Reviving a Classic: Microsoft Word for Windows 1.1a Now Runs on Windows 11
In an impressive feat of software engineering, developer John Marshall has successfully ported Microsoft Word for Windows 1.1a to the x64 architecture, enabling it to run seamlessly on Windows 11. This project, which Marshall describes in detail on his GitHub repository, is not merely an emulation; it is a fully functional native port of the historic word processor, originally codenamed Opus.
Marshall’s work involves a meticulous reconstruction of the original Word application, which dates back to the early 1990s. He has taken the original source code and resources, integrating modern replacements for the outdated 16-bit assembly language and adapting the software to navigate the complexities of segmented memory and the Win16 platform boundaries. The end product is a 64-bit executable that retains the classic user experience of the original Word application.
To achieve this, Marshall undertook a comprehensive translation of the original 16-bit Assembly language entry points into fixed-width C/C++ code. He mapped the segmented and double-indirect memory handles to a native runtime that is safe for x64 systems. Furthermore, he adapted various Win16-specific functionalities—such as startup processes, messaging, graphics, file handling, and resource behaviors—to align with current Win32 APIs. The effort extended to rebuilding original assets, including commands, dialogs, cursors, and bitmaps, using native host tools linked to CMAKE.
Interestingly, Marshall’s endeavor was made feasible by Microsoft’s decision to release the source code for Word for Windows 1.1a in 2014, alongside the source for MS-DOS 1.1 and 2.0. This treasure trove of historical software can be found on the Computer History Museum’s website, packaged in a 7 MB ZIP file that contains 1,021 files organized into 33 folders.
For those keen to experience this nostalgic software revival, setting up the port requires some technical know-how. Users will need a recent version of Visual Studio equipped with the “Desktop development with C++” workload, the latest Windows Software Development Kit (SDK), and CMAKE version 3.25 or newer. Additionally, a series of PowerShell scripts provided by Marshall must be executed to complete the installation process. While the setup may be a bit challenging, the reward is a unique glimpse into the past of word processing technology, now accessible on modern systems.
