Developer Porting Legacy Microsoft Word to 64-Bit Architecture for Research
The open-source project compiles original 16-bit source code with modern memory replacements, allowing the legacy application to run natively on 64-bit Windows without emulation.
Developer jmarshall23 has released a native Windows x64 port of Microsoft Word for Windows 1.1a on GitHub, a project intended primarily for research purposes. The repository, titled msword, provides a fully working build of the legacy application, which was historically codenamed Opus. By compiling the original source code alongside modern replacements for 16-bit assembly, segmented memory, and Win16 platform boundaries, the project enables the software to run as a 64-bit executable without relying on emulation or a modern editor control.
The port preserves the original Word application and user experience while ensuring all shipped code is valid for AMD64 architecture. The repository includes a CMake preset designed for configuration using the Visual Studio 2022 x64 generator. Users can generate a solution file directly from the out directory, setting WORD1 as the startup project to run the application. The build process involves cloning the repository and configuring the preset via a PowerShell prompt, with options available for both optimized release builds and standard debug configurations.
A significant component of the release is a complete test suite covering automated UI workflows. The suite validates the ported x64 runtime, original Word data structures, command tables, and process startup procedures. It specifically tests automated workflows including typing, selection, formatting, dialogs, and saving functions. The testing framework is accessible from the repository root, allowing developers to run either the Debug or Release test suites to verify the integrity of the ported code.
The project maintains the historical implementation as a reference by inventorying the legacy assembly tree through CMake without compiling those modules into native targets. This approach ensures that changes preserve the original Word behaviour while keeping all native interfaces pointer-width safe. The developers prioritise source-equivalent translations of historical routines and isolate Windows API adaptations at the port boundary, adding focused tests for newly translated behaviour to ensure stability.
The repository does not currently include a top-level license file, and the original C and resource files retain their original Microsoft and third-party copyright notices. Consequently, there is legal ambiguity regarding the redistribution of the source or binaries, and users are advised to review applicable rights before sharing the materials. The project is a community-led research effort rather than an official Microsoft release, and claims regarding its operational status should be treated with caution.
