While offering some advice, I got a little caught up in the research I was doing, so here’s a list of the resources I found for picking apart 16-bit x86 applications.

This is a project dedicated to restoring the update functionality for Windows 95 up to Windows XP, with Automatic Updates as well. We actively work on the project and make improvements over time, which can be found in the news section at the bottom of this page.

In August of 2011, Microsoft shut down the Windows Update servers for Windows 95/NT4/98/Me/2000 (RTM, SP1 & SP2). This prevented legacy systems from getting updates and other software from Microsoft. Windows Update Restored has brought back those old websites, to give you the update experience of how it was back then!

The original Windows Update websites provided users with security (critical) updates, optional software updates, driver updates, and other types of software for your operating system. Windows Update Restored has revived all of these features, as well as the Automatic Updates feature and the Critical Update Notification Tool (Windows 98 to Windows XP). Want to learn more about what is available on Windows Update Restored? Read the Frequently Asked Questions.

This website is best viewed with a resolution of 800x600 pixels and required a minimum of Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 to properly be displayed. Though, we recommend the use of Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5. To download various versions of Internet Explorer, visit the Internet Explorer Downloads page.

Every Windows Update website will require Internet Explorer (versions 4.0 to 6.0 to work, and won't work in any other browsers).