Windows 97

Windows 97 (version 3.5 stable) is a bootleg Windows 3.11 edition, which was created by Ideeman1994. It released on June 21, 2008 (latest build released March 24, 2012, which the author advertised on BetaArchive), and was added to the archive on December 10, 2021.

Windows 97

Crusty Windows bootleg
The desktop of Windows 97
Original OS	Windows 3.11
Release date	June 21, 2008 Latest: March 24, 2012
Author	Ideeman1994
Country	Belgium
Language(s)	English, French
Architecture(s)	x86 (16-bit)
Other version(s)	1.0 Beta, 1.0 Stable, 2.0 Stable With Extensions, 2.5 Stable, 3.0 Stable, 3.0 Stable With QEMU
File size	28.8 MiB
Download link	win9710frb.zip win9710frstable.zip win9720frextens.zip win9720frstable.zip win9725frstableupdate.zip win9730frstable.zip
Date added	December 10, 2021

Description

The bootleg is a modified Windows 3.11 ISO. It styles the OS with a Windows 95 theme and includes some old customization programs to complete the look.

The setup used is a completely custom one, using a specialized Windows 3.1 PE running a Delphi-based installer. You will boot into a startup menu which will allow you to either install the OS or boot from it like a live CD. The installation is done using a batch script which copies the "mini 3.1" to the C drive (assuming the user has already formatted it) and runs the setup. A boot floppy is provided for computers that don't support booting from a CD drive.

Changes from Windows 3.11

Changes in pre-desktop procedures

• The setup has been completely replaced with a custom one
• New setup graphics. The setup background is the Windows 95 setup
• New boot graphics. The boot screen is changed to a Windows 95 style one. It is static due to technical limitations

Look and feel

• New default theme, and wallpaper. The default wallpaper is set to the Windows 95 setup, with the author's branding added and a copyright disclaimer on the top right
• The shell is replaced with Calmira, a Delphi-based Windows 95-like shell
• The window buttons have now been themed to Windows 95

Software

• Win32s

Games

• FreeCell

Customization Utilities

• Mask98
• Calmira

Notes

Bootleg quirks

• The start menu banner's text is renamed to Windows 97.

Gallery

• 

  Initial screen

• 

  Setup while it's formatting

• 

  Setup in the graphical phase

• 

  Boot screen

• 

  Empty desktop

• 

  Start menu