A tech enthusiast took on the intriguing challenge of testing out the homebrew Nintendo 3DS version of DOSBox by attempting to run Windows 95. Armed with the enhanced “New” 3DS model, which boasts extra RAM and processing prowess, TechTuber MetraByte dove into the experiment. He managed to get the DOSBox port up and running, installing the iconic Windows 95 operating system right on top of it. The entire process wasn’t without its quirks—initial load times were sluggish, so much so that MetraByte left it overnight just for the first boot. Interestingly enough, the actual OS installation wrapped up in about five minutes. One hiccup was getting the mouse input to function properly through the touch interface, which took a while after the OS had finally booted.
On the plus side, Windows 95 does indeed operate on the New Nintendo 3DS. This isn’t entirely shocking, considering Windows 95 was designed to run on as little as 4MB of RAM, though that’s more applicable to old x86 machines rather than emulation settings. The New Nintendo 3DS offers 256MB of RAM, which might seem paltry today but was quite impressive for its time, in the pre-gigabyte age. However, the challenge lies in DOSBox handling x86 emulation on the New 3DS’s Arm-based architecture, resulting in hefty performance limitations.
Despite Windows 95’s success in running on the New 3DS, it’s not a practical endeavor. The installation process is lengthy and frustrating, and the system is largely unresponsive once up and running. Even basic MIDI playback wasn’t achievable when MetraByte put Windows 95 to the test on the New 3DS. An attempt to use his preferred music studio application led to an immediate blue screen crash. While the OS did run at a basic level, only the most lightweight applications might stand a chance of functioning.
In reality, using DOSBox on a New Nintendo 3DS shouldn’t involve installing Windows. Instead, you’d be better off exploring older DOS games that are more likely to perform well under these conditions. The New 3DS, while indeed a powerful handheld for its time, struggles under the weight of Windows 95, making it prudent to opt for simpler gaming experiences rather than pushing the limits with outdated operating systems.
