Windows 95 'Speedrun': How Fast Can You Install It?

When we talk about a speedrun, the first thing that comes to mind is a video game. Some sessions are clean, others make use of bugs or glitches, and then there are those that are assisted by special tools. However, today we have something different: a Windows 95 speedrun. To be more precise, a speedrun of the Windows 95 installation process. From creating a partition with FDISK to reaching the desktop, how fast can it be done? The current record has already come very close to the one-minute barrier...

In 2015 we enjoyed the world record of Super Mario Bros., but today we discover that that speedrun is a fossil, and the new mark sits two seconds below. We have also seen other fans finish it blind, and something similar happened with the always demanding Punch-Out!!. Players do not hesitate to impose new limits and challenges to show who is the best, and beyond what each title allows, the speed record remains the most popular. Now... the speedrun you will see next is not of a video game, but of an operating system. You remember Windows 95, right? 'Plug and Play'? Green background? The Rolling Stones in the official advertising (in exchange for 3 million dollars)? Well, here you have the fastest Windows 95 installation in the world:

A Windows 95 Speedrun

If your question is 'why?', then you need to know that Miles Edgeworth, known on the network as 'oscareczek', got bored of traditional speedruns and decided to create a new category. The rules prohibit the use of scripts and FDISK with automatic restart. There are also limits for 'approved' Windows 95 images, but there are no hardware restrictions, and the use of virtual machines is allowed. What seems like a great advantage at first glance, actually adds an extra challenge, because Windows 95 suffers startup pains on systems with 2.1 GHz or more in processor frequency. Although there is a patch (FIX95CPU), any speedrunner will need to find a way to integrate it as quickly as possible.

The video was published by 'redspl' last November, and has held the record since then. The mark to beat is 1 minute and 10.9 seconds. If you think you can do better, don't hesitate! Download one of the authorized images, and start practicing.

Source: Hackaday