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I had mentioned previously that I had decided on an experiment of sorts.  My primary PC at home is a desktop running Windows 7 RC.  After acquiring Windows 3.11–in its original disk packaging–from Evan, I decided I would spend some time getting it installed.  I immediately thought of how entertaining it would be for me to have an incredibly old version of Windows running on top of the latest and greatest version.

Well, my nerdiness knows no limits.  I decided that if I can get Windows 3.11 on here, why not install MS-DOS 6.22?  Why not install Windows 98 Second Edition?  Below is proof of the fruits of my labor–using Virtual PC RC for Windows 7.

MS-DOS 6.22

The install of MS-DOS was not too difficult.  This was originally done with Sun’s VirtualBox virtual machine product.  I have since moved it to Virtual PC.  Works, well, just like DOS.

Windows 3.11

Ahhh, yes, Windows 3.11.  How I remember the days.  I am currently working on a couple of items related to this installation. (Thanks to this blog post.)

• Upgrading to Windows for Workgroups 3.11 in order to get networking to work correctly.
• Installing the TCP protocol stack.
• Installing IE 5.01 (Yes, there was a version of IE 5 for Windows 3.x).

Nonetheless, I have it working with both sound and decent graphics.  Running it reminds me that life was once very simple way back when.

UPDATE: I now have IE5 working on WfW 3.11, but not much can be done on account that most modern pages vastly outstrip the capabilities of this browser.  I might need to play with it a bit, but it can access the Internet just fine.

Windows 98 Second Edition

Finally, Windows 98 Second Edition (SE)!  What an improvement this was seen as when compared to Windows 95–my second Windows operating system!  I have it working with full sound and graphics, and it is, shockingly, updated.  Not bad for a product that was end-of-life in 2006. 

There you have it.  A nice trip down memory lane, all on one PC.