Vista Extended Kernel - General Thread

[win32]

New updates and general questions about the Windows Vista Extended Kernel will be addressed here. The MEGA folder containing all pertinent information is here:

https://mega.nz/folder/hg0GGKgA#5pCcqU6aQq_66PURkTkEUw

The official Extended Kernel site is currently located at: http://ximonite.com/win32/ - provides supplemental information and some SHA-256 hashes.

If you have enjoyed using the Vista Extended Kernel, please consider making a donation to support win32's software projects through these methods:

http://paypal.me/win32420

The purpose of each file/folder shall be explained below:

replacement explorer - contains a version of explorer.exe that can be used if your extant explorer.exe complains of a missing shell32 ordinal.

sidebar redirection files for 2018+ update users - an older version of ole32.dll to be placed in "Windows Sidebar" folder along with a ole32.dll.local file or folder. registry-based redirection enabler must be applied beforehand.

x86 files - contains the current x86 files.

d3d12.dll - d3d12on7 binary with version block removed. No effect on Vista currently, but can be used on 8.x.

DLLredirectionenabler.reg - use this to enable local DLL redirection. Reboot required to take effect.

mfplatsetup.7z - Windows Media Foundation installer. Use for viewing certain types of HTML5 video in Firefox.

NT 6.1.reg - changes OS version string in HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion. Will only be effective if ntoskrnl is patched to not change it at boot time, but has no effect on compatibility.

ntkrnlmp.exe - an early modification to ntoskrnl. No extra functionality added at present, as no viable solution for booting off EFI exists.

osloader.efi - non-functional EFI loader. Deprecated.

osloader.exe - customized, functional version of winload.exe (for BIOS systems only) necessary to boot custom ntoskrnls. Deprecated.

vistaexkernsetup_11222020.7z - previous version of the extended kernel installer.

vistaexkernsetup_12312020.7z - newer version of the extended kernel installer.

vistaexkernsetup_05142021.7z - current version of the extended kernel version.

[win32]

In recent days I've made significant advancements on the 32 bit side of things. Here is SeaMonkey 2.53.1:

[k24a1]

I do wonder, there is a 2/2022 release of the kernelex in the mega folder, but does it work? I don't see much information on it.

[win32]

There is a slightly modified shell32 that allows for resource modification.

[win32]

I continue to reverse functions and the ones I'm confident in are posted here:
https://github.com/win32ss/win32-api-reversals

They are mostly intended for this project, but some should be workable on Windows 7, XP and even back to NT 4!

Every relevant implementation will be in the next extended kernel release. I have tested them to ensure they work identically to the original functions.

[Moline]

Any progress on getting Windows 7+ drivers working with Windows Vista? My two 64-bit Vista capable laptop's are old, and one may have failing USB ports.

[sizquirt]

I've gotten chrome 105 working

vistachrome.PNG (548.31 KiB) Viewed 12019 times

vistachrome.PNG (548.31 KiB) Viewed 12019 times

[WF4123]

I've gotten chrome 105 working
vistachrome.PNG

Woah. Incredible. I didn't know it worked somehow from our hands yet. :-0

[sizquirt]

I've gotten chrome 105 working
vistachrome.PNG

Woah. Incredible. I didn't know it worked somehow from our hands yet. :-0

If you want to try this, you need a windows 7 computer or dual boot it if you have that.
Drag and drop the chrome program file onto a usb and then drop into windows vista.
Easy as that.

[Ryan]

I've gotten chrome 105 working
vistachrome.PNG

Woah. Incredible. I didn't know it worked somehow from our hands yet. :-0

If you want to try this, you need a windows 7 computer or dual boot it if you have that.
Drag and drop the chrome program file onto a usb and then drop into windows vista.
Easy as that.

Or better yet just get a x64 version of Chrome Portable off portableapps. Alternately, there's these Chromium builds here as well. They're true offline installers, with portable options as well. No need to be copying application directories from other installs https://chromium.woolyss.com/