Going to be messing around with virtual machine, any ideas for what to install?

[Silicate Wielder]

Ok guys, I got Virtual machine up and running and I'm just going to be screwing around with it and installing various and very old Operating systems on it,

I plan to install windows 3.1 (I know but I'm doing this out of boredom. plus it will be good for practicing batch file programming.)
as well as some other WIndows Operating systems and see which one or ones I like best and the others will be removed but stored for references.
If you guys would like and the copyight for a specific OS is expired then if it alright with moderators I will post links to the Disk images for the postable and requested Operating systems.

[Lawliet]

You could try different variations of linux.

[TheMatrix]

Try different OSes that you've wanted to use or try, but not wanted to actually install it as your primary/secondary/tertiary/whatever OS. I have Windoze 98, Knoppix, and antiX(MEPIS), among others installed on my VirtualBox.

I plan to install windows 3.1 (I know but I'm doing this out of boredom. plus it will be good for practicing batch file programming.)
What good is DOS Batch, nowadays?

If you guys would like and the copyight for a specific OS is expired then if it alright with moderators I will post links to the Disk images for the postable and requested Operating systems.
Copyrights expire after 70 years or so; trade secrets and licenses do not. That means that in 50 years when the copyright to MS-DOS 6.2 has expired, you cannot just go spreading it around, legally.

[Silicate Wielder]

Ok So I exagerated when I said I got Virtualmachine up and running, I'm using DosBox, and I managed to get Windows 3.1 up and running :D

[Thunduhbuhlt]

Ubuntu has always worked well for me, or you could always try Windows 8 if you feel curious.

[Silicate Wielder]

I like ubuntu but I want to be able to run some windows programs as well as run some older windows games without having to install the wine windows layer. i find it faster and easier than having to mess around with Wine and have little time left after to do anything.

EDIT:
Dos Batch is actually good for making simple Operating systems that can be run in DOS (i'm going to see if I can make a OS after taking a look at windows 3.1's system files and then make a simple OS

[ethanf93]

What good is DOS Batch, nowadays?I agree.

Copyrights expire after 70 years or so; trade secrets and licenses do not. That means that in 50 years when the copyright to MS-DOS 6.2 has expired, you cannot just go spreading it around, legally.Copyrights are actually a bit longer as I recall; anyways an MS-DOS floppy distributed to consumers could never be a trade secret so that's not relevant. Licenses are just parts of copyright. Trademarks could be a concern since they are indefinite (again as I recall) but that's all I can think of.

Edit:
Dos Batch is actually good for making simple Operating systems that can be run in DOS (i'm going to see if I can make a OS after taking a look at windows 3.1's system files and then make a simple OS
I don't think you really understand what exactly an operating system is- and effectively none of Windows 3.1 is written in batch.

[darkwoon]

Dos Batch is actually good for making simple Operating systems that can be run in DOS (i'm going to see if I can make a OS after taking a look at windows 3.1's system files and then make a simple OS
Batch files are just simple scripts that can run pre-existing commands.

If you want to write your own Operating System (which is not for the faint of the heart), your first reference should be Modern Operating Systems by Andrew Tanenbaum. It will give you everything you need to get started, as well as a lot of key informations to search further technical informations you may need. A lot of good informations are also available on this wiki (http://wiki.osdev.org/Main_Page) (plus it is free...). Be warned that you'll need solid computer knowledge - writing an OS is not a trivial task at all.

Hope this helps!