Community-led site lets you update older versions of Windows like it's the 90s

[Shawn Knight]

In a nutshell: Retro computing enthusiasts recently launched a new site that restores update functionality to classic versions of Microsoft Windows operating systems, allowing users to update dated OSes like they used to back in the day from the Windows Update website.

Windows Update Restored v3.1 currently supports Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98 First and Second Edition, Windows Millennium Edition, and Windows 2000 (up to SP2). Future revisions will add support for Windows XP, Windows Vista, and beyond, we're told.

The site provides security updates, optional updates, and driver updates for compatible operating systems. These files were once available directly from Microsoft but when Redmond shut down its update servers in 2011, they became much more difficult to acquire.

The Internet Archive's Wayback Machine was instrumental in helping gather all of the requisite files for the service.

While a handy repository, it goes without saying that these updates are not going to magically bring machines running ancient operating systems into the modern era. As Ars Technica eloquently put it, the existence of a functional update site does not change the age of the updates. You are still only getting the last thing that Microsoft put out. In the case of Windows 95, for example, extended support ended in 2001.

Windows Update Restored could, however, be handy for retro gaming enthusiasts and others that like to tinker with old hardware that no longer connected to the Internet. You will have to link up to grab the updates of course, and you'll need at least Internet Explorer 5.0 to do so (but version 5.5 is recommended). The site also hosts Internet Explorer 5.5 if you need to upgrade. Once updated, simply unplug and carry on.

It is worth noting that this project is not affiliated with Microsoft in any way and is for archival purposes only. Unofficial service packs have long existed on the web but often, they include non-official mods that can sometimes introduce their own set of issues that have to be dealt with.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/99343-community-led-site-you-update-older-versions-windows.html

 

[guillejp]

This makes me want to setup a Win Me VM and update it, only to prove to myself again that I never had a problem with that OS, and I loooved how it looked at the time, beautiful!

 

[amghwk]

It's good, but nowadays, we already have "fortified" Win9x CDs that already have all the latest patches and updates fully applied when installed. (Though some may argue that it's illegal.) This removes the hassle of connecting to the internet just to download the updates and disconnect forever again.

Anyway, thanks for the heads up.

 

[Gezzer]

This makes me want to setup a Win Me VM and update it, only to prove to myself again that I never had a problem with that OS, and I loooved how it looked at the time, beautiful!

Then you were the lucky one friend. I installed it for shits and giggles and it's the only version of Windows that actually crashed while playing Windows solitaire. Fresh install, fully updated, nothing else installed, and it would lock up every time I played the game. After the third time I wiped it and went back to Win 2000

 

[guillejp]

Then you were the lucky one friend. I installed it for shits and giggles and it's the only version of Windows that actually crashed while playing Windows solitaire. Fresh install, fully updated, nothing else installed, and it would lock up every time I played the game. After the third time I wiped it and went back to Win 2000

Lol I know I was! And I fully admit it!

 

[Ben Myers]

The WayBack Machine is a treasure trove of old stull. I needed a full MS-DOS 6.22 for an important project (company could not ship its products), and I got a wayback version/

 

[lazer]

Yes, I remember the old OS's of Windows, how they constantly crashed and we got the BSOD (black screen of death).
Whereas I do not like Microsoft, still I have win7 on one computer and win10 on an other but I will never update. causes too many problems.

 

[bviktor]

This makes me want to setup a Win Me VM and update it, only to prove to myself again that I never had a problem with that OS, and I loooved how it looked at the time, beautiful!

Trust me, you're gonna be disappointed. Installed Windows XP a couple of months ago, and it's friggin' atrocious in today's age.

 

[guillejp]

Trust me, you're gonna be disappointed. Installed Windows XP a couple of months ago, and it's friggin' atrocious in today's age.

I know, but I love Me for its classic "98 but prettier" look.
XP on the other hand, I've hated it all along, what a crumbly fragile trash of an OS. The previous were like that too, but this one felt old at release and even stayed for 5 years.

 

[lazer]

I know, but I love Me for its classic "98 but prettier" look.
XP on the other hand, I've hated it all along, what a crumbly fragile trash of an OS. The previous were like that too, but this one felt old at release and even stayed for 5 years.

Problem is MS is not a tech company. They are a marketing company that markets tech products. They just buy a company and call it MS, but they themselves are lousy in tech.