Windows 3.1 in Virtual PC 2007

When I saw the article about Program Manager returning to Windows 7 I decided to install Windows 3.1 to see the original version of Program Manager. Its very simple. All you need is a copy of Microsoft Virtual PC 2007, which is free and images of Windows 3.1 and a MS DOS boot floppy. (The CD image of Windows 3.1 and a floppy image of MS-DOS is provided here.)

• Boot a new Virtual Machine in Virtual PC 2007 from the bootdisk floppy 622c.IMG. FDISK and FORMAT to setup up drive C. After drive C: is accessible, restart the Virtual PC. 
• Mount the Windows 3.1 image Windows 3.1.iso. Boot again from the bootdisk floppy 622c.IMG. Run the setup file in the CD ROM drive. (This will be Drive R: in Virtual PC)
• Windows 3.1 is now installed. To run Windows go to C:\Windows and type win.

 

The MS DOS Boot Floppy image

Windows 3.1 image

Download link for Microsoft Virtual PC 2007

Note: To boot every time you need to mount the MS DOS boot floppy image. Alternatively you can install MS – DOS prior to Windows 3.1 to avoid this. Otherwise it will show boot media not found every time you boot.