HamsterOS Beta 2 Is Live

Beta 2 is ready

HamsterOS Beta 2 is now available as a free 1.44 MB floppy image. The matching Hamster Extras disk has also been refreshed with the newest applications and full updater.

Talk and share

• HamChat is a compact HamNet+ companion on Hamster Extras. It reuses your signed-in computer credential for friend invitations and short encrypted messages.
• HamShare gives hard-drive installations a simple two-way file portal. Its Windows companion can browse the HamsterOS drive, upload whole DOS 8.3 folder trees, and download selected files without asking the classic PC to run a modern browser.

Faster and more responsive

• Faster VGA drawing and packed-to-planar screen updates.
• Faster sequential floppy loading and batched ATA writes.
• Smoother mouse and event handling on real 386/486 hardware.
• A non-blocking, sortable Task Manager with detailed CPU activity, RAM, state, and run-rate views.
• Improved HamNet image loading and network responsiveness.

More classic hardware

• Expanded IBM PS/2 support, including the P70 and Model 70 paths plus integrated Micro Channel SCSI detection for Model 56/57 and 76/77 systems.
• USB HID keyboard and mouse support for compatible PCI UHCI controllers, including composite Logitech receivers.
• Native RTL8100C/RTL8139 Ethernet and Axiomtek SBC82621 watchdog support.
• More storage, audio, network, and USB diagnostics for real-hardware troubleshooting.

Install without wiping everything

The hard-disk installer now has a Leave Your Files Intact path. It preserves personal files and existing DOS/Windows programs while replacing the boot system and HamsterOS startup files needed for a reliable boot.

Download HamsterOS Beta 2, read the technical details, or get the refreshed Hamster Extras disk.