# ReactOS: a Windows NT-compatible operating system

> Builds an open operating system intended to run applications and drivers written for the Windows NT family. The README focuses compatibility work on Windows Server 2003 and installs onto a FAT16 or FAT32 boot partition.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: App · Binary
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-10-22
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-09
- Original resource: <https://github.com/reactos/reactos>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/reactos/reactos/blob/fae4549cb0cd6d5867e65e61c2bc29985b57bc98/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/reactos-nt-compatible-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/reactos-nt-compatible-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/reactos-nt-compatible-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- Installation requires a FAT16 or FAT32 active boot partition. The README focuses compatibility work on Windows Server 2003 and links release 0.4.16.
- Project code is GPL-2.0. Rights to Windows remain with its owner.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/reactos/reactos/blob/fae4549cb0cd6d5867e65e61c2bc29985b57bc98/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/reactos/reactos/blob/fae4549cb0cd6d5867e65e61c2bc29985b57bc98/COPYING>

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## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.