What you need to know
- Linux Raspbian XP Professional is an operating system inspired by Windows XP that you can install on your Raspberry Pi 4.
- The OS has a working Start Menu and several design elements inspired by Windows XP.
- The Raspberry Pi 4 is the only Raspberry Pi powerful enough to run the OS.
If you're missing the grassy fields and blue skies of Windows XP, you can put an operating system onto your Raspberry Pi 4 inspired by the classic Windows operating system (OS). The OS is called Linux Raspbian XP Professional, and it has a working Start Menu, search bar, and menus and icons inspired by Windows XP (via Tom's Hardware). The Raspberry Pi 4 is the only Raspberry Pi model powerful enough to run the OS.
The OS is an XP overlay, so it can't run Windows XP applications natively, but there are several emulators that let you use Windows apps on Raspbian. Linux Raspbian XP Professional has some emulation platforms preloaded, including BOX86.
The PI LAB YouTube channel showcases the OS and details some of its features.
If you want to run Windows applications on the OS, you can also use its built-in Windows 98 virtual machine. Alternatively, you can use Linux programs like the LibreOffice suite.
If you're a fan of tinkering with Raspberry Pi devices and Windows, you can check out our guide on how to install Windows 10 IoT Core onto a Raspberry Pi 3.
