OS64
OS64 is a free, open-source operating system that emulates the Commodore 64 on x86 PCs.
What OS64 is
OS64 is a free, open-source operating system that emulates the Commodore 64 on x86 PCs. It combines a core operating system with a C64 emulator as its kernel and runs bare metal. The demo can boot from a CD-ROM or bootable flash drive, using the repository’s OS64 boot ISO. Its current focus includes hard-drive access and improved keyboard support. Loading and saving are supported through a primary-master IDE ATA drive formatted as FAT32, while AHCI SATA drives do not currently work. Pressing ESC opens a drive-management and functions screen described as mainly for testing and subject to change. The maker calls the emulation pretty good. OS64 uses a GPL-3.0 license. Building requires an x86 Linux system with GCC 4.8.4; the build starts a VirtualBox machine named “emudore64.” The project owner is Scott Hutter.
Good
- Free and open source under GPL-3.0
- Boots from CD-ROM or flash drive
- Emulates Commodore 64 on x86 PCs
- Supports FAT32 IDE drive loading and saving
- Build starts a VirtualBox emudore64 VM
Watch out
- AHCI SATA drives do not currently work
- Testing screen may change
- Build requires x86 Linux and GCC 4.8.4
- Keyboard support remains a project focus
Who it suits
OS64 suits users who want a bare-metal Commodore 64 emulator operating system on an x86 PC. It is also relevant to developers comfortable with Linux builds, boot media, and the stated drive limitations.
Verdict
OS64 offers a focused Commodore 64 emulation environment that boots directly on x86 hardware. Its documented storage limits and testing-oriented interface matter when deciding whether the project fits a particular PC setup.
The facts
Each one read from OS64's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Boot media
- The demo can boot from a CD-ROM or a bootable flash drive.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Build
- The code compiles for an x86 Linux system using gcc 4.8.4 and starts a VirtualBox VM named “emudore64.”checked 4 Oct 2026
- Build environment
- The code compiles for an x86 Linux system using GCC 4.8.4.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Download
- The repository includes an OS64 boot ISO that the README says can be burned to CD-ROM or made into a bootable flash drive.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Drive limitation
- The maker says the demo does not currently work with AHCI SATA drives.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Drive support
- Loading and saving through drive 8 is described for a primary-master IDE ATA drive formatted as FAT32.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Emulation status
- The project says emulation is pretty good, while current work focuses on hard-drive access and keyboard support.checked 11 Oct 2026
- How it runs
- It combines a core operating system with a C64 emulator as the kernel and can boot from CD-ROM or a flash drive.checked 4 Oct 2026
- How it works
- It combines a core operating system with a C64 emulator as the kernel and runs bare metal on a PC.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The README identifies VirtualBox as the virtual machine started by the build process.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Interface
- The ESC key opens a screen for managing the drive and other functions, which the maker says is primarily for testing and subject to change.checked 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository identifies its license as GPL-3.0.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- OS64 is a Commodore 64 emulator operating system for x86 PCs, formerly called Emudore 64.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Storage focus
- The project’s stated current focus includes accessing the machine’s hard drive and improving keyboard support.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Storage limitation
- The README says AHCI SATA drives do not currently work.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Testing screen
- The ESC key opens a screen for managing the drive and other functions, and the README says this screen is mainly for testing.checked 11 Oct 2026
The company
- Maker
- The GitHub account identifies its owner as Scott Hutter, a software developer in Tennessee, USA.checked 4 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Virtual machine
- The build automatically initiates VirtualBox and starts a VM named emudore64, according to the makefile instructions.checked 11 Oct 2026
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