ReactOS Introduces Unified Live/Install Media, New Storage Driver
ReactOS has introduced a unified Live/Install media to replace its separate boot and installation discs, aiming to improve user experience with support for a future GUI installer. The project also merged a new plug-and-play ATA storage driver that supports SATA, PATA, ATAPI, and AHCI devices, expanding hardware compatibility. Additionally, ReactOS 0.4.16 has been branched, with release candidates and nightly builds now available for the upcoming 0.4.17 version.
- ▪ReactOS now uses a unified BootCD combining both the traditional text-mode installer and LiveCD image.
- ▪The unified media supports a future first-stage GUI installer, making it more accessible to new users.
- ▪A new plug-and-play aware ATA storage driver supports SATA, PATA, ATAPI, and AHCI devices.
- ▪The pull request for the unified media had been open since September 2024 before being merged.
- ▪ReactOS 0.4.16 has been branched, with release candidates and nightly builds for 0.4.17 now in development.
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ReactOS Introduces Unified Live/Install Media, New Storage Driver Written by Michael Larabel in Operating Systems on 3 May 2026 at 10:14 AM EDT. 2 Comments ReactOS as the "open-source Windows" operating system project striving for binary compatibility with Microsoft Windows has seen some exciting improvements this week. ReactOS developers shared with Phoronix that they now have a unified BootCD to replace their previously separate boot/install media and their live CD. The new unified media combines both their traditional text-mode installer and their LiveCD image. Their new ISO aims to support a future first-stage GUI installer and all-around better than their previously separate media while a GUI installer will be more approachable for new users compared to the text-mode installer.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Phoronix.