sudo apt update
sudo apt install qemu qemu-kvm libvirt-daemon-system libvirt-clients bridge-utils virt-manager

After installation, you can boot FreeDOS directly from the virtual disk without the ISO.

What is Qemu?

qemu-system-x86_64 -hda freedos.img -hdb ~/Games/Doom -m 512

qemu-img create -f qcow2 freedos.img 2G

QEMU emulator version 6.2.0 (Debian 1:6.2+dfsg-2ubuntu6.24)
Copyright (c) 2003-2021 Fabrice Bellard and the QEMU Project developers

Step 2: Install FreeDOS Using Qemu in Linux

FreeDOS is a free and open-source DOS-compatible operating system that allows you to run legacy DOS software and games on modern hardware. While Linux is a powerful and versatile operating system, there are times when you might need to run DOS-based applications for compatibility or nostalgia.

  • Running legacy software.
  • Learning about DOS and its commands.
  • Testing old programs in a controlled environment.
  • Enjoying retro gaming.

Step 1: Install Qemu on Linux

sudo pacman -S qemu qemu-arch-extra virt-manager libvirt

sudo dnf install qemu qemu-kvm virt-manager libvirt libvirt-python libvirt-client virt-install virt-viewer

Qemu is available in most Linux distribution repositories and to install it, open your terminal and run the following commands based on your distribution:
It’s ideal for:
Qemu is a generic and open source machine emulator and virtualizer that can emulate a full computer system, including the processor, memory, and peripherals, allowing you to run operating systems designed for different architectures.
C:> doom.exe

Conclusion

For example, to run a classic game like Doom:
For Ubuntu/Debian:
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the steps to set up FreeDOS on a Linux system using Qemu, a powerful open-source emulator.
Qemu is lightweight, fast, and perfect for running FreeDOS on Linux.

Install FreeDOS to Hard Disk
Install FreeDOS to Hard Disk
FreeDOS Language
FreeDOS Language
FreeDOS Installation Option
FreeDOS Installation Option
FreeDOS Partition Drive
FreeDOS Partition Drive
FreeDOS Reboot
FreeDOS Reboot

qemu-system-i386 -m 64 -hda freedos.img -boot c

FreeDOS Running
FreeDOS Running

Run DOS Programs on FreeDOS in Linux

Next, you need to create a 2GB virtual disk in Qcow2 format to install FreeDOS, which is efficient and supports features like snapshots.
FreeDOS is a modern implementation of DOS that is fully compatible with classic DOS applications and games.
qemu-system-x86_64 –version

unzip FD14-LiveCD.zip
qemu-system-x86_64 -hda freedos.img -cdrom FD14LIVE.iso -boot d -m 512

Boot FreeDOS
Boot FreeDOS

Again choose the “Install to Harddisk” option, which will start formatting the drive.

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