● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 neutral
Developer Releases xHCI98 Driver for USB4/Thunderbolt Support on Windows 98 SE and Older OS
Key points
- xHCI98 v3.0.0.0 released by Yeo Kheng Meng.
- Adds USB4 and Thunderbolt 3/4 support to Windows 98 SE through 7.
- Enables modern USB hardware on older operating systems.
- Developed with assistance from AI models.
New Driver for Legacy Windows
Developer Yeo Kheng Meng has released xHCI98 v3.0.0.0, a new driver providing experimental support for USB4 and Thunderbolt 3/4. This driver extends compatibility to systems running Windows 98 SE, ME, 2000, XP, Vista, and 7, allowing them to interface with modern USB 3.x, USB4, and Thunderbolt host controllers.
Addressing xHCI Compatibility Gaps
The primary motivation for xHCI98 is to enable users of mid-2010s PCs with xHCI-only (USB 3.x) chipsets to run older operating systems. These older OSes lack native xHCI drivers, which prevents the hot-plugging of devices and the functionality of peripherals like Ethernet and audio. The xHCI98 driver fills this gap by replacing Windows' default USB port and hub drivers.
Broad USB Device Support
Beyond basic USB storage, xHCI98 supports a range of USB devices. It facilitates the connection and use of USB 1.1, 2.0, and SuperSpeed (USB 3.x) devices and hubs. Additionally, it includes support for UAS (USB Attached SCSI) storage via xhciuas.sys and Thunderbolt 3/USB4 docks and NVMe enclosures through xhcicm.sys.
AI-Assisted Development
Meng developed xHCI98 primarily on Intel hardware. He utilized AI assistance during the development process, specifically Claude Fable 5.1 for planning, Claude Opus 5.5 for coding, and Codex GPT 6 Astra for review. The developer notes that due to the solo nature of the project and AI assistance, bugs are possible.
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Reporting from
Developer Yeo Kheng Meng released xHCI98 v3.0.0.0, an experimental driver enabling USB 3.x, USB4, and Thunderbolt 3/4 host controller support on Windows 98 SE, ME, 2000, XP, Vista, and 7. This driver allows older operating systems to utilize modern USB hardware, addressing the lack of xHCI drivers in these OS versions.