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Can I install Windows 98 on my Mac?
- Thread starter liamh1
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Are you positive that it only runs under Windows 98? Windows XP and up have the option to enable compatibility mode for older applications, set on a per-application basis. If this doesn't work, there's a chance that it may work in CrossOver Games; check the compatibility database.
Parallels Desktop advertises the functionality to run Intel-compatible OSes going back to Windows 3.1 and MS-DOS 6.2. The ability to run Windows 98 is an advertised feature.
You cannot install it natively (ie: via Bootcamp) but running it in a virtual machine shouldn't be a problem. I've installed nearly everything as far back as DOS 6.22/Win 3.11 in VMWare (not sure about Parallels or VirtualBox) so I doubt Windows 9x will be an issue. You also have DOSBox as an option, although IIRC, Windows 9x support is a bit touch-and-go at this point.
Yes. VMware Fusion supports Win98. I'm not familiar with Parallels, but I imagine that Parallels would also support installs of Win98.
You can download a full featured demo of VMware fusions from their site. I'd try DLing it and installing 98 on that, if it works well enough for you, buy it! It's worth the ~$30. Plus with a 98 game I can't imagine it will use much resources so it should be fine in a VM. Virtualbox is a good free option too, but no sound.
VMWare Tools for Windows 98 doesn't allow the guest OS to drop down to 256 colours whereas Parallels does, so for older games Parallels ought to be more compatible.
Are you kidding? Windows "compatibility mode" is a joke. I too have several games that only run on Win98 and there's no way possible to make them run on anything but Win98. In fact, I've *never* seen a Win98-only program that DID work on Win2k or XP compatibility mode. Total garbage.
So yes, you have to have genuine Windows 1998, but it should work fine in Vmware. Only downside is that any games that depend on a 3DFX voodoo card for 3D acceleration (Quake, Quake2, etc.), that wont work in Vmware.
I have a Pentium Pro desktop w/ 128 MB that I keep around specifically for running Win98. I've got two Voodoo2 cards (in SLI mode) in there. Works great for those "vintage" games that won't run on anything else.
Both VMware and Parallels run Windows 98.
If your game that requires Windows 98 also needs DirectX 7 orso, you still have a problem.
Only Windows XP as guest OS supports DirectX (9) shaders.
I have something similar when playing one of my all time favourites: Need for Speed 4 (High Stakes).
This game runs best in Windows 98, but both the Virtualisation software I use can't use 3D grfx acceleration whilst running Win 98 as the guest OS.
So, after some fooling around and Googling a lot, I got it running on VMware on Windows XP as guest OS. No compatibility mode, but running natively.
If your game that requires Windows 98 also needs DirectX 7 orso, you still have a problem.
Only Windows XP as guest OS supports DirectX (9) shaders.
I have something similar when playing one of my all time favourites: Need for Speed 4 (High Stakes).
This game runs best in Windows 98, but both the Virtualisation software I use can't use 3D grfx acceleration whilst running Win 98 as the guest OS.
So, after some fooling around and Googling a lot, I got it running on VMware on Windows XP as guest OS. No compatibility mode, but running natively.