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This page provides recommended configurations for installing builds in a specific emulator or hypervisor. This page is by no means exhaustive, and your mileage may vary, so you may have to adjust some settings to your liking as it sees fit.
OS/2 is best run on 86Box (especially OS/2 1.x, which crash on processors newer than the 486 without patching), even supporting IBM's PS/2 models that OS/2 was originally designed for. OS/2 Warp 4 should also be able to run well on VirtualBox, and also have Guest Additions support for this version.
For eComStation and ArcaOS, using VirtualBox or VMware is recommended.
- Use the x86 version of 86Box if possible. x64 versions of 86Box may have potential CPU emulation issues that can cause emulator crashes, particularly with Socket 7 and higher machines.
- In order to properly configure networking, the proper addresses must be set in the network setup as described in the 86Box documentation.
- Avoid using the default "RAM Disk [max. speed]" option for the ESDI or IDE hard drive speed, as it can cause problems on OS/2 due to performing instructions faster than some applications or drivers can support. Instead, use the RPM speed closest to the year of the build's compilation.
- Unless mentioned, leave each other setting as their default values.
- For best results, use the latest developer release of 86Box.
- Certain component names may change or be removed in later versions of 86Box, so certain configurations may not be compatible with all versions of 86Box. Most configurations are also not interchangeable with PCem or VARCem.
86Box Configuration
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Setting type
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Configuration
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Machine
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- Machine: [i386DX/i486 MCA] IBM PS/2 model 70 (type 3)
- CPU type: Intel i386DX, 20 MHz
- Memory: 4 MB
- FPU: 387
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Display
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- Display: Internal controller, 8514/A enabled
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Input devices
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- Mouse: Microsoft Serial Mouse
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Sound
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Network
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Ports (COM & LPT)
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- Port(s): Serial ports 1 and 2 enabled, parallel port 1 enabled
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Storage controllers
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- HD controller: [MCA] IBM PS/2 ESDI Fixed Disk Adapter
- FD controller: Internal controller
- SCSI controller: None
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Hard disks
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- Hard drive: ESDI (0:0) drive, 615 cylinders, 6 heads, 17 sectors (30 MB)
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Floppy & CD-ROM drives
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- Floppy drive(s): One 3.5" 1.44 MB drive (A:)
- CD-ROM drive(s): None
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Notes
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An IBM PS/2 model 70/80 reference disk is required to set up the BIOS information on the system.
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86Box Configuration
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Setting type
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Configuration
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Machine
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- Machine: [80286 ISA] AMI IBM AT
- CPU type: Intel 80286, 8 MHz
- Memory: 8192 KB (8 MB)
- FPU: 287XL
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Display
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- Display: [ISA] VGA, 8514/A enabled
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Input devices
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- Mouse: Microsoft Serial Mouse (COM1)
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Sound
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Network
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Ports (COM & LPT)
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- Port(s): Serial ports 1 and 2 enabled, parallel port 1 enabled
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Storage controllers
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- HD controller: [ISA16] PC/AT IDE Controller
- FD controller: Internal controller
- SCSI controller: None
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Hard disks
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- Hard drive: IDE (0:0) drive, 462 cylinders, 8 heads, 17 sectors (30 MB); [1989] 3500 RPM
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Floppy & CD-ROM drives
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- Floppy drive(s): One 3.5" 1.44 MB drive (A:)
- CD-ROM drive(s): None
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86Box Configuration
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Setting type
|
Configuration
|
Machine
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- Machine: [i386DX/i486 MCA] IBM PS/2 model 80 (type 3)
- CPU type: Intel i386DX, 33 MHz
- Memory: 4 MB
- FPU: 387
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Display
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- Display: Internal controller, 8514/A enabled
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Input devices
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- Mouse: Standard PS/2 Mouse
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Sound
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|
Network
|
|
Ports (COM & LPT)
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- Port(s): Serial ports 1 and 2 enabled, parallel port 1 enabled
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Storage controllers
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- HD controller: [ESDI] IBM PS/2 ESDI Fixed Disk Adapter
- FD controller: Internal controller
- SCSI controller: None
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Hard disks
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- Hard drive: ESDI (0:0) drive, 681 cylinders, 16 heads, 63 sectors (203 MB); [1989] 3500 RPM
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Floppy & CD-ROM drives
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- Floppy drive(s): One 3.5" 1.44 MB drive (A:)
- CD-ROM drive(s): None
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Notes
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An IBM PS/2 model 70/80 reference disk is needed to set up the BIOS information of the machine.
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86Box Configuration
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Setting type
|
Configuration
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Machine
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- Machine: [i386DX ACC 2168] Juko AT046DX3
- CPU type: Intel i386DX, 33 MHz
- Memory: 8 MB
- FPU: 387
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Display
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- Display: VGA, 8514/A enabled
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Input devices
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- Mouse: Microsoft Serial Mouse
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Sound
|
|
Network
|
|
Ports (COM & LPT)
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- Port(s): Serial ports 1 and 2 enabled, parallel port 1 enabled
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Storage controllers
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- HD controller: [ISA16] PC/AT IDE Controller
- FD controller: Internal controller
- SCSI controller: None
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Hard disks
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- Hard drive: IDE (0:0) drive, 681 cylinders, 16 heads, 63 sectors (203 MB); [1989] 3500 RPM
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Floppy & CD-ROM drives
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- Floppy drive(s): One 3.5" 1.44 MB drive (A:)
- CD-ROM drive(s): None
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86Box Configuration
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Setting type
|
Configuration
|
Machine
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- Machine: [i386DX/i486 OPTi 495] DataExpert SX495
- CPU type: Intel i386DX, 33 MHz
- Memory: 16 MB
- FPU: Internal
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Display
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- Display: [ISA] VGA, 8514/A enabled
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Input devices
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- Mouse: Microsoft Serial Mouse (COM1)
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Sound
|
|
Network
|
|
Ports (COM & LPT)
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- Port(s): Serial ports 1 and 2 enabled, parallel port 1 enabled
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Storage controllers
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- HD controller: Internal controller
- FD controller: Internal controller
- SCSI controller: None
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Hard disks
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- Hard drive: IDE (0:0) drive, 1024 cylinders, 16 heads, 63 sectors (504 MB); [1992] 3600 RPM
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Floppy & CD-ROM drives
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- Floppy drive(s): One 3.5" 1.44 MB drive (A:)
- CD-ROM drive(s): None
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Notes
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This configuration applies to all versions of OS/2 2.x.
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86Box Configuration
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Setting type
|
Configuration
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Machine
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- Machine: [i486 (Socket 3) Contaq 82C597] Visionex Green-B
- CPU type: Intel i486DX2, 50 MHz
- Memory: 32 MB
- FPU: Internal
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Display
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- Display: [VLB] S3 Vision864 (Phoenix)
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Input devices
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- Mouse: Microsoft Serial Mouse (COM1)
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Sound
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- Sound card: [ISA16] Sound Blaster AWE32, IRQ set to 7
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Network
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- Network: [ISA] 3Com EtherLink II, IRQ set to 5
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Ports (COM & LPT)
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- Port(s): Serial ports 1 and 2 enabled, parallel port 1 enabled
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Storage controllers
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- HD controller: Internal controller
- FD controller: Internal controller
- SCSI controller: Adaptec AHA-154xCF, BIOS address C800H
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Hard disks
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- Hard drive: SCSI (0:00) drive, 1024 cylinders, 16 heads, 63 sectors (504 MB); RAM Disk (max. speed)
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Floppy & CD-ROM drives
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- Floppy drive(s): One 3.5" 1.44 MB drive (A:)
- CD-ROM drive(s): SCSI (0:01) CD-ROM drive at 20x speed
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Notes
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This configuration also applies to OS/2 Warp Connect, though network settings only apply to the Connect edition. If using 86Box 4.0, set the CD-ROM drive type to "(SCSI) TOSHIBA CD-ROM XM-3301TA 0272".
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VirtualBox Configuration
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Setting type
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Configuration
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General
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- Operating System: OS/2 Warp 4
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System
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- Base Memory: 64 MB
- Chipset: PIIX3
- Pointing Device: PS/2 Mouse
- I/O APIC: Disabled
- EFI: Disabled
- Processor(s): 1 CPU
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Display
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- Video Memory: 16 MB
- Graphics Controller: VBoxVGA
- 3D Acceleration: Disabled
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Storage
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- Floppy: One floppy controller
- Hard drive: IDE 4 GB drive
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Audio
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- Audio controller: Sound Blaster 16
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Network
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Serial Ports
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- Ports: All ports disabled
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USB
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Notes
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The floppy controller is only needed if setting up OS/2 Warp 4.0. The OS/2 Warp 4.5.x line uses a boot CD instead of floppy disks, making the floppy controller obsolete. If asked for the primary graphics adapter, select the "Scitech Display Doctor" option and continue.
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86Box Configuration
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Setting type
|
Configuration
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Machine
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- Machine: [Socket 7 (Single Voltage) i430FX] QDI FMB
- CPU type: Intel Pentium, 90 MHz
- Memory: 64 MB
- FPU: Internal
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Display
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- Display: [PCI] S3 Trio64V+ (Phoenix)
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Input devices
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- Mouse: Microsoft Serial Mouse (COM1)
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Sound
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- Sound card: [ISA] Sound Blaster v2.0
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Network
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- Network: [PCI] AMD PCnet-PCI II
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Ports (COM & LPT)
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- Port(s): Serial Ports 1 and 2 enabled
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Storage controllers
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- HD controller: Internal controller
- FD controller: Internal controller
- SCSI controller: None
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Hard disks
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- Hard drive: IDE (0:0) 4161 cylinders, 16 heads, 63 sectors (2 GB) drive
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Floppy & CD-ROM drives
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- Floppy drive(s): One 1,44 MB floppy drive
- CD-ROM drive(s): ATAPI (0:1) CD-ROM at 48x speed
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Notes
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If using 86Box 4.0 or later, set the CD-ROM drive type to "HITACHI CDR-8130 0020".
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86Box Configuration
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Setting type
|
Configuration
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Machine
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- Machine: [Socket 8 i440FX] Intel VS440FX
- CPU type: Intel Pentium Pro, 200 MHz
- Memory: 128 MB
- FPU: Internal
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Display
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- Display: [PCI] S3 ViRGE/GX2 (357)
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Input devices
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- Mouse: Standard PS/2 Mouse
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Sound
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- Sound card: [ISA] Sound Blaster v2.0
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Network
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- Network: [PCI] AMD PCnet-FAST III
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Ports (COM & LPT)
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- Port(s): Serial Ports 1 and 2 enabled
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Storage controllers
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- HD controller: Internal controller
- FD controller: none
- SCSI controller: None
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Hard disks
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- Hard drive: IDE (0:0) 4161 cylinders, 16 heads, 63 sectors (2 GB) drive
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Floppy & CD-ROM drives
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- Floppy drive(s): None
- CD-ROM drive(s): ATAPI (0:1) CD-ROM at 56x speed
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Notes
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If asked for the primary graphics adapter, leave the "S3 Virge Family GRADD" option set and continue. If using 86Box, 4.0 set the CD-ROM drive type to "HITACHI CDR-8130 0020".
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VirtualBox Configuration
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Setting type
|
Configuration
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General
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- Operating System: eComStation
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System
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- Base Memory: 256 MB
- Chipset: PIIX3
- Pointing Device: PS/2 Mouse
- I/O APIC: Disabled
- EFI: Disabled
- Processor(s): 1 CPU
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Display
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- Video Memory: 16 MB
- Graphics Controller: VBoxVGA
- 3D Acceleration: Disabled
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Storage
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- Floppy: No floppy controller
- Hard drive: IDE 4 GB drive
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Audio
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- Audio controller: ICH AC97
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Network
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Serial Ports
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- Ports: All ports disabled
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USB
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