In a recent unveiling, Microsoft introduced the Windows 365 Link – a diminutive PC that operates Windows through the cloud, essentially a grandiloquent Remote Desktop contraption. Encased within the Windows 365 Link lies a plethora of commendable hardware components: an enigmatic Intel chip, 8GB of RAM, and a storage capacity of 64GB. But what of the local operating system that it houses?
Enter the realm of Windows CPC, a bespoke iteration of Windows tailored for the Windows 365 Link. This Windows CPC, codenamed "NXT", stands as a pared-down variant of the Windows ecosystem. An HTML webpage serves as the outer shell of Windows NXT, notably devoid of staple components such as Explorer, Task Manager, and Notepad. The onboarding portal derives its vigour from Edge WebView2.
Venturing forth into uncharted territory, I, inspired by the intrepid BobPony, embarked on a journey to embed Windows CPC, alias NXT, within a virtual machine on my trusty PC. Curiosity beckons you? Behold, the pathway to installing Windows CPC on your personal computing apparatus.
Run Windows CPC aka NXT
- Procure the Windows CPC image from the aforementioned tweet link.
- Subsequently, install VMWare (Free) to fashion a haven for the virtual machine.
- Engage with the ISO, initiating the installation process akin to any standard Windows setup.
Ah, but the odyssey unfolds upon booting the system, beckoning you to engage with a peculiar requirement: to sign in with a work account, eschewing the familiar Microsoft account ritual. Alas, thwarted by technological whims, my Wi-Fi network remained elusive, shrouding the login interface in a haze of unattainability. A valiant attempt to resuscitate the shell through Command Prompt was met with naught but errors.
Hands-on: Windows CPC Experience
Navigating the uncharted waters of Windows CPC, bereft of the traditional Explorer-based ambiance, I found solace in invoking the Command Prompt on the onboarding stage with a deft "Shift + F10" maneuver. The software hymned its identity, proclaiming itself as "Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.26100.2314]". Perusing the depths of the System32 catacombs unearthed an assortment of NXT-related entities, including NXTShellLauncher.exe and NXTUpdateManager.exe, illuminating the path ahead.
Amid this, the Program Files sanctuary echoed with an eerie absence of pre-loaded applications, save for the enigmatic Windows365. Encompassing the onboarding HTML chronicle and imagery for the Windows CPC thin client, it proffered a glimpse into the enigma that shrouds this minimalist OS. A quest to summon system apps like taskmgr, resmon, and regedit yielded naught but silence, leaving only the humble dxdiag, Narrator, and on-screen keyboard to flutter forth from the command realm.
In the grand tapestry of technologies, Windows CPC, or NXT, emerges as a wispy apparition – a subtle nod to the ethereal essence of ChromeOS, its veins pulsating with the essence of Edge WebView2. While not tailored for the mainstream populace, the dream of a feathery Windows OS lingers on the edges of possibility. Should you seek a taste of minimalism, the hallowed halls of Tiny11 beckon. For queries, musings, and ponderings, perchance a discourse in the comments below shall ensue.