How I turned my browser into a Windows XP time machine

Summary

If you’re feeling nostalgic about Windows XP, you can now run an emulation of it in your web browser.
The project was made by a Redditor who wants to help people “bring back some memories.”
Accessing the Windows XP emulator in your browser is very simple, and you don’t need to install anything.

The first Windows operating system I vividly remember using is Windows XP. It’s hard not to be nostalgic for that iconic boot-up noise and those rolling green hills that appear when you first log in. Windows XP was replaced by Windows Vista in 2007, which was then succeeded by Windows 7 in 2009. As a result, it has already been nearly two decades since it was widely used.

If you’ve always wanted to revisit the glory days of Windows XP and scratch that nostalgia itch, but don’t have an old PC floating around, don’t worry — you can relive the experience of using Windows XP again right in your web browser on your current PC.

This is thanks to a Redditor by the name of ducbao414, who shared a project they’ve been working on recently, which emulates Windows XP right in your internet browser — no installation required. This means you can experience the iconic Windows XP boot-up sound again, bask in those gorgeous green hills, and play around with some of Windows XP’s most famous apps, like Paint and Minesweeper, all without having to troubleshoot and get an old PC running Windows XP to boot again.

“I made this Windows XP-in-the-browser project a while ago as a way to revisit the nostalgia of my childhood, and hopefully bring back some memories for others too,” ducbao414 explained on Reddit. “Today, July 13, marks 25 years since Windows XP development first began, so it felt like a fitting time to share it.”

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How to run Windows XP in your browser

Transport yourself back to the early 2000s

If you’re intrigued by the idea of running Windows XP on your PC’s browser, simply visit https://win32.run/ and select Start Windows Normally. You’ll then boot right into the Windows XP experience in your browser. Make sure your audio is turned up all the way so that you can hear the magnificent doooo-dum… ding-ding boot sound (it’s tough to spell phonetically, but I tried).

From there, you’ll be greeted with the classic Windows XP desktop experience and those famous green hills. You’ll notice that several applications are already available on the desktop, including Paint, Minesweeper, and Microsoft Word. I booted up all three of them, and they all work surprisingly well. You can view a sample of my Windows XP Paint artwork in the image gallery above. If you want to change the desktop background, you can do that too. Just right-click the desktop and select Properties, and you’ll see a selection of classic Windows XP wallpapers to choose from.

Unfortunately, Minesweeper seems to be the only classic game that works with this Windows XP emulation project. Other classic games, like 3D Pinball – Space Cadet and Solitaire, aren’t available. A Solitaire game appears in the Games list, but it redirects you to a third-party website to play it, and it’s not the original version.

Overall, if you’re looking to pass some time and want to relive what it was like to use Windows XP again, this fun little in-browser experience is a great way to do it.

You can open Internet Explorer, but it can’t load any web pages, which again isn’t surprising, given that this is just an emulation project. The Media Classic Player does work, so if you want to jam out to the included Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 sound file, you can. Additionally, the Windows XP Welcome Tour also works, which guides you through the features of Windows XP.

On the desktop, you’ll notice there is a file called “some stuff.zip” and when you click it, it will unpack two folders, one called Games (which are just the same ones already available) and one called “some stuff” which includes some pictures, word files, and videos to play around with. There is a folder called Pens, which you can use to check out some cool HTML files, such as one that allows you to view the solar system. You can check out the original Reddit thread where this project was shared below.

Overall, if you’re looking to pass some time and want to relive what it was like to use Windows XP again, this fun little in-browser experience is a great way to do it. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can even try installing and running Windows XP on your iPad. I’ve done it on my iPad, and it works, though with a few caveats.