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--- blog:2020-09-27:reactos_attempt [2020/09/27 18:18] – [Download ReactOS] va7fi
+++ blog:2020-09-27:reactos_attempt [2020/09/29 08:42] (current) – va7fi
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ====== ReactOS Attempt ======
-I recently just learned of [[https://reactos.org/ |ReactOS]], a Free and Open Source Operating System that has been in the works for over 20 years and aims to be able to natively run Windows programs and drivers.  The program is still feature-incomplete alpha software, but I thought it could be a good way of running ham radio programs made for Windows so I gave it a try in Virtualbox and tried to install Winlink.
+I recently just learned of [[https://reactos.org/ |ReactOS]], a Free and Open Source Operating System that has been in the works for over 20 years and aims to be able to natively run Windows programs and drivers.  It's still feature-incomplete alpha software, but I thought it could be a good way of running ham radio programs made for Windows so I gave it a try in Virtualbox and tried to install Winlink.
 **TLDR:**
@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 ===== Download ReactOS =====
-  * First step: Downloaded the BootCD (not LiveCD) of [[https://reactos.org/download/ |ReactOS 0.4.13]] and saved it.
+  * First step: Downloaded the BootCD (not LiveCD) of [[https://reactos.org/download/ |ReactOS 0.4.13]] and save it.
 ===== Virtualbox =====
-  * I used Virtualbox 6.1 under LinuxMint 20 XFCE.
+I used Virtualbox 6.1 under LinuxMint 20 XFCE.
-  * I created a new machine: \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos01.png}}
-  * I named it "ReactOS" and the version pre-populated to "Windows 2003 (32-bit)" on its own so I left it there. \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos02.png}}
+  * Create a new machine. \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos01.png}}
+  * Name it "ReactOS" and the version will pre-populate to "Windows 2003 (32-bit)" on its own. \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos02.png}}
   * I doubled the RAM to 1024MB \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos03.png}}
   * To load the "install CD", click on the word "Storage":  \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos04.png}}
@@ Line 24: / Line 25: @@
 ===== Install ReactOS =====
   * The install screen will start and you simply press ''ENTER''.  \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos08.png}}
-  * In fact, you'll have to press ''ENTER'' a few times until this partition screen.  At this screen, you need to press ''P'' first, and then ''ENTER'': \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos09.png}}
+  * In fact, you'll have to press ''ENTER'' a few times until this next screen, where you need to press ''P'' first, and then ''ENTER'': \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos09.png}}
   * ReactOS will show a bunch more screens, simply follow the prompts.  It'll reboot and install more things.  Then at some point, it'll ask to remove the CD.  This is done using the CD icon at the bottom of the Virtualbox screen:  \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos10.png}}
-  * That looks promising!  \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos10b.png}}
+  * That looks promising!  ReactOS has a Windows 2000 look, which I personally prefer to all the other versions of Windows.  \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos10b.png}}
 ===== Install Firefox =====
@@ Line 32: / Line 33: @@
   * Click on the Applications Manager: \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos11.png}}
-  * Search for ''Firefox'' and install version 48 \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos12.png}}
+  * Search for ''Firefox'' and install version 48. \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos12.png}}
   * Once Firefox is installed, do **not** let it update; that broke it for me.
-  * Up to this point, everything works fine.  Before we continue, let's create a clone of the Virtualbox install; we'll need it... \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos12b.png}}
+  * Up to this point, everything works fine, but we're about to break things so before we continue, let's create a clone of the Virtualbox install... \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos12b.png}}
 ===== Attempt #1 =====
@@ Line 50: / Line 51: @@
   * At first, it looked like it was gonna work:  \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos13.png}}
   * But then it seems it got stock downloading some components and after a while failed:  \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos14.png}}
+===== Attempt #3 =====
+I deleted the machine and re-cloned the clone I made earlier.
+  * From the Applications Manager, I installed .NET version 2:  \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos15.png}}
+  * and VB6: \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos16.png}}
+  * Installed Winlink again, and this time it loaded.  It took about 15-20 seconds, but it loaded: \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos17.png}}
+  * But unfortunately, when I go to ''Settings'' -> ''Winlink Express Setup...'' and fill out the information, it doesn't "Update".  \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos18.png}}
+===== Attempt #4 =====
+I tried the same thing as the previous attempt but with .NET version 2 SP2.  Same result.
+===== Attempt #5 =====
+I tried the same thing as the previous attempt but with .NET version 4 and Winlink wouldn't even load.  \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos19.png}}
+===== Attempt #6 =====
+I tried the same thing as all the previous attempts with the [[https://reactos.org/getbuilds/ |daily version of ReactOS]] without luck.  It looks like they did fix a small bug in Firefox though. \\ {{:blog:2020-09-27:reactos20.png}}
+===== To Be Continued... =====
+... maybe.  I don't really know what else to try so I'll leave this aside until I think of something else to try.  If you have ideas, please let me know!   --- //[[va7fi@rbox.me|Patrick, VA7FI]] 2020/09/28 10:15//