DOSBox-X Windows 9x Manager

A graphical launcher tool for running Windows 95/98 in DOSBox-X with advanced management features.

Overview

DOSBox-X Windows 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

• 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
• Performance Tuning: Optimize DOSBox-X settings for Windows 95 (in win95_launcher)
• User-friendly Interface: Simple GUI powered by Zenity

Requirements

• DOSBox-X (https://dosbox-x.com/)
• Zenity for GUI dialogs
• Bash shell
• Windows 95/98 installation media (ISO format)

Installation

1. Clone this repository:

   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/dosbox-x-windows-manager.git
   cd dosbox-x-windows-manager
   

2. Make the launcher scripts executable:

   chmod +x win98_launcher.sh win95_launcher.sh
   

3. Run the appropriate launcher:

   # For Windows 98:
   ./win98_launcher.sh
   
   # For Windows 95:
   ./win95_launcher.sh
   

Directory Structure

• win98_launcher.sh - Windows 98 launcher script
• win95_launcher.sh - Windows 95 launcher script
• 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

Usage Guide

First-time Setup

1. Run the launcher for your Windows version
2. Select "Boot from Windows 9x ISO" option
3. Choose your Windows installation ISO
4. Follow the Windows setup process

Creating Snapshots

1. Make changes to your Windows system
2. Exit to the launcher
3. Select "Create snapshot of current disk image"
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

Performance Tuning (Windows 95)

The Windows 95 launcher includes performance tuning options:

• Standard: Balanced settings for most users
• Fast: Better performance but less accuracy
• Accurate: Slower but more accurate emulation

Troubleshooting

• Windows fails to install: Ensure your disk image is large enough
• Installation errors: Try the "Format C: drive" option to create a fresh disk image
• Performance issues: Use the tuning options in the Windows 95 launcher

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