Microsoft Word 1.1a Ported to Native 64-bit Windows
Original: Microsoft Word for Windows 1.1a, Native X64 Port
Why This Matters
Demonstrates how legacy 16-bit software can be modernized for 64-bit systems, relevant to software preservation and reverse engineering research.
Developer jmarshall23 has published a native x64 port of Microsoft Word for Windows 1.1a (codename: Opus) on GitHub. The project rebuilds the original 1980s word processor as a 64-bit Windows executable, replacing 16-bit assembly and Win16 platform code while preserving the original UI and functionality.
A GitHub project by developer jmarshall23 has successfully ported Microsoft Word for Windows 1.1a — internally codenamed 'Opus' — to run as a native 64-bit Windows executable. The repository, available at github.com/jmarshall23/msword, combines the original Word source code and resources with modern replacements for 16-bit assembly, segmented memory management, and Win16 platform boundaries.
According to the project README, this is not an emulator or a reimplementation using a modern editor control. The goal is to deliver the original Word application and user experience in a native x64 binary. Requirements include 64-bit Windows, Visual Studio 2022 with C++ desktop development tools, a Windows 10 or 11 SDK, CMake 3.25 or newer, and PowerShell. The project supports both debug and release build presets via CMake and outputs a WORD1.exe binary. The repository has received 112 stars and 9 forks as of publication, indicating strong interest from the developer and retrocomputing communities. The project is labeled as intended for research purposes.