ReactOS Runs On The XBox

KJK::Hyperion writes "ReactOS (the open-source Windows clone) has been ported and successfully runs on the Microsoft XBox (screenshot), thanks to the interest and knowledge base of the XBox Linux project and the work of Gé van Geldorp (HAL and boot loader) and Hervé Poussineau (FATX driver)." (Read on for more.)

KJK::Hyperion continues "This port definitely establishes two facts: the XBox is nothing but a broken PC, and the kernel + HAL design that ReactOS inherited from Windows is sound - all of the changes to the core system necessary for the XBox port (namely, the blacklisting of a buggy PCI device and handling the fixed partition table on the built-in hard disk) were limited to the HAL. This is a first, important step towards better portability, as it has already underlined some shortcomings in our build system.

What the port is lacking is hardware support: especially, ReactOS has no USB support at the moment, so it basically just sits there being pretty, because mouse and keyboard won't work. The network and video cards should be mostly identical to their "real" counterparts, so the Windows drivers for them should work (except the video card, a modified GeForce - it's been established we need some HAL trickery to make the Windows driver load). We wouldn't mind some help :-)

To run ReactOS on the XBox you need our custom version of the Cromwell boot loader (not released yet) and the XBox HAL for for ReactOS."

Comments

Hmm Running a..

[2mcm]

MS windows emulator on a peice of MS hardware .... nice

Yeah...

[bccomm]

but will it run Linux?

Oh wait...

Soooo.....

[dnaboy]

They got an embedded windows box to run a windows clone...

This is all getting a little silly.

Next question:

[Anonymous Coward]

When will they get ReactOS working on a PC?

Minesweeper

[believekevin]

Does Minesweeper support Xbox Live?

Re:Minesweeper

[Ingolfke]

We could rid the world of mines in meer minutes. Ee-gads Batman!

Yeah...

[Anonymous Coward]

My ISP won't talk to me after lodging a support call for helping gettting ADSL hooked up to a WinXP install running under VMWare under Linux on my XBox.

Re:Cheap

[dnaboy]

Actually, with a $100 AOL rebate* and a $100 MSN rebate**, this thing's free...

* Requires 8 year subscription to AOL at $23.95 per month

** Requires 12 year subscription to MSN at 21.95 per month

Waiting for the XBOX to run Longhorn

[Ingolfke]

When XBOX runs Longhorn, then I'll think about switching.

running?

[focitrixilous P]

What the port is lacking is hardware support: especially, ReactOS has no USB support at the moment, so it basically just sits there being pretty, because mouse and keyboard won't work.

This must be some new meaning of 'running' an OS I was unaware of.

Anyone want a 'running' Mac SE 30 with ethernet card? Drop me an email.

Re:ReactOS?

[IO ERROR]

if you aren't impressed that it has taken 7 years to get where they are, why don't you help out and do some coding?

Mainly because I'm too busy contributing to other projects and trying to occasionally get out of the house once in a while and chase down that elusive thing I once heard about called women.

Besides, I want Windows to die a horrible death.

Re:USB Driver?

[Ingolfke]

Anyone know what chip houses the USB controller on the XBox?

I think it's the one on the right.

Please, you're making my eyeballs bounce

[Anonymous Coward]

_can_ you _please_ limit your use of _underlines_?

Re:ReactOS?

[gnarlin]

The short of it is that we have some embarassingly bad code in the kernel.

So that means you are really making some headway in duplicating windows properly ;-)

Oh Great...

[durtbag]

Once again the mod community pulls through in their quest to make a Microsoft product less stable.

Just kidding, good work all.

Overheard at the EB lines for Halo 3

[Provocateur]

D00d these aren't *gamers*. THese people are lining up to buy used Xboxes! They're *gasp* GEEKS! Let's get the f**** outta here!!