+ CrossPosted in: WIN95   
    + CrossPosted in: WINDOWS   
      
   Hi! Bob,   
      
   In a msg of Sun, 28 Apr 13, I wrote to you:   
      
    BK>> I was just thinking of adding ram to an old laptop, and got to   
    BK>> thinking about linux distros that run in ram. I was wondering   
    BK>> about running Win 98 in ram, and if it would run much faster.   
      
    PQ> For running Win98 you just need to have plenty of HDD space.  It runs   
    PQ> fine in just 128Mb, in a vBox.  (I'm not sure about a laptop,   
    PQ> though.)   
      
   On further reflection, I'd recommend that you consider something later than   
   Win98.   
      
   There are a few gotcha's to running it.  It has to be installed with forcing   
   ACPI by using the "/p j" setup switch, otherwise a vBox just blasts away at   
   the CPU at warp-8.  *This* vBox also uses Rain 2.0 to smooth its operation,   
   BTW.  The other vBox didn't need Rain.  Go figure.   
      
   The next tough bit is finding the best SVGA display adapter driver to use.    
   Win98 installs with just 800x600x16 colours VGA, which is woefully   
   inadequate.  I've managed to dig up a couple of SVGA drivers by reading   
   through the vBox support forum(s).  Both provide 1024x768x32-bit SVGA, however   
   one of the drivers (VBE Mini-port by Anapa Corp.) absolutely crashes if I try   
   to run any DOS apps; luckily (by good planning on my part [adjusting halo] it   
   doesn't need to).   
      
   *This* vBox uses the 'SciTech Display Doctor' and runs everything, nearly   
   perfectly; the driver is a beta IIRC which has had some wobbly moments, a few   
   times requiring me to shut-down the Radius mailer by using a semaphore file   
   from another vBox, and, then a three-finger salute... twice.   
      
   All of this is _not_ required for XP.  Also, the vBox "Guest Additions" (not   
   available for Win9x) make operating XP a real charmer.   
      
   If you want to try Linux distros from time to time, then I can suggest   
   something similar to my Linux tester vBox.  It has 512Mb defined (which can be   
   changed, if required) along with a 2.1Gb HDD.  The HDD allows for a permanent   
   swap partition which Linux distros l-o-v-e to have available, along with some   
   storage for anything I want to save during a session.   
      
   Have fun!   
      
   Cheers,   
   Paul.   
      
   ... I'm not a pessimest, just an optimist with a lot of experience.   
   --- Paul's Win98SE VirtualBox   
    * Origin: Quinn's Post - Maryborough, Queensland, OZ (3:640/384)