You need a Windows 98 installation disc, a disc-reading tool, and about 30 minutes

Creating a Windows 98 ISO for VirtualBox means converting a physical installation disc into a digital file your virtual machine can read. The process requires three things: the original Windows 98 disc itself (or a legitimate copy you own), software that reads the disc and creates an ISO file, and a computer with a disc drive. If you don't have the physical disc, you cannot legally create an ISO — downloading one from the internet violates copyright law, even for old software.

The most straightforward path is to use free disc-reading software on Windows or Mac to convert your disc into an ISO file, then point VirtualBox to that file when you create your virtual machine. The whole process takes about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on your disc drive speed.

Key Takeaways

  • You must own the physical Windows 98 installation disc to legally create an ISO file from it.
  • Windows users can use ImgBurn or Nero to read the disc and create an ISO; Mac users can use Disk Utility.
  • The ISO file will be roughly 500 MB to 650 MB, depending on which Windows 98 version you have.
  • Once you have the ISO file, you point VirtualBox to it when creating a new virtual machine, rather than inserting a physical disc.

Reading your Windows 98 disc on Windows

On Windows, the easiest free tool is ImgBurn. Download it from imgburn.com, install it, and insert your Windows 98 disc into your disc drive. Open ImgBurn and click the icon that looks like a disc with an arrow pointing to a folder — this is "Read" mode. Select your disc drive from the dropdown, choose where you want to save the ISO file on your hard drive, and click the large play button. ImgBurn will read the entire disc and create an ISO file in the location you specified.

If ImgBurn doesn't work or you prefer another option, Nero (the paid version, though it has a free trial) also reads discs and creates ISOs. Open Nero, select "Disc" from the menu, then "Copy Disc to Image File", select your disc drive, and save the ISO. Both tools produce identical results — the choice is personal preference.

The reading process takes 5 to 15 minutes depending on your disc drive speed. You'll see a progress bar; when it reaches 100%, the ISO file is complete and ready for VirtualBox.

Reading your Windows 98 disc on Mac

Disk Utility is built into macOS and can read discs and create ISO files without installing anything. Insert your Windows 98 disc, open Disk Utility (in Applications > Utilities), select the disc in the left sidebar, and click "Image" in the menu bar. Choose "Save As", pick a location on your hard drive, and make sure the format dropdown is set to "DVD/CD Master" — this creates a .cdr file, which is Mac's version of an ISO. When the process finishes, you can rename the .cdr file to .iso if you prefer, though VirtualBox reads both formats.

If you want a more visual interface, Toast is a paid Mac disc utility that also creates ISOs, but Disk Utility is free and works just as well for this task.

What to do if you don't have a disc drive

If your computer doesn't have a built-in disc drive, you can buy an external USB disc drive for $20 to $40. Plug it in, insert your Windows 98 disc, and follow the same steps above — ImgBurn and Disk Utility both recognize external drives. This is a legitimate option if you own the physical disc but your computer lacks the hardware to read it.

Do not download a Windows 98 ISO from the internet, even if you own a physical copy. The copyright holder (Microsoft) does not distribute Windows 98 ISOs for free, and downloading one is copyright infringement regardless of your ownership of the physical disc.

Creating the virtual machine in VirtualBox

Once you have your ISO file, open VirtualBox and click "New" to create a new virtual machine. Give it a name like "Windows 98", select "Microsoft Windows" as the operating system type, and choose "Windows 98" from the version dropdown. Allocate at least 512 MB of RAM (though 256 MB is the bare minimum), and create a virtual hard drive of at least 2 GB — Windows 98 itself takes about 200 MB, but you'll want space for software and files.

When you reach the step asking for installation media, select "ISO Image" and browse to the ISO file you just created. VirtualBox will use that file instead of a physical disc. Complete the setup wizard, and when you start the virtual machine, it will boot from the ISO and begin the Windows 98 installation process.

Common problems during disc reading

If ImgBurn or Disk Utility stops partway through or reports an error, the disc may be scratched or dirty. Try cleaning the disc gently with a soft, lint-free cloth (wipe from the center outward, not in circles), and attempt the read again. If the error persists, the disc may be unreadable — this is a hardware failure, not a software problem, and no tool can recover data from a physically damaged disc.

If the ISO file is created but VirtualBox won't recognize it, make sure the file extension is .iso (not .cdr or .img). You can rename the file in your file explorer if needed. VirtualBox is particular about file extensions and may refuse to load an ISO with the wrong name.

Why Windows 98 in a virtual machine

Windows 98 is useful in VirtualBox for testing old software, running legacy applications that won't work on modern Windows, or learning how older systems worked. Because it runs inside a virtual machine, it cannot affect your actual computer — if something breaks, you delete the virtual machine and start over. This isolation is the main security and stability advantage of virtualization for old operating systems.

Keep in mind that Windows 98 has no built-in security updates and should never be connected to the internet or used for sensitive tasks. Use it only for specific applications you need to test, and keep it isolated from your main network.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a Windows 98 ISO I download from the internet instead of creating my own?

No. Downloading a Windows 98 ISO without owning the original disc violates copyright law. You must own the physical installation disc to legally create an ISO from it. If you don't have the disc, you cannot legally obtain an ISO.

What if my Windows 98 disc is a recovery disc instead of a full installation disc?

Recovery discs work the same way — insert them, read them with ImgBurn or Disk Utility, and create an ISO. The process is identical. VirtualBox will boot from the recovery disc ISO just as it would from a full installation disc.

How big will the ISO file be?

Windows 98 ISOs are typically 500 MB to 650 MB, depending on which version you have (Windows 98 SE is slightly larger than the original release). Make sure you have at least 1 GB of free space on your hard drive before you start reading the disc.

Do I need to keep the ISO file after I install Windows 98 in VirtualBox?

No. Once Windows 98 is installed on the virtual hard drive, you can delete the ISO file if you want to save space. The virtual machine will boot from its own virtual hard drive, not the ISO. Keep the ISO only if you think you'll need to create another Windows 98 virtual machine later.

Will Windows 98 run faster in VirtualBox than on old hardware?

Not necessarily. VirtualBox allocates resources from your host computer, so performance depends on your current machine's speed. On a modern computer with plenty of RAM, Windows 98 will feel snappy. On an older or slower computer, it may feel sluggish. You can adjust the RAM and CPU cores allocated to the virtual machine in VirtualBox settings if performance is poor.