Vietnamese programmer 'revives' legendary Windows XP on browser

Windows has come a long way over the past two decades – for the better, depending on how you look at it. After four years of quiet, Windows 11 has finally surpassed Windows 10 in market share, as the end of support for the older operating system approaches.

But amidst the constant flow of updates, there are still users who quietly keep a corner of their hearts for the name: Windows XP.

Launched in 2001, Windows XP quickly became the "national" operating system thanks to its friendly interface, improved performance and wide compatibility.

Microsoft officially killed it in 2014, forcing most users to upgrade. However, many people still hold on to something of XP in virtual machines, or simply… in their memories.

Who has ever passed around the installation CD of this legendary version of Windows?

But now, if you want to “relive the golden days of XP” without the hassle of installation or security concerns, an interesting new project emerging on Reddit will make you smile.

A Reddit user with the account name ducbao414, owner of Github account Bao Nguyen, who according to the above information is located in Vietnam, has just shared a personal project that brings Windows XP experience right on the browser, through the web emulator tool at the address win32.run

Windows XP interface on the legendary Bliss wallpaper. Photo: Tue Minh

From the startup effect to the “legendary” desktop interface, every detail is fully reproduced, enough to evoke the childhood of an entire generation.

“I created this project to bring back childhood memories – and hopefully help others find that familiar feeling,” the author writes. “Today, July 13, also marks the 25th anniversary of the start of Windows XP development, so I thought it was a good time to share.”

In addition to the nostalgic interface, this XP emulator also comes with a series of classic games: Solitaire, Minesweeper - names that "devoured the time" of many office users in the early 2000s.

Not real XP, but doesn't need to be real either

Please note that this is just an interface simulation, not a full operating system. However, the Internet Explorer browser on the interface can still browse the web and run Flash Player.

Some users have also reported that XP's signature startup sound is not playing when accessed using Safari – as the browser prevents the sound from playing automatically without direct user interaction.

Indeed, this project is an emotional gift. In an age where computers are becoming more and more similar and software is losing its “familiarity”, a copy of Windows XP running in a browser is enough to make the whole community feel queasy.