Installation Procedures

Installing Windows 95 on a contemporary PC can be a challenge, but it’s not necessary to do so directly; utilizing a virtual machine is a viable alternative. While DOSBox runs Windows 3.1 flawlessly as a lightweight emulator that requires no installation, it doesn’t officially support Windows 95. Hence, a more robust virtual machine like Oracle VirtualBox is recommended. This free software works on almost any modern computer.

To proceed with the installation, you’ll need two key files: a bootable floppy disk image and a Windows 95 CD image, which can typically be found online. I created a virtual machine with 128MB of RAM and a 2GB hard drive for this purpose.

This video offers a nostalgic look at Windows 95, showcasing how it has transformed over the years and remains relevant in some respects.

After setting up the virtual machine, we must create a disk partition using the "fdisk" command to establish our "C" drive, format it, and transfer installation files from the Windows 95 CD. Curiously, the installer sometimes struggles to locate files when run directly from the CD image.

User Interface Elements

Many user interface elements introduced in Windows 95 are still present in current operating systems. The iconic Start menu, for instance, has undergone redesigns but remains a staple in Windows today. Interestingly, while early keyboards lacked a dedicated "Win" key, the Ctrl+Esc shortcut continues to function in Windows 10.

Other enduring features include the system tray with a clock and icons, the Recycle Bin, and the taskbar. Notably, certain components, such as the Device Manager, have remained virtually unchanged over the past quarter-century, as illustrated in comparisons between Windows 10 and Windows 95.

The "Shut Down" window from Windows 95 also offered a way to boot into MS-DOS mode, a feature not available in modern systems, although Linux still provides similar functionality.

Internet Connectivity

During the 1990s, the Internet was an emerging technology, and Windows 95 supported both dial-up and Ethernet connections. Dial-up was the most common method, connecting through a telephone line via a modem. Users could hear the distinctive sounds of the modem establishing a connection, which varied based on speed, and a typical connection would yield around 3–4 KB per second—making web browsing a slow experience.

The browser included with Windows 95 was simply named "The Internet," later known as Microsoft Internet Explorer. Unfortunately, this browser lacks support for HTTPS, rendering most modern websites inaccessible. However, I managed to access the local HTTP server I created using Python, allowing for file transfers without the need for shared folders.

Furthermore, other nostalgic browsers like Netscape Navigator also struggle to connect to contemporary sites. Windows 95 provides access to Microsoft Network services, although attempts to sign up were unsuccessful due to server shutdowns.