A tech enthusiast nostalgically brings Microsoft’s retro GUI look and finish from the 90s to its “AI OS” — an early Windows 11 Halloween costume?

A tech enthusiast nostalgically brings Microsoft's retro GUI look and finish from the 90s to its "AI OS" — an early Windows 11 Halloween costume?

What you need to know

  • A tech enthusiast brings Microsoft’s retro GUI to Windows 11.
  • The user achieved this feat using third-party tools, including WindowBlinds, Retrobar, and Winaero Tweaker.
  • Windows 10 is slated to hit its end-of-support a little under one year, though Windows 11’s market share is growing steadily.

As a seasoned analyst with over two decades of experience in the tech industry, I find it fascinating to see how users continue to adapt and customize their digital experiences. The recent endeavor by user Awirstam, who successfully brought a 90s retro look to Windows 11, is a testament to this creativity and resilience.


Here I am, sharing some insightful tech news. In just over a year, on October 14, 2025, Microsoft will cease support for Windows 10. Surprisingly, despite this looming end, Windows 10 still holds a significant market share of approximately 62.79%. Interestingly, however, the market share of its successor, Windows 11, has been on an upward trend. It stood at 23.64% in September and now stands at 33.37%.

Although Microsoft has aggressively incorporated AI in Windows 11, it hasn’t been successful in generating much excitement or growth, as it appears that a significant number of users prefer sticking with Windows 10. Some of the reasons behind their hesitance to upgrade include the demanding system specifications for the new OS, its design flaws, and other issues.

Be it as it may, an avid tech enthusiast recently shared a nostalgic project of Windows 11 rocking a retro 90s look on Reddit’s r/windows 98 subreddit. Awirstam’s classic project is Windows 11 with Microsoft’s classic graphical user interface (GUI).

Windows 11 classic from r/windows98

A tech enthusiast with a penchant for vintage style customizes Windows 11’s appearance to resemble retro design, maintaining uniformity across Steam, Discord, and Telegram. As shared by Awirstam, this nostalgic aesthetic in Microsoft’s latest OS was created using a collection of third-party tools, which include WindowBlinds, Retrobar, and Winaero Tweaker.

As always, it’s worth noting that using third-party tools to alter Windows 11’s architecture could potentially harm or render your device unusable, so exercise caution. However, it’s possible to replicate Awirstam’s project on your PC to add a classic finish to Windows 11.

Windows 11 is gaining traction

A tech enthusiast nostalgically brings Microsoft's retro GUI look and finish from the 90s to its "AI OS" — an early Windows 11 Halloween costume?

Based on a recent IDC report, it seems that the surge in AI PC sales is more about consumers upgrading to Windows 11 and investing in future-proof devices rather than the AI features these devices offer.

It appears that Microsoft is choosing not to address the worries of users regarding the apparent demise of Windows 10. A community organization submitted a petition last year, urging Microsoft to rethink their decision about prolonging the support for Windows 10. They also pointed out Microsoft’s commitment to sustainability and warned that this move could set back their progress significantly because it would result in an unprecedented surge of discarded computers due to the largest ever upgrade leap.

More Prime Day deals and anti-Prime Day deals

Read More

2024-10-15 20:09