Nintendo 3DS Operates Windows 95 Through DOSBox — Takes Hours to Start Up

A tech enthusiast decided to take on an intriguing challenge: getting the homebrew Nintendo 3DS version of DOSBox to run Windows 95. Armed with the more robust “New” 3DS, which boasts enhanced RAM and processing capabilities, YouTuber MetraByte managed to successfully load the DOSBox port and then install Windows 95 on top of it. The process was no walk in the park, as the load times were noticeably long. At one point, he left his handheld running overnight just to boot Windows 95. Interestingly, the operating system installation itself wrapped up in roughly five minutes. It took even longer for mouse input to function properly via the touch interface, with this feature working only well after the OS was up and running.

On the brighter side, yes, you can indeed make Windows 95 operate on a New Nintendo 3DS. Memory-wise, this attempt isn’t far-fetched since Windows 95 was originally designed to work on PCs with a mere 4MB of RAM — well below what the 3DS offers at 256MB. Of course, this is quite minimalistic when viewed through today’s lens, but it was pretty adequate for older software that didn’t need gigabytes of RAM. However, DOSBox has additional challenges as it must emulate x86 hardware on the 3DS’s ARM-based system, leading to some performance issues.

While it’s technically possible to run Windows 95 on the New Nintendo 3DS, there’s little practical reason to do so. The installation is long and cumbersome, and once everything is running, the functionality is limited. When MetraByte tried playing MIDI files and using his preferred music studio software, the results were disappointing, with the latter causing a blue screen of death. It seemed like only the simplest programs might work without trouble.

In practical terms, if you’re using DOSBox on a New Nintendo 3DS, steering clear of Windows installations is wise. The smart move would be to try older DOS games that the hardware can handle comfortably. This approach makes better use of the device’s capabilities, allowing you to enjoy some vintage gaming without the overhead that comes with running Windows 95.