Countless computer users have had Windows 95, 98 and XP. Now it is again possible to download the latest official bug fixes, drivers and updates for Windows 95, 98 and XP, via a new platform.
Windows 95, 98 and XP… So many people have had this as operating systems on their computers and let’s face it, it has been a big change and improvement. In 2011, Microsoft decided to say goodbye to these Windows versions. However, if you sometimes think back to those old Windows versions with nostalgia or if you sometimes still use old programs or hardware for your hobby, for example, then there is good news. Via the new Windows Update Restored platform, old updates for Windows 95, 98 and XP can be downloaded again, according to this message from AG Connect.
Warning
Before you read on, first a warning and disclaimer. You should always be careful when using such old Windows versions. Although the new platform offers the most recent official bug fixes, drivers and updates for Windows 95, 98 and XP, it concerns the updates that were available at the time. You are therefore not protected against the latest threats and threats and all this is at your own risk. However, you could run these versions in a virtual machine, more about that later.
Windows Update Restored
The creators of the new platform Windows Update Restored have more or less built a site that you can compare to what Microsoft offers with Windows Update. That platform is not from Microsoft itself, by the way. It concerns the patches, fixes, etc. that Microsoft also made available at the time, but that could no longer be found through the official channels for a long time. This allows you to update Windows 95, 98 and XP with the latest official bug fixes, drivers and updates until the end of support.
On this platform you will find the latest official bug fixes, drivers and updates for Windows 95 up to and including the first release (RTM) of Windows XP. Note that this only restores the update sites and not the automatic update functionality. The latter is baked into the operating system and that redirection would require some deeper adjustments, according to the message on AG Connect. To restore Microsoft’s update sites, the developers downloaded those sites from The Wayback Machine and then tracked down and added any missing downloads.
Virtual machine
If you want to run Windows 95 or, for example, Windows 98 (Second Edition), you can do so on a retro computer or you can use a virtual machine on a contemporary computer. The latter is safer and we therefore recommend it if you want to get started with one of those old versions.
