Windows 2.9

Windows 2.9

Crusty Windows bootleg
The desktop of Windows 2.9
Original OS	Windows 3.0
Release date	2004
Author	air101
Country	Germany
Language(s)	English
Architecture(s)	x86 (16-bit)
File size	5.76 MB
Download link	Windows 2.9 Beta (Fake).zip

Windows 2.9 is a bootleg of Windows 3.0 created by air101 and released on OSBetaArchive sometime in 2004. This bootleg essentially pretends to be a beta version of Windows 3.0.

Description

This bootleg was likely created because, at the time of its release, very little was actually known about Windows 3.0 development. Not a single beta was known to exist, and it wouldn't be until 10 years after this bootleg was released that an authentic beta of Windows 3.0 was found (Build 55).

This bootleg is extremely sloppy, as most of the strings still refer to the OS as "Windows 3.0" (despite the setup being labeled "Windows 2.9").

Changes from Windows 3.0

• The setup now says "Windows Version 2.9 Beta" instead of "Windows Version 3.0". This is also true for the graphical setup (though most of the OS still refers to itself as "Windows 3.0"
• WINVER has been erased from existence, resulting in an error trying to copy it - either because the author couldn't figure out how to hex edit it properly, or to make it feel more like a "beta".
• Some applications are broken (probably due to a botched hex edit job) - CONTROL.EXE for example is completely busted.
• Some applications have their "About" version changed to say Windows 2.90.

Screenshots

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  Setup

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  Setup

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  Setup

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  Setup

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  Empty desktop

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  Changed about box

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  Unchanged about box! Yay, inconsistent versions!