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# Running Windows 3.1

DOSBox Staging fully supports Windows 3.1, which was not a standalone operating system but an operating environment running on top of DOS. A number of games were released exclusively for Windows 3.1 — see The DOS eras for notable titles and recommended hardware settings.

Warning

Windows 9x (95, 98, ME) is not supported by DOSBox Staging.

## Installation

You’ll need Windows 3.1 (or Windows for Workgroups 3.11) installation media, either as floppy disk images or the files extracted from them.

- Mount your installation files so they’re accessible from DOS (e.g., copy them to `C:\INSTALL`).
- Run `SETUP` from the installation directory.
- Install into `C:\WINDOWS`.
- When prompted, choose 386 Enhanced mode (requires a 386 or better, which DOSBox always emulates).
- After installation completes, launch Windows with the `WIN` command.

Use the following DOSBox configuration:

    [dosbox]
    machine = svga_s3
    memsize = 32

    [cpu]
    cpu_cycles = 30000
    cputype = pentium

    [sblaster]
    sbtype = sb16

    [midi]
    mididevice = soundcanvas

Warning

Setting `cputype` to `pentium` is important — some Windows 3.1 games (e.g., Betrayal in Antara) require it.

Tip

Adding `WIN :` (note the space and colon) to your `[autoexec]` section launches Windows automatically and skips the startup logo.

## Video driver

Install the S3 Vision 964 v1.41B5 driver for proper SVGA support inside Windows.

- Extract the ZIP to a directory accessible from DOS (e.g., `C:\DRIVERS\S3`).
- Exit Windows and run `SETUP` from the DOS prompt.
- Navigate to the Display section and select Other.
- Point to the driver directory and choose 640×480, 256 colours as a safe starting point.
- Higher resolutions up to 1600×1200 are available if you set `vmemsize` to `4` or higher.

Important

Always install the video driver after the initial Windows installation, not during it. Back up your `C:\WINDOWS` directory before changing display drivers.

## Audio driver

Install the Sound Blaster 16 driver for digital audio and OPL music inside Windows.

- Extract to `C:\DRIVERS\SB16` and run `INSTALL` from within Windows.
- Choose Full Installation.
- When prompted for hardware settings, use DOSBox’s defaults:
  - Base address: 220
  - IRQ: 7
  - DMA: 1
  - High DMA: 5
- After installation, delete the `CONFIG.SYS` and `AUTOEXEC.BAT` files the installer generates; they are not needed under DOSBox.
- Test by playing `C:\WINDOWS\CANYON.MID` in Media Player.

## MIDI setup

After installing the Sound Blaster 16 driver, configure MIDI output:

- Open Control Panel → MIDI Mapper.
- Select SB16 All MIDI as the active setup.

This routes MIDI output through DOSBox’s configured `mididevice`, so you can use FluidSynth, Sound Canvas SC-55, or Roland MT-32 emulation for Windows 3.1 games — just change the `mididevice` setting in your DOSBox config.

## Mouse setup

The built-in PS/2 mouse driver that Windows installs by default works fine and requires no additional configuration.

The two-button mouse without a scroll wheel was the standard throughout the DOS era — scroll wheels only became common in the late 1990s. DOSBox emulates a two-button mouse by default, which is the safest setting. Only a small number of early-to-mid 90s Windows games support a third mouse button; if you need it, enable three-button mouse emulation via the `dos_mouse_driver` setting.

For seamless mouse integration (the pointer moves freely between the DOSBox window and your desktop without needing to capture/release it), install the VirtualBox mouse driver.

## Further reading

For the full walkthrough with screenshots, driver troubleshooting, and optional add-ons (Video for Windows, Win32s, QuickTime), see the Windows wiki page.