ReactOS 0.4.16: a graphical installer and improved hardware support

ReactOS 0.4.16 is out — the latest major update to the project often described as “Windows with open source code.” The system aims for compatibility with Windows drivers and applications while remaining fully open.

Installation, Linux-style

The most noticeable novelty for the average user is the new graphical installer. It is now included in the combined bootable and live-CD image as well, so from one and the same image you can both try ReactOS out and install it. In spirit this resembles the live mode familiar from Linux distributions, which has existed there for many years already.

A server variant without a shell

Version 0.4.16 also introduces a new type of installation — ReactOS Server Core, a counterpart to Windows Server Core, familiar to users since Windows Server 2008. In this mode the graphical Explorer shell is disabled, leaving a more compact server environment.

Work on the hardware

A significant portion of the changes went into hardware support. The developers did infrastructure work around multi-monitor configurations, improved the graphics drivers and audio support, and added numerous improvements to the storage and network subsystems. The third-party code included in the system has also been updated, plus many other refinements.

You can download the images and read the release details on the ReactOS.org website.

Source: Phoronix