XPForge - Open Source Windows XP Recreation for Modern & Retro Computing

XPForge is a new open-source project that brings back the beloved Windows XP experience in 2026 and beyond. It uses a modern open-source Linux foundation (Ubuntu/Debian-based) with the authentic Luna theme and UI elements to recreate the classic XP desktop, while providing world-class compatibility for:

• Modern games and software via Proton, Wine 11+, Lutris, and Heroic.
• Retro games from the 80s-2000s via RetroArch, DOSBox-Staging, ScummVM, and more.
• MS-DOS with seamless integration and classic launcher.
• Native Windows XP/NT binaries optionally via integrated ReactOS VM or dual-boot.

Perfect for nostalgia enthusiasts, retro gamers, developers testing legacy software, and anyone who misses the simplicity and beauty of Windows XP — now running on modern hardware with full security, updates, and Steam Deck-level gaming performance.

Why XPForge?

• ReactOS is amazing for native Windows driver/app compatibility but remains in alpha with limited modern DirectX/Vulkan support for today's AAA titles.
• Pure Linux with Proton (Wine 11 + NTSYNC + VKD3D) runs thousands of modern Windows games at near-native performance (often better than Windows on some hardware).
• Chicago95 and community themes provide pixel-perfect XP recreation without the security nightmares of real XP.
• One unified environment: Boot once, play Cyberpunk 2077 via Proton, then launch Doom or Windows 98 games in DOSBox, all with XP chrome.

No more dual-booting or fragile VMs. XPForge is your daily driver for the XP era — enhanced for 2026.

Key Features

🎨 Authentic Windows XP Desktop

• Luna Blue theme (or Classic/ Olive variants) using extended Chicago95 + custom XFCE panel profiles.
• Classic taskbar with Start orb (green "Start" button), quick launch, window list, system tray.
• Desktop icons: My Computer, My Documents, Recycle Bin, Network Neighborhood — fully functional.
• XP-style file explorer, right-click menus, sounds (open-source recreations or user-provided), cursors, and fonts (Tahoma, etc.).
• Login screen with classic XP wallpaper and user icons.
• HiDPI support and modern compositor (Picom/Compton) for smooth animations.

🎮 Modern Games & Software

• Steam + Proton pre-configured (latest Proton-GE, NTSYNC kernel module enabled for massive performance gains in 2026).
• Lutris + Heroic Games Launcher for Epic, GOG, Amazon, itch.io — thousands of titles playable.
• Wine 11.6+ with Bottles for sandboxed Windows apps (Office, Photoshop legacy, etc.).
• Automatic detection and optimal settings for popular titles (see docs/compatibility.md).
• Vulkan/DXVK/VKD3D translation layers — run DirectX 9-12 and Vulkan games flawlessly.
• Example: Elden Ring, Baldur's Gate 3, Starfield run great; older modern games like Skyrim Special Edition are buttery smooth.

🕹️ Retro Games & MS-DOS

• DOSBox-Staging + DOSBox-X with pre-mounted drives, auto-exec for classic .exe/.bat.
• RetroArch with cores for NES, SNES, Genesis, PS1, N64, Dreamcast, and more — shader support for CRT look.
• ScummVM for point-and-click adventures (Monkey Island, Day of the Tentacle, etc.).
• PCem / 86Box for accurate old PC emulation (Windows 3.1/95 inside DOSBox or standalone).
• Custom "Retro Games" Start menu folder with categorized launchers.
• MS-DOS prompt accessible from desktop or Start menu — feels just like the real thing.

🔄 ReactOS Integration (Optional)

• One-click QEMU/KVM script to download and run the latest ReactOS nightly in a windowed VM.
• Shared folders between host (Linux) and ReactOS for easy file transfer.
• Test native Windows drivers/apps that Wine struggles with.
• Future: Tighter integration (e.g., ReactOS as a "subsystem" via WSL-like or unikernel experiments).

🛠️ Developer & Power User Friendly

• Full terminal access (bash/zsh with oh-my-zsh + MS-DOS-inspired prompt option).
• Easy theming tools: Chicago95 Plus! for installing real Windows .theme files.
• Scriptable launchers and "XP Shortcuts" system.
• Docker support for containerized legacy environments.
• Built on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS — rock-solid, secure, with 5+ years support.

Installation

Quick Start (Recommended: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS or Debian 12/13)

1. Download or clone this repo:

   git clone https://github.com/xpforge/xpforge.git  # (placeholder - actual repo coming soon)
   cd xpforge

2. Run the installer (takes 15-30 minutes):

   chmod +x scripts/install.sh
   ./scripts/install.sh

   The script will:

   • Update system and install XFCE4, LightDM, required packages.
   • Clone and install Chicago95 for core theming.
   • Install Wine 11, Steam, Lutris, Heroic, DOSBox-Staging, RetroArch, ScummVM.
   • Apply XP panel layout, icons, wallpapers (public domain recreations + placeholders).
   • Configure Proton, create "My Games", "Retro" folders on desktop.
   • Set up optional ReactOS VM downloader.

3. Log out and select "XFCE Session" (or LightDM with XP theme) at login.

4. Post-install:

   • Run scripts/post-install.sh for final tweaks (sounds, ReactOS VM).
   • Launch Steam → enable Proton for all games.
   • Add your game library — it just works!

Advanced / Custom Builds

• Live ISO: Use scripts/build-iso.sh (based on Cubic or live-build) to create a bootable XPForge USB.
• ReactOS VM only: scripts/setup-reactos-vm.sh
• Minimal install: Edit configs/packages.txt to select components.
• Theme variants: Run chicago95-plus to install authentic XP themes from your collection.

Hardware Requirements

• Modern CPU (Intel 8th gen+ or AMD Ryzen, or any with good Vulkan support)
• 8GB+ RAM (16GB recommended for gaming + emulation)
• Dedicated GPU (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel with Vulkan) for best modern game performance
• 50GB+ disk space

Screenshots & Demos

(Screenshots to be added — imagine a perfect XP desktop with Steam overlay, DOSBox running Commander Keen, and modern game running in background.)

See docs/screenshots/ (placeholder) or visit our (future) website.

Compatibility

See docs/compatibility.md for detailed lists:

• Modern Games: 90%+ of Steam library via Proton (check ProtonDB).
• Legacy Windows Apps: Excellent via Wine; native in ReactOS VM.
• DOS/Retro: Near-perfect with our pre-configs.
• Known issues: Some anti-cheat (Easy Anti-Cheat in some titles) may require workarounds; ReactOS still alpha for complex drivers.

Roadmap

• v0.1 (Current): Core installer, theming, basic compatibility layers.
• v0.2: Custom XP-like file manager (fork of Thunar or PCManFM with XP skin), improved sounds.
• v0.3: ReactOS deep integration (shared clipboard, better VM performance), Steam Deck / handheld optimized image.
• v1.0: Full live ISO, AppImage/Flatpak versions, community theme gallery, "XPera Store" for curated legacy software.
• Long-term: Contribute improvements back to Chicago95, Wine, ReactOS, and create a true "open Windows XP" kernel module experiments.

Contributing

We welcome contributions!

• Improve themes: Submit to Chicago95 or our themes/ folder.
• Add game profiles: PRs to configs/lutris/ or docs/.
• Test on real hardware and report bugs.
• ReactOS enhancements: Upstream to https://reactos.org/ or our VM scripts.
• Translations, documentation, artwork (open-source only — no copyrighted Microsoft assets).

Fork, star, and join the Discord/Matrix (links TBD).

Credits & Acknowledgments

• Chicago95 (https://github.com/grassmunk/Chicago95) — The foundation of our theming.
• LinuxXP (https://github.com/NickMatthews-1/LinuxXP) — Inspiration for Cinnamon/XP scripts.
• ReactOS Project (https://reactos.org/) — For the dream of open Windows NT.
• Wine / Proton / Valve — Making modern Windows gaming on Linux possible.
• DOSBox-Staging, RetroArch, ScummVM, Lutris, Heroic — Retro and multi-platform magic.
• Community: r/windowsxp, r/linux_gaming, r/reactos, VOGONS, and all the tinkerers keeping XP alive.

Important Legal Note: XPForge uses only open-source recreations and public-domain assets. Original Windows XP themes, sounds, and icons are copyrighted by Microsoft. Users are responsible for any personal backups or licenses. This project does not distribute proprietary Microsoft software.

License

GPLv3 — Free as in freedom (and as in "free to run your favorite old games forever").

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"It just works... like XP, but better." — The XPForge Team, 2026

For issues, feature requests, or to get involved: Open an issue or PR on GitHub (repo to be created at github.com/xpforge/xpforge).

This project was created as a demonstration of what a modern open-source XP recreation can be.

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📸 Preview Screenshots

Beautiful photorealistic previews of the XPForge desktop (generated with Grok Imagine):

• 01-clean-xp-desktop.jpg — Classic XP Luna desktop with taskbar, icons, and green hills wallpaper
• 02-start-menu-open.jpg — Start menu fully open with All Programs, Steam & DOSBox windows
• 03-modern-retro-gaming.jpg — Side-by-side: Elden Ring (Proton) + Doom (DOSBox) on XP-themed desktop
• 04-login-screen.jpg — Authentic Windows XP logon screen recreation

All previews are in the previews/ folder.

💿 Live ISO (Live Session + Easy Installer)

New in v0.3: The ISO is now a full live environment + one-click installer using Calamares.

./scripts/build-live-iso.sh

The resulting iso/xpforge-0.1-amd64.iso (~3.5–4 GB) gives you:

• Live Session: Boot and instantly enjoy the full XPForge desktop (themed exactly like Windows XP Luna, all apps pre-installed: Steam+Proton, Wine, DOSBox, RetroArch, etc.)
• Easy Installation: Double-click the "Install XPForge to Hard Drive" icon on the desktop → launches Calamares (modern graphical installer)
• Calamares is pre-configured with:
  • XPForge branding (classic XP blue sidebar + real generated logo/welcome/slideshow images)
  • Automatic package selection (Steam + Proton 11, Lutris, Flatpak, Wine, DOSBox, RetroArch, Microsoft Edge, etc.)
  • Post-install hook that automatically applies the full XPForge theme, desktop icons, "Command Prompt", and "Internet Explorer" launcher after installation
• Special launchers (live & installed):
  • Command Prompt (renamed terminal with classic XP feel)
  • Internet Explorer (Microsoft Edge running under the old IE name & icon)
  • AppStore (Windows Store-style blue shopping bag icon, opens Discover for easy Flatpak app & game installation)
• After installation, your new system will boot straight into the beautiful XP recreation with everything working (Linux Kernel 7.0+ included)

Test in QEMU:

qemu-system-x86_64 -m 4096 -enable-kvm -cdrom iso/xpforge-0.1-amd64.iso -boot d

This is the perfect way for users to try XPForge risk-free and then install it permanently with a few clicks.

🚀 GitHub Ready

This entire project is packaged and ready for GitHub:

./prepare-github-repo.sh

Then push to your new repo at github.com/yourname/xpforge.

Includes:

• Full source + scripts
• Previews
• Live ISO builder
• LICENSE (GPLv3)
• CONTRIBUTING.md
• .gitignore
• Comprehensive docs

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XPForge — The best of 2001 meets the best of 2026.