Windows 9x Video Minidriver

operating-system · driver · graphics · video · Windows · Michal Necasek

Windows 9x Video Minidriver HD+ for VirtualBox Copyright (c) 2022 Michal Necasek MIT license Original announcement post: https://www.os2museum.com/wp/windows-9x-video-minidriver-hd/ Source code post: https://www.os2museum.com/wp/windows-9x-video-minidriver-source-code/ Source code repository: https://guest:guest@www.os2museum.com/hg/boxv9x/ Hacker News thread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31642801 Driver: `boxv9x.img` in `boxv9x.zip` Source code: `boxv9x-13322eadf475.*` Description from os2museum.com The driver uses a linear framebuffer and supports 8/16/24/32bpp modes with resolutions up to 1920×1200 pixels (see more below). The driver is not accelerated but tends to be very speedy on modern hardware. Supported Resolutions While the Windows DDK sample drivers are all hardcoded to support a small set of resolutions, the OS/2 Museum minidriver is not. It restricts the smallest resolution to 640×480 but not much beyond that. The maximum allowed is 5,120×3,840 pixels, but that is entirely untested. The supplied .INF files sets up common resolutions up to 1,920×1,200 pixels, but users can edit the .INF file (or Registry) and add their own resolutions. Note that Windows 9x likely will have trouble if there are “too many” modes listed, and it is unknown what the highest resolution might be before funny things start happening. Installation The driver can be installed through the Display Properties dialog or through the Device Manager; the method used should not matter. The driver works on Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Me. No attempt has been made to discover how far back it might work with Windows 95 betas.