A TechTuber nostalgically runs Windows 95 on a Nintendo 3DS with 256MB of RAM and a stylus pen — but painfully slow boot times hashed his mellow

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TechTuber MetraByte recently managed to get Windows 95 to run on the new Nintendo 3DS.
The modder encountered several setbacks during the process, including slow boot times, which can be attributed to the DOSBox’s reliance on the system memory and x86 emulation on the new Nintendo 3DS.
While the experiment proves its possible to run Windows 95 on the Nintendo 3DS, it struggles in several departments like running simple apps such as Paint, prompting him to abort his earlier mission of making music with the device.

As an observer with a rich background in technology and a soft spot for nostalgia, I find MetraByte’s endeavor to run Windows 95 on a Nintendo 3DS nothing short of fascinating. The sheer audacity of attempting such a feat is reminiscent of my early days tinkering with old computers, trying to squeeze every last drop of performance from them.

As an analyst, I find it intriguing that while Microsoft’s Windows operating system boasts a vast userbase, many seem to favor older versions such as Windows 95 or the current one, Windows 10, due to their intuitive user experience and appealing design aspects. Interestingly, the forthcoming end-of-support date for Windows 10, set for October 14, 2025, has sparked a mix of emotions among users who appear determined to continue using it, despite its approaching obsolescence.

Lately, the popularity of Windows 11 is increasing as more users opt for this latest version of Microsoft’s operating system, seeking ongoing support and security enhancements. However, it’s uncertain if all users will make the switch to Windows 11 or consider alternative systems like Linux or macOS instead.

As an analyst, I’ve recently come across an audacious endeavor by TechTuber MetraByte. He daringly sought to install Windows 95 on a Nintendo 3DS, with the primary intention being to compose music. To provide some context, this modernized Nintendo 3DS model boasts extra RAM (specifically, 256MB) and enhanced processing power, as detailed by Tom’s Hardware.

Maybe it’s more intriguing that MetraByte utilized a DOS tool intended for running vintage MS-DOS games to initiate Windows 95 on the Nintendo 3DS. However, it wasn’t an easy task. In fact, even getting the system to operate was quite challenging, and this became particularly difficult when he tried to start DOSBox and navigated through the command-line interface using a touchscreen and stylus.

The tech enthusiast attempted to install Windows 95 in the Nintendo 3DS several times, with each attempt taking up to 30 minutes. He finally managed to install the operating system in the classic handheld, it took over two hours. The process was characterized by the all-too-common Blue Screen of Death (BSoD), including multiple driver errors and a blue-and-gray interface.

MetraByte mentioned that he faced problems while running applications such as the 3D Maze screensaver and Microsoft Paint on the device, due to the operating system taking an unusually long time to load each color palette in the Paint app. This slowdown can be attributed to DOSBox’s heavy use of system memory and its requirement for x86 emulation on the latest Nintendo 3DS model.

As an analyst, I must admit that MetraByte’s experiment stirred a sense of nostalgia, demonstrating the ability of Windows 95 to operate on the Nintendo 3DS. However, the setup was less than optimal, leading me to abandon my vision of composing music using this device in conjunction with Windows 95. The main reasons were subpar performance and recurring Blue Screen of Death issues.

2024-10-21 18:39

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