Windows NT ported to Wii

[NiQ1]

If you thought Linux on the Wii was crazy, this one is outright insane. Someone managed to get Windows NT (versions 3.51 and 4.0) running on the Wii. This is not emulation - it's running natively. This is possible because Windows NT had ports to several RISC architectures: DEC Alpha, MIPS and PowerPC - and the Wii uses a PowerPC processor. Obviously it was never intended to run on the Wii, so just getting it to boot is huge. Follow the guide and you'd be able to launch Windows straight from the Homebrew Channel.

If you want to try it out, here are links:

• Bootloader and drivers (basically the main project) - The readme document has step by step instructions on how to install, just follow them and you should be good to go.
• Windows NT 4.0 Workstation PowerPC port ISO - This is the version of Windows you will need to install (refer to the readme in the previous link for instructions how to use).
• Windows NT 4.0 SP2 - Last update released for the PPC port. After you get the base OS installed, replace "disk00.iso" with this, restart and run "ppc\update.exe" to install.
• Motorola SoftWindows 32 for PowerPC - 3rd party utility providing partial 32-bit x86 emulation. Install after installing SP2.
• Microsoft Visual C++ 4.0 for PowerPC - Install this if you're crazy enough to write your own apps or port open source software to Windows NT for the Wii.

Now before you get too hyped up, don't expect too many things. Here are the limitations:

• Resolution is limited to 640x480.
• No audio support (though this is being worked on).
• No support for the Wii controller (although on GameCube compatible models, a GC controller can be used as a mouse).
• No network support whatsoever.
• Hardly any software support - Windows NT PPC supports software compiled natively for it (hardly any exists) and 16-bit DOS and Windows 3.x x86 apps. The 3rd party SoftWindows 32 tool provides partial support for 32-bit Windows NT and Windows 9x apps, but it's far from perfect. Office 95 seems to run fine on it. This is not a Wii specific issue - This is an inherent limitation of Windows NT PPC, and one of the main reason why it failed so miserably.

Now if you're thinking about gaming, you'd probably be limited to DOS games. Service Pack 2 was the last one to be released before the PPC port was abandoned, and Service Pack 3 (released only for x86 and Alpha) was the first to introduce DirectX 3. This means that PPC is stuck with DirectX 2, and hardly anything supports it. You will not be able to get Windows 95 games running on it.

Overall it's great for science and a huge feat for the developer just getting it to boot. Is it usable for anything? Probably not. But it's cool!

 

[JORGETECH]

I recently read about the Windows NT to PowerPC Mac ports so this was a matter of time I guess. I wonder if there are also PS3 and Xbox360 ports in the works.

 

[NiQ1]

I recently read about the Windows NT to PowerPC Mac ports so this was a matter of time I guess. I wonder if there are also PS3 and Xbox360 ports in the works.

It's the same person who ported it to the PowerMAC. Whether it gets ported to other platforms or not probably depends on how far that person is willing to go...

Wii is possible because it has close to zero security and apps and games have full control over the hardware, allowing them to do things like chain-loading an entire OS.
PS3 and Xbox 360 have hypervisors and overall better security, but the PS3 has the OtherOS feature, so Windows NT could probably be ported to boot on the PS3 using that (note that only PS3s running 3.20 or below or CFW will be able to boot it). It won't be of much use though, because you won't have access to the keyboard and mouse - On the Wii, the custom drivers communicate with the native IOS to access them, but the PS3 doesn't have that option - it expects the guest OS to natively access the keyboard via USB - and Windows NT doesn't support USB at all. You'd need to create a full USB stack driver to get it working. Theoretically possible - but not easy.
On the Xbox 360 I don't think it's possible at all, since it doesn't have any OtherOS functionality. Well, the Xbox OS itself is based on Windows though...

 

[Kwyjor]

This is not emulation - it's running natively.

Not sure if "port" is really the best term in this case.

Now if you're thinking about gaming, you'd probably be limited to DOS games.

Also probably worth emphasizing that the Wii port of DOSBox is probably much better for that.

 

[Larsenv]

fun fact the dude who caused the gigaleak is the one who had created this

 

[Krafter]

This is pretty cool but I have to ask why? lol. NT is old and it wasn't a very good OS.

 

[lwiz]

This is pretty cool but I have to ask why? lol. NT is old and it wasn't a very good OS.

In it's day:

For gaming? No, it wasn't good at all.

For it's intended purposes? Very good (including video/audio editing, 3d-gfx etc.)

• robust filesystem far beyond any competition in it's day
• stable as heck, in about any use
• and so on

//EDIT In reply to the original post. Quite cool, even if not that usable in this day and age

 

[SylverReZ]

Least it's better than DOSBox through the Wii. Emulating DOS games is very slow.

 

[Kwyjor]

Least it's better than DOSBox through the Wii.

Why would you say that..?

Emulating DOS games is very slow.

But Windows NT for the PPC also uses DOS emulation. (How else would you run x86 code on a PPC?) The emulator is also considerably more limited than what DOSBox can do. Someone found the source code a couple of years ago, but I don't think anyone ever really tried to do anything with it, probably due to the legal issues involved.

 

[SylverReZ]

Why would you say that..?

But Windows NT for the PPC also uses DOS emulation. (How else would you run x86 code on a PPC?) The emulator is also considerably more limited than what DOSBox can do. Someone found the source code a couple of years ago, but I don't think anyone ever really tried to do anything with it, probably due to the legal issues involved.

I tried running DOOM and simple platformers on my Wii and performance-wise wasn't all that great. Even games from the 80's that use CGA video would either softlock the system or takes 30 seconds to load. Maybe because I'm on a PAL system, I don't know.

 

[JORGETECH]

This is pretty cool but I have to ask why? lol. NT is old and it wasn't a very good OS.

I think the tecnical term is "for the lulz"

 

[NiQ1]

I think the tecnical term is "for the lulz"

For the challenge would be the more accurate answer.

 

[Subnetic]

It would be badass to get a games like Titanic: Adventure out of Time working
(The CD-R was compatible with NT and 95)

 

[Kwyjor]

It would be badass to get a games like Titanic: Adventure out of Time working

Did you read the post!?

Hardly any software support - Windows NT PPC supports software compiled natively for it (hardly any exists) and 16-bit DOS and Windows 3.x x86 apps.

Also, that game is apparently available on Steam and will probably run under modern Windows without too much difficulty.

 

[Subnetic]

Did you read the post!?

I did, that is why I said "it would be badass", and I didn't ask for, or imply for it to be attempted, or that I would attempt it(I aint got that experience anyways lmao), or anything like that.
It was quite literally just a comment, I guess lol apologies

Also, that game is apparently available on Steam and will probably run under modern Windows without too much difficulty.

Yes! It is. I have it through Steam, and owned the CD-R when I was growing up. It's a fun game. I just find running classic point and click games on Wii rather than PC to be unusually fun personally.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

At the moment there's not much you can do with this. But seeing what people have been able to accomplish in the past, maybe there is hope in getting some form of .NET running on PPC (even on an ancient Windows version such as this) which would relatively speaking open the doors wide when it comes to compatibility. I don't know who would be willing to work on something like that for something as niche as Windows NT for PPC, but weirder things have happened.
Either way, regardless of how useful (or not) it is, it's still cool and I love stuff like this. I remember running Windows 95 in some version of Bochs on an ancient Android smartphone just for the hell of it, it was too slow to do anything useful with, but it was still cool that it was even possible.

 

[master801]

At the moment there's not much you can do with this. But seeing what people have been able to accomplish in the past, maybe there is hope in getting some form of .NET running on PPC (even on an ancient Windows version such as this) which would relatively speaking open the doors wide when it comes to compatibility. I don't know who would be willing to work on something like that for something as niche as Windows NT for PPC, but weirder things have happened.
Either way, regardless of how useful (or not) it is, it's still cool and I love stuff like this. I remember running Windows 95 in some version of Bochs on an ancient Android smartphone just for the hell of it, it was too slow to do anything useful with, but it was still cool that it was even possible.

DotNet.

Good luck porting.

 

[Larsenv]

 

[SylverReZ]

That's really cool.

 

[Playerwii357]

Guys i really wanted to play megaman for pc on wii this is perfect. Though im gonna have to make the music with my mouth