This is an old revision of the document!
Table of Contents
Old Windows starter guide
So you want to jump into old Windows? Fasten your seatbelt, as you might not be ready for what it takes.
Virtualisation
Obviously, if you live in 2026, the best way to get old Windows running is a virtual machine. Modern hardware supports usually only Windows 10 and 11.
Note on virtualisation of Windows 9x
When in doubt, go NT. Windows 9x is terrible on new processors, as after some Spectre / Meltdown mitigations it just keeps BSoDing even on VMs. I think Intel 10th or 11th gen was the first one to go quirky 1). On AMD anything marked with Ryzen is probably also a sudden death scenario 2). If you are on those processors, forget KVM, forget hardware-accelerated virt. It will yield you nothing, unless I do not know something yet.
Somehow, Me was the least quirky during testing on a Ryzen 4000-series mobile CPU - it got through the install, but it's still barely bearable. I cannot stress it enough - when in doubt, go NT.
If you really need 9x in a box on modern hardware, the way to go is 86box / PCem and trying to set up a virtual PC fast enough to not make you commit crimes.
If you're somehow still on Windows 7, great news! Virtual PC 2007 is the king there, and it works flawlessly. Otherwise, you can get some success on VMware. But only if you are not on a said cursed processor. Skylake / Kaby Lake works fine tho.
Generally Windows 9x was not a great product anyway, with no proper isolation of processes and BSoDs when you looked at it the wrong way. NT maybe wasn't the great choice for games and NT 4 was not particularly friendly, but usually this is what you want to not get yourself a blister on your thumb 3). Really. when in doubt, go NT.
Bare metal - hardware choice
This is where it gets fun. Some Windows versions where actually supported much longer than you think on the side of hardware, and maybe you can get some relatively new box run the Windows version you want.
Windows XP
You are officially supported on Intel side until Ivy Bridge series of processors, including integrated graphics. Although the drivers start to get quirky - but you can run it natively with minimal effort.
On AMD side of things, you are fine until the Bulldozer series - so all the AMD FX processors and Am3+ CPUs will run XP like a breeze - but this is heavy overkill territory.
Windows 2000
Intel did a nice gift to us. You can run Core 2 Duo natively with Windows 2000, although you need a specific chipset, and mostly only 1st gen Core 2 (Conroe / Arrendale / whatever) runs fine.
If you want, Intel 945G / Intel 965G chipsets are really a good bet. You get chipset drivers, and you can get official drivers for those terrible GMA integrated graphics.
AMD side of things still to be confirmed.