ReactOS 0.3.14
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ntReactOS is no flash in the pan; look at the years on the copyright notice to see how far back this project goes.
ReactOS: set-up
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
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
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
ReactOS: apps
ntA familiar collection of applications: Notepad, RegEdit, and the Device Manager.
ReactOS: old favourites
ReactOS: old favourites
ntSolitaire, Minesweeper, and the command prompt.
ReactOS: installing new software
ReactOS: installing new software
ntInstalling new software is a similar process to other open-source package-management solution.
ReactOS: installing Firefox
ReactOS: installing Firefox
ntAfter downloading the Firefox package from the Application Manager, the usual Windows installer appears.
ReactOS: running Firefox
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
ReactOS: a front end to system.ini
ntWhere was this tool when I needed it?!?!
ReactOS: Diablo II
ReactOS: Diablo II
ntOh boy, Diablo II; this is going to be awesome!
ReactOS: Diablo II, not so 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
ReactOS: installation
ntEven the ReactOS installer throws back to the Windows installers of yore.
ReactOS: installation restrictions
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
ReactOS: file systems
ntReactOS has one choice of filesystem, and the filesystem of choice shall be FAT.
ReactOS: installation progress
ReactOS: installation progress
ntThanks to its lightweight size, installation of ReactOS was quite quick.
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nt (Image Credit: Chris Duckett/TechRepublic)
