Chen’s latest tale recounts how 3D Pipes, the classic screensaver came to be: Microsoft wanted to show off OpenGL within Windows NT 3.5, but wanted a way to do it that wasn’t an ad.

But all good things come to an end, including screensavers—the release of Windows XP Service Pack 3 in 2009 marked the last time the company’s OS would come equipped with Chen’s contest designs.

Simply download the zip file from the Internet Archive's "Windows XP And 98 Screensavers" page and extract the contents into the System 32 folder. You'll find them in your screensaver settings. 6 ...