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MS-DOS 6.22 and Windows 3.1x documentation covers information on how to install the operating system in a virtual machine. For additional information about the operating system, refer to the instructions included in the installation media.

MS-DOS 6.22 and Windows 3.1x documentation includes the following topics:

Installation Instructions for Microsoft MS-DOS 6.22

The OAKCDROM.sys CD-ROM driver is provided with the Windows 95 boot floppy disk. You can also use other drivers that are available to you, for example AOATAPI.SYS, or else you can download drivers from the web. These drivers are typically loaded at system startup by making a series of entries in the C:\CONFIG.SYS and C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT machine files.

You can install MS-DOS 6.22 in a virtual machine using the Microsoft full-version MS-DOS 6.22 installation disks. If you have the upgrade disks, you must install an earlier version of MS-DOS 6.22 before you upgrade.

Note The HIMEM.SYS file is included with MS-DOS and enables upper memory for MSCDEX.EXE.

The following articles provide information for configuring networking in a DOS 6.22 environment:

Prerequisites

Before you begin, verify that the following tasks are complete:

Installation Steps

  1. Insert the MS-DOS disk into the disk drive.
  2. Power on the virtual machine and begin installing MS-DOS.
  3. After the installation is complete, reboot the guest.
    The command prompt appears.
  4. Verify that the following files are installed in the root directory of the boot device:
    MSCDEX.EXE, AUTOEXEC.BAT, and CONFIG.SYS file in C:\
  5. Copy the OAKCDROM.SYS CD-ROM driver file to a disk.
  6. Insert the disk with the driver file in the disk drive and connect it to the guest from the VM > Settings menu.
  7. From the command prompt, copy the contents from drive A to drive C.
    A:\OAKCDROM.SYS C:DOS\
  8. Open the MS-DOS AUTOEXEC.BAT file and add the following line:
    LH C:\DOS\MSCDEX.EXE /D:mscd001 /l:D
  9. Save the file and exit.
  10. Open the CONFIG.SYS file and add the following lines:
    DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
    DEVICEHIGH=C:\DOS\oakcdrom.sys /D:mscd001
    LASTDRIVE=Z
  11. Save the file and exit.
  12. Restart the MS-DOS 6.22 virtual machine.
    As the installation configures the AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files, the CD-ROM drive appears in the guest.

Installation Instructions for Windows 3.1x

VMware Workstation and VMware ACE virtual machines support the networking features found in Windows 3.1x (or Windows for Workgroups). After installation, select the Advanced Micro Devices PCNET Family (NDIS2/NDIS3) Ethernet driver for the networking option.

The following articles provide information for configuring networking in a Win 3.1x environment:

Installation Steps

  1. Insert the Windows 3.1x Standard Installation Disks into the disk drive and connect it to the guest from the VM > Settings menu.
  2. Run the SETUP program.
  3. Follow the prompts to complete the installation.
  4. When the installation completes, restart the guest.

Post Installation Considerations for MS-DOS 6.22 and Windows 3.1x

Run Windows 3.1x in full screen mode to avoid intermittent and erratic mouse behavior.
After you install MS-DOS 6.22, VMware recommends that you install a CPU idle program called DOSIDLE.exe in the virtual machine. It is recommended because most versions of MS-DOS 6.22 do not idle the CPU when they are idle. As a result, when you run MS-DOS 6.22 in a virtual machine, the virtual machine takes up CPU time on the host even when MS-DOS 6.22 is idle. VMware products rely on the guest operating system to use the Halt instruction or advanced power management to unschedule the virtual machine when it is idle.

Load DOSIDLE.exe Utility

After you install the DOSIDLE.exe utility, load the utility so that it always runs after the virtual machine is restarted.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, verify that the following tasks are complete:

  • Install the DOSIDLE.exe utility.
  • Power off the virtual machine.

Installation Steps

  1. Copy the DOSIDLE files from the archive to a disk.
  2. Power on your virtual machine.
  3. Connect the disk to the virtual machine.
  4. Type Copy A:\DOSIDLE.exe to C:\.
  5. Load the DOSIDLE.exe file.
    1. Type C:\AUTOEXEC.bat to open the .bat file.
    2. Add C:\DOSIDLE.exe to the .bat file.
    3. Save your changes and exit.
  6. Restart your virtual machine.

VMware Tools in a MS-DOS 6.22 and Windows 3.1x Guest

No VMware Tools package exists for MS-DOS 6.22 or Windows 3.1x guest operating systems. As a result, Windows 3.1x is limited to VGA mode graphics, and you must always use the Ctrl+Alt key combination to release the mouse from a MS-DOS 6.22 or Windows 3.1x virtual machine.

Knowledge Base Articles for MS-DOS 6.22 and Windows 3.1x

The following link refers to knowledge base articles on operating system specific issues. See VMware Knowledge Base for a list of known issues about the operating system.

VMware Compatibility Guide

The VMware Compatibility Guide Web site lists supported guest and host operating systems and provides related support information.


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