I see. If using either options then, emulator or VM, also maybe look at ways of auto-mounting optical media's ISO images. Saves some of the trouble, as games from that time often require the media to be mounted while playing.

And if the disks you talk about are diskettes, you'll probably need an adapter to back up the files or disk image. Else, if it's an optical media, have yet to see a reader not capable of dumping the disc.