format is preferred because it grows dynamically as you add files. 3. Recommended VM Configuration
Now, use QEMU to boot from your Windows 98 ISO, using the QCOW2 image as its hard drive.
qemu-img create -f qcow2 -b win98.qcow2 snapshot_state.qcow2 windows 98 qcow2
: The pcnet or ne2k_pci models usually work out of the box with the drivers included on the Windows 98 CD.
In a fresh QEMU/Windows 98 install, the mouse pointer often jumps or feels laggy. This is because QEMU emulates a standard PS/2 mouse by default. For a modern experience, you should emulate a , a pointing device that uses absolute coordinates instead of relative ones. Once the drivers are installed, the mouse will move seamlessly without needing to be captured. format is preferred because it grows dynamically as
Running Windows 98 in 2026 is a trip down memory lane that is both possible and practical thanks to QEMU. While the default emulation works, utilizing the disk format elevates the experience from a fragile experiment to a robust, archival-quality virtual machine.
This will create a 2 GB QCOW2 image, which should be sufficient for a basic Windows 98 installation. qemu-img create -f qcow2 -b win98
Execute a command similar to the one below. You will need to adjust the paths to point to your win98.qcow2 file and your QuickInstall ISO file.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about setting up Windows 98 using QEMU's native QCOW2 disk format, including step-by-step installation, performance tuning, essential drivers, and advanced features like snapshots.
QCOW2 (QEMU Copy On Write) is a virtual disk image format used by the QEMU emulator. It's a popular format for storing virtual machine (VM) images, offering a range of benefits, including:
Even with a careful setup, you might run into a few classic Windows 98 quirks in QEMU: