Mac OS 9 Lives

Classic Mac OS Software => Virtual Machine & Emulation => Topic started by: teroyk on May 04, 2022, 03:10:36 AM

Title: Virtual PC some info
Post by: teroyk on May 04, 2022, 03:10:36 AM
Some info about Virtual PC for Mac OS 9

I wrote down some information about Virtual PC that I have learned some years ago. Most of information is tested by me, but not all with my Macs or disks..so I don't have all files for recheck, so I hope I remember right (I start to write this, when I noticed that I have forget so much and hard remember anymore). It's funny that I have never liked old real PCs…they are noisy big ugly boxes with buggy software, and have to always upgrade. Virtual PC was easy tool show that buggy software side in not so noisy and not so big ugly boxes.

I wrote text for people who knows something about old PC:s and Macs…you might understand this better after you have used Virtual PC sometime.

Common for all Mac versions that works with Mac OS 9:
- If you use real floppy and want it keep "PC clean", then only use it without write protect when Virtual PC is on top (front).
- Virtual PC or Finder can hang if you have auto CD play in Mac or virtual machine when you put CD-ROM with Audio-tracks when Virtual PC running.
- Don't mix HD-images with different version of Virtual PC, except if you upgrade, downgrading is between hard work or impossible.
- Write text file what version HD-image is…after years you might need that info.
- Practical PC OS minimum is MS-DOS 5.00, but tested to work with 3.31 (mouse- and cd-driver works!)
- Practical GUI minimum Windows 3.1, but tested to work with 1.04 (mouse works and cd-driver works, CD looks like HD, because it's just any DOS-drive for Win1)
- Practical OS maximum depends what kind of PC Virtual PC version emulates, but you can try install newer OS that officially supported, but without additions.
- If OS is not officially supported, you can still transfer files floppy and CD-ROM and with second hard disk images that are formatted with FAT16 or FAT32. So feel free to test any OS and come here to tell what happens.
- I have installed BeOS 5 Pro successfully although Connectix said that you cannot, sadly I don't remember anymore what Virtual PC version it was and what problems there was, before I did it.
- If you don't have 3dfx Voodoo-card in your Mac then just use that DirectX version what is pre-installed,  You can install newer DirectX, but normally that doesn't give more compatibility without Voodoo, this is normal even real PC with S3 Trio32-graphics.
- Installing DirectX 8 and 9, breaks game compatibility almost always (even with Voodoo1 in real PC), if you want try DirectX 8 and 9 games, try them with 3D-Analyze…and come here to tell good settings.
- Emulated graphics card is S3 Trio32/64 (check with S3ID.EXE in DOS exact version)
- Emulated mouse is like PS/2-mouse in PS/2-mouseport.
- If you use older DOS OS than DOS 7.0 then I recommend format HD-image first with FORMAT C: /S with that OS version what you going to use (boot from floppy).
- You might need OS CD-ROM that comes with Virtual PC version where HD-image is from (it is second CD-ROM in package) if you install something or upgrade Virtual PC. If you have lost it check exact version of Windows is it Win95 a/b/c or Win 98 (FE)/SE and find it somewhere.
- 256 colors has fasted video update, but only when use it in both virtual machine and Mac.
- You can try thousand colors, sometimes it is only 10% slower, but sometimes it slows badly.
- Use million colors only when really need (graphics apps)
- Read VPC Manuals and readme:s, they have good info, but some errors too.
- Remember that virtualizing different CPU+GPU normally needs 10x-20x more powerful machine, so be happy with that speed that you get..Connectix really did some magic-code or/and PowerPC-processor is really fast.
- And I still missing Connectix Virtual PC with Red Hat Linux CD-ROM..and files from ftp://care.connectix.com/users/linuxadditions that was behind password and only for people who had bought VPC with Linux.

EDIT: fixed two typos..I am not english native..so there might be more typos.
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: Jubadub on May 10, 2022, 05:47:49 AM
Cool thread, this is helpful.

Now we need to figure out how to boot OS X 10.4 in it (Intel version), to have access to cool things such as OS X's unzipper for OS 9 use. Keka for 7-zip is cool too, but good old Windows can also take care of that.

So many files out there use the OS X zip format, even when the files are meant for OS 9. It's stupid. Let's fix this.

I'm trying to use the Hackintosh Disc "JaS Mac OS X 10.4.8 (http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/osx-tiger-jas-1048)" (note: currently Macintosh Garden isn't working with HTTPS, but you can use this link with Classilla and such).

Virtual PC 6 (6.0 ~ 6.1.2) complains about "bad sectors" or something, at least when the image file is mounted, as opposed to using a physical DVD. (I had to mount it separately from VPC's CD mounting command, since it could not detect the ISO, I guess because of file size. I mounted it on the Finder, and if nothing else is mounted, and you allow "CD" booting on VPC, then it finds it automatically when you start the virtual machine.)

I will try to burn the ".iso" to a single-layer DVD-R and see if that helps, but first I need to buy a few blank DVDs to be able to do that.
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: teroyk on May 10, 2022, 12:42:57 PM
Now we need to figure out how to boot OS X 10.4 in it (Intel version), to have access to cool things such as OS X's unzipper for OS 9 use. Keka for 7-zip is cool too
...
Virtual PC 6 (6.0 ~ 6.1.2) complains about "bad sectors" or something, at least when the image file is mounted, as opposed to using a physical DVD. (I had to mount it separately will try to burn the ".iso" to a single-layer DVD-R and see if that helps, but first I need to buy a few blank DVDs to be able to do that.

Good idea.
Virtual PC 6 for Mac OS 9 cannot boot at all from DVD although OSX version does...but maybe it is better test on VPC 6 OSX first and if it's works then try to use HD-image with VPC 6 MacOS9.
There is OSX 10.4 CD-version, but I think it's only for PPC:s.


Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: Jubadub on May 10, 2022, 01:00:02 PM
Virtual PC 6 for Mac OS 9 cannot boot at all from DVD although OSX version does...but maybe it is better test on VPC 6 OSX first and if it's works then try to use HD-image with VPC 6 MacOS9.

Sounds like a good plan. Let's see how far we can get this to work.

At worst, there's always installing QEMU 2.7.0 on Windows XP on Virtual PC. :P That's the last resort, though.
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: Jubadub on May 10, 2022, 02:47:38 PM
On OS X Tiger, VPC 6 also errors out with the mounted media:

"Error parsing plist fileLoading Darwin/x86"

I think I saw that error under OS 9 VPC 6, too.


Looks like to do this, it will require more involvement than just that.

Edit: Nevermind, just noticed my JaS image was truncated to 2GB somehow (I suspect an AFP transfer did this), and was thus corrupted. I'm honestly surprised I was able to use it at all.

So this means we did not even get started with the fun yet. :)
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: Jubadub on May 11, 2022, 02:18:31 PM
I finally tried booting JaS, this time with the full 4.4GB image, under OS 9 and OS X, and now the outcome was consistent on both machines and OSes. Now VPC says there was some error and that the machine needs to be restarted.

I also noticed that the JaS image, once mounted, has 2 partitions. Macintosh Garden member MikeTomTom briefly explains what they are in this thread (http://macintoshgarden.org/apps/osx-tiger-jas-1048). (We are discussing this JaS + VPC plan there, too.)

In one of the partitions, "osx86dvd", there's a file, "BOOTHELP.TXT", and it reveals to us a few more command-line parameters we can use during boot. The full file says:

Quote
    The boot: prompt waits for you to type advanced startup options.
    If you don't type anything, the computer continues starting up normally. It
    uses the kernel and configuration files on the startup device, which it also
    uses as the root device. Advanced startup options use the following syntax:
    [device] [arguments]
    Example arguments include
    device: rd= (e.g. rd=disk0s2)
    rd=* (e.g. rd=*/PCI0@0/CHN0@0/@0:1)
    kernel: kernel name (e.g. "mach_kernel" - must be in "/" )
    flags: -v (verbose) -s (single user mode),
    -x (safe mode) -F (ignore boot configuration file)
    "Graphics Mode"="WIDTHxHEIGHTxDEPTH" (e.g. "1024x768x32")
    For VESA 3.0 graphics, you may append a refresh rate
    after an "@" character (e.g. "1280x1024x32@75")
    kernel flags (e.g. debug=0x144)
    io=0xffffffff (defined in IOKit/IOKitDebug.h)

    Example: mach_kernel rd=disk0s1 -v "Graphics Mode"="4096x4096x32@85"

    If the computer won't start up properly, you may be able to start it up using
    safe mode. Type -x to start up in safe mode, which ignores all cached
    driver files.

    Special booter commands:
    ?memory Displays information about the computer's memory.
    ?video Displays VESA video modes supported by the computer's BIOS.

    Additional useful command-line options:
    config= Use an alternate Boot.plist file.
    platform=ACPI|X86PC Use either ACPI or non-ACPI platform support.

    Options useful in the com.apple.Boot.plist file:
    "Boot Graphics"=Yes|No Use graphics mode or text mode when starting.
    "Quiet Boot"=Yes|No Use quiet boot mode (no messages or prompt).
    Timeout=8 Number of seconds to pause at the boot: prompt.

Using the -F argument (ignores boot configuration file), we get to see this:

(http://images.macintosh.garden/2022/05/11/tigerUnder9.jpg)

It won't get past that, and in fact it barely got started booting, BUT, there's some element of divine justice about this sight. :)

If I understood things right, it seems to be crashing during System:Library:Extensions.mkext (from disc partition "JaS 10.4.8 AMD Intel SSE2 SSE3", which is essentially the Tiger partition) being read. By following the BOOTHELP.TXT file and changing "Boot Graphics" from "Yes" to "No" in the com.apple.Boot.plist file (full path being Library:Preferences:SystemConfiguration:com.apple.Boot.plist), we get to see where exactly it seems to be crashing at, or right before the actual crashing point (assuming it is not being shown, and would be shown next):

(http://images.macintosh.garden/2022/05/11/TigerOn9-2.jpg)

Based on that, I tried adding "platform=ACPI" or "platform=X86PC" to my command-line arguments, but I got the same outcome regardless.

Then I thought of deleting whatever it takes to let things at least boot, but being unfamiliar with OS X files, I wasn't quite sure what to remove. I tried removing a lot of files from the disc, but my efforts did not change the outcome.

I was also checking the plist files and seeing if there was some node/attribute I could try changing, but I didn't find anything that caught my eye. Then again, there are tons of plist files to check...

So that's where I stand now. I wonder if VPC is doing everything with the first partition, "JaS 10.4.8 AMD Intel SSE2 SSE3", and is not making use of the ever-important boot files from the other partition, "osx86dvd"? Edit: Nevermind, if I unmount "osx86dvd" from desktop, then it doesn't even begin to boot.

Anyone, especially someone with more OS X knowledge than me (basically anyone), willing to give this a shot, too?
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: DrNo7 on May 11, 2022, 09:36:36 PM
Quote
from disc partition "JaS 10.4.8 AMD Intel SSE2 SSE3",

If I rmember properly, VPC emulates a Pentium2 or equivalent. Unfortunately, as the disk image name reminds us, Tiger x86 does require SSE2 & SSE3 vector units on the CPU (similar to PPC AltiVec).

So if the CPU emulated does not have the capability, it will never boot. If you are lucky, some hackintosh dev wrote a kext or a patch to enable SSE2 only CPUs but I don't think there will be a chance to find also the same to "translate" SSE2 calls into lesser instructions.

The attempt was interesting (running Snow Leopard or newer could have been fun) but would require some darker magic than currently available...
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: Jubadub on May 12, 2022, 01:05:01 AM
Quote
from disc partition "JaS 10.4.8 AMD Intel SSE2 SSE3",

If I rmember properly, VPC emulates a Pentium2 or equivalent. Unfortunately, as the disk image name reminds us, Tiger x86 does require SSE2 & SSE3 vector units on the CPU (similar to PPC AltiVec).

So if the CPU emulated does not have the capability, it will never boot. If you are lucky, some hackintosh dev wrote a kext or a patch to enable SSE2 only CPUs but I don't think there will be a chance to find also the same to "translate" SSE2 calls into lesser instructions.

The attempt was interesting (running Snow Leopard or newer could have been fun) but would require some darker magic than currently available...

I thought the exact same thing. Yet, over at that Garden page I linked to, user MikeTomTom said that it isn't a problem since, despite what the ISO file name suggests, he was able to boot JaS in the past on a Pentium 4, which, from what could be inferred from the conversation, lacks both SSE3 and even SSE2.

About what Virtual PC emulates, I can confirm that, at least as it is, VPC 6.x lacks SSE2 support, as the latest version of Firefox for Windows XP (52.9.0esr 32-bit) will inform us. The (hidden) "Scripts" menu item from VPC seems to suggest at least MMX is supported (which can be disabled from there), and no idea about SSE (SSE1), but I'm under the impression there's no SSE either due to there being an option to switch on/off MMX, but not SSE.

Actually, after writing all this, I just took a look and saw that this page (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MMX_(instruction_set)#Successors) says Pentium 3 introduced SSE, and Pentium 4 SSE2. Meaning MikeTomTom would have booted by having SSE2 support, after all... And it also supports your claim that VPC 6 emulates a Pentium 2.

It does seem like further dark magic and wizardry might be indeed required...
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: teroyk on May 16, 2022, 11:34:11 AM
Actually, after writing all this, I just took a look and saw that this page (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MMX_(instruction_set)#Successors) says Pentium 3 introduced SSE, and Pentium 4 SSE2. Meaning MikeTomTom would have booted by having SSE2 support, after all... And it also supports your claim that VPC 6 emulates a Pentium 2.

VPC 6.0.2 emulates Intel CPU Family 6 Model 8 Stepping 4...and now comes good question what CPU is it exactly?
I think it is Intel Pentium III Coppermine without SSE, but I am not 100% sure. Has somebody stepping information to that Intel Family and Model?
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: DrNo7 on May 16, 2022, 09:46:45 PM
It is difficult to cross reference exactly by stepping (but it is usually internal bugfixing) but I ended up with P3 coppermine:
http://www.paradicesoftware.com/specs/cpuid/index.htm

According to Wikipedia, it has SSE:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentium_III

However, OS X requires SSE2 and SSE3 (I think there is a kext/patch to run SSE2 only but don't know how maintained it is).
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: teroyk on May 17, 2022, 03:25:11 AM
It is difficult to cross reference exactly by stepping (but it is usually internal bugfixing) but I ended up with P3 coppermine:
http://www.paradicesoftware.com/specs/cpuid/index.htm
According to Wikipedia, it has SSE:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentium_III

And sometimes stepping processor down means that something is disabled (like with some Intel Celerons)
But I was lucky (or unlucky) to test real PC with Pentium III with SSE, today.
And CPU-Z 1.26 -utility says it is Intel CPU Family is 6, model 8 and stepping 6. (And VPC6 have stepping 4)

And now I have confirmed also with CPU-Z with VPC 6.0.2 does not give information that it has SSE-instructions.
So I think it is confirmed now that VPC 6.0.2. emulated CPU is Pentium III without SSE.
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: Jubadub on May 18, 2022, 06:43:00 AM
Actually, I discovered that you can right-click a virtual machine on the Virtual Machines List within VPC 6, and select "Get Info". It will explicitly say "Pentium II with MMX". If you disable MMX, I think it just said "Pentium II" instead.

Tested on VPC 6.0.2, 6.1.2, 4.0.2, 7.0.3.

By the way, I wrote more about this on the Garden both in that thread as well as in the VPC pages (I put a picture in there), but I was actually able to "boot OS X under OS 9". Indirectly, but it still technically is OS X under OS 9, with the following:

OS 9 VPC 6 > Win XP Prof. SP3 32-bit > PearPC 0.5.0 (Panther 10.3.0)

It "works", but is horrendous to use. Not recommended. Still, something useful can still come out of it. Also tried QEMU 2.7.0.0 with both Intel and PPC OS X, but that didn't work somehow (not sure if my config was bad), so I turned to PearPC instead.

I then went and tried to also boot Win 7 and other systems after XP, but it didn't work. But some may be able to be made to work. If curious, I suggest checking out the VPC 6 page at the Garden.

Windows Server 2003 R2/SP2 and pre-reset latest build of Longhorn (later Vista) do boot and work in VPC 6, though, from what I could tell.
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: teroyk on May 20, 2022, 08:13:48 AM
It "works", but is horrendous to use. Not recommended. Still, something useful can still come out of it. Also tried QEMU 2.7.0.0 with both Intel and PPC OS X, but that didn't work somehow (not sure if my config was bad), so I turned to PearPC instead.

How about testing directly with Bohcs for Mac OS 9:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/bochs/files/bochs/2.1.1/
It seems that it started support SSE and SSE2 from version 2.0:
https://bochs.sourceforge.io/release2_0.html
Please start new thread about Bochs, if you test it, because it is very different kind of PC emulator than VPC.

I then went and tried to also boot Win 7 and other systems after XP, but it didn't work. But some may be able to be made to work. If curious, I suggest checking out the VPC 6 page at the Garden.
Windows Server 2003 R2/SP2 and pre-reset latest build of Longhorn (later Vista) do boot and work in VPC 6, though, from what I could tell.

Windows 7 beta doesn't need SSE, but final release needs.
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: Jubadub on May 20, 2022, 12:32:08 PM
How about testing directly with Bohcs for Mac OS 9:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/bochs/files/bochs/2.1.1/
It seems that it started support SSE and SSE2 from version 2.0:
https://bochs.sourceforge.io/release2_0.html
Please start new thread about Bochs, if you test it, because it is very different kind of PC emulator than VPC.

Oh, Bochs was available for OS 9?! How great is that! Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

Windows 7 beta doesn't need SSE, but final release needs.

Actually, Windows 7 doesn't need SSE at all (except for May 2018 updates and later), but what it needs is ACPI-compliant hardware. Same for Vista.
Windows 8 onwards requires SSE/SSE2. And Windows Server 2008 R2 (not Windows Server 2008, including SP2) onwards only exist in 64-bit.
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: Jubadub on May 21, 2022, 04:35:45 AM
Please start new thread about Bochs, if you test it, because it is very different kind of PC emulator than VPC.

Done: http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php/topic,6325.0.html
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: teroyk on May 24, 2022, 01:52:37 AM
when another looks to Bochs/QEMU..I looked back to VPC history:

Virtual PC 1:
- Don't work with Mac OS 9 (Mac OS 8.1 max)
- Only version that has Windows 3.1 additions. You can install them to newer version and then replace FSHARE.EXE from your Virtual PC version Extras.
- Only reason to install this version is take additions or HD-images to never version.
- Virtual PC with Win95 HD-image is Win95B.
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: Jubadub on May 24, 2022, 02:19:33 AM
Are there additions for NeXTSTEP / OPENSTEP and OS/2? There's also a pre-installed VPC 5 Rhapsody DR2 image in the Garden in the Rhapsody page. Things might work between Rhapsody and NeXTSTEP/OPENSTEP. Or not.

Official docs say NeXT's OS can be installed, but first we need to toggle some CD option before we can do that. I think something about IDE...

Also, did we ever find the Red Hat or overall GNU/Linux additions?
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: teroyk on May 24, 2022, 02:33:32 AM
Official docs say NeXT's OS can be installed, but first we need to toggle some CD option before we can do that. I think something about IDE...

Some versions had NeXT OS support and yes it was something to do with secondary IDE...I don't remember what it was.

Also, did we ever find the Red Hat or overall GNU/Linux additions?

Not yet. They was in Connectix Virtual PC with Red Hat Linux CD-ROM and updates was on Connectix ftp-server. Here is separate thread about that:
http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php/topic,5481.0.html
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: teroyk on May 29, 2022, 01:07:01 PM
- If OS is not officially supported, you can still transfer files floppy and CD-ROM and with second hard disk images that are formatted with FAT16 or FAT32. So feel free to test any OS and come here to tell what happens.

Because I cannot edit my first post anymore I give more exact information here: That second hard disk image hint work best with VPC 2-3, because you can open them in Finder just click them, but with VPC 6 HD-images you cannot. I haven't tested how about VPC 4-5.
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: teroyk on June 03, 2022, 09:08:51 AM
Official docs say NeXT's OS can be installed, but first we need to toggle some CD option before we can do that. I think something about IDE...
Some versions had NeXT OS support and yes it was something to do with secondary IDE...I don't remember what it was.

At least installing with OpenStep OS to Virtual PC2 you should uncheck Standard IDE configuration from CD-ROM menu from PC Preferences-menu.
It change emulated CD-ROM from secondary IDE master to Primary IDE slave.
I think it is same with NeXTStep OS.
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: teroyk on June 10, 2022, 10:55:33 AM
And I wrote little more about VPC history:

Virtual PC 2:
- Virtual PC 2.1.3 is first version to work with Mac OS 8.6 and 9.2.2
- Only reasons use this versions:
  - If you need Sound Blaster Pro support not SB16, example game Dreams to Reality.
  - It force only use 8-bit 22khz sound. That gives some speed.
  - Smallest memory need, you can go under official preferred minimum size:
    - with 6000 KB you can get PC with 2 MB RAM, 1 MB VRAM, with small code cache
    (- with 148000 KB you get max PC with 126 MB RAM, 4 MB VRAM, with big code cache)
  - With DOS you can try it with even under 180 Mhz Mac.
  - Works with VPC 1 HD-images.
- FSHARE.EXE minimum is DOS 5.00, no harm if use older DOS version, it just give warning about that.
- When installing Sound Blaster Pro drivers, don't use test..just install. And remember install DOS drivers, before install Win 3.0 if you install that.
- Compatibility reasons is better set VRAM to 1 MB or 2 MB, not 4 MB. Remember that 2 MB is enough for 1600x1200 with 256 colors or 800x600 with 16M colors.
- CGA/EGA-emulation sometimes sucks, but not always.
- Virtual PC 2.1.1 with Win 95 Win version is Win95C with DirextX 5 preinstalled. Win95C supports USB, but USB support come to Virtual PC in version 3.
- Virtual PC 2.1.1 with Win 98 Win version is Win98(FE)
- Virtual PC 2.1.1 with PC-DOS DOS version is 7.0 rev 0.
- There is update from 2.x.x version to 2.1.3.
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: teroyk on June 19, 2022, 09:20:04 AM
Common with VPC 2 and VPC 3 only (I ignore VPC1 here):
- Emulates something like Pentium MMX (to be exact ConnectixCPU family 5 model 3 step 5) with Intel TX-chipset (that have 126 MB max RAM) with DEC DE435 EtherWORKS Turbo PCI Combo Adapter (Intel 21041-chip (Does somebody have DOS drivers?))
- Support for 3dfx Voodoo 1/2 cards, if installed it to your Mac.
- Good support for real floppy disks. Image-write-softwares works fine.
- HDD-image is really full HDD-image, so you can use partition software and make more partitions than one in image. Don't use Virtual PC hard disk extender after that.
- Max 2 GB HD-image. Remember you can have two of them in one virtual machine.
- You can use small HD-images from RAM-disk, so don't make them too big.
- You can mount HD-images in Finder, but don't do that when VPC is running, use share-folder when VPC running.
- HD-images doesn't auto expand.
- If you have problem with games try these versions.
- There might be possibly make MIDI-out through Mac serial port with DOS with software called SoftMPU (with COM1 out parameter), but I never tested it.
- Does not support boot from CD-ROM also real PC with Intel TX-chipset motherboard didn't. But you can use Plop Boot Manager 5.0.15-floppydisk to boot almost all bootable CD-ROMs. Plop Boot Manager flickering if Mac colors are set to 256 colors, so thousand of colors is better with Plob Boot Manager.
- There is configurable BIOS setup, but I don't remember anymore how to get there.
- Might crash when installing PC software from CD…try copy first to HD-image. Reason unknown to me, because it should work even with some copyprotected CD-ROMs.
- Some random crashes with faster G4 Macs..especially with reading real CD.
- Good to know: DirectX 5 is much faster than DirectX 6 without Voodoo.
- Can use Mac joysticks and gamepads in Windows with Virtual PC joystick driver.
- Use floppydisk-images putting them to eject-floppy button (not so good UI-design).
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: teroyk on August 13, 2022, 06:56:07 AM

Virtual PC 3:

- Sometimes little slower than VPC 2 with old software.
- With version 3.03A you might get little speed boost with G4. That is first version that is programmed also G4 in mind.
- First version that emulates Sound Blaster 16.
- First version that support USB (it emulates USB PCI card with 15-port USB-hub, but Win98 doesn't let use 15 usb devices, Win98 has bug :))
- First version that officially support Windows 2000 and Red Hat Linux.
- Last version that support 3dfx Voodoo-cards.
- Still only Virtual PC version for some "DirextX 6.1-7"-games (with Voodoo-cards only)
- There is also upgrade CD-ROM from VPC1/2 to VPC 3.
- Last version for low-end Macs (pre G3)
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: Jubadub on June 30, 2023, 01:29:59 AM
Just to pump some more life into the whole idea of virtualizing OSes to serve OS 9, even though, as far as Windows is concerned, we can only go as far as Windows XP or Server 2003, we can use One-Core-API (https://github.com/Skulltrail192/One-Core-Api) to get it to run Windows Vista and 7 apps, and do crazy things such as installing i.e. .NET Framework 4.8 (!) on XP. We can even install the Snipping Tool (http://shorthornproject.com/allcategories.html), which is crazy useful. It's kinda like what KernelEx is to Windows 98 and Windows ME, for running Windows 2000 and Windows XP programs. (And wasn't KernelEx 2000 also a thing, for running Windows XP programs in Windows 2000?)

We also did not explore the ReactOS route at all. This might potentially be even better than Windows itself for us to run Windows programs on VPC, arguably. The same might go for whatever version of GNU/Linux or BSD we can slap WINE into, for running Windows programs that do not run in Windows XP and earlier.

Of course, I'm talking of only Virtual PC here. Bochs has far greater emulation potential, at the cost of a lot of speed, if we get it compiling, and using compile-time features. But in the speed department, like Virtual PC, I recently realized we completely neglected to look into Neko Project, which IIRC is available on OS 9, as a NEC PC-98 Japanese PC emulator not just for running its exclusive games, which is what most of us generally associate the emulator with, but to boot (Japanese-only?) versions of Windows (up to 98?) and, of course, ReactOS, which HAS been booting on at least the modern versions of Neko Project, and ReactOS is usable even in English in that case.

So another question is, which one is faster for us in OS 9: Virtual PC or Neko Project? This might be quite useful.
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: teroyk on July 04, 2023, 01:36:53 AM
Just to pump some more life into the whole idea of virtualizing OSes to serve OS 9, even though, as far as Windows is concerned, we can only go as far as Windows XP or Server 2003, we can use One-Core-API (https://github.com/Skulltrail192/One-Core-Api) to get it to run Windows Vista and 7 apps.
...
So another question is, which one is faster for us in OS 9: Virtual PC or Neko Project? This might be quite useful.

I think biggest limit in Virtual PC for Mac OS9 is that PC CPU that it emulates is between Pentium MMX (Virtual PC 2) - Pentium II MMX (Virtual PC 6). Some problems even arise with Virtual PC 4-6 because they fake identify processor to Pentium III and that is reason why some Linux installations froze. Second biggest problem is 512 MB memory limit (it emulates Intel BX-motherboard limit), would be patched easily?. But that One-Core-API might be interesting for tests to run some Win7 software in VirtualPC. Have you tested?

But it would be interesting know if some emulator run any program or OS better than Virtual PC.

I hope that some Linux guru try compile Debian Linux for Virtual PC 6.
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: Jubadub on July 06, 2023, 11:56:13 AM
@teroyk I haven't tested One-Core-API yet, but it is in the plans. As for Neko Project II, the OS 9 version is available on the official website from here: https://www.yui.ne.jp/np2/

Direct download link for OS 9 ("Classic" version): http://www.retropc.net/yui/np2mac/np2_classic_081a.sit
Carbon version (intended for PPC OS X I think, but perhaps it might also work in 9): http://www.retropc.net/yui/np2mac/np2_carbon_081a.sit

Newer versions are for non-PowerPC platforms, unfortunately. But these versions here should already be excellent. We have Mac Garden page here: https://macintoshgarden.org/apps/neko-project-ii

One side note about the PC-98, they are Intel-based machines, but they are NOT "PCs", as in, not IBM-PC-compatible, where the term "PC" comes from (other than the obvious "personal computer"). Even Intel "Macs" are generic IBM-compatible PCs. That means that Windows OSes, and even React OS, targeting PC-98 is a different build/version of the OS. I found a Windows 95 pre-installed image on archive.org: https://archive.org/details/win95-pc98-hdi There should also be a Windows 98 version, up to 98SE I think, but I don't think there was was a Windows ME for PC-98. I know that there were also some earlier versions of 16-bit of Windows for it, as well, and also some early Windows NT versions. But very famously PC-98 and Neko Project II are both compatible with Windows 2000.

Here's Windows NT 3.5 Workstation: http://www.mediafire.com/file/326ker48rk69lqv/Windows_NT_3.5_Workstation_%255BNEC_PC-98xx%255D_%255BNEC_OEM%255D.rar/file
Scans: http://www.mediafire.com/file/1g3prcl7hivlw07/Windows_NT_3.5_Workstation_%255BNEC_PC-98xx%255D_%255BNEC_OEM%255D_Scans.rar/file

I couldn't find Windows 98 or 98SE yet. It might be somewhere in BetaArchive website/forums.

Boot disks and some other stuff can be found in these threads:
https://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=35758
https://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=40066
https://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17026
https://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=37891

Video of ReactOS being compiled for and running on Neko Project II:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJbzxvqoj6o

We also got a version of the ever-handy FreeDOS, ported over to the PC-98:
https://github.com/lpproj/fdkernel/tree/nec98test/nec98
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: teroyk on July 10, 2023, 02:29:23 AM
We also got a version of the ever-handy FreeDOS, ported over to the PC-98:

btw..FreeDOS works fine also with VirtualPC 4-6..it also works VPC2-3, but you have to install with floppy (or images) (or use Plop Boot Manager floppy image to boot from FreeDOS 1.3 Live CD-ROM).
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: Jubadub on July 14, 2023, 11:44:30 AM
One final thing I forgot to mention: aside the PC-98, there's also the 68k-based competitor known as Sharp X68000, aka x68k. Originally equipped with the 68000, the final revisions shipped with the 68030. This is noteworthy, because aside the usual set of Japanese OSes, we also have an official, up-to-date port of NetBSD for it:

https://wiki.netbsd.org/ports/x68k/

Check out the "Release Info" links in the URL above. It includes, among other things, the direct ISO download: https://cdn.netbsd.org/pub/NetBSD/NetBSD-9.3/images/NetBSD-9.3-x68k.iso

There might be some Sharp X68k emulators for Mac OS, but I don't know if enough is emulated to make the latest, or even an older, release of NetBSD compatible with them, but it might be worth a try. In particular, I half-suspect 68k-based emulation on Mac OS might be faster and/or more mature than us emulating x86 via Virtual PC, Neko Project and all the others. I don't know of all the emulators for Mac OS, but there is at least one I came across years ago:

https://macintoshgarden.org/apps/x68000-emulator-japanese

Incidentally, the following links are very useful for Japanese computer emulators for Mac OS:
https://www.zophar.net/macintosh.html
http://macdegame.blog.jp/archives/15327442.html

And one final thing with regards to PC-98: I don't know of official ports of NetBSD for it, but looking around I see a lot of sites that seem to suggest there has been some work on a port for it in the past. Just throwing that out there for completion.
However, it seems that FreeBSD has had official releases for it in the past, which I honestly find fascinating:

https://www.freebsd.org/releases/5.1R/installation-pc98/
http://www.freebsd.no/platforms/pc98/

Well, that's enough "off-topic" from me (this is a Virtual PC thread). I just thought I would put some attention on the "new friends/rivals" of Virtual PC from Japan, since most outside Japan haven't come across them.

So back on topic, I'm trying to run Debian on VPC 6, paying close attention to the built-in kernel's version, since @teroyk found out that the GNU/Linux additions we have are more appropriate for version 2.6 of the kernel, rather than the very-different version 2.4 (which, from what I understood, can also be made to work, but with even more steps). The last version of Debian to ship with kernel 2.4.x was Debian GNU/Linux Sarge 3.1_r8 (it also ships with a 2.6.x kernel, but it uses 2.4.x by default). So I am going with a later release between Debian 4 and 6. I don't expect it to be an easy install, but I am pretty intent on not giving up on that so easily.

The additions are in RPM format, which is not the standard for Debian which uses DEB / DPKG instead, but on top of it being perfectly possible to install them as RPM anyway, it is also possible to convert it to DEB first with a utility called Alien (previously called Converter or something, if I'm not mistaken). So we are covered on that: we can even use Alien to get the DEB packages in any given Debian or GNU/Linux install, then copy the DEB files to our VPC-hosted guest Debian instance.
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: teroyk on July 16, 2023, 12:21:17 AM
So back on topic, I'm trying to run Debian on VPC 6, paying close attention to the built-in kernel's version,

There is separate thread about Virtual PC with Linux:
http://macos9lives.com/smforum/index.php/topic,5481.0.html
lets continue this there.
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: teroyk on November 07, 2023, 12:57:06 PM
Let's continue history of Virtual PC.

Virtual PC 4:
- First version when Connectix stops recommend Virtual PC for games. Voodoo-card support dropped. But games works like in real PC:s with slow not 3D-accelerated graphics card.
- It is not so much slower than VPC 2 or 3, but Windows versions that come with it are newer and slower. And actually it is faster with G4 machines.
- First with easy memory setting.
- First with easy new PC-settings wizard.
- Expandable drive images (is there 16 GB size limit?)
- Support booting from CD.
- Cannot disable soundcard FM-emulation to speed up some games (like with older VPC).
- Version 4.0.2 fixes at last fixes some random crashes with faster G4 Macs and support for some Powerbook Titanium graphics resolutions.
Title: Re: Virtual PC some info
Post by: teroyk on December 17, 2023, 02:38:55 PM
Virtual PC 5
- DVD-ROM support (no DVD boot)
- Easy Windows resolution changes with window resize.
- Official support for Windows XP
- Also works with OS X
- Version 5.0.4 adds Type-CTRL-ALT-DEL to menu.