An old copy of Polaris, the version of Windows Core OS designed for laptops, was leaked on the internet, reports the WC.
The build is designed for ARM-based devices and dates back to 2018, so unfortunately it doesn’t have a shell or interesting apps.
The compilation can currently be downloaded from Archive.org and is PolarisOS Build 16299 (ARM32).
The uploader writes:
don’t ask me where I got it from.
Original readme:
“This is PolarisOS. It is a canceled edition of Windows Core OS that was designed for desktops and laptops. This image is early enough not to include much more than the operating system itself. It comes without a shell and carries none.
You need an ARM device to boot it, and you need to sideload the drivers before the first boot. Wim is bootable, but you can also install it directly by applying index 1.To install on a phone instead of a tablet arm, go to catalog.update.microsoft.com, find the latest firmware for your phone, download all MainOS cases for it, put them all in a folder and run dism / Image : / Add-Package / PackagePath:
To install on a tablet arm, obtain the tablet drivers and run dism / Image: / Add-Driver / Driver: / Recurse
After booting, pressing the power button will turn the device off, connecting the device via USB will expose a diagnostic interface, which you can use to open a command prompt shell later ”
There are no screenshots because I don’t have a compatible device for this build.
The compilation is not much more than a curiosity now, but interestingly after a large number of changes of direction, it is the compilation of the Windows Core desktop operating system that will arrive at the devices in the end, after the versions for smartphones with dual screen, dual-screen laptops and the Surface Hub have all been canceled.
Skilled hackers can check here.