My (as yet unnamed) operating system

1. If you want to simulate a PC: I run my OS on a simulated PC using Bochs. You may want to look at my configuration file (bochsrc.txt) and my launch script (sim.bat). (Of course, you can also put it on an actual floppy and boot up a physical PC, but I make no guarantees that it won't destroy everything. If you want to do that, I recommend using a junk PC.)
2. Get a floppy (or floppy image) formatted as FAT12. If you're simulating and running Windows, you probably also want a Virtual Floppy Disk. Make sure it's configured and mounted.
3. Load the boot sector.
   1. Windows:
      To install the boot sector to a floppy (real or virtual), I use PARTCOPY by John Fine. (Incidentally, I also use his linker, JLOC. And his boot sector code, BOOTF. I didn't realize until now how much of his stuff I'm using.) Start with a FAT12 formatted floppy (standard Windows issue). Download bootf.bin and repeat the magic incantation:

      PARTCOPY bootf.bin 0 3 -aa 0
      PARTCOPY bootf.bin 3E 1C2 -aa 3E
      

      (To install the boot sector on drive B, use -ab. To install it onto a floppy image file, just use the filename.)
   2. Linux:
      Use the dd command to copy the boot sector to the floppy:

      dd if=bootf.bin of=floppy.img bs=1 count=3
      dd if=bootf.bin of=floppy.img bs=1 skip=62 seek=62 count=450
      

4. Download kernel-0.5.zip and unzip it to the floppy.
5. Boot.