Coverage to be expanded
Enthusiasts have launched the Windows Update Restored project, which provides access to updates for older versions of Windows. The Windows Update Restored site already allows you to update some classic versions of Windows, and the project team is working on expanding the coverage.
The team hopes to eventually provide access to updates for Windows 95, NT 4.0, 98, Me, 2000 and XP. The site’s compatibility section also mentions Windows Server 2003 and Windows Vista and “newer versions,” giving hope to those operating systems as well.
updates released for Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows NT
At the time of writing, the site is limited to a clone of the Windows Update v3.1 (1997) website, which covers Windows 95, NT 4.0, and Windows 98 (and SE).
The description specifically emphasizes that Windows Update Restored is not an official project maintained by Microsoft, nor are the update pages it provides links to. The developers warn that you can use these links only at your own peril and risk, and also emphasize that the service packs are “for archival purposes only.” However, the video below shows that everything works fine for updating the OS.
As of the end of June 2023, Windows XP accounts for 0.35% of the total number of Windows PCs in the world, according to StatCounter. In Russia, this figure reaches 0.76%.
