Will Windows 3 Run In A Dos Box

Here nosotros tin can see, "How to Install Windows three.1 in DOSBox, Fix Drivers, and Play sixteen-bit Games"

Install DOSBox and Windows 3.1 to play aboriginal 16-scrap Windows games on 64-bit Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and wherever else DOSBox is supported. This is particularly useful because 16-bit apps can only exist run on 32-bit versions of Windows.

DOSBox is a DOS emulator designed to run DOS and DOS applications, while Windows 3.1 was but a DOS application. DOSBox and Windows 3.1 are an first-class match for running outdated Windows 3.ane apps.

Install Windows 3.i

You'll need to make a binder on your figurer showtime. The contents of the "C:" drive you'll requite DOSBox volition exist in this folder. On Windows, don't use your actual C: drive for this. Brand a folder called "C:dos" or something like.
Create a binder inside the "C:dos" folder, such as "C:dosINSTALL," then re-create all of the files from your Windows iii.1 floppy discs to it. Microsoft all the same owns the rights on Windows 3.1. Therefore information technology can't exist legally downloaded from the internet, though many websites do, and Microsoft no longer sells it.
Depending on what you have on mitt, y'all tin can utilise either Windows 3.1 or Windows for Workgroups three.11.

After that, install and run DOSBox. To mount the folder you lot created every bit your C: drive in DOSBox, execute the following command at the DOS prompt and press Enter:

mount c c:\dos

(Type that location instead of c:\dos if you called the binder anything else or put information technology somewhere else.)

By typing the following ii characters and clicking Enter, y'all can alter to the C: drive:

c:

Next, navigate to the post-obit location to find your Windows 3.1 installation files:

cd install

(If the folder was given a different name, type that instead of install.)

Finally, start the Windows 3.1 installation wizard:

setup.exe

To install Windows 3.1 in DOSBox, follow the Windows 3.1 setup process. When it'southward finished, click "Reboot" in the magician to exit the DOS system.

When DOSBox is restarted, perform the post-obit commands to first Windows 3.one:

mount c c:\dos  c:  cd windows  win

Install Video Drivers

DOSBox supports VGA graphics. Information technology does, yet, support a diversity of other visuals. It's gear up upwardly to simulate S3 Graphics by default. Install the S3 graphics drivers and ready Windows 3.1 to utilize a higher resolution and more than colors for the greatest graphical back up.

The S3 video driver is available for download from the Classic Games website.

Unzip the.zip file into a binder on your DOSBox C: disc. It would make sense to store these files in the "C:\dos\s3" folder, for example.
Double-click the Master application binder and so the "Windows Setup" icon in Windows iii.i.
In the Windows Setup box, pick "Change System Settings" from the "Options" menu.
Select "Other display (Requires disc from OEM)" from the "Display" box, scroll down to the bottom, and so click it.
The path to the S3 drivers should be typed in. If y'all unzipped them to the C:\dos\s3 binder, for example, write "C:\S3" here.
Choose your chosen color scheme and resolution. Nosotros propose going with a resolution of 800×600 pixels and 256 colors. Many games will back up this greatest resolution and number of colors.
Several times, click OK. Windows will install the drivers and prompt you to restart your computer. Later on that, you'll notice that your updated graphical settings accept taken effect.

If Windows doesn't work properly subsequently you cull a brandish mode, execute the following command after entering the Windows directory using the "cd windows" command:

setup.exe

Later on that, you'll exist able to choose a different video style.

Install Audio Drivers

At that place'southward still i more driver consequence to resolve. Windows 3.ane lacks sound drivers that are compatible with the SoundBlaster sound hardware that DOSBox emulates. You'll want to put those in as well.

The Audio Blaster 16 Creative Audio Commuter is available for download from the Archetype Games website, just as the S3 visual driver. Unzip the downloaded archive to a location such equally c:dossb.
If Windows 3.1 is open in DOSBox, close it by clicking "File" and selecting "Exit Windows." If yous unzipped the folder to c: utilize the following instructions to activate the Sound Blaster 16 driver installer. dos\sb

cd c:\sb  install.exe

To install the drivers, hit Enter, and so select Total Installation and press Enter again. You'll notice the line "Microsoft Windows 3.i path : None" by default.
With the arrow keys, select "Microsoft Windows 3.1 path" and click Enter.
Enter C:\WINDOWS every bit the default path and click Enter. To continue, press Enter ane more.
Select the "Interrupt setting: 5" value on the next screen and hit Enter. It'due south prepare to 5 by default, simply it'due south set to vii past DOSBox.
Press Enter after selecting "seven" for the Interrupt Setting. You tin can then keep by pressing Enter. Allow the installation procedure to complete before closing and reopening DOSBox to "reboot" your DOS motorcar.
Restart Windows iii.one, and you'll take the complete sound capability, including MIDI audio support. As before long as you restart Windows 3.1, yous should hear a sound.

Install and Run Games and Other Applications

To employ an application, commencement, download it (or copy it from old discs) and save it to a folder in your c:dos folder. Yous might desire to put it nether c:dosgamename, for case.
Then, past going to File> New and browsing to the game'due south.exe File, y'all may make a shortcut to it. To start the game, double-click the shortcut.
The game should launch in the DOSBox window every bit if it were running on Windows 3.1, which it is.

You won't have to repeat the entire setup process in the hereafter, either. Take that c\:dos folder — or whatever proper noun yous gave it — and make a backup of information technology. After installing DOSBox, you can motility information technology to another computer and apply it. Considering nosotros oasis't adjusted DOSBox at all and are but using its default settings, you won't demand to do anything to get it to operate.

Conclusion

I hope yous found this information helpful. Please fill out the course below if you lot have any queries or comments.

User Questions:

Is it possible to run Windows three.ane in DOSBox?

DOSBox is a DOS emulator designed to run DOS and DOS applications, while Windows 3.i was simply a DOS awarding. DOSBox and Windows 3.1 are an fantabulous match for running outdated Windows 3.i apps.

How exercise I get Windows 3.i to start in DOS?

MS/PC-DOS is the operating organisation that Windows 3.one operates on. As a result, when a Windows 3.1 computer is turned on, information technology can either launch Windows or start in DOS. If it starts in DOS, the user needs to type "WIN" at the command prompt to launch Windows. This is the default desktop in Windows 3.1.

When did Windows 3.ane first come up out?

Windows 1 and 2 also had point releases, but Windows 3.1, published in 1992, is important since it was the first Windows version to include TrueType fonts, making Windows a feasible publishing platform. Minesweeper was also introduced.