Running a Windows ME VM in Virtualbox 🌱

  1. Download Microsoft Windows ME Download
  2. Download MS-DOS 6.22 Download
  3. Download MS-DOS CD driver Download
  4. Extract the Windows ME and MS-DOS files
  5. Launch Virtualbox
  6. Create a New VM by selecting Machine > New

    Name: Windows ME
    Machine Folder: C:\VMs
    Type: Microsoft Windows
    Version: Windows ME
    Memory Size: 1024 MB
    Hard disk: Create a virtual hard disk now

  7. Click Create
  8. On the Create Virtual Hard Disk dialog

    Name the virtual disk image Windows ME.vdi
    File size: 4.00 GB
    Hard disk file type: VDI
    Storage on physical hard disk: Dynamically Allocated

  9. Click Create
  10. Select the VM and Click Settings
  11. Select Storage
  12. Click on the Floppy disk drive
  13. Select the disk dropdown to the right > Choose virtual floppy disk file...
  14. Browse to the extracted MS-DOS 6.22 files and select Disk1.img
  15. Click OK
  16. Click on the CD-ROM drive
  17. Select the disc dropdown to the right > Choose a virtual optical disc file...
  18. Browse to the extracted Windows ME files and select the .iso file
  19. Click OK
  20. Make sure the Windows ME VM is selected and click Start > Normal
  21. Press Enter to start the MS-DOS installation and press Enter multiple times to accept the default values
  22. When prompted by the installer, go to the VM settings and swap out the MS-DOS disk images and press Enter to continue
  23. Once MS-DOS has been successfully installed, select Devices > Floppy Drives > Remove disk from virtual drive
  24. Press Enter in the VM to reboot
  25. Once MS-DOS has booted, select Devices > Floppy Drives > Choose disk image...
  26. Navigate to and select cd-driver-1.25.img
  27. Type the following commands
    A:
    install
  28. The CD-ROM driver installation process will start
  29. Click OK to complete the installation
  30. Select Devices > Floppy Drives > Remove disk from virtual drive
  31. Select Machine > Reset > Reset to restart the VM
  32. Upon booting into MS-DOS the Virtualbox CD drive should be assigned a drive letter
  33. Type the following commands:
    D:
    setup
  34. Press Enter for the routine maintenance
  35. The Windows ME setup will launch
  36. Click Next at the Welcome screen
  37. Select I accept the Agreement > Click Next
  38. Enter a valid Windows ME product key ( GY9FQ-2J9MR-PM78B-J9JCT-X8RDG),  click Next
  39. Click Next
  40. Wait for Windows to install components
  41. Click Next > Enter a name and company > Click Next
  42. Click Next > Give the computer a name > Click Next
  43. Click Next > Select a timezone > Click Next
  44. Click Cancel when prompted to create a startup disk
  45. Click OK
  46. Click Finish
  47. Go grab some coffee, it's going to be a while
  48. When prompted, select Devices > Optical Drives > Remove disk from virtual drive
  49. Click OK, the VM will reboot
  50. Wait for Windows to install devices and drivers
  51. Time for some more coffee, maybe write your first novella 
  52. The VM will reboot
  53. Press Enter at the network password dialog 
  54. Welcome back to Windows ME
  55. Revel in the nostalgia