Installing Windows 3.X in DOSBox-X

(instructions tested against dosbox-x-windows-20180901-124401-windows.zip)

Remarks

Mouse

For the mouse to work after Windows installation, either of the following scenarios has to be met:

Scenario 1

Mouse integration driver is not installed
Mouse is captured with Ctrl+F10
DOSBox-X has been reset at least once with F11+R

Scenario 2

Mouse integration driver is installed and defined in dosbox-x.conf
DOSBox-X has been reset at least once with F11+R

Video

This guide assumes you are using the default DOSBox-X machine svga_s3 for which DOSBox-X sets video memory to 512Kb by default. To use higher resolutions and color depths, adjust vmemsize in [dosbox] accordingly to your needs (see dosbox-x.reference.conf).

Installation

Windows 3.1

download and extract DOSBox-X
next to DOSBox-X.exe, create a VirtualHD directory
inside VirtualHD create a WINSETUP directory
extract Windows 3.1 floppies into it (7-Zip can extract IMG files)
next to DOSBox-x.exe create a dosbox-x.conf with the following content:

[cpu]
cycles=25000
integration device=true

[sblaster]
irq=5

[autoexec]
@ECHO OFF
PATH=%PATH%;C:\WINDOWS
MOUNT C .\VirtualHD
C:

start DOSBox-X
launch Windows installation C:\WINSETUP\SETUP.EXE
install Windows using Express Setup (Recommended) option
follow the installation instructions
when asked, reboot, start Windows by typing WIN

Mouse integration driver

launch Windows Setup program
open menu item Options\Change System Settings
in Mouse, pick Other mouse (Requires disk from OEM)...
type location to where you've extracted the driver and press OK
- DOSBox-X Mouse Pointer Integration is selected by default
press OK
press OK again
press Restart Windows

S3 video driver

launch Windows Setup program
open menu item Options\Change System Settings
in Display, pick Other display (Requires disk from OEM)...
type location to where you've extracted the driver and press OK
- S3 Trio64V 1.70.04 640x480 256 is selected by default
press OK
press OK again
when asked for the driver location again, type C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM
press OK
press Restart Windows

Sound Blaster 16 sound driver

installation must be done from command-prompt, exit Windows if not already
cd to where you've extract the driver and run INSTALL.EXE
choose Full Installation (Recommended)
follow installation instructions
when asked to overwrite some files, choose Backup
restart DOSBox-X
start Windows
the installer finishes with setting up the group of audio software for Windows

Links

Here are some extra references to further tweak your installation:

Windows 3.1x DOSBox Guide

Windows 3x Downloads

VOGONS Vintage Driver Library

Tip : backup your working installation before attempting to install other drivers.

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