Miss Windows XP or 7? Then I have a free, open-source alternative for you
ReactOS, a free and open-source operating system designed to resemble Windows XP or 7, is improving its user experience with a merged Live and Boot ISO for easier installation. The upcoming 0.4.16 release will streamline the setup process and expand hardware compatibility with a new ATA storage driver. Although still in alpha and not yet suitable for general use, ReactOS aims to become a viable Windows alternative with future updates.
- ▪ReactOS combines the LiveCD and text-based installer into a single ISO for simpler installation.
- ▪The OS remains in alpha development, making it unstable and unsuitable for daily reliance.
- ▪A full GUI installer is under development and expected in the 0.4.16 release.
- ▪ReactOS now supports SATA, PATA, ATAPI, and AHCI storage devices via a new ATA driver.
- ▪Users are limited to older web browsers like K-Meleon and Firefox 52 ESR in the current version.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Tech Home Tech Services & Software Open Source Miss Windows XP or 7? Then I have a free, open-source alternative for you If you're looking for a Windows alternative, but aren't ready for Linux, the open-source ReactOS is now as easy to install as Windows. Written by Jack Wallen, Contributing WriterContributing Writer May 4, 2026 at 10:28 a.m. PT ReactOS has always shown possibilities. Jack Wallen\ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.ZDNET's key takeawaysReactOS is a free, open-source Windows alternative.This OS has merged the Live and Boot ISOs for easier installation.The changes will arrive in the next release.I recently wrote about ReactOS in "My 5 favorite open-source operating systems that aren't Linux." One of those OSes is ReactOS, which aims to look and feel…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ZDNET.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from ZDNET
