Windows 9x Manager

A Python-based GUI tool for running Windows 95/98 in DOSBox-X with advanced management features.

Overview

Windows 9x Manager provides a user-friendly GUI for running Windows 95 and 98 in DOSBox-X. It handles disk image creation, ISO mounting, snapshots, and performance tuning to make retro Windows usage seamless and accessible.

Features

• Modern Python Interface: Easy to use Tkinter GUI
• Dual OS Support: Handles both Windows 95 and Windows 98
• Easy Installation: Boot directly from installation ISO files
• HDD Image Management: Create and format hard disk images with customizable sizes
• Snapshot System: Save and restore system states with named snapshots
• CD-ROM Support: Mount ISO files to install software or games
• User-friendly Interface: Simple, cross-platform GUI

Requirements

• Python 3.6 or higher
• DOSBox-X (https://dosbox-x.com/)
• Tkinter (usually included with Python)

Installation

1. Clone this repository:

   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/win9xman.git
   cd win9xman
   

2. Make sure you have Python 3.6+ installed:

   python --version
   

3. Install DOSBox-X for your platform if not already installed:

   • Windows: Download from DOSBox-X website
   • Linux: Use your package manager or follow instructions on DOSBox-X website
   • macOS: Use Homebrew: brew install dosbox-x

4. Run the Windows 9x Manager:

   python win9xman.py
   

   On Linux/macOS you can make it executable first:

   chmod +x win9xman.py
   ./win9xman.py
   

Directory Structure

• win9xman.py - Main Python launcher script
• config/ - Configuration files directory
  • dosbox.conf - DOSBox-X configuration file
• win98_drive/ - Directory for Windows 98 files (optional)
• win95_drive/ - Directory for Windows 95 files (optional)
• iso/ - Directory for ISO files
• disks/ - Directory for disk images
• snapshots/ - Directory for Windows 98 snapshots
• snapshots_win95/ - Directory for Windows 95 snapshots
• assets/ - Icons and graphics for the application

Usage Guide

First-time Setup

1. Run win9xman.py
2. Select your Windows version (95 or 98)
3. Click "Install Windows from ISO"
4. Choose your Windows installation ISO
5. Follow the Windows setup process

Creating Snapshots

1. Make changes to your Windows system
2. Exit to the launcher
3. Select "Create Snapshot"
4. Enter a name for your snapshot

Restoring Snapshots

1. Select "Restore Snapshot" from the launcher
2. Choose the snapshot you wish to restore
3. Confirm the restoration

Troubleshooting

• DOSBox-X not found: Ensure DOSBox-X is installed and in your PATH
• Windows fails to install: Ensure your disk image is large enough
• Installation errors: Try the "Format Hard Disk" option to create a fresh disk image
• UI errors: Make sure you have Tkinter installed (python -m tkinter should show a test window)

Development

To contribute to Windows 9x Manager:

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch
3. Add your changes
4. Submit a pull request

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Credits

• DOSBox-X team for the amazing emulator
• Contributors to this project

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Created with ❤️ for DOS/Windows nostalgia enthusiasts