I'm trying to install Chicago build 708 (Simplified Chinese) in VMware 8.0.1 with 4.x compatibility. As the installation requires a legit version of Windows installed, I did an upgrade from Windows 3.2.

After copying files the system restarted but halted with the following message shown:

Thus I cannot go on with the installation. Any help please?

for me it works fine in 5.x compability.

Disable hardware virtualization, use Virtual PC 2007 and try again.

on VMware, it works fine even with hardware virtualization enabled for me.

In my VirtualBox Windows 95 install (that is not properly Chicago, ok) I often got protection error with too much memory reserved to the guest...adjusting it to just 16 MB dramatically reduced the frequency of the errors...
Don't know if this can help you...

maybe this could help it was for windows 95 rtm maybe it could be used it chicago builds too

Try to adjust memory to 16/32 MB. If doesn't help, try to disable hardware vizualization.

Some of this may also depend upon the system that you're running this build on (especially if you're using hardware virtualization, which many systems don't even have, even today).

Personally, I think that Virtual PC, especially Virtual PC 2004 and Virtual PC 2007 (with one notable exception to Windows Virtual PC, as opposed to Microsoft Virtual) is the best choice for the older builds of Windows, yet even with the more recent builds, I have had much more luck than I have with the other virtualization packages, so if possible, I would definitely use Virtual PC.

EDIT: Fixed mistyping of "Windows Virtual PC" (changed "Windows Virtual PC 2007" to "Windows Virtual PC").

it's Windows Virtual PC not Windows Virtual PC 2007....

also, I tested Chicago builds 56, 58s and 81 on QEMU and they run fine with the Cirrus ISA 1024x768 video adapter. 73, 73g and 78 with the S3 adapter on VPC2007. 122 with VBEMP (1152x864 True Color) on QEMU. From 189 to 275 on QEMU with the Cirrus PCI adapter (1024x768x256) colors). From 314 to 347 Checked on VPC2007 (S3 Trio32/64 PCI 1024x768x256), from 431 to 1214 (OSR2.5) with VMware SVGA II (1152x768 True Color)

I was about to complain about the same thing...

Oh, sorry, I just forgot that Windows Virtual PC was released later (I've been a bit tired today, so please excuse my mistake).

it's ok now

Today I tried with 5.x compatibility again but doesn't seem to work...


Decrease RAM to 16MB: Doesn't work cause Simplified Chinese versions of Windows 3.1/3.2 cannot startup from MS-DOS 6.x with this amount of memory in my VMware. Only do I add up the amount can they be booted, and with larger amount I had Windows protection error.

English versions can start with 16MB of MEM, though. Also tried installing from them in MS-DOS, and after restart it also came with same error. But which version of MS-DOS and Windows is the best?

Turn off virtualization: Tbh this laptop I'm currently using supports virtualization, nonetheless there isn't any switch in BIOS hence it can be only left on.


Is this because my hardwares are too new for Chicago? If it's true, I'll have to try on the other PC in the weekends. Virtual PC is also available on that one, and there will be no hardware virtualization stuff to deal with, as its CPU doesn't support it at all.

TheCollector1988 suggested you QEMU, and in fact that sounds reasonable.
Chicago is old and tied to old hardware, so virtualizing it isn't the best choice.
Since QEMU is an emulation (not virtualization) solution, it tries to run Chicago on old PC (emulated) hardware, instead of your modern one.

QEMU for: 56, 58s, 81
Virtual PC: 73, 73g, 78, 314, 324, 331, 337, 345, 346, 347
VMware: 431 to 1214 (includes 708).

But yeah, you can use QEMU to emulate 708

Oh right,I read the word "QEMU" on your post but in fact you didn't suggest it for this build.
Seems the only option now, anyway.

Haven't thought of QEMU before, as once I had it and found I could do nothing to handle it. I will learn how to use, though. Also I want the guest network card bridged so it could be directly shown in my router.
Maybe I will virtualize on VPC first, in the older PC which I successfully ran Chicago 58s...

You need VPC 2004 or VPC 2007.

Well, right now I've just finished installing it in both VMware and Virtual PC 2007. See how it runs on my Pentium E2160. Sound and network both work.



Still have a problem: Is there a VMware SVGA driver for this? I want a higher color depth and resolution.

the VMware SVGA driver for Windows 9x works on 708, I tested it (It works from 431 onwards)

Extracted the SVGA driver from VMware Tools 5.0, and it works with 32-bit true color.

Thanks