retro computing Archives

Winsage

June 19, 2026

Running Windows NT On The Nintendo Gamecube

The Nintendo GameCube can run Windows NT, a mid-1990s workstation operating system, due to a PowerPC version developed by Microsoft. A group of contributors adapted the OS for the GameCube, making it available on GitHub, and it also works on the Wii and Wii U’s vWii mode. Users need to use various controller-entry methods for text input, as the GameCube lacks a dedicated keyboard, although some rare controllers with integrated keyboards exist. A video tutorial on YouTube details the installation process.

AppWizard

June 11, 2026

EVE Online’s survival spinoff Frontier is a hardcore space sim you can play on a gamepad that’s unlike anything else out there

EVE Frontier is gaining acceptance from the EVE Online community despite skepticism regarding its relevance amidst the crypto gaming trend. It features an innovative server-side modding system and showcased a combat arena experience at EVE Fanfest, where participants had ten minutes to compete. The gameplay is designed with a slower pace, reminiscent of survival horror games, and takes place in a moody nebula with immersive audio. The game's aesthetic combines cyberpunk elements with ancient motifs, and it introduces both manual aiming and auto-targeting weapon systems, allowing players to choose their combat style. This marks a departure from EVE Online's mechanics, which relied heavily on auto-targeting. A major update, Cycle 6: Sanctuary, is set to launch on June 25.

Winsage

June 6, 2026

Using Windows 11 On An LGA 775 PC With AGP Videocard

The Core 2 Quad Q6600 Intel CPU is being reimagined to run Windows 11 by tech enthusiast Omores. The project aims to create a multi-boot environment with various Windows operating systems, including Windows 98 and DOS, using the Q6600 CPU, which operates at 2.4 GHz, and 3 GB of DDR1 RAM. The system is built on an Asrock 865PE mainboard from 2003 and utilizes a Radeon HD 4650 graphics card, the highest-performing AGP GPU from 2009. Omores has found a workaround for Windows 11's lack of AGP support by using the Intel AGP440.sys driver from Windows 10. Windows 11 is compatible with the WDDM driver model, allowing installation of Catalyst drivers from 2012. However, Windows 11's 24H2 version requires SSE4.2 instructions, which the Q6600 does not support, limiting the setup to Windows 11 version 23H2, with only the Education and Enterprise editions receiving security updates. Benchmarks indicate that Windows 7 performs better on this hardware.

Winsage

May 17, 2026

Running Windows CE On The Nintendo 64

The Nintendo 64 is being used as a platform to run Windows CE, a versatile operating system that can function on devices with minimal resources. The N64, equipped with a MIPS CPU and 1 MB of RAM, meets the basic requirements for this project initiated by developer Throaty Mumbo, who was inspired by an IBM Workpad Z50 laptop that also runs Windows CE. Throaty is creating a board-specific configuration for Windows CE 2.11 using the Microsoft Windows CE 2.11 Platform Builder SDK. The project is available on GitHub, allowing users to load applications onto an SD card and run them within the Windows GUI on the N64, demonstrating a smooth experience despite the console's limitations.

Winsage

May 2, 2026

An enthusiast has created a retro computer with Windows XP in the style of HAL 9000

A Reddit user created a personal computer inspired by HAL 9000 from "2001: A Space Odyssey," using an NZXT H1 case and running on Windows XP Legacy Update. The hardware configuration includes a third-generation Intel Core i7 CPU, a discrete GeForce GTX 780 graphics card, and 4 gigabytes of RAM. The design combines retro aesthetics with modern functionality, prioritizing performance and compatibility with vintage software.

Winsage

April 22, 2026

You can now run WSL on Windows 95, in case you’re crazy, too

Hailey has developed the Windows 9x Subsystem for Linux (WSL9x), which allows the 6.19 Linux kernel to run on Windows 9x systems without a graphical user interface, relying instead on a terminal experience. WSL9x consists of three main components: a modified Linux kernel that interacts with Windows 9x APIs, a virtual device (VxD) driver that initializes WSL9x and manages userspace events, and a simple 16-bit DOS client for passing commands to the Linux kernel. The system handles syscalls through a general protection fault handler due to limitations in the Win9x architecture. However, this setup poses security risks as both the Linux kernel and Windows kernel operate with the same CPU privileges, meaning instability could occur if either crashes. Comprehensive instructions for installation are available on Hailey's Codeberg page.

Winsage

October 1, 2025

Someone defied the odds and got this vintage Windows OS running natively in HD on AM5 hardware

YouTuber Omores has run Windows 95 natively on the Ryzen 9 9900X CPU, following a previous experiment with Windows 98. To install Windows 95 on an AM5 system, he used a PCI-to-SATA card with an onboard BIOS due to compatibility issues with modern storage controllers. Booting from an NVMe SSD was possible with a partition size under 8.4GB. Windows 95 recognized only up to 62 MB of RAM, but Omores expanded this limit to 1.7 GB using an update to HIMEM and the PATCHMEM patch. He tested the Nvidia GeForce 7900 GS and Quadro FX 4500 GPUs, successfully installing an unofficial Nvidia 82.69 driver for full HD resolution. However, the Nvidia Control Panel did not launch due to its dependency on Internet Explorer 6, and graphical glitches occurred when opening DOS windows. Core functionalities like sound, networking, storage, and display output worked effectively on the AM5 system.

Winsage

August 28, 2025

It wasn’t supposed to work, but someone booted this retro Windows OS on one of 2025’s fastest CPUs

A YouTuber named Omores successfully booted Windows 98 on a Ryzen 9900X CPU. This required various modifications, including BIOS tweaks, using a PCI SATA card to bypass modern SATA controllers, and employing a PCIe-to-PCI adapter. Additional adjustments involved disabling ACPI and using a Gen 5 NVMe SSD with a partition limited to 8.5 GB. The project demonstrated the capabilities of the vintage operating system, with successful benchmark results using retro graphics cards like the GeForce 7900 GS and ATI X700LE.

Winsage

August 1, 2025

It wasn’t supposed to work, but someone made a forgotten Windows version boot from an NVMe

Windows 2000 can run on modern hardware using a setup that includes a Gigabyte H410 H V2 motherboard, a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, and a Super GPU from 2006. The Universal NT Installer, a Linux-based tool, allows for the installation of Windows NT versions, including Windows 2000. The system can boot from an NVMe SSD and recognizes all 12 CPU cores, achieving transfer speeds of 2500MB/s. However, there are challenges such as inconsistent HDMI audio support and some USB 3 drives not functioning properly.

Winsage

July 14, 2025

Windows 7 runs natively on the Steam Deck — desktop OS enthusiast aims to push beyond portrait mode-only limit

Bob Pony revealed on Twitter/X that Windows 7 can run natively on the Steam Deck. The Windows 7 interface appears in portrait mode due to compatibility issues with the Steam Deck's Van Gogh APU, which requires drivers for Windows 10 and 11. Pony has hinted at testing Temple OS next, and previously showcased Windows 8.1 on the Steam Deck. Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 are considered retro, with Windows 10 expected to join them soon. Valve may launch SteamOS for desktops in 2025, coinciding with the retirement of Windows 10.