Homebrew Windows on the New 3DS

[kuro0628neko]

After weeks of trying to get this to work, I finally found the correct Windows image file for 95. It was INSANE seeing the thing load up. Now that it's fully booted, however, the screen reads "The size of the C:/TI83F_1_.BUM file is being misreported…" What do I do to get beyond this screen, as it appears there is no way to make a cursor appear?

 

[manokitboi]

gives me this. idk what to do since i have no keyboard

 

[Moon164]

It's possible to run Windows 95 on the Old 3DS ?

 

[Seriel]

It's possible to run Windows 95 on the Old 3DS ?

Yes it is. There are rough instructions in the original post of this thread. But given it seems to be abandoned, you're largely on your own if it doesn't work.

 

[dragonflylee]

Thank you for this

 

[Figgy2112]

I Got It Working but When It Boots it Crashs My Entire N3DSXL

 

[Miloemulator]

There is already a thread about this created by shutterbug2000, but the author didn't really provide a tutorial or more info. I have added an smdh file for the logo, info, etc. and also got Windows 98 to work, so I figured there might be a separate thread for my version with the smdh file prepackaged, as well as batch files to launch Windows 95, 98, and 3.1.
Here is an imgur album of it in the grid launcher:
Here are YouTube videos of 95, 98, and 3.1:

• To install: Put the contents of this zip into /3ds/retroarch_3ds. (if there is no folder called that, create one)
• It will show up in the homebrew loader with a classic Windows logo.
• For Windows 3.1, put a WINDOWS folder into the retroarch_3ds folder
• For Windows 98, put an image of the system into the retroarch_3ds folder called W98.img
• For Windows 95, put an image of the system into the retroarch_3ds folder called W95.img
• Once you load up Windows N3DS, go to Load Content -> Select File -> smdc:/ -> 3ds -> retroarch_3ds -> and choose which OS you want to run. ld31.bat = Windows 3.1, ld98.bat = Windows 98, ld95.bat = Windows 95
• Once it is loaded, you may have to change settings to allow you to move the arrow keys with the d-pad, to press enter using start, etc. by doing this:
• Open settings by pressing bottom screen, press b, go to settings, input, input user 1 binds. Change User 1 device type to Joystick (4axis/4buttons + kbd arrows) and then go back to the main screen. Save current config. You can then press the bottom screen again to resume the Windows startup.
• With this setting, D-PAD = Arrow keys, Start = Enter, Select = Esc

If you decide to use Windows 98, I recommend using a build of 98lite Professional if you can (for startup time).
I hope I helped you guys! Remember, this currently only works on New 3DS models. You will probably get a red screen if you try on the O3DS. It just doesn't work right now.

h esu ot wo

There is already a thread about this created by shutterbug2000, but the author didn't really provide a tutorial or more info. I have added an smdh file for the logo, info, etc. and also got Windows 98 to work, so I figured there might be a separate thread for my version with the smdh file prepackaged, as well as batch files to launch Windows 95, 98, and 3.1.
Here is an imgur album of it in the grid launcher:
Here are YouTube videos of 95, 98, and 3.1:

• To install: Put the contents of this zip into /3ds/retroarch_3ds. (if there is no folder called that, create one)
• It will show up in the homebrew loader with a classic Windows logo.
• For Windows 3.1, put a WINDOWS folder into the retroarch_3ds folder
• For Windows 98, put an image of the system into the retroarch_3ds folder called W98.img
• For Windows 95, put an image of the system into the retroarch_3ds folder called W95.img
• Once you load up Windows N3DS, go to Load Content -> Select File -> smdc:/ -> 3ds -> retroarch_3ds -> and choose which OS you want to run. ld31.bat = Windows 3.1, ld98.bat = Windows 98, ld95.bat = Windows 95
• Once it is loaded, you may have to change settings to allow you to move the arrow keys with the d-pad, to press enter using start, etc. by doing this:
• Open settings by pressing bottom screen, press b, go to settings, input, input user 1 binds. Change User 1 device type to Joystick (4axis/4buttons + kbd arrows) and then go back to the main screen. Save current config. You can then press the bottom screen again to resume the Windows startup.
• With this setting, D-PAD = Arrow keys, Start = Enter, Select = Esc

If you decide to use Windows 98, I recommend using a build of 98lite Professional if you can (for startup time).
I hope I helped you guys! Remember, this currently only works on New 3DS models. You will probably get a red screen if you try on the O3DS. It just doesn't work right now.

how to use the mouse

 

[signer-ink-beast]

Since this thread is alive again, here's my two cents.

I'd say install Windows 3.1 with the help of a handy-dandy guide. There should be very many of them on the Internet. Try looking at Vogons. I suggest actually doing this a version of DosBox running on a computer.

Copy the contents of the 11 or so installation floppies into a directory of your virtual C drive to make installation easier. If you look around with your favorite search engine, someone's done this already for you, so drag and drop. Then run it.

I've been using the same DOSGAMES directory with DosBox across various platforms for years. I actually haven't tried running Win 3.1 on my N3DS yet. But I've done it on the Wii's port of DosBox, both before and after it got dynarec. Win 3 is a novelty at best. It may run Ski Free or Solitaire, or the other BOWEP games. Some of those have homebrew remakes that you should look at instead (Jezzball DS or 3DS, Rodent's Revenge DS, Chip's Challenge DS; 3DS can emulate Atari Lynx version of Chip's Challenge via Handy RetroArch core).

I hated myself enough to try running Jumpstart Kindergarten 1998 in Win 3.1 on my Wii for shits and grins, preinstalled elsewhere and navigating the Win UI blind. Met with ear rape. Funny, 1994 won't run both in Windows and DOS. But Wii has less RAM than even O3DS, but these handheld CPUs... Hmm. Now I have to try it.

Oh, PS, make sure you set your display resolution in Win 3 to 640x480. Any higher, and you just won't see anything. You need to fix it elsewhere, likely DosBox on a PC.

Win 9x is PITA to set up in DosBox. Some forks, alongside old guides for vanilla DosBox, are helpful in trying to square it for mortals. I remember having limited success with running 95 in DosBox-X on a modern PC. Their documentation is worth consulting even within vanilla. It definitely won't do anything more than MAYBE run the UI on 3DS.

Spoiler: Additional advice regarding Win9x

If you want to emulate Win 9x today to play games, look at PCem or one of its successors. Don't bother with anything else. If a game supports Win 3, DosBox will do better than PCem. For 9x, use PCem. That is as good as it gets.

Qemu/Vbox et al are for anything that isn't a game. Vbox isn't worth bothering with. Qemu or bust on modern computers, and its not great for this particular thing. If you got XP computer with some horsepower somewhere (on bare-metal), Virtual PC 2007 is your best bet, virtualization-wise. I'm serious.

Get a cheap industrial PC that's been repurposed for retro gaming off eBay, where the hardware has actual driver support for Windows 9x if you tire of the papercuts of wine, emulation, virtualization, or code churn.

*People do these things just to see if they can. I like torturing weak hardware, and trying to do things you shouldn't. You know, within reason. Everything is so piss easy now with somewhat modern hardware circa 2015 and newer. Look at those newfangled handheld PCs! We got everything now. It's so easy, until it isn't.

I'll shut up now.

 

[SawyerTheNostalgicKid07]

i got it to boot the IMG File, and it says booting from A drive, but im getting this... do i wait or do i do something?

 

[Miloemulator]

i got it to boot the IMG File, and it says booting from A drive, but im getting this... do i wait or do i do something?

Wait

 

[SawyerTheNostalgicKid07]

Wait

ok

Post automatically merged: Nov 3, 2024

Wait

ive been waiting for 4 minutes i think but nothings happening...

 

[kuro0628neko]

I just remembered this existed lol. Since I have no cursor, how do I go about selecting an option? And which would be the best to select?

 

[signer-ink-beast]

I went ahead and tried running Spy Fox in Cheese Chase in Windows 3.1 in DosBox.

That is a very stupid way to run the game on the 3DS, considering it runs very well ScummVM. I show that briefly in the linked video below after trying to run it a couple of times in DosBox.

How awful the HE logo plays alone made this worth it for me. Very fun.