The Windows 9x Project (95 OSR2.5, 98, 98SE, And ME)

The Windows 9x Project

The Windows 9x Project is a bootable ISO image that contains the setup files for four versions of Microsoft Windows operating systems: Windows 95 OSR2.5, Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition (SE), and Windows Millennium Edition (ME). The setup files are unmodified, and the product keys are included. The ISO image was created by Microsoft and uploaded to the Internet Archive in 2019. The purpose of the project is to preserve the legacy of the Windows 9x series, which was popular among home desktop users in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

What is Windows 9x?

Windows 9x is a generic term referring to a series of Microsoft Windows computer operating systems produced from 1995 to 2000, which were based on the Windows 95 kernel and its underlying foundation of MS-DOS. The first version in the 9x series was Windows 95, which was released on August 24, 1995. It introduced a new graphical user interface (GUI) called the Windows shell, which featured the Start menu, the taskbar, and the desktop. It also supported plug and play devices, long file names, and 32-bit applications. Windows 95 was followed by Windows 98, which was released on June 25, 1998. It improved the performance, stability, and compatibility of Windows 95, and added new features such as Internet Explorer, WebTV, Active Desktop, and USB support. Windows 98 SE was released on May 5, 1999 as an update to Windows 98. It fixed some bugs and added new features such as Internet Connection Sharing, Internet Explorer 5, Windows Media Player 6.2, and DirectX 6.1. The last version in the 9x series was Windows ME, which was released on September 14, 2000. It was designed to be more user-friendly and multimedia-oriented than previous versions. It included new features such as System Restore, Windows Movie Maker, Windows Media Player 7, and Internet Explorer 5.5.

The Windows 9x Project (95 OSR2.5, 98, 98SE, And ME)

Why use the Windows 9x Project?

The Windows 9x Project is useful for anyone who wants to experience or revisit the old versions of Windows that were once widely used. It can also be helpful for educational purposes, such as learning about the history and evolution of Microsoft's operating systems. The ISO image can be easily burned to a CD or mounted to a virtual machine using software such as VirtualBox. The installation process is straightforward and does not require any additional files or drivers. The product keys are provided in a text file inside the ISO image.

How to use the Windows 9x Project?

To use the Windows 9x Project, you will need a CD burner or a virtual machine software. You can download the ISO image from the Internet Archive or from other sources that may have mirrored it. You can then burn the ISO image to a blank CD using software such as ImgBurn or mount it to a virtual machine using software such as VirtualBox. You can then boot from the CD or the virtual machine and follow the instructions on the screen to install your desired version of Windows. You can choose from four options: Windows 95 OSR2.5, Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, or Windows ME. You will need to enter the product key for each version when prompted. The product keys are listed in a text file named "Product Keys.txt" inside the ISO image.

Conclusion

The Windows 9x Project is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to explore or relive the old versions of Microsoft's operating systems that dominated the home desktop market in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It provides an easy way to install and run Windows 95 OSR2.5, Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, and Windows ME on a physical or virtual machine. The ISO image contains unmodified setup files and product keys for each version. The project aims to preserve the legacy of the Windows 9x series and make it accessible to anyone who is interested.