this post was submitted on 23 Sep 2025
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Setting up a DOS/Win98 system for gaming (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 3 months ago by bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works to c/retrogaming@lemmy.world
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I saw a post about someone in my neighborhood looking for a windows 98 machine to play some old games and DOS games.

I messaged them (because I'm always up for helping people enjoy old games) and said I have a spare PC, that can run emulation and will likely be better for them to play their old games on (and a lot cheaper than the scalper prices on old machines now).

I planned to use either Mint/PopOS, and set it up so the computer will start DOSbox-x right away, to make it easy as possible for this person (I think they are not super computer literate but probably know how to navigate DOS and basic point and click instructions)

My question is, should I set it up with dosbox, or a virtual machine running Win98?

Any other tips welcome :)

Also, most of the games they want to play are FPS, like Doom, Duke Nukem, Redneck rampage, blood, and also some games like NFL challenge (DOS)

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[โ€“] grue@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

IMO there's no point in using real hardware to play old DOS games unless you want something really niche or picky, like using a specific sound card with particular MIDI voices.

[โ€“] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 months ago

That was kind of my thought. I think they just want a little better experience than playing it out of a web browser. So something that basically boots into dosbox should give them that. Its mostly a nostalgia thing.

I know I rarely play my atari games on an emulator, its boring. I much prefer my real system.