Windows 98 Qcow2 May 2026
Overview: Windows 98 in a qcow2 disk image
This write-up explains how and why you might run Windows 98 using a qcow2 virtual disk (QEMU’s Copy-On-Write image format), covers compatibility considerations, steps to create and convert images, recommended QEMU settings, drivers and peripherals, common troubleshooting, and preservation/legality notes.
qemu-img create -f qcow2 win98.qcow2 8G
- QEMU documentation: The official QEMU documentation provides a comprehensive guide to creating and managing QCOW2 images.
- Windows 98 documentation: Microsoft provides a range of resources for Windows 98, including installation guides and troubleshooting documentation.
- Retro computing communities: Join online communities, such as Reddit's r/RetroGaming and r/Windows98, to connect with other retro computing enthusiasts and learn more about running Windows 98 on modern hardware.
Cons:
qemu-system-i386 -accel kvm -cpu pentium3 -m 256 \
-drive file=win98.qcow2,format=qcow2 \
-nic user,model=ne2k_pci \
-vga cirrus
chimed—a majestic, synthesized wave of nostalgia—the pixelated "Start" button appeared. Inside this Linux-hosted container, Windows 98 SE was breathing again. Elias opened the command prompt, the familiar
- Snapshots – Windows 98 is notoriously unstable. A snapshot before installing sketchy drivers or software allows instant rollbacks.
- Sparse storage – A clean Windows 98 install fits in ~200–500 MB, but qcow2 only consumes space as written, ideal for archiving multiple OS variations.
- Performance tuning – qcow2 can use cache options like
writeback or unsafe to speed up the sluggish I/O of Windows 98’s VFAT or FAT32 filesystems.
Shared folder (via network)
- Set up SMB share on host
- Use
net use e: \\host\share in Win98
