guestmount -a recovery_drive.qcow2 -m /dev/sda1 /mnt/vm

Now it's time to install Windows 98:

To create a Windows 98 qcow2 image, you'll need a few things:

This is recommended because pre-made images can be buggy or contain unwanted configurations. You can use to build one yourself. Create the Disk : Open your terminal or command prompt and run: qemu-img create -f qcow2 windows98.qcow2 2G Launch the Installer

qemu-img convert -f raw -O qcow2 windows98.img windows98.qcow2

Modern CPUs are too fast , and hardware emulation must be tuned carefully (CPU speed limiting, correct chipset, sound, and graphics).

This article is a deep dive into obtaining, creating, optimizing, and troubleshooting windows 98 qcow2 images. Whether you are looking to replay StarCraft , run a legacy CNC machine, or simply experience the "Active Desktop" again, this guide is for you.

Running Windows 98 requires specific parameters because modern CPUs are "too fast" for its original timing loops. 1. Create the Disk Image

Now came the surgery. I wasn't going to use that fresh image as my primary drive; I was going to use it as the "donor" for the operating system.

For , also consider PCem or 86Box – they offer more accurate cycle-by-cycle emulation. But for lightweight, scriptable, and snapshot-friendly usage, Windows 98 on qcow2 + QEMU is unbeatable.

This creates a new QCOW2 file that uses win98.qcow2 as its "backing file." The new file will only store differences, making it an incredibly efficient way to create multiple save states.