HOWTO/setup win32 QEMU and get ReactOS working on it

From ReactOS

About:

Many users want to test ReactOS without risking their current systems, and using an emulator or better a virtualization software helps do the same. This here will give a step by step tutorial to setup ReactOS on QEMU.

If you would like to run it with the KQEMU ( Virtualization layer for QEMU ) please use this tutorial here.

Step 1: Getting QEMU.

Get the latest but stable Qemu Windows package from FreeOSZoo.
- NOTE: I'm writing this tutorial using the 0.7.2 version and cannot guarantee compatibility with future releases.
It is an auto installer so start the installer set the destination etc. and allow it to install.
Make sure you have the Qemu directory added to your system path.

Step 2: Setting up the things.

Create a folder in the desired location suppose "C:\ROSQemu\".
Extract the .iso file there with your favourite unzipper to the directory you have just created.

Step 3: Installing

Now, according to the .iso file you downloaded you can choose two methods the LiveCD verion or the Boot (Install) CD.

LiveCD:

Move to the previously created directory with the "cd" command.
There, type in the following command,

qemu -L <Path to your QEMU folder>\bios -cdrom <filename>.iso -m 64

Replace the <Path to your QEMU folder> with the QEMU folder path.
- NOTE:Make sure you take into consideration long file names. So, the path will look like, "C:\Program Files\Qemu\bios". It may vary but notice the " ".
Replace the <filename> with the name of the .iso . example: ReactOS.iso.

What's this command doing,

qemu     - Starts QEMU.
-L bios  - Specifies directory for bios files to be loaded.
-cdrom   - Points out the .iso image used for booting.
-m       - RAM allocated for the GuestOS, here ROS. You can choose your own value.

InstallCD

Move to the previously created directory with the "cd" command.
Here we first need to create a virtual hard disk.
- Many file formats work with QEMU but the raw and vmdk file formats are preferred.

QEMU can create them for you with the following command,

qemu-img create -f raw ReactOStest.img 100M

What it does,

qemu-img       - Starts the image editing and creating program.
create         - Asks the program to create the new image for the virtual hard disk.
-f             - Defines the file format. You can choose from vvfat, vpc, bochs, dmg, 
                 cloop, vmdk, qcow, raw. 
ReactOStest.img- Name of the .img file. NOTE: Don't forget the .img suffix.
100M           - File size of the virtual hard disk. suffix 'M' stands for Mbs and 'G' for    
                 Gigs.

The hard disk file will be created. Now, pass the following command,

qemu -L <Path to your QEMU folder>\bios -hda ReactOStest.img -cdrom ReactOS.iso -boot d -m 64

Replace the <Path to your QEMU folder> with the QEMU folder path.
- NOTE:Make sure you take into consideration long file names. So, the path will look like, "C:\Program Files\Qemu\bios". It may vary but notice the " ".

What it does,

qemu     - Starts QEMU.
-L bios  - Specifies directory for bios files to be loaded.
-hda     - Points to the file to be used as virtual harddisk. (The .img created earlier.)
-cdrom   - Points out the .iso image used for booting.
-boot    - Asks it to boot off the cdrom (d).
-m       - RAM allocated for the GuestOS, here ROS. You can choose your own value.

The boot from CD option will come up press enter.
- The installer should load. Follow this tutorial,
  - Step by step Install ReactOS 0.2.5.
  - The install process should be fairly similar.

Step 4: Post install

Now, once the installation is done,

use this command to boot into RectOS on the virtual hard disk.

qemu -L <Path to your QEMU folder>\bios -hda ReactOStest.img -m 64

Replace the <Path to your QEMU folder> with the QEMU folder path.
- NOTE:Make sure you take into consideration long file names. So, the path will look like, "C:\Program Files\Qemu\bios". It may vary but notice the " ".

What it does,

qemu     - Starts QEMU.
-L bios  - Specifies directory for bios files to be loaded.
-hda     - Points to the file to be used as primary virtual harddisk. (The .img created 
           earlier. Where we installed ReactOS ).
-m       - RAM allocated for the GuestOS, here ROS you can choose your own value.
NOTE:    The -boot command ain't required as only one harddisk is being used.

Now the FreeLdr (ReactOS boot loader) should start up select ReactOS and ReactOS will boot up.

If you click inside the QEMU window your mouse cursor will act as the mouse cursor in the GuestOS (Otherwise use Ctrl + G ). To get back to your host system use " Ctrl + Alt ".

Information on the various options, keys, and commands can be found in the QEMU documentation under "doc" folder in the QEMU directory.

Sources:

Thanks to (in no particular order) ,

Klemens Friedl a.k.a. frik85 for install tutorial.
QEMU.
ROS IRC for help.
The QEMU documentation.