Unable to start DOS 6.22 or Windows 98 when VT-x is enabled

[Iker]

It is not possible to start DOS 6.22 or Windows 98 virtual machines when VT-X is enabled. DOS operating system hangs in the startup message (starting ms-dos...) and Windows 98 hangs after some seconds with the splash screen.

[Iker]

MS-DOS 6.22 VM log file

[Sander van Leeuwen]

Try again with 2.1.2 please.

[Frank Mehnert]

Please reopen if this problem persists with 2.1.4.

[Ryan Novosielski]

I have this problem with Windows 98 on 2.2.2.

[Ryan Novosielski]

I'm sorry, I run 2.2.4 -- my mistake -- same problem there.

[Technologov]

This bug looks similar to bug #3317 and bug #5407

-Technologov

[frankk74]

Replying to frank: Same problem exists in 3.1.2:

Please update (I know it is old but it should be a simple fix) the win98 template in the following ways:

1) un-enable VT-x 2) un-enable PAE extension

Thanks Guys for a great product!!!!!!!!!!

[Iker]

I think the problem happens when 16-bit code has to be emulated. I don't know why, but any OS using 16 bit code has many failures in Virtualbox (MSDOS, WIN95,98,Me). Indeed, I've installed Windows NT 3.51 and works rock solid when using 32-bit apps, but when a 16-bit program is installed on it, it usually fails with memory errors (for example, using IE for NT 3.51, which is a 16-bit browser). However, those OS can run perfectly in Microsoft's Virtul PC (which uses hardware virtualization by default).

I hope somebody finds the error.

Cheers!

[Technologov]

Problem still exists in VirtualBox 3.2.0-BETA1.

[Technologov]

Windows 98 on VirtualBox 3.2.0-BETA1.

[Sander van Leeuwen]

#3317 marked as a duplicate.

[Technologov]

Two new duplicates found: #6597 and #6686

-Technologov

[Frank Mehnert]

Still relevant? Might be fixed with VBox 3.2.10.

[Frank Mehnert]

No response, closing.

[Technologov]

Unfortunately still relevant for v4.0.4, even with "Unrestricted VMX", it fails.

-Technologov

[Technologov]

Win98 + Unrestricted VMX stucks during OS install. VBox 4.0.4.

[Technologov]

Using basic VMX. VBox 4.0.4. Win98 setup.

[Technologov]

The two failures are not equal, however, as basic VMX actually proceeds *further*, while "Unrestricted VMX" VM stops very soon in the setup process.

[trlkly]

While I still have this problem with Windows 95, I was able to run both DOS 6.22 and Windows 98SE with VT-x and nested paging enabled. DOS worked out of the box. Windows 98SE did crash during the first time I tried to install it, so I booted the bootable CD, but chose to go to a command prompt, then ran D:\SETUP.EXE /ie /im /is and Windows 98SE installed without a hitch.

I don't know if Windows 98 just recovered after the crash, or if those options helped. My guess would be that /im, which disables the conventional (<1024K) memory check, is the one that fixed it. If so, that implies that VirtualBox has a problem dealing with conventional memory.

All of these were the U.S. English version.

I know for sure /is wasn't the problem, as that disables Scandisk, which worked perfectly well in my first install. And I can't see why /ie, which disables the prompt to create a boot floppy, would have had anything to do with it, as that doesn't affect the install until later.

[Frank Mehnert]

You might try to check if this works with VBox 4.1.22 or 4.2.0. Even if this does not work there is not much we can do because Windows 9x fails on modern CPUs due to timing problems.