDs in Virtualbox. Both of them give the error:

FATAL: no bootable medium found! System Halted

I've mounted the CD drives within Virtualbox and also tried to change the boot order so that the CD drive is first but to no avail. I don't understand exactly what's going on here.

Solution 1

Windows 95 or 98 are not bootable cd's. Only from Windows 98 SE Bootable options were available. Try to get hold of Boot disk images for Windows 95/98 (note:- download file which has the .img extension). Use it to load in VirtualBox floppy.

Solution 2

Try them with Virtual PC. It often works better for Microsoft operating systems.

If the CD doesn't work with VPC, you can be sure it's corrupted.

Comments

[RyanScottLewis]

Doesn't seem to be working with either of the CDs. The 98 CD is a bit scratched but the 95 CD was in a case and is in almost perfect condition. It's almost as if the visualization programs arn't letting the virtual "OS" detect the CD drive

[harrymc]

The CD might not be bootable. Does its root directory contain any .exe or .inf files?

[RyanScottLewis]

They sure do. And they boot up when I restart my computer, just not in Virtualization.

[harrymc]

I would tend to say that this is impossible, but perhaps miracles never cease.

[Charles Burge]

Note that even if you get this working, Windows 95 and 98 are not well supported in Virtualbox. They will run, but very slowly. Since your host if Windows XP, you're much better off using Microsoft Virtual PC as your hypervisor.