Alfonso Torres, a.k.a. We1etu1n, shared a photo on Reddit of a Nintendo Switch running Windows XP. The operating system, which has just turned 18, took 6 hours to install, but Pinball 3D managed to run at full speed.
It is reported that the operating system used was L4T Ubuntu along with the QEMU virtual machine, which allows for emulation of various processor architectures. According to Torres, L4T Ubuntu recognizes the Nintendo Switch dock as a USB-C hub, enabling the connection of a USB keyboard, mouse, and monitor. The device has enough power for everyday tasks, allowing the enthusiast to use it as a home computer for some time.
Notably, the L4T Ubuntu OS is based on NVIDIA Linux developments for the Tegra processor. Using Windows XP has become something of a standard in the enthusiast community, akin to the desire to run Doom on devices for which it was not originally intended, ranging from oscilloscopes to the onboard computers of cars.
Torres clarified that the QEMU virtual machine emulates a single-core 32-bit x86 processor running at 1 GHz, which is quite sufficient for operation. Essentially, the only drawback is the absence of sound, likely due to driver issues.
Earlier, another developer and Xbox fan managed to emulate the original Microsoft console on a Nintendo Switch. He demonstrated gameplay from Halo: Combat Evolved and Jet Set Radio Future. Prior to that, retro gaming software had already been installed on the console, including RetroArch, and Android.
