Hello, and welcome to WinWorld!
I started WinWorld back in 2003 with one goal: to preserve old software and the knowledge to use it in today’s ever-changing tech landscape.
My fascination with computers began as a kid in the school computer lab, tinkering with Macintosh LCs. At home, my first machine was a hand-me-down Packard Bell 486/66 with just 8 MB of RAM, running Windows 3.1. While outdated even by the standards of the day, that computer introduced me to classics like JezzBall, Chip’s Challenge, and a shareware version of Redhook’s Revenge. From that moment, I was hooked; not just on technology, but on the history and evolution of it.
Back then, finding reliable resources for old software was nearly impossible. There were gems like K-Semler’s File Page and OldOS, and WinVision’s Yahoo! Briefcase collections inspired me to start something of my own. I was just a kid with a passion for preserving digital history, and WinWorld was born - a website dedicated to sharing and safeguarding software from the past.
I never imagined that WinWorld would grow into the community it is today. Its continued success is thanks to the countless contributors, enthusiasts, and supporters who have helped build and maintain this library over the years. My hope is to keep WinWorld the best free and open archive of abandonware and pre-release software for everyone, today and for years to come.
Thank you for being part of this journey. If you haven’t already, join us on our forums or hop into our Discord!
— Duff