18 Forgotten ’90s Computer Programs That Are Extinct
This list features computer programs from the 1990s that were once popular but are no longer in use today.
- Daisy Montero
- 5 min read
These programs once lived on family desktops and office machines in the ’90s but have since disappeared. Some were innovative, others quirky, and a few were downright strange. They are all gone now, but they helped shape how we use computers today.
1. Microsoft Bob
microsoft on Wikimedia Commons
Microsoft Bob was designed to make computers feel friendlier by replacing menus with virtual rooms and featuring cartoon guides, such as Rover the dog. It was designed for beginners, but many users found it confusing and childish. The program flopped so badly that it became one of Microsoft’s most infamous failures.
2. WordStar
MicroPro International on Wikimedia Commons
WordStar was a dominant word processor during the early days of DOS computing. Writers and offices relied on its commands, but it never fully transitioned into the Windows era. As rivals like Microsoft Word improved, WordStar quietly faded into tech history.
3. Lotus 1-2-3
Jonathan Schilling on Wikimedia Commons
Lotus 1-2-3 was once the go-to spreadsheet program for business users. It helped define the IBM PC era but lost its lead when Excel became part of Microsoft Office. By the 2000s, it was largely forgotten and officially discontinued in 2013.
4. Lotus Improv
Lotus Development Corporation on Wikimedia Commons
Lotus Improv took a bold step with a new approach to spreadsheets, separating data, formulas, and views. It was praised for innovation but struggled with limited marketing and competition. Despite its potential, it never caught on and was eventually shelved.
5. SoftRAM / SoftRAM95
Blake Patterson on Wikimedia Commons
SoftRAM claimed to double your computer’s memory, but it turned out to be mostly smoke and mirrors. It fooled many users until tech reviewers exposed that it barely did anything at all. The company faced backlash, and the software was pulled from stores in the mid-’90s.
6. Encarta 95
Microsoft on Wikimedia Commons
Encarta brought encyclopedias to CD-ROM, letting families explore articles, animations, and maps without flipping pages. It was revolutionary at the time and often bundled with new PCs. However, once the internet became more accessible, Encarta quickly lost relevance.
7. RealPlayer
MART PRODUCTION on Pexels
RealPlayer helped bring streaming audio and video to early internet users. While it was ahead of its time, it gained a reputation for bloat, annoying pop-ups, and aggressive installs. Eventually, it was overshadowed by better media players and vanished from everyday use.
8. Winamp
Nullsoft on Wikimedia Commons
Winamp was the soundtrack of early internet life, letting users build playlists and apply wild skins to their MP3 player. It became a cultural icon, especially for music lovers who downloaded tracks online. Today, it survives as a niche project but is no longer widely used.
9. AIM (AOL Instant Messenger)
AOL on Wikimedia Commons
AIM introduced many to the world of online chatting, buddy lists, and away messages. It was especially popular among teens and early internet users during the late ’90s and early 2000s. As texting and social media took over, AIM gradually lost users and shut down in 2017.
10. Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing
Kevin Hernández Bonzón Luciano on Wikimedia Commons
This typing tutor became a classroom staple and helped countless kids learn to type through fun exercises. Mavis Beacon wasn’t a real person, but the program felt personal and encouraging. It has mostly disappeared as schools moved to newer software and web-based tools.
11. Carmen Sandiego (Educational Games)
StyleWorks on Wikimedia Commons
“Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?” mixed mystery and geography in a way that made learning fun. Kids used clues to chase a stylish thief across continents on school computers. While newer versions exist, the original games are long gone from modern classrooms.
12. SimCity / SimCity 2000
Maxis on Pexels
SimCity 2000 let you build and manage your own pixelated city, dealing with everything from traffic jams to alien attacks. It was both educational and addictive, sparking interest in city planning and strategy games. While newer versions came later, the originals no longer run on today’s systems without special emulators.
13. Mosaic / Cello / Erwise Browsers
Adiwg on Wikimedia Commons
Before Chrome and Firefox, early browsers like Mosaic and Cello helped people see images and links for the first time. They laid the groundwork for modern web surfing but were quickly overtaken by more advanced competitors. Most users today have never heard of them, but they shaped the web’s early days.
14. AltaVista / Lycos / HotBot / Ask Jeeves
AltaVista Webseite on Wikimedia Commons
These search engines ruled the web before Google became the default. Ask Jeeves even had a butler mascot to “answer” your questions in full sentences. Over time, they were outpaced in speed, accuracy, and design, leading to their eventual shutdowns or rebrands.
15. BNC-Based Novell NetWare
Novell, Inc. on Wikimedia Commons
Novell NetWare was once essential for linking office computers in local networks. It used text-based commands and thick BNC cables that techs had to string through ceilings. As Windows simplified networking, Novell’s dominance faded and the software became obsolete.
16. DOS-Based Utilities and Tools
GennadyL on Wikimedia Commons
Back in the DOS days, users relied on utilities like hex editors, boot managers, and command-line calculators. These tools were usually shared on floppy disks and were often written by hobbyists. They’re nearly impossible to find now unless you explore retro software archives.
17. PRIMOS Operating System
Atípica Films on Wikimedia Commons
PRIMOS ran on minicomputers used in universities and businesses, offering stability and multi-user access. It had a loyal following for a time but was phased out as PCs and Unix systems took over. Today, few people outside tech history circles remember it even existed.
18. Quicken Releases 5 & 6 (Pre-Y2K)
Ehécatl Cabrera on Wikimedia Commons
These early versions of Quicken helped users track spending and balance checkbooks on their home computers. But once the year 2000 arrived, they became incompatible and were no longer supported. Many users were forced to upgrade or move on to newer financial tools.