Linux kernel spliced into windows 95 in a stunning hack
In a feat considered impossible, a hacker has successfully run the Linux kernel inside the Windows 9x family, including Windows 95, 98, and ME, in a cooperative manner. This means the real Linux 6.19 kernel is sharing the brain of an old computer with Microsoft's operating system. The project, dubbed WSL9x, is a nod to the Windows Subsystem for Linux used today in Windows 10 and 11.
Wsl9x: a modern linux kernel living inside windows 95
WSL9x consists of three parts: a modified Linux kernel, a special system controller, and a bridging program acting as a mediator between the two. This setup allows Linux to function without completely disrupting Windows 95's architecture. The most delicate aspect is how the two systems communicate.
In modern computers, there are mechanisms for handling system calls, but Windows 95 lacks this. So, the project uses alternative methods to deceive the system and make it work. When Linux needs to perform an operation, like accessing memory or executing an instruction, the system intercepts those calls and translates them so Windows 95 can understand.
Of course, Hailey recognizes the system is unstable. Since both operate at the same privilege level, any failure can cause the entire environment to lock up completely.
Windows 95: the many faces of one system
In today's world, installing Windows is almost automatic. But back then, with Windows 95, the story was much different. In fact, the installation process was far more complicated than it seems. It wasn't just installing Windows 95 and done. Rather, the system was cobbled together by passing through three distinct environments.
The basic idea was simple, though the result was not: Windows 95 had to be compatible with older machines that still ran MS-DOS or Windows 3.1. So, Microsoft couldn't have a single installation process like today, but had to build a system that could adapt to each case. That's why the installation wasn't a single program, but a kind of chain where the system would change as it progressed.
The process always started in MS-DOS, the basic system of the time, which was just text. From there, a very limited version of Windows 3.1 would be loaded, serving as a bridge to continue. That intermediate version would then detect the computer's hardware, copy files, and prepare everything needed for the leap to Windows 95.
When all was ready, Windows 95 would boot up, complete with its graphical interface, start menu, and more. This ensured Windows 95 would work on both modern computers of the time and older machines still using pre-Windows software.