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Calmira Reborn – a Windows 9x-inspired shell for Windows 3.1

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Re: Calmira Reborn – a Windows 9x-inspired shell for Windows 3.1

#11

Post by gattilorenz »

ickoonite wrote: post #8
ttrrooppeerr wrote: post #7

Took me a while to find the link, so here are some screenshots for you: http://calmira.net/screenshots/index.htm

Gosh, the first screenshot took me back. The MIDI player was part of a set of apps that came with the SoundBlaster 16 that stacked together like hifi separates. There was a CD player and a WAV player as well. Haven't seen them in, oooh, 25 years. http://calmira.net/screenshots/andrew.htm

A CD player, a Wav player... and a remote! They came also with later Creative SoundBlaster cards, I had that on my AWE 64 driver disc.

Re: Calmira Reborn – a Windows 9x-inspired shell for Windows 3.1

#12

Post by Bayart »

integricho wrote: post #6

So is there a light, Windows 9x-like (so really really fast and responsive) shell for Windows 10? I cannot believe how unresponsive Windows 10 is, the menus, windows, all opening with so huge delays, it's a disgrace.

If know of things from the UNIX world, like Blackbox for Windows.

Re: Calmira Reborn – a Windows 9x-inspired shell for Windows 3.1

#13

Post by LeoPanthera »

1vuio0pswjnm7 wrote: post #5

How do we download and install Windows 3.1 in 2023. I would like to install it on bootable USB stick.

Remember that Windows 3.1 is a shell, not an operating system. You need to install DOS first.

https://winworldpc.com/product/windows-3/31

And your choice of DOS:

MS-DOS 6.22: https://winworldpc.com/product/ms-dos/622 or, PC-DOS 2000: https://winworldpc.com/product/pc-dos/2000

A good choice for early PC emulation is 86Box: https://86box.net

Re: Calmira Reborn – a Windows 9x-inspired shell for Windows 3.1

#14

Post by Gordonjcp »

I used to use this in the olden days, when Netscape Communicator ruled the Internet and the webby company I worked for had their servers in my mate's kitchen in the flat upstairs, with a whopping 128kbps leased line.

I dual-booted my 486DX4/120 between Windows 3.1 (Windows 95 was out but who could afford that much RAM?) and some early Slackware.

Re: Calmira Reborn – a Windows 9x-inspired shell for Windows 3.1

#15

Post by [deleted] »

signaru wrote: post #10
1vuio0pswjnm7 wrote: post #5

How do we download and install Windows 3.1 in 2023. I would like to install it on bootable USB stick.

I searched that FreeDos can now somehow run Windows 3.1 [0], but the article only shows it on QEMU. FreeDos might be able to boot on a USB stick [1]. As for downloads, there's WinWorldPC where you could also find 16 bit Delphi 1.x. [0] https://virtuallyfun.com/2021/07/27/freedos-running-windows-... [1] http://wiki.freedos.org/wiki/index.php/How_to_Create_a_USB_B... Edit: I deleted my previous dosbox answer as it miss…

[deleted]

Re: Calmira Reborn – a Windows 9x-inspired shell for Windows 3.1

#17

Post by rpastuszak »

1vuio0pswjnm7 wrote: post #5

How do we download and install Windows 3.1 in 2023. I would like to install it on bootable USB stick.

Not sure about running it from a bootable USB stick, but DOSBox + Win 3.11 was fairly simple to set up on Mac, i.e. I have no internet, but MS Bob works like charm.

Re: Calmira Reborn – a Windows 9x-inspired shell for Windows 3.1

#18

Post by qwerty456127 »

I'd rather have a good (all I've seen are grotesquely low-quality gimmick) Windows3x/9x/XP shell for modern OSes.

IMHO what we need to preserve is retro UX seamlessly integrated into the modern world (e.g. a pixel-perfect Win3x-like DE based on all the modern libraries/kernels and this way capable of interacting with modern web and peripherals).

But it's definitely nice to see people are developing anything cool for Windows 3.11. I would certainly install it if my Windows 3.11 PC was not left in another country.

Any screenshots BTW?

Re: Calmira Reborn – a Windows 9x-inspired shell for Windows 3.1

#20

Post by pantalaimon »

protoman3000 wrote: post #16

Who uses these things productively as daily driver in 2023? No judgement, just curious.

I think those retro projects are mostly just for fun. There is nostalgia involved, but also those older systems tend to be easier to tinker with.
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