Ancient CD app revives 64-bit support for Windows 11 and Windows 10

Ancient CD app revives 64-bit support for Windows 11 and Windows 10

The Resurgence of CD Ripping with an Updated Utility

Once a dominant medium, compact discs (CDs) have seen a significant decline in use due to the advent of advancements like USB technology. USB drives are continually evolving, becoming faster and adding new features. In this evolving landscape, Microsoft has introduced mandatory requirements for USB Type-C to ensure a seamless experience for users of Windows 11.

Reviving a Classic: CD2WAV32 Rips Its Way into Modernity

In an exciting twist, an old CD ripping tool known as CD2WAV32, which originated from the Windows 95/98 period, has made a comeback after more than a decade. Now compatible with Windows 11 version 24H2, this utility is attracting attention from nostalgia-driven users.

Unexpected Developments from the Developer

The revival of CD2WAV32 was not part of a deliberate plan. The developer merely intended to test the application on their upgraded Windows 11 system but took it a step further, ensuring full compatibility. Their setup includes an AMD Ryzen 9600X, 64 GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GT 1030 (mistakenly referred to as “GT1300”).

Testing Challenges and Compatibility Insights

The creator mentions that they haven’t conducted extensive testing on Windows 10, but the software appears to function well on their older Atom-based PC, a testament to the rapid advances in technology. As stated in their blog post (translated from Japanese):

“From now on, it will only support Windows 11 (24H2).The reason is that this is the only environment the author currently has. I haven’t done anything particularly fancy, so I think it will work properly on Windows 10, but I can’t guarantee it. All I have left is an ATOM machine that I bought a long time ago that also runs Windows 10, so I’ve seen that it works lightly on that, but I can’t do a detailed test.”

The Evolution of Technology: A Brief Background on Atom

For context, Intel’s Atom processors represented a low-power CPU option that the company discontinued in 2016. This line’s narrative parallels Microsoft’s decision to cease supporting Windows Lumia, as they both succumbed to competition from Qualcomm and MediaTek in mobile technology.

Technical Enhancements and User Experience Improvements

The latest version of CD2WAV32 has been compiled using Delphi 12.1 Community Edition, enabling the creation of native applications for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. This update brings substantial improvements in compatibility and user experience.

  • 64-bit Support: The utility now manages file sizes and metadata with a 64-bit format, correcting overflow issues and ensuring accurate display of larger files and disk spaces—essential given today’s common large storage capacities.
  • Removal of Legacy Features: Support for 16-bit code and specific functions such as MSCDEX and TwinVQ compression has been eliminated, as Windows 11 is exclusively 64-bit.
  • Improved Readability: The user interface’s font has transitioned from MSP Gothic 9pt to Meiryo 10pt, enhancing visibility, especially on high-resolution 4K displays.
  • Audio Codec Support: The tool is also noted to support encoding in MP3 and WMA formats.

Is It Worth Trying?

While there may be some interest in exploring this nostalgic tool, potential users should note that the user interface is only available in Japanese. Thus, for most users, the stock Windows Media Player may suffice, as it already has capabilities to both rip and burn CDs effectively.

For those curious about the technical details and updates on this project, you can check out the full article on Neowin.

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