Microsoft Word circa 1990 can now run on modern Windows, thanks to a new native port
Developer Justin Marshall recently ported Word for Windows 1.1a to modern Windows systems. The open-source conversion draws on the source code of the original program, which Microsoft shared with the community in 2014. Read Entire Article
Microsoft has recently released a modern version of its early Word software for Windows, thanks to a developer named Justin Marshall. The open-source port brings the original Word for Windows 1.1a to modern Windows systems, allowing users to experience the original WfW environment without any emulation or virtualization. Marshall successfully adapted the 16-bit code to work with modern 64-bit Windows environments by updating Win16 API behaviors to match Win32 APIs.
He rebuilt dialogs, cursors, and bitmap elements using native host tools through the CMake build process. Word for Windows debuted in 1989, marking the transition from DOS-based productivity tools to a GUI paradigm. A year later, Word version 1.1a added support for Windows 3.0. Today, Word has become the industry standard for word processing, and Microsoft now promotes its AI services through the software.
Despite this shift, Marshall's port aims to preserve the historical significance of Word and its original GUI.
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