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backwards compatibility

Windows 98 On A 2020 ThinkPad P14s Gen 1 Laptop
Winsage
February 14, 2026

Windows 98 On A 2020 ThinkPad P14s Gen 1 Laptop

The x86 architecture allows users to run operating systems from the 1990s on modern hardware. Yeo Kheng Meng successfully booted Windows 98 SE on a 2020 ThinkPad P12s Gen 1 alongside Windows 11 and Linux from a single NVMe drive. He previously ran MS-DOS 6.22 on a 2020 ThinkPad X13. The main challenges included UEFI complexities and the need for compatible hardware drivers. Both ThinkPad models support UEFI-CSM mode. To address the lack of xHCI support in Windows 98, Yeo used a USB 2.0 expansion card through a Thunderbolt dock. The installation involved disabling Secure Boot, enabling UEFI-CSM, activating Thunderbolt BIOS assist mode, and turning off Kernel DMA protection. Yeo used the CREGFIX DOS driver for stability and applied patches from Rudolph Loew to overcome Windows 98's RAM limitation of 512 MB. Users must rely on basic VESA support and the SoftGPU driver for graphics acceleration due to the absence of updated drivers from Intel and NVIDIA. Disk access is routed through the BIOS, leading to suboptimal performance. Yeo configured the BIOS to support the S3 power state to address ACPI support issues. UEFI-CSM is often overlooked in newer systems, complicating the installation of Windows 7 and contributing to divides in the x86 ecosystem.
AMD's Redstone update could revitalize FSR for PC games – here's why Nvidia should be worried
AppWizard
December 11, 2025

AMD’s Redstone update could revitalize FSR for PC games – here’s why Nvidia should be worried

AMD has launched FSR Redstone, accessible through the AMD Adrenalin 25.12.1 driver, featuring FSR Frame Generation, Ray Regeneration, and Radiance Caching, along with enhanced FSR Upscaling technology, compatible exclusively with RDNA 4 hardware (Radeon RX 9060 XT and RX 9070 XT/RX 9070 GPUs). Ray Regeneration will debut in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, with plans for future titles. The update aims to improve image quality and performance, closing the gap with Nvidia's DLSS 4 technology. However, it lacks backward compatibility with older GPUs, limiting its use to RDNA 4 hardware. FSR Radiance Caching is expected to enhance ray tracing performance in 2026, and the FSR Redstone SDK will facilitate easier integration into games.
The 10 best games of all time on PC
AppWizard
August 30, 2025

The 10 best games of all time on PC

Video games have evolved significantly, with the personal computer playing a crucial role in the industry's growth. PC gaming is appreciated for its flexibility, diverse hardware configurations, extensive modability, and nearly 40 years of backwards compatibility. A selection of the best PC games based on Metacritic scores includes: - Disco Elysium: Score 97/100, known for its narrative design and player choices. - Half-Life 2: Score 96/100, celebrated for its innovative physics and storytelling. - Grand Theft Auto 5: Score 96/100, features a compelling single-player narrative and a vast online world. - Baldur's Gate 3: Score 96/100, recognized as a masterclass in role-playing games with community-driven updates. - BioShock: Score 96/100, blends first-person shooting with action-adventure elements and a strong morality system. - Persona 5 Royal: Score 95/100, balances dungeon exploration with a social life in a turn-based RPG format. - Portal 2: Score 95/100, known for its innovative puzzle design and engaging narrative. - The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim: Score 94/100, offers vast replayability and extensive modding options. - Mass Effect 2: Score 94/100, noted for its impactful storytelling and memorable ending. - Sid Meier's Civilization 2: Score 94/100, a classic strategy game that remains popular despite its limited availability on modern platforms.
Xbox Game Pass now lets you stream your own games on PC
AppWizard
July 16, 2025

Xbox Game Pass now lets you stream your own games on PC

Xbox has introduced a new feature for its Game Pass service that allows PC subscribers to stream games they own, even if those titles are not part of the current catalogue. This enhancement improves user experience and addresses backwards compatibility concerns. Additionally, Xbox is collaborating with Asus to create a handheld device similar to the Steam Deck, further promoting versatile gaming across platforms.
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