Someone wrote a Javascript app that accurately emulates Windows 95 on almost any platform

[R0H1T]

And yes. It can run Doom, but not Crysis​

Throwback Thursday: Are you yearning for the days when operating systems were simpler and less bloated? If you have fond memories of the early days of Microsoft Windows and want a quick nostalgia fix, instead of pulling that 1995 laptop out of the attic, just download Windows 95.exe.

You may have heard of a programmer named Felix Rieseberg. He was Slack's senior staff engineer and engineering manager before moving on to work for financial infrastructure builder Stripe. He also helps maintain Electron.

Electron is an open-source framework that uses web technologies to build desktop applications. Specifically, Electron takes programs written in Javascript with a Node.js backend and renders them in a Chrome engine — not to be mistaken for the standalone Chrome browser.

Since 2018, Rieseberg has been quietly working on a project that recreates Windows 95 as a compact executable file, and it's pretty cool. He released the most recent version, Windows95 v3.1.1, about two weeks ago, and it caught the attention of BetaNews earlier this week.

The app works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with dedicated versions for 32-bit, 64-bit, and Arm architectures. The program is very lightweight, ranging from 234MB to 313MB, depending on the platform.

We got to try it out on macOS Monterey (Version 12.6), and it emulates Windows 95 reasonably well, including its occasional instabilities. It even runs Doom, which comes preinstalled along with a few other third-party games. The Microsoft classics (Minesweeper, Solitaire, Hearts, and FreeCell are there under Accessories in the Start menu. And let us not forget good ol' MS Paint, Notepad, and Calculator right there in the same folder. Sound is broken for Mac since it is still on version 3.0.0, but that reportedly was fixed in 3.1.1 for Windows.

Network Neighborhood is present, but we couldn't get it to function with our modern networking hardware, which is unfortunate since there is a working version of Netscape Navigator on the desktop, itching to struggle with modern websites. And let's not forget those great pre-packaged internet installers, like AOL, AT&T WorldNet, and Prodigy, that we were all so fond of deleting immediately.

The program also has a floppy disk emulator. You are supposed to be able to mount a disk image (.img) and then run it from My Computer's A: drive, but we didn't have any old floppy files handy. Maybe some readers can leave a comment if they figure out a way to get on the internet with it.

Don't forget to shutdown properly!

Overall, Windows95.exe is a fun trip down memory lane, but it's not something most people will find utilitarian enough, even if they can get networking to function. It is totally worth the download, if only to play Doom for a while. All versions can be found on GitHub.

Someone wrote a Javascript app that accurately emulates Windows 95 on almost any platform

You may have heard of a programmer named Felix Rieseberg. He was Slack's senior staff engineer and engineering manager before moving on to work for financial infrastructure...

www.techspot.com

 

[AsRock]

Only a idiot would use java for a OS, it's bad enough it's still used today.

 

[R0H1T]

Well it's a good thing they're using JS then, not Java

 

[Dr. Dro]

Truly, web "development" at its peak.

I don't miss dial-up, but I do miss Windows Media Player and online radio. Windows losing this functionality honestly set it back 20 years in my book.

 

[R-T-B]

Only a idiot would use java for a OS, it's bad enough it's still used today.

It's javascript, not java.

So worse.

 

[stinger608]

I for sure don't miss dial-up internet.

But, regardless if this is Javascript or not, it's actually a cool idea.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

Why?

Why?

 

[xtreemchaos]

sounds like fun, some days i long for yesteryear with all its quirks.

 

[dgianstefani]

Truly, web "development" at its peak.

I don't miss dial-up, but I do miss Windows Media Player and online radio. Windows losing this functionality honestly set it back 20 years in my book.

MPC HC

GitHub - clsid2/mpc-hc: Media Player Classic

Media Player Classic. Contribute to clsid2/mpc-hc development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

 

[P4-630]

https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/general-nonsense.232862/post-4861395

 

[Dr. Dro]

MPC HC

GitHub - clsid2/mpc-hc: Media Player Classic

Media Player Classic. Contribute to clsid2/mpc-hc development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

I've used MPC-HC with K-Lite codec pack for years, it's a nice WMP 6.4-style player but I was specifically referring to how Windows Media Player 7.1 and 9 series were significantly more intuitive programs and their online radio support (like Winamp's SHOUTcast) were so much better than the default options provided today. They were even extensible with DirectShow and VFW, something that the modern UWP apps aren't capable of.

You could even have the original 1999 WMP 6.4 playing modern formats with the help of K-Lite under Windows XP

 

[64K]

My first online experience was in 1985 on a C64 logging onto Bulletin Board Systems. It was very cool to me but my 300 Baud modem was so slow.

My first online experience on PC was 56K using AOL.

AOL Dial Up Internet Connection Sound + You've Got Mail (America Online) 90's

There's been too much progress since those days that I don't miss dial-up at all.

 

[R-T-B]

My first online experience was in 1985 on a C64 logging onto Bulletin Board Systems. It was very cool to me but my 300 Baud modem was so slow.

My first online experience on PC was 56K using AOL.

AOL Dial Up Internet Connection Sound + You've Got Mail (America Online) 90's

There's been too much progress since those days that I don't miss dial-up at all.

Ah the internet was so welcoming in the old AOL loading logo. All those random people waiting to greet you and not at all try to steal your passwords or bank details.

 

[sepheronx]

Man, I remember when we got 1mb/s connection after our 28k dial up. Since I could now load porn I downloaded from Napster and probably loading up my PC with virus, made my life much happier.

I miss those days.

 

[Jacky_BEL]

Truly, web "development" at its peak.

I don't miss dial-up, but I do miss Windows Media Player and online radio. Windows losing this functionality honestly set it back 20 years in my book.

You can still use WMP to listen to online radio. I have made shortcuts on the desktop to listen to online radio with WMP.
You will first have to find the URL for the online radio station stream.

 

[Dr. Dro]

You can still use WMP to listen to online radio. I have made shortcuts on the desktop to listen to online radio with WMP.
You will first have to find the URL for the online radio station stream.

I know, that's because the streaming system wasn't removed. But you see, back then you had an actual webpage that you could access from within it with several channels available from all over the world. It was just intuitive and accessible, nowadays WMP is just buried under some legacy application thing, without maintenance since they decided to phase it out beginning with Windows 7 and that diminutive "WMP 12" they came up with.

This is easily one of Windows' most glaring regressions.

 

[Shrek]

Emulating Windows 95

Useless, but still impressive