pc task 4.4:)

[derSammler]

Since I'm currently messing with PC-Task 4.4 as well: how can I use a partition instead of a hard disk image? PCTCrossMount.doc clearly states that this is possible, but how?

[arcam]

I don't know if anyone has ever managed with succes to install Windows95 but I never did! If anyone manages to achieve this feat, I'm interested!

[derSammler]

Certainly, there are videos on YouTube.

[Etze]

Sure it works. Did it back then on my CSMK2/040/40MHz. Took several hours to install and was unusable slow (15 minutes to boot or so).

[derSammler]

Just tried running WfW 3.11 with the PiStorm and Emu68. Same thing, completely unusable. Takes ages to show the desktop. No idea what is the bottle-neck here. PC-Task seems to be much slower with Emu68 than on real hardware.

Have not tried RTG yet, however.

[Retro1234]

This guy got ok results on PiStorm - Think he's running Win 3.0
[ Show youtube player ]

[derSammler]

He's also partly using PC-Task 3.10, which can only emulate a 286 and is faster.

Windows 3.0 is way less complex. But I guess using an RTG mode will certainly help.

//edit:
In WinUAE, I can get WfW 3.11 to load much, much faster with a configuration way slower than PiStorm/Emu68. I guess there is some compatibility issue with Emu68 (which seems to be in line with some other reports).

[derSammler]

Ok, found the issue with WfW 3.11. Unlike the normal versions, WfW always run in 386 enhanced mode with all the enhanced features enabled by default. And just like with EMM386, that hits a design flaw in PC-Task that makes it run slow as hell. Too bad it was never fixed.

I'm now using Windows 3.1, which runs much, much better. Still not as fast as one would expect from the PiStorm with Emu68, but I yet have to give PC-Task 3.1 a try.

[Retro1234]

What was the /S parameter? I don't remember?

i.e Win /S

[derSammler]

WfW 3.11 has no /s parameter.

/r is for real-mode, /s for standard mode. In PC-Task 3.x, /s makes no difference, as it only emulates a 286 and Windows is hence running in standard mode anyway.

On PC-Task 4.x, people say /s is needed to run Windows 3.1 at all. No idea why. It runs without that for me in both Dynamic and Interpreter mode. Maybe people don't read the README file that comes with PC-Task telling them to use /d:x to exclude memory not usable under PC-Task.

Anyway, after much fiddling, I got Windows 3.1 running at very good speed. Using PC-Task 4.4 in Interpreter mode (in this case, Dynamic is slower, PC-Task 3.x is slower, too) and running Windows in standard mode. VGA display mapped to ECS, but you can use EGA and Video 7 as well. The later would be for RTG and gives 256 colors and/or higher resolutions. It's also much faster. Going to try once I have a HDMI cable for the PiStorm.

As for Windows 95: even with the PiStorm and Emu68, forget it. It's not going to perform well.

[arcam]

Hi all ! Can someone share is Win95 HDF in the zone ?

[Retro1234]

What's not working?
I've never tried 95 as it probably be painfully slow. But installing 3.1 the best option was to copy the installation files to the designated hardfile under Workbench etc then launch Setup under PC-Task on real hardware go get a cup of tea or leave overnight lol. Not sure if thats helpful.

[derSammler]

Yes, forget Windows 95. It's just not usable for many reasons: speed, no display driver, instability. It's not worth even trying.

[arcam]

Originally Posted by derSammler

Yes, forget Windows 95. It's just not usable for many reasons: speed, no display driver, instability. It's not worth even trying.

It's just for testing purposes. I am well aware that the Amiga will not be able to emulate Windows 95 correctly.

[derSammler]

If it's for testing, then why do you want an already-made HDF with it? Just install it yourself. I mean, that's what I understand as "testing".

It's not hard to do. Create the hard disk image, format it, mount it on the Amiga side, copy the Win95 install files into and and make sure you've got lots of time. I would assume it runs better in DOSBox (AGA or RTG) than in PC-Task.

[arcam]

Originally Posted by derSammler

If it's for testing, then why do you want an already-made HDF with it? Just install it yourself. I mean, that's what I understand as "testing".

It's not hard to do. Create the hard disk image, format it, mount it on the Amiga side, copy the Win95 install files into and and make sure you've got lots of time. I would assume it runs better in DOSBox (AGA or RTG) than in PC-Task.

I'll try later. Just ask a "ready to play" HDF would save me time

[Etze]

Originally Posted by arcam

would save me time

a lot of (wasted) time...

[Seiya]

i have already Win98 for Windows DOSBbox, but it cannot run in PC-Task for vga card and because i use Voodoo for Direct3D/OpenGL acceleration.
The processor emulated by PC-Task is too slow to run Win95 ad decent Speed. On real 486DX2@66 +32MB Win95 usable, but only to watch that working.

i should have, but not remember where, a already installed win95 setup without extras, maybe it could work on Amiga emulator.

[derSammler]

The processor emulated by PC-Task is too slow to run Win95 ad decent Speed.

That is actually not the issue. On the PiStorm, even the Interpreter version of PC-Task emulates a 486 with the speed of about 33 MHz. The Dynamic version is much faster, but due to the way it works, hard to benchmark.

The issue lies in 32-bit protected mode, which PC-Task completely sucks at. It makes everything 10 times slower once that mode is used. That's why EMM386 should not be used and why WfW 3.11 is slow as hell.

[Retro1234]

You can try Calmira - Plus has a nice Retro feel.