Win3 on Qemu

The result is a basically working installation of Windows 3.11 for workgroups. Have not tested printing, network nor sound.

Host used:

• MacBook Air (M1) macOS Sonoma version 14.4.1
• QEMU emulator version 9.0.0 (homebrew)

  qemu-img create -f qcow2 win3.img 30M

  /opt/homebrew/bin/qemu-system-i386 -nodefaults -drive file=../Downloads/Dos6.22.img,format=raw,if=floppy,index=0 -drive file=../win3inst/Disk01.img,format=raw,if=floppy,index=1  -drive file=win3.img -boot a,menu=on -cpu pentium -m 128 -vga cirrus -rtc base=localtime -accel tcg -machine hpet=off -M acpi=off -serial none -parallel none -display cocoa -no-reboot -machine pc-i440fx-8.0 -monitor stdio

Install

1. Create boot disc C: as described above
2. Run qemu and boot from A:, that is the DOS-floppy
3. In DOS run fdisk. Use default settings to partition first disk with a primary DOS-partition covering all space.
4. reboot
5. In DOS: format c:/s, when asked for label something like DISKC
6. reboot
7. In DOS:
8. C:
9. copy a:\config.sys
10. copy a:\autoexec.bat
11. B:
12. install
13. when required change disk in monitor (see shell where qemu is started) change floppy1 -f ../win3inst/Disk02.img raw
14. when Windows install is finished, let it autostart by DOS command
15. change "boot a" to "boot c" in the qemu command to boot from harddrive rather than floppy
16. add autostart of Windows like:
17. c:
18. echo win >> autoexec.bat
19. reboot

Notes

• Did select quick install
• Did not select to install printer nor network
• About 15-20MB disk is in used after install
• The qemu window may appear behind other window.

References

• Boot floppy: https://www.allbootdisks.com/disk_images/Dos6.22.img from https://www.allbootdisks.com/download/dos.html
• Windows for Workgroups 3.11 swedish: https://winworldpc.com/download/c38f5a6e-c3a3-c290-c2a5-11c3a6e28094 from https://winworldpc.com/product/windows-3/wfw-311
• Cirrus drivers: https://www.vogonsdrivers.com/index.php?catid=47
• With correct driver you should be able to change resolution like:
  Double-click on the MAIN group icon to open the group window.
  Double-click on WINDOWS SETUP.
  Click on OPTIONS to reveal the menu.
  Click on CHANGE SYSTEMS SETTINGS.
  Use the DISPLAY list box to change the screen resolution.
  Make sure to have a backup of the disk image first, as it can be a challange to change resolution back.
• For network check out Realtek 8139 Driver Package at https://www.vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=834&menustate=34,0
• https://raduzaharia.medium.com/system-emulation-using-qemu-windows-3-11-network-setup-f63cd69a385e
• More about installing DOS to hard drive https://superuser.com/questions/1079823/how-to-install-msdos-from-floppy-to-harddrive
• https://computernewb.com/wiki/QEMU/Guests/Windows_3.1