WoW
| Developer(s) | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Latest version | 1809 |
| Active | No |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Emulates | Legacy Windows (16/32-bit) |
| License | Proprietary |
Windows on Windows (often shortened to WOW) is a component of Windows NT that allows 16-bit programs to run in 32-bit environments, also known as NTVDM, or in the case of WOW64 for x64 releases of Windows, 32-bit programs in 64-bit.
Compatibility
editWhile WOW64 is able to run most if not all 32-bit applications and games on contemporary 64-bit versions of Windows, support for 16-bit applications in 64-bit Windows is nonexistent; attempting to run 16-bit EXEs will result in an error message saying that the program is incompatible. For this, it is recommended to use DOSBox#Forks or WineVDM in some instances. That being said, the WOW layer for 16-bit applications isn't perfect either, and suffers from compatibility issues. Some games may run too fast, while others suffer from glitches or instability.