Windows XP seems to have found a second life as the go-to operating system for retro machines. Many games and programs need XP to run correctly, and although it's very easy to create virtual environments these days, an installation on metal never hurts. With that in mind we come to Windows XP Delta Edition, an enthusiast-made edition that includes multimedia elements from the beta versions, including additional themes and wallpapers.
Our last major exploration of Windows XPOur last major exploration of Windows XP confirmed that the train has left the station, and that it doesn't make sense to use it as a primary operating system today. There are many Linux distributions that are more secure and better prepared, not to mention the huge amount of available software. However, Windows XP is without a doubt the first option that comes to mind when assembling a retro computer. Support is broad, drivers haven't gone anywhere, its errors are well documented, and the modding potential is enormous.
Our article has links to get relatively current Windows XP images, but if you want to look for an alternative that prioritizes aesthetic details, you should check out Windows XP Delta Edition. This Windows XP, "made by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts," includes themes from the beta versions, icons, and restored program versions from the pre-SP2 editions.
Windows XP Delta Edition: A More Colorful Way Back to XP
Windows XP Delta Edition makes virtually no changes during installation, and its modifications appear after running the included "post-installation script" from its ISO image. The themes available are Whistler Luna, RTM Luna, Watercolor, and Windows Classic, all with their color schemes and some tweaks. If you decide to install the extras pack (highly recommended), you'll also get access to the Royale, Royale Noir, Embedded, and Zune themes, additional sound profiles, and secondary wallpapers, many of them exclusive to Windows XP Starter Edition and Windows XP Media Center Edition.
Among the programs, a modified version of Windows Media Player 9 with all its skins stands out, along with Windows Movie Maker 1.1 (which is the pre-SP2 build) and 2.1, the clock applet, and two variants of the welcome tour, with their corresponding multimedia elements. The Windows XP Beta 2 tour is a overdose of nostalgia, and I recommend you run it at least once.
When checking the properties of Windows XP Delta Edition, we confirmed it's based on the latest SP3, but we have no idea about its additional patches or hotfixes, and the official page doesn't provide any details either. However, I must admit it works very well, and its creators have done a great job combining all these multimedia resources into a single image. Windows XP Delta Edition is downloaded via Archive.org, and the same goes for the extras pack. Link below.
Windows XP Delta Edition: Click here
