Windows 95 'guessed' if a setup program had run
Microsoft engineer Raymond Chen revealed that Windows 95 detected setup programs based on file names, using a list of hardcoded words like 'setup' and 'install'. This heuristic was used to trigger a recovery mechanism for damaged system files. The discovery sheds light on the operating system's quirks and limitations.
Key points
- Windows 95 used a list of hardcoded words to detect setup programs, including 'setup', 'install', and localized equivalents.
- The list included three non-English entries, which Chen speculated were his own guesses at Italian, Turkish, and Hungarian.
- The recovery mechanism was triggered when Windows 95 detected a setup program, and it was used to repair system files damaged by installers.
- Chen's discovery highlights the limitations of Windows 95's detection method, which relied on file names rather than actual installation processes.
- The revelation is part of Chen's ongoing documentation of Windows 95's history and quirks on his Old New Thing blog.
Microsoft engineer Raymond Chen has shed light on a long-standing mystery of Windows 95's behavior. In a recent post on his Old New Thing blog, Chen revealed that Windows 95 used a list of hardcoded words to detect setup programs. This list included words like 'setup', 'install', and localized equivalents, as well as three non-English entries that Chen speculated were his own guesses at Italian, Turkish, and Hungarian.
The recovery mechanism triggered by Windows 95's detection method was used to repair system files damaged by installers. Chen's discovery highlights the limitations of Windows 95's detection method, which relied on file names rather than actual installation processes. This quirk is just one of many that Chen has documented as part of his ongoing history of Windows 95.
Chen's post is part of a larger effort to document the history and quirks of Windows 95. His blog has become a valuable resource for those interested in the operating system's development and evolution. For those who grew up with Windows 95, Chen's revelations are a fascinating glimpse into the past.
Sources
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