Your QEMU command is almost correct, but the problem is here 👇

-cdrom

You did not specify the ISO file, so QEMU has nothing mounted.

You also have three SolidWorks CDs, so you must mount CD1 first, then swap to CD2 and CD3 during install.

✅ Correct Command — Mount CD1

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Run this:

sudo qemu-system-i386 \
  -machine pc,accel=kvm \
  -cpu pentium3 \
  -m 2048 \
  -drive file=winxp.qcow2,if=ide \
  -cdrom "SolidWorks 2004 SP0 CD1.ISO" \
  -boot c \
  -vga std \
  -usb \
  -device usb-host,vendorid=0x0781,productid=0x5567 \
  -nic user,model=e1000 \
  -monitor stdio

🔄 When Installer Asks for CD2 or CD3

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Do NOT close QEMU.

In the QEMU monitor ((qemu)), type:

eject ide1-cd0

Then change ISO:

change ide1-cd0 "SolidWorks 2004 SP0 CD2.ISO"

Later:

change ide1-cd0 "SolidWorks 2004 SP0 CD3.ISO"

✅ Alternative (clearer CD handling)

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You can explicitly define the CD drive:

-drive file="SolidWorks 2004 SP0 CD1.ISO",media=cdrom,if=ide

Instead of -cdrom.

⚠️ Important Notes for SolidWorks 2004

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Since you’re installing on Windows XP in QEMU:

✔ 32-bit only — correct ✔ Pentium III CPU is good ✔ 2 GB RAM perfect ✔ IDE disk correct ✔ VGA std OK

🧠 Quick checklist if SolidWorks doesn’t see USB

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Inside XP:

• Device Manager → Universal Serial Bus controllers
• Must show USB Mass Storage Device

If not, use the raw disk method instead of usb-host.

If SolidWorks setup fails or crashes, tell me:

1️⃣ Exact error message 2️⃣ At which CD it stops 3️⃣ Screenshot text (type it)

We’ll fix it 👍

Mount multiple Iso cdrom to vm

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Short answer: No — not with only one CD drive. But YES, you can mount all 3 ISOs at once if you add multiple virtual CD-ROM drives to QEMU 👍

SolidWorks 2004 was designed for physical PCs that sometimes had more than one drive, so this works fine.

✅ Run with 3 CD Drives (CD1 + CD2 + CD3)

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Use this command:

sudo qemu-system-i386 \
  -machine pc,accel=kvm \
  -cpu pentium3 \
  -m 2048 \
  -drive file=winxp.qcow2,if=ide \
  -drive file="SolidWorks 2004 SP0 CD1.ISO",media=cdrom,if=ide,index=1 \
  -drive file="SolidWorks 2004 SP0 CD2.ISO",media=cdrom,if=ide,index=2 \
  -drive file="SolidWorks 2004 SP0 CD3.ISO",media=cdrom,if=ide,index=3 \
  -boot c \
  -vga std \
  -usb \
  -device usb-host,vendorid=0x0781,productid=0x5567 \
  -nic user,model=e1000 \
  -monitor stdio

🧾 What You’ll See in Windows XP

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Inside XP → My Computer:

• CD Drive (D:)
• CD Drive (E:)
• CD Drive (F:)

SolidWorks installer should automatically read them.

⚠️ Important Notes

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• Works only if the installer supports multi-drive detection (SolidWorks usually does) • IDE supports 4 devices per controller — we’re fine here • If one ISO isn’t read, installer may still ask you to browse manually

🟡 Alternative (cleaner bus layout)

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If QEMU complains about IDE slots, use:

-drive file="SolidWorks 2004 SP0 CD1.ISO",media=cdrom,if=none,id=cd1 \
-device ide-cd,drive=cd1,bus=ide.1

-drive file="SolidWorks 2004 SP0 CD2.ISO",media=cdrom,if=none,id=cd2 \
-device ide-cd,drive=cd2,bus=ide.2

-drive file="SolidWorks 2004 SP0 CD3.ISO",media=cdrom,if=none,id=cd3,bus=ide.3

🏁 Recommendation

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✔ Mounting all three saves time ✔ Good for big multi-CD installers ✔ XP + SolidWorks 2004 works fine this way