ReactOS: set-up

ntReactOS acknowledges the other free and open-source projects used to create this distribution. As can be seen in the GPL dialog to the left, ReactOS uses GPL v2.

ReactOS: desktop

ntReactOS aims to create an operating system that is binary compatible with Windows NT 5.0. That quest gets off to a good start with something I remember from Windows days of old: the new hardware dialog. It couldn’t find the drivers for it either, much like circa-2000 era Windows.

ReactOS: explorer

ntThe ReactOS explorer offers some extra functionality and views over its Windows namesake. At the bottom is the ReactOS collection of control panels.

ReactOS: apps

ntA familiar collection of applications: Notepad, RegEdit, and the Device Manager.

ReactOS: old favourites

ntSolitaire, Minesweeper, and the command prompt.

ReactOS: installing new software

ntInstalling new software is a similar process to other open-source package-management solution.

ReactOS: installing Firefox

ntAfter downloading the Firefox package from the Application Manager, the usual Windows installer appears.

ReactOS: running Firefox

ntFirefox functions without any issues, unless you hit that “Apply Update” button; then bad things happen.

ReactOS: a front end to system.ini

ntWhere was this tool when I needed it?!?!

ReactOS: Diablo II

ntOh boy, Diablo II; this is going to be awesome!

ReactOS: Diablo II, not so awesome

ntUm, yeah, this is not as awesome as I expected. Hopefully the bad colouring is because I am running this in a VirtualBox instance.

ReactOS: installation

ntEven the ReactOS installer throws back to the Windows installers of yore.

ReactOS: installation restrictions

ntAs alpha software, it’s no shock to learn that it isn’t as flexible as many other operating systems.

ReactOS: file systems

ntReactOS has one choice of filesystem, and the filesystem of choice shall be FAT.

ReactOS: installation progress

ntThanks to its lightweight size, installation of ReactOS was quite quick.

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nt (Image Credit: Chris Duckett/TechRepublic)