Windows 3.1

Winsage
July 1, 2025
A hardware modder has transformed a PlayStation 2 into a functioning PC by installing the Windows 95 operating system. This project, showcased by the YouTube channel MetraByte, reflects a trend in the tech community of repurposing older hardware for new applications. The endeavor contrasts with the typical use of emulators to run classic games on modern PCs, instead aiming to revitalize an aging console as a basic computing device.
Winsage
June 29, 2025
[MeraByte] has successfully installed Windows 95 on a PlayStation 2 using an x86 emulator called Bochs, despite the PS2's MIPS-based Emotion Engine not being designed for x86 instructions. The installation process faced numerous challenges, resulting in limited functionality, such as non-responsive mouse input and the inability to run the game Ultimate Doom 95. The endeavor raises questions about the overall success of the hack, especially given the significance of Doom in gaming culture. Alternative suggestions for PS2 users include exploring programming with GoLang, as there has never been an official release of Doom for the console.
Winsage
June 28, 2025
Microsoft has announced the retirement of the "blue screen of death" and will replace it with a black screen for Windows 11 devices running the 24H2 operating software, set to debut later this summer. The new screen aims to simplify the restart process and reduce reboot times to approximately two seconds. The "blue screen of death" originated in 1993 with Windows NT, indicating unrecoverable system failures. A version of the black screen was previously introduced to Windows 11 users in 2021.
Winsage
June 27, 2025
Microsoft is replacing the "blue screen of death" with a black screen in Windows 11, set to debut later this summer on devices running the 24H2 operating software. This update aims to enhance user experience during unexpected restarts, reducing reboot times to approximately two seconds. The blue screen has been part of Windows since the early 1990s, with its definitive version appearing in 1993 with Windows NT. A version of the black screen was first introduced in 2021, and the upcoming update will refine this interface during system failures.
Winsage
June 27, 2025
Microsoft will retire the Windows Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) in favor of a black screen as part of the Windows Resiliency Initiative (WRI), with the change rolling out later this summer for Windows 11 version 24H2 devices. This update follows a security incident in July 2024 that affected approximately 8.5 million Windows machines. The WRI aims to enhance system resilience by reengineering Windows code and allowing security software to operate outside the Windows kernel, minimizing risks from vendor security code. A private preview of the new Windows endpoint security platform will be available to Microsoft Virus Initiative partners next month.
Winsage
June 17, 2025
Test builds of Windows 11 have encountered a bug that changes the startup sound to the Windows Vista (and Windows 7) melody instead of the expected Windows 11 sound. This issue was highlighted by a Windows tester named Xeno and confirmed by Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc, who noted it as a glitch. The bug appears to have resulted from someone experimenting with the sound files.
Winsage
May 11, 2025
Microsoft often conceals legacy features during software upgrades, exemplified by the Disk Cleanup utility, which may not appear in drive properties but can still be found through search. The moricons.dll file, a 12KB library of icons, was created to manage an increasing number of program icons beyond the capacity of progman.exe. This file has persisted through the transition from 32-bit to 64-bit systems, representing a piece of digital history.
Winsage
May 8, 2025
Raymond Chen discussed the moricons.dll file on his blog, highlighting its significance in the Windows operating system. The file, sized at 12,288 bytes, contains icons from the Windows 3.1 era, including those for Turbo Pascal, Quattro Pro, WordPerfect, Lotus 123, and cc:Mail. Originally, icons were stored in progman.exe, but as their collection grew, they were moved to moricons.dll for better organization. This library has persisted through various Windows upgrades, evolving from Program Manager icons to shortcut files in Windows 95. Despite the transition to 64-bit Windows, which no longer supports MS-DOS programs, moricons.dll has survived, suggesting that some users may still find value in these nostalgic icons.
Winsage
April 24, 2025
Developer Ruben Retro has launched GBS WINDOWS for Game Boy, a unique homage to Windows 3.1, available for the Game Boy Color. The software, developed in GB Studio, is priced at €40 but is currently sold out on Etsy. Customers can sign up for notifications when new stock becomes available. GBS WINDOWS is encased in a physical Game Boy cartridge, providing a tangible connection to the past.
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