The Libretro DOSBox Pure core can install a genuine Windows 95 or 98 inside a disk image, then run your games in it. That is the only way to play PC games of that generation in Recalbox.
You will need:
.zip or .7z archive.The example below uses Windows 95 OSR 2.5 — the first version with native USB support — and a Wolfenstein CD.
The operation happens in two stages: installing Windows first, then installing your game.
.iso) into a .zip or .7z archive: the core only launches archives./recalbox/share/roms/dos and refresh your games list.LIBRETRO DOSBOX_PURE core.[ Boot and Install New Operating System ].Once the disk space has been created, the Windows installer takes over immediately and gives you 5 to 10 seconds to choose booting from the CD-ROM (option 2). Do not look away: miss that window and you end up staring at a blinking
_.
Start > Shut Down. When Windows says it is safe to turn off the computer, press HOTKEY + START to return to EmulationStation.Never press
HOTKEY+STARTwhile Windows is running: you will have to repair the system on the next boot.
📷 Screenshots coming:
dosbox-pure-boot-install.png,dosbox-pure-image-size.png
.zip archive in /recalbox/share/roms/dos and refresh the games list.[ Run Installed Operating System ].The game is then installed inside the disk image: next time, launch the same entry, pick [ Run Installed Operating System ], and play.
📷 Screenshots coming:
dosbox-pure-run-installed.png,dosbox-pure-mounted-cd.png
I do not get the [ Boot and Install New Operating System ] option. Either your archive contains no .iso file, or your Windows image is unusable — you need a different one.
I get a black screen with a blinking _ and nothing happens. You missed the few seconds during which the MS-DOS screen offered 1 - Boot from hard disk or 2 - Boot from CD-ROM. You had to pick the CD-ROM. Start the image creation over.