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- #INSTALL REACTOS ON VIRTUALBOX INSTALL#
- #INSTALL REACTOS ON VIRTUALBOX SOFTWARE#
- #INSTALL REACTOS ON VIRTUALBOX PC#
However, it is not Linux or Unix based OS at all – this is an NT5 upwards compatible OS. Whereas Q4OS went for a near identical look to Windows 2000/XP classic, ReactOS looks like a combo of Windows and Linux. The first boot pops up a familiar blue background with Microsoft style information/dialogue boxes asking further questions and finalising set up and hardware installation. I installed it in VirtualBox on my Early 2009 MacBook, and the installation completed within 5 minutes, after which I was presented with a nice looking boot screen reminiscent of Windows XP with a black background, centre logo, and progress bar. A few questions about language and drive options, and the installer sets off doing its thing, which it does very quickly.
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Installation is very simple, and for anyone used to installing Windows 2000 or XP, you will recognise the blue background and white text based installer. The ISO is 348 MB, around the same size as Windows 2000. With most open source software, it is available free.
#INSTALL REACTOS ON VIRTUALBOX SOFTWARE#
ReactOS has a similar look to Windows so that people used to the familiar interface of Windows could use it easily, allowing them to use an alternative to Windows without changing the software and applications they are used to. In 1998, the developers revived the project and renamed it ReactOS, this time basing it on an NT kernel. However, it failed to get off the ground. ReactOS stems from an earlier project called FreeWin95, which was started in 1996.
#INSTALL REACTOS ON VIRTUALBOX PC#
The name react is a reaction to Microsoft’s monopoly on the PC market. It is built completely from scratch by a non-Microsoft team. It is a replacement for Windows.Īccording to their website, ReactOS “is a free open source operating system based on the design principals found in the Windows NT architecture.” Before I continue, I should point out that ReactOS has nothing to do with Microsoft. ReactOS is different: It is a complete operating system that is compatible with Windows apps and drivers. My review of Q4OS was glared at by Linux users who couldn’t see why you would want to run Linux and then make it look like Windows.
#INSTALL REACTOS ON VIRTUALBOX INSTALL#
Both negate the need to install Windows itself. We already have Wine for running Windows apps on Linux as well as commercial software titles, such as Crossover from CodeWeavers, that allows Mac and Linux users to run Windows apps on their respective operating systems. Running Windows apps on other platforms isn’t new. But what if you need access to Windows apps? What if you like the look, feel, and functionality of Windows? I recently took a look at Q4OS, a Linux distro with a Windows skin, but it doesn’t allow you to install Windows apps seamlessly. What if you could run Windows apps without using Windows? Step up ReactOS. Moving to a new OS can be a steep learning curve, and you may have to leave behind your beloved Windows apps.
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