Author Topic: qemu and ARCAOS 5.1  (Read 660 times)

Klafi

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qemu and ARCAOS 5.1
« on: September 27, 2025, 08:37:47 pm »
Hello everyone

I've been trying to get ARCAOS 5.1 to run with Qemu for a while now, but I can't seem to get it running. The problem is that it keeps "looping" at the beginning, even using the boot menu and the custom settings doesn't work.

Other versions like ARCAOS 5.06 work without issues, even with a network.

Does anyone have any advice?

Thank you.

JTA

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Re: qemu and ARCAOS 5.1
« Reply #1 on: September 28, 2025, 01:17:36 am »
Can you share your ArcaOS 5.1.x start string for qemu, version of qemu, and host os you are using?

These are not mine, but here's some start strings found around the web, for versions of OS/2:
  - ecomstation 2.x:
qemu-system-x86_64 -m 2048 -device vmware-svga,vgamem_mb=4 -device pcnet,mac=6E:C0:E6:AA:6B:BD,netdev=net0 -netdev user,id=net0 -drive file=ecomstation21.qcow2 -device ac97 -rtc base=localtime -cdrom ecs21_cd1_en_us.iso  -boot d

  - ArcaOS 5.0.x:
qemu-system-x86_64 -m 8192 -device VGA,vgamem_mb=4 -device pcnet,mac=6E:C0:E6:AA:6B:BD,netdev=net0 -netdev user,id=net0 -drive file=arcaos50.qcow2 -device ac97 -rtc base=localtime -cdrom ArcaOS-5.0.iso  -boot d

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/qemu_kvm/comments/1gek98d/install_and_run_ecomstation_21_and_arcaos_50_in/

Other resources:
  os2world.com/wiki/index.php/Installing_ArcaOS_on_QEMU_with_Windows_10_Host

ArcaOS 5.1.0 was first version to support UEFI? So, perhaps some UEFI investigation, to fallback to CSM or something else, for QEMU? Or, as you are running a licensed 5.1.0, perhaps open a ticket with ArcaNoae?

Hope this helps ...
« Last Edit: September 28, 2025, 01:36:11 am by JTA »

Klafi

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Re: qemu and ARCAOS 5.1
« Reply #2 on: September 29, 2025, 08:22:12 pm »
Thank you for your reply.

Here is my setup.

  qemu-system-x86_64 \
  -enable-kvm \
  -m 2048 \
  -drive file=./ArcaOS.raw,format=raw,if=ide,index=0 \
  -drive file=ArcaOS-5.1.1-de.iso,media=cdrom,if=ide,index=1 \
  -boot d \
  -netdev user,id=net0 \
  -device e1000,netdev=net0 \
  -vga std \
  -display gt



I have no idea what's wrong exactly. There's also something wrong with USB and it's not showing up in the settings.

I'll keep trying, maybe I'll get it working.

JTA

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Re: qemu and ARCAOS 5.1
« Reply #3 on: September 29, 2025, 10:52:21 pm »
Without knowing exactly what the host os and version is, and what the QEMU version is, I'd say to make sure these are at the latest versions available. I saw notes to the effect that a fix was put in to later versions of qemu to help OS/2 Warp and ArcaOS.

With QEMU, we typically get our binaries from a german developer who builds the released code, and makes it available to all (for win versions) ... pointed at from the QEMU site.

On the startup string, I'd start adjusting each (one at a time), and seeing what happens; adjust from your working 5.0.6 set, or from one of the sources I suggested.

For example:
  - bump the ram to 4096, and retest ... see if amount of ram is an issue.
  - change the vga line, to look more like the other examples, and see if that helps

Always just one change at a time, and revert back to your baseline for the next change.

Did ArcaOS offer any help with QEMU ... as in, a startup string that they like?

Hope this helps ...