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How I ported Windows XP to the original Apple TV (2025) (efi bootloader reactos drivers ntvdm hal windowsxp) (github.com | ia)
4 points by bmonkey325 55 days ago | 7 comments
  • shdon 53 days ago
    I wouldn't really call this a port, but it is definitely some impressive work in getting it to run on a platform this different from the target hardware.
    • dmitrygr 53 days ago
      I disagree. Custom HAL and bootloader were made. The rest of the OS was changed. This is a port IMHO
      • shdon 53 days ago
        From what I understand from his write-up, he's replaced several components with their counterparts from ReactOS (specifically the bootloader and the fallback video driver). Without access to the source code of the original OS and by using components from another, I'd call this an adaptation, rather than a true port. Your definition may differ, of course - and just for fun, I asked ChatGPT and it disagrees with me too 😂

        The part I would call a true port is how he changed the ReactOS bootloader to work with the AppleTV - looking through the commit history on that is fascinating, I can recommend it if you haven't done so. Check it out at https://github.com/DistroHopper39B/reactos/commits/AppleTV-D...

        To be honest, I'm actually more impressed by how he got XP to work almost entirely unmodified than if he had done what I would consider a true port of the full OS.

        • bmonkey325 52 days ago
          What do you call it ? a hack ? a bastardization?
          • shdon 52 days ago
            A hack seems an appropriate term, I could go with that. There's even precedent for that in how people got Mac OS working on the hardware that was not the official Mac and called it the Hackintosh.
  • bmonkey325 55 days ago
    Continuing in the fine tradition of porting and running obsolete software on obsolete hardware that was never intended to do so.
    • qingcharles 54 days ago
      That one was a lot of work! Hat off to the guy for managing to finally get it working.
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