Windows 95 provides the following improvements in mouse and pointing device support:
Windows 3.1 required that an MS-DOS – based mouse driver be loaded before starting Windows to use a mouse in an MS-DOS – based application running in a window or running in a full screen.
The protected-mode Windows 95 VxD mouse driver provides mouse support for Windows-based applications, MS-DOS – based applications running in a window, and MS-DOS – based applications running in a full screen. These improvements result in zero use of conventional memory for mouse support in the Windows 95 environment. (However, most legacy real-mode drivers will run in Windows 95.)
In addition to better mouse services, Windows 95 allows the use of serial ports COM1 through COM4 for connecting a mouse or other pointing device.
For example, use an application such as Edit, and try the MS-DOS – based application both in a window and in a full screen. Notice that the mouse is available in both modes.