There is a project called One-Core-API, this is a compatibility layer for WinXP/2003 to implement NT6 application compatibility. Author and main programmer is a guy called Samuka. Personally, I am a tester/contributor of this project. Our plans is to make NT5.x OS'es be compatible with most NT6-only applications.
This is not just a wrapper, this is a compatibility layer, it replaces native system files with our ones and we use native system files as a source of already implemented functions and all other dependencies. For example, our kernel32.dll(vernel32.dll) has a dependency of native kernel32.dll which has to be renamed to kernelfull.dll. Yes it is rough enough, but it provides the best handling.
[...]
It is a recent post, but
when could ReactOS Project developers include this
Hey, nice find guys. I didn't see that JIRA report before. +1 on this.
But, of course, I assume it will probably take a while for it to be implanted, as I assume some fine tuning will need to be done before it can actually work in ReactOS.
how would a "compatibility layer" be different from directly upgrading to NT6 right now? I liked how emuandco put it:
EmuandCo wrote:...was built for NT6+ and thus makes such fuzz. With some tinkering it might work but the result would be bad stuff for other apps because the resulting chimera OS would not follow any of both arches anymore.
LuxenDM wrote:how would a "compatibility layer" be different from directly upgrading to NT6 right now? I liked how emuandco put it:
EmuandCo wrote:...was built for NT6+ and thus makes such fuzz. With some tinkering it might work but the result would be bad stuff for other apps because the resulting chimera OS would not follow any of both arches anymore.
Because they are focused on XP/2003 only right now. This is more of a near future solution. Besides, I think they should keep the XP style of things for lightweight use, while using compatibility layers for compatibility with modern day software/games.
I've tested this wrapper, and sadly the supplied auto-installer renders the system unbootable. It can be found here (see xXX/Packages directory): *removed*
Tested against Windows XP SP3 and Windows XP x64 SP2.
In the first case, the system stopped with black screen after loading splash.
In the second case, system BSoD'ed with messages about various functions not being found in kernel32, ntdll, etc. etc.
Sadly, unless there will be a reliable way of installation, in the current state One-Core-API cannot be used at all.
Worth noting, though, with help of HEX editor, the supplied libraries can be used to patch certain games to work under Windows NT 5.x. I've managed to run:
* Beat Hazard (new version from Steam)
* HyperLight Drifter (Steam/GoG)
* Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (Steam)
No luck with Saints Row 4 and Saints Row Gat Out Of Hell, because they require Media Foundation libraries and MSVC API wrappers that are somehow missing on XP.
I admire what he is doing. If I could run every game and software that would run on win10 on XP, I would so do that. Maybe you should file a issue over at his Github about this?
Have you tested any dx12 games like Ashes of the Singularity, Quantum Break, Hitman, ect?