Replace /path/to/windows98.iso with the actual path to your Windows 98 ISO image. The -m 256 option sets the amount of RAM to 256MB, and the -hda option specifies the qcow2 image as the hard drive. 4. : Follow the installation prompts to install Windows 98 onto the qcow2 image. 5. Shutdown and convert the image : Once the installation is complete, shutdown the VM and convert the image to a qcow2 format using the following command:
Use the following base command to start the installation: windows 98 qcow2
Using QCOW2 for Windows 98 gives retro users a practical, space-efficient, and snapshot-friendly way to run and preserve legacy software. Favor IDE, Cirrus video, and SB16 audio emulation for best compatibility, keep drivers and install media archived, and manage snapshots to balance convenience with performance. With appropriate configuration, Windows 98 can run reliably inside modern virtualization stacks while remaining easy to snapshot, move, and preserve. Replace /path/to/windows98