Windows 9x Archives

Winsage

April 25, 2026

Linux and Windows 95 running side by side? This dev made it happen.

Open-source developer "Hailey" has introduced the Windows 9x Subsystem for Linux (WSL9X), which allows users to run both Windows and Linux applications simultaneously on classic versions of Windows, including Windows 95, 98, and Me. WSL9X operates by running a modern Linux kernel (6.19) alongside the Windows 9x kernel, enabling features such as paging, memory protection, and pre-emptive scheduling. It is neither emulation nor virtualization and does not require hardware virtualization. WSL9X is available for download, but users must build it from the source provided by Hailey. It allows access to a genuine Linux terminal alongside classic Windows applications, enabling various tasks without compromising system stability.

Winsage

April 24, 2026

WSL9x: Add An Entire Windows 9x Subsystem To Your Linux

The Linux Subsystem for Windows 9x, led by Hailey Somerville, allows Linux to run within the Windows 9x framework by modifying the Linux kernel to interface with Windows 9x kernel APIs. Users need to create a specially modified Linux kernel (version 6.19) and a disk image with Windows 9x installed. The subsystem can be initiated with the wsl command, enabling both kernels to operate together. This initiative is reminiscent of Cooperative Linux and parallels the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2) on Windows 10 and later. Contributions from the community have been vital to the project's development.

Winsage

April 23, 2026

Get Linux on your ancient 486 Windows 95 desktop using WSL9x — very old Windows PCs can cooperatively run very modern Linux kernels

A computer enthusiast has developed a tool called WSL9x, which allows users to run contemporary Linux kernels on early versions of Windows (from Windows 95 onward) and on machines with 486 CPUs. WSL9x enables the simultaneous operation of Windows and Linux applications without relying on hardware virtualization. The architecture includes a client program, wsl.com, which manages a DOS window for the console driver. Meanwhile, the Linux community is phasing out support for the Intel 486 CPU, with developers removing related support options in the Linux kernel, marking the end of support for this processor.

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

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.

Winsage

October 19, 2025

DOSBox Pure Unleashed is ready for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers after five years in development — enhanced standalone release no longer restricted to being a RetroArch core

DOSBox Pure Unleashed is a new version of the DOS emulator developed by Psyraven, released on Saturday evening. It is a standalone application compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux, featuring a user-friendly interface. Key enhancements include experimental support for Windows 9X, the ability to run games from ZIP archives, Voodoo graphics emulation up to 4K/UHD resolution, and integration of MIDI synths and SoundFonts. The emulator is available for download on its GitHub page, and its source code is accessible under the GNU General Public License, version 2 or later.

Winsage

September 14, 2025

Millennium edition of Windows is 25 years old

On September 14, 2000, Microsoft released Windows ME, the last version of Windows to rely on MS-DOS. It was intended as a successor to Windows 95, 98, and 98 SE, offering discounted updates and compatibility with existing software. Windows ME obscured DOS, making it less accessible for users, and eliminated the ability to create bootable DOS copies from formatted floppy disks. It inherited system file protection from Windows 2000 to prevent "DLL hell," where application software replaced system libraries, causing other programs to fail. Windows ME aimed to bridge the gap between Windows 98 and Windows XP, but users faced compatibility issues with programs not designed for the new version. The control panel adopted a web-like appearance, and documentation transitioned to HTML format. Windows ME had minimal system requirements of a 150 MHz Pentium and 32 MB of RAM, and performance tests showed negligible differences compared to Windows 2000. Windows XP was released a year later, marking the end of DOS's relevance in Microsoft's operating systems.

Winsage

August 24, 2025

On This Day in 1995, Microsoft Debuted Windows 95, Complete With Music Composed by Brian Eno

On August 24, 1995, Microsoft unveiled Windows 95, a significant operating system in the Windows 9x family. The startup sound for Windows 95, known as “The Microsoft Sound,” was created by musician Brian Eno, who was approached by Microsoft in 1994. Eno produced a six-second audio clip that replaced the previous Windows 3.1 sound and also served as the shutdown audio. He created eighty-four variations before finalizing the sound, which was designed to be inspiring and universally appealing. The sound's cultural significance led to its preservation by the Library of Congress in 2025.

Winsage

June 26, 2025

How PC makers exploited BIOS copyright strings to unlock trial software during the Windows 95 era

Microsoft veteran Raymond Chen recounted issues during the development of Windows 9x, particularly regarding software copyright violations among PC manufacturers. The Windows 95 team aimed to ensure compatibility with various PCs, discovering a BIOS string "Not Copyright Fabrikam Computer" while examining firmware. In the early 1990s, branded PCs often had preinstalled software that unlocked premium features based on specific BIOS strings. Some manufacturers, like the fictional "Contoso," manipulated these strings to bypass licensing fees, which was likely illegal. The developers faced challenges retrofitting Plug and Play technology onto older systems while navigating these deceptive practices.