- This article is dedicated to Operating systems that have been discontinued.
- See also History of emulation page.
- note this article is currently mirroring Emulators on MSX
- For software that runs these systems on other hardware see x86 CPUs, Macintosh emulators, and MSX emulators.
- Platforms in this article - DOS, MSX-DOS, MSX-BASIC, Classic Mac OS, Windows 9x and IRIX.
DOS
Born from the dawn of the digital age, DOS, reigned supreme through the 80s and early 90s. Though far from sleek, its unassuming might empowered millions to navigate the nascent world of personal computing.
With bare bones efficiency, DOS offered accessible power. Simple commands unlocked a plethora of tasks, from crafting documents to unleashing the magic of text-based adventures. For countless users, DOS wasn't just a tool; it was a canvas for exploration, a gateway to programming adventures and tinkering with the very fabric of digital logic.
While its limitations challenged and its error messages mocked, DOS fostered a generation of resourceful pioneers, adept at navigating command labyrinths and conjuring digital magic from lines of code. This era forged a unique bond between user and machine, where every keystroke held consequence and mastery felt truly earned.
Though DOS may grace museums now, its influence echoes in every modern operating system. Its legacy of simplicity and raw power reminds us that the most transformative innovations often arise from humble beginnings.
- For software that emulates DOS on other hardware, see x86 CPUs.
Consoles
Atari
- Atari 2600
- Atari ST
Nintendo
- NES (Nintendo Entertainment System)
- SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System)
- Game Boy / Game Boy Color
- Game Boy Advance
- DSiWare
Sega
- Master System / GameGear
- Genesis / Mega Drive
- VMU
Sony
- PocketStation
Magnavox
- Odyssey
- Odyssey²
NEC
- PC-FX
- PC-8800 series
- P88SR
- Only compatible with DOS/V incompatible PC-98 machines running MS-DOS.
Other Consoles
- GCE
Vectrex
- Emerson
- Emerson Arcadia 2001
Computers
Commodore
- Commodore 64
- Amiga line
Sinclair
- ZX81
- ZX Spectrum
Other Computers
- Sharp
- X1
| Name
|
Version
|
X1T
|
X1TZ
|
X1Tw
|
FLOSS
|
Active
|
Recommended
|
| X1EMU
|
0.5
|
✓
|
✗
|
✗
|
?
|
✗
|
✗
|
- Apple
- Macintosh line
- Microsoft
- MSX series
- Amstrad
- Amstrad CPC
x86 CPUs
Source ports
- Super Mario 64
MSX-DOS and MSX-BASIC
You can use your MSX machine to run emulators too!
- For software that emulates MSX on other hardware, see MSX emulators.
Nintendo
NES
Game Boy
Sega
SG-1000
Commodore
PET 2001
Microsoft
MSX
Coleco
ColecoVision
Sinclair
ZX Spectrum
Amstrad
CPC
Chip8
Chip8
External links
Classic Mac OS
From 1984 to 2001, Classic Mac OS, with its revolutionary graphical user interface and iconic single-button mouse, sparked a digital revolution. It empowered users with intuitive interaction and laid the foundation for modern computing interfaces.
Classic Mac OS
|
| Developer
|
Apple
|
| Type
|
Operating systems
|
| Release date
|
1984
|
| Discontinued
|
2001
|
| Latest release
|
Mac OS 9
|
- For emulators that run on macOS (previously Mac OS X), see Emulators on macOS.
- For software that emulates Classic Mac OS on other hardware, see Macintosh line.
Nintendo
- NES/Famicom
- Super Nintendo
- Game Boy/Color
Sony
- PlayStation
| Name
|
Latest Version
|
68k
|
PPC
|
FLOSS
|
Active
|
Recommended
|
| Connectix VGS
|
1.4.1
|
✗
|
✓
|
✗
|
✗
|
✓
|
Commodore
- Vic 20
- C64
Sinclair
- ZX Spectrum
Amstrad
- Amstrad CPC
Tandy
- TRS-80
Apple
- Apple III
Palm
- Palm OS
Windows 9x
Windows 9x
|
| Developer
|
Microsoft
|
| Type
|
Operating systems
|
| Release date
|
1995
|
| Discontinued
|
July 11, 2006
|
| Latest release
|
Windows Me
|
| Successor
|
Windows NT
|
- For software that emulates Windows 9x on other hardware, see Windows_95/98/ME_emulators.
From 1995 to 2000, Windows 9x based operating systems painted the nascent digital landscape with vibrant hues and infectious possibilities. Though often temperamental, its intuitiveness and accessibility ushered in a new era of personal computing.
The iconic desktop metaphor and pre-installed games beckoned exploration, while dial-up connections hummed the soundtrack to global connectivity. Floppy disks, the currency of shareware treasures, fostered vibrant communities, united by troubleshooting forums and a shared language of shortcuts and error messages.
Windows 9x was a democratizing force, empowering users to create, connect, and play. Paint and Game Maker unleashed creativity, while Glide-based games ushered in a new era of 3D graphics for computers. Its limitations fostered ingenuity, and every mastered tweak felt like a personal conquest.
Though now as a legacy OS, Windows 9x's influence on interface design, user interaction, and accessibility remains. It was a learning platform, a social hub, and a canvas for digital dreams. A colorful pixelated playground that forever changed the trajectory of personal computing.
- Some emulators for MS-DOS are able to be used on a windows 9x system, only emulators for/with a version for windows 9x are listed below.
Consoles
- Nintendo
- NES (Nintendo Entertainment System)
- SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System)
- Nintendo 64
Arcade
- Multi-Arcade
Source Ports
- ScummVM
IRIX
IRIX
|
| Developer
|
Silicon Graphics
|
| Type
|
Operating systems
|
| Release date
|
1988
|
| Discontinued
|
2013
|
| Latest release
|
6.5.30
|
Consoles
- Game Boy Advance
Computers
- Atari ST
- x86 CPUs
- Macintosh
- ScummVM
References
- ↑ As calculated by Carlo Delhez's clkfreq, originally distributed with his XTender emulator. The ZX81 has relatively complicated timing mechanics, depending on signalling of WAIT during NMI; relative speed is a measurement of how closely an emulator matches a real machine in terms of clock cycles spent processing within a frame. 100.0% denotes the same execution speed as a real machine.
- ↑ After turning off the simulated hardware improvements that were not standard in the original computer.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Shareware. Requires license to unlock full version.
- ↑ recommended if you have a 3dfx card
