VirtualBox - Running old operating systems in Virtual Machine

Sometimes you wonder "How did Windows 95 really looked like" or "I'd like to use thet Windows 2000 one more time". Installing it on your PC probably won't work - mostly because of hardware. Most modern hardware can't be used with old operating systems. With a little help of software you can emulate old PC and use your favourite old OS.

VirtualBox

Software called VirtualBox is a special emulating software using Java, to create a virtual instance of PC "inside" your PC. To use it you need to have the latest version of Java installed in your system (for that moment it's Version 8 Update 201). Then you can install your VirualBox (latest build is 5.2, but you can check also older versions if this does not work for you).

VirtualBox Main Menu Window

Setting Up Virtual Machine

First of all you need to create your virtual machine. Parameters depend of OS you choose to use. I'll show it on Windows 2000 example. Checking the system requirements for Windows 2000 it needs at least 64 MB RAM and at least 2 GB Hard Drive. To make it safer (and more pleasurous) to use i'm going to set it to 256 MB RAM and 5GB HDD.

1. Click that blue "New" button in Main Menu.
2. Name your Virtual Machine (my example - Windows 2000), and set it to OS you're going to use.

3. Set the RAM amount.

4. Check the "Create a virtual hard disk now" option and follow the Creator (VDI type of disk, fixed size and set it to 5 GB).

After the process your Virtual Machine is ready to run. Next step is to install OS in your VM.

Installing Operating System

To install OS on your VM you need OS Disc or ISO file of system you choose. From one of my previous entry you learned where to get Windows ISO files - you can download it from there. Sadly the older versions of Windows systems are only in Polish, so when you want to use Windows 95, 98 or 2000 you need to look somewhere else... But Windows XP and Vista can be downloaded from there in English.

When you have your OS Disc or ISO file you are ready to start installing. After selecting your VM all you have to do is to click green arrow in menu (Start).

After starting VM may ask about the Optical Drive - which one to use. Set it to physical drive you have and click "Start".

Next step is to insert OS Disc into your drive, system will automatically use it to boot. If you have ISO file you need to mount it in virtual drive. To do it click Device > Optical Drives > Choose Disk Image, then select your ISO file and restart the machine. VM should recognise your ISO file and use it to boot (start installation).

Installation of OS is just the same as you would do it on normal PC - follow the on screen instructions and after a while you have your OS installed. Setting up OS on VM is way faster than on normal PC.

If you suffer from inappropiate screen viewing you may want to use the "Guest Additions CD", which improvest usage of you PC components inside Virtual Machine (i.e. proper display driver). To use it select "Devices" from Main menu and click "Guest Additions CD image". System will automaticaly mount Virtual CD and run the setup. Follow the onstructions and reboot VM - everything should be fine now.

For me began the messing with Win2K - playing Solitaire, drawing in Paint (also setting my abstract drawing as wallpaper) and many more. Feel free to comment what is your favourite old OS!