News ReactOS 0.4.15 Released — The Free Windows Alternative is Now Faster and More Reliable

ReactOS 0.4.15 Released — The Free Windows Alternative is Now Faster and More Reliable

March 27, 2025, 06:18 PM

After three years of intensive development, the ReactOS community has delivered a major update — version 0.4.15. This release isn’t just the most significant milestone in the project's history; with over 8,600 changes and 1,319 fixes, the system has reached a new stage of evolution, moving it closer than ever to becoming a full-fledged alternative to Windows.

ReactOS is a free, open-source operating system designed for complete compatibility with Microsoft Windows applications and drivers. Its goal is to provide a free alternative to Windows, maintaining the familiar interface and functionality. Developed by a community of enthusiasts since 1996, it is capable of running both legacy and modern Windows applications.

Key Features of the New Version:

A completely reworked PnP manager now supports USB booting on chipsets with EHCI, OHCI, and UHCI, as well as compatibility with third-party Windows drivers.
Integration of the AC'97 driver from the Windows Driver Kit delivers instant sound support in VirtualBox and on older motherboards.
A new Microsoft FAT driver has improved file system stability, ensuring proper handling of external storage devices.
Self-healing registry mechanisms automatically fix errors after crashes or power outages.
Registry caching accelerates system performance, while periodic data flushing to disk prevents settings loss.
The file manager now treats ZIP archives as virtual folders, and the extraction wizard streamlines file retrieval.

The installation image is just 117 MB, and the live build is only 85 MB. The number of commits has increased eightfold compared to version 0.4.14, including code imports from Wine 6.0 and the Windows Driver Framework. ReactOS 0.4.15 exemplifies how an open community can recreate proprietary technologies, offering true freedom of choice. The release is available for download on the official website or on GitHub under GPLv2 and LGPLv2 licenses.

Arkadiy Andrienko

News Author

As a tech journalist at VGTimes, I'm equally comfortable discussing the latest GPUs and diving deep into the intricacies of classic RPGs. Writing about games and hardware since 2018, my background in sound engineering has given me a keen ear for the nuances of audio technology, and I'm always on the lookout for the next groundbreaking innovation in gaming hardware. When I'm not writing about tech, you'll likely find me exploring the post-apocalyptic wasteland of Fallout, managing a colony in RimWorld, or commanding armies in Hearts of Iron IV. For me, gaming is more than just a hobby; it's a passion that fuels my creativity and keeps me connected to the ever-evolving world of technology.

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