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Running Windows 3.1 95/98 on Windows 11 Operating System

Richard Michelle-Pentelbury 20 Reputation points
2025-11-29T21:39:35.2666667+00:00

With the gift of the National Geographic set for the last century, (on Windows 3.1,) how do i please get to use the DVD's??

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Install and upgrade
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  1. Andy D 80 Reputation points
    2025-12-03T16:15:15.6+00:00

    Hi Richard. The AI response is pretty much spot on. I would surmise that you don't have DVDs and actually have CDs. DVDs didn't exist back when Windows 3.1 was released. CDs work in DVD drives, so as long as your computer has a drive, you're probably fine.

    I suggest using DOSBox, as it's really great emulation software that supports Windows 3.1. However, whatever path you take requires you to treat the system as pretty much fresh, meaning you'll need to do things like get a hold of the floppy images of Windows, install Windows, setup graphic drivers, etc. You can try and search for dosbox windows 3.1 vhd to see if you can find someone else who has already packaged it all up for you to easily use.

    After you get Windows 3.1 setup, you need to configure DOSBox to mount your local DVD/CD drive in DOSBox, so it can access the drive.

    There are countless guides on the internet that can help you configure DOSBox with Windows 3.1. You'll just have to put time into it.

    Cheers!

    1 person found this answer helpful.

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  1. Q&A Assist
    2025-11-29T21:40:41.56+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    Running Windows 3.1 or 95/98 applications on a Windows 11 operating system can be challenging due to compatibility issues. Here are some options you might consider:

    1. Virtual Machine: You can use virtualization software like VMware or VirtualBox to create a virtual machine that runs Windows 3.1, 95, or 98. This allows you to run older operating systems within Windows 11, giving you access to applications designed for those systems.
    2. Compatibility Mode: Windows 11 has a compatibility mode feature that allows you to run programs designed for earlier versions of Windows. However, this may not work for all applications, especially those that require specific hardware or drivers.
    3. Emulators: You could also look into emulators that replicate the environment of older Windows systems. Tools like DOSBox can help run older DOS-based applications, while other emulators may support Windows 3.1 or 95.
    4. DVD Region Settings: If your DVDs are region-locked, ensure that your DVD drive is set to the correct region. You can change the DVD region settings in Windows, but be aware that there are limits on how many times you can change it.

    Since the National Geographic set is on DVD, ensure that your DVD drive is compatible with the region of the DVDs. If you encounter issues, you may need to check the region settings or use software that can bypass region restrictions legally.

    References:

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  2. Richard Michelle-Pentelbury 20 Reputation points
    2025-11-29T21:43:43.72+00:00

    Thanks, AI, I shall try the above.

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