As improbable as it seems, Windows 95 can run on a new Nintendo 3DS, as proudly demonstrated by GBATemp user Shutterbug2000 in a video.
The hacking feat follows other memorable moments in coding cross-platform compatibility. Earlier last week, programming enthusiasts installed Linux on the PlayStation 4.
Perhaps this will raise the bar for other unorthodox combos, such as BeOS on an Xbox One or Windows XP on Nintedo 360.
Shutterbug2000's efforts to get Windows 95 working on the mobile console proves that during the winter holidays users have a lot of time to bemuse themselves with improbable combinations of hardware and software.
NeoGAF was the first to report on the coder's result. Shatterbug2000 used a RetroArch DOSbox, a Windows 95 .img file, and a "new" Nintendo 3DS to allow the antiquated Windows version to run on the Nintendo hardware. RetroArch DOSbox is an open-source DOS emulator.
According to the hacker, the old variant of 3DS is too short on RAM memory to support Windows 95.
He underlined that each time he attempted to run Windows 95 on the old 3DS, the operating system "froze on a rainbow glitchy mess."
You can check out the Windows-Nintendo mélange in the video below.
In case you're wondering what are the benefits of having a new hardware running an obsolete OS, read on.
"So..... If you got Dosbox retroarch core to work that would mean I can play Dangerous Dave and Battle Chess on my 3DS as well?" user NuikopeaDemon asked.
The answer from Shutterbug2000 is encouraging.
"Yeah, anything DOS based should work," the hacker confirmed.
Most old-school gamers see this as a chance to take advantage of the new 3DS to play retro Windows games.
Some ambitious coders wondered if they could surpass the technical difficulties of running Windows 95 on the original 3DS. The excitement over the Windows-Nintendo combo is visible, and mobile console players will likely find a myriad of impractical applications for a Windows 95-running handheld.
The Windows 95 installment on the 3DS adds to the increasing number or console jailbreaks.
Even if the PS4 has the reputation of being resilient to modding, the console has been jailbroken. This means that third-party software can work on the Sony's console, as the Linux installment recently proved.
Similar to the case of Windows-Nintendo, the PS4 modders also showcased their success by releasing a video showing how they attached a Game Boy Advance to a PS4 to play Pokémon. The Game Boy system is used as a controller for playing Pokémon.
As unbelievable as it may sound, crazier things other than running Linux on a PS4 have been attempted. For example, early versions of the PlayStation 3 included the OtherOS feature, which let users install other OS such as FreeBSD and Linux on Sony's console. The company released the PlayStation 3 (PS3) near the end of 2006.
Since user Shutterbug2000 did not provide a tutorial for installing Windows on the 3DS console, other members of GBATemp forum made their own.
User LarBob helps new users get the Windows party going on the handheld console with some video tutorials that you can watch. He notes that other Windows versions may be loaded on the new 3DS console, such as Windows 3.1 and even Windows 98.
Less tech savvy users who simply enjoy using the new 3DS to play Yo-Kai Watch will just look in amazement as backward compatibility brings old software to light on tomorrow's devices.
Even if some regard it as mere techie amusement, toying around with different OSs and hardware systems might lead to interesting results, and we will keep you posted on the latest experiments.
