Removing IPC$ on a <Gag> <Gag> Win 98 VM

Background:

I need to run a 16-bit version of Windows (Win 95/98/SE/ME) in order to convert several 8-bit mono 33.1Kbps Wav files. A Micronas CODEC came with a D-Link DMP-100 Voice Recorder. There is no codec avail in XP or since. I've tried everything.

Plan:

I have installed Virtual Box (VB) on my Win7 AMD and got Win98SE running. VB is supposed to communicate with the host via Shared Folders or via a Network.

Issues:

Shared Folders require VirtualBoxAdditions, but supposedly the Guest OS (Win98) doesn't support them, although I seemed to have created one (but can't find its location on the Guest.

I have set up a bridged network and am attempting to connect to the Host (64-bit Win7 AMD system). I have created similar user accounts on both the host and the guest, and have removed all passwords temporarily.

Here is where I am stuck:

1) When I try to connect to the Win7 box, I am getting a user \\win7\ipc$ and it is asking for a password. I understand that this a 'hidden' user on the client.

How do I get rid of this 'user?' I have tried some MS sources, but come up with no workable results. THIS IS WHERE I AM MAKING THE MOST PROGRESS, but the most is not enough.

2) My USB on the Guest is listed, but it is not 'passing through' via the HOST. It sees it in the Device List. It does NOT assign a Drive Letter.

3) The Internet Connection is asking for a 'modem,' yes, dialups --- remember those? The Internet Connection also is not using the host as it is supposed to or I just haven't figured it out yet.

I am open to other alternatives. Last resort might just be to lug out a dual boot on some old machine, but I am sure there will be other issues.

Just so you know, I am posting this on other appropriate forums and will report back if I find a solution.

FF

(Man, have we come a long, long way since those days, but looking forward how to protect all of our current data 20 years from now --- but that is another subject.)

 

I don't know much about virtual box, but I have built many old Windows VM's on vmware and everything worked. I even have an install of 3.1 with working network.

Maybe give vmware player a try. It's free.

 

Thanks for the comeback.

How does your 3.1 access the Internet or does it?

How does VMWare pass data through to the host: Shared USB, Shared Folder(s), Network Share, Other?

FF

 

No internet access only local access although I am sure I could get it to work if I wanted to. I installed it just to take a nostalgic look back.

All 3 ways work for sharing. I use shared folders. You set the folders you want to share in the VM options and then when you turn the VM on the shared folder will be on your desktop.

I just thought of something. I know in order for USB, network and shared folders to work you have to install VMware tools in the VM. Does VirtualBox have anything like that? Maybe that is all you have to do is install the extensions.

 

I found this.

http://www.technical-assistance.co.uk/kb/usbmsd98.php

It's a USB driver for Windows 98. Maybe if you install it you'll get your USB devices working.

 

I solved what I needed by running a Vista 32-bit OS in my dual boot system. There, my wave files play in WMP and I am able to convert to MP3s with Switch Sound Converter by NCH. Back in Win7, I have no problem with the resultant MP3s. That Vista partition was an upgrade from an XP that was an upgrade from, you guessed it, Win 9x. Either the Codec made the transitions or in the past I tried to do something and didn't realize that it worked. So much for clean installs!

My laborious adventure in VBox was just that --- such a laborious trial and error task with Internet searches that I shied away from ever trying your recommended VMWare. I eventually did get Internet connectivity with an older browser skin for IE, CrazyBrowser, but I still had no way to share (unless I maybe would have tried my USB Floppy) or tried to FTP to my website or de Cloud.

VBox has what they call Virtual Box Additions (similar to VMWare tools), which I installed, but the screened said that my VM OS, Win98SE, is not supported. Thus I never got the shared folders or network to work properly. I got as far as creating the same user accounts on both machines, and was seeing Win7 from my VM, but could never establish a shared folder. Bummer. Along the way I picked up an unwanted and PUP toolbar.

Maybe you should have a separate thread/forum on Virtual Machines. I will be coming back to VM to solve another multimedia issue in the very near future. Some simple and efficient legacy software doesn't die on its own --- it's the newer OSes and hardware that kills them. And it has been my experience that the VMs actual run much faster than they would have in their native environment.

Thanks for trying to help.

FF

 

I used to have some pre-built VM's available for download and had written a tutorial about it. I do have every version of Windows from 3.1 to Windows 2000 built and working. They are legal to distribute and I have released them at VMwares site. Like I said I had a couple here and when I changed forum software they got removed. Maybe one day I'll add them back.

 

Do you have a link to the pre-built VMs or should I just do a search? How about DOS VMs. I have 6.22 in VirtualBox, but my app, DataEase, doesn't fully function there so it is useless.

Aside: Can you briefly explain the difference between an emulator and a VM? Just an overview or links, for now.

I have some old drives that I would like to virtualize as is (w/ OS and programs, etc). Correct me if I am wrong, but they would be too big to create ISOs. Can I convert directly to a VDI or something comparable?

Thanks for giving me something to ponder.

FF

 

You can convert to a VM. VMware has an option to do it. I virtualized my Windows Vista install before I wiped it for an upgrade to 7 and did the same with Windows 7.

A VM is an actual virtual computer with virtual hardware. An emulator is run on a computer to create a software environment for certain roms to run.

Here is VMwares appliance center with pre-built VM.

https://solutionexchange.vmware.com/store/category_groups/19

I also found one for Virtual Box

http://virtualboximages.com/

 

Thanks