Windows Versions Supported with Various MS-DOS Versions

 Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
Article ID: Q83458
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows operating system versions 2.x, 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

The chart below shows which versions of MS-DOS can be run with Windows.

If the error "Unsupported DOS version" occurs, check the Windows version and the MS-DOS version against the chart below. It is also important to verify that the MS-DOS version being used is the one recommended by the hardware manufacturer and not an OEM version from another hardware vendor (for example, IBM PC-DOS on a clone machine).

MS-DOS version 3.0 or later is required to run any version of Windows 2.03 through 2.11. MS-DOS version 3.1 or later is required to run Windows versions 3.0 and 3.1.

MORE INFORMATION

   -------------------------MS-DOS Version--------------------------
                       3.0x  3.1x  3.2x  3.3x  4.00, 4.01(a)  5.00
   -----------------------------------------------------------------
   Windows/286 2.03,    Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y           |  (c)
      2.10, and 2.11       |     |     |     |              |
   ------------------------|-----|-----|-----|--------------|-------
   Windows/386 2.03     Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  N           |  N
   ------------------------|-----|-----|-----|--------------|-------
   Windows/386 2.1      N  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  (b)         | (b)(c)
   ------------------------|-----|-----|-----|--------------|-------
   Windows/386 2.11     N  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y           |  (c)
   ------------------------|-----|-----|-----|--------------|-------
   Windows 3.0          N  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y           |  Y
   ------------------------|-----|-----|-----|--------------|-------
   Windows 3.1          N  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y           |  Y
   -----------------------------------------------------------------

   Notes
   -----

   (a)  MS-DOS 4.0 or 4.01 or IBM PC-DOS 4.01 -- Windows
        does not work correctly with IBM PC-DOS 4.0

   (b)  If dated 9/7/88 or later, Yes; if not, No

   (c)  Must have SETVER.EXE loaded in the CONFIG.SYS file
        to work correctly with MS-DOS 5.0
"Windows/286" in the table above includes Windows/286 and all Microsoft run-time versions sent out with Microsoft products (Excel, Word for Windows, and so on).

This data is based on MS-DOS version numbers. An OEM DOS product with the same version number may not work correctly. (In these cases, an OEM DOS upgrade may be required to work with Windows).

KBCategory: kbsetup kbinterop kberrmsg
KBSubcategory: win30 win31
Additional reference words: 2.10 3.00 3.00a 3.10 Excel win386
Incorrect DOS version Winword

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Last reviewed: November 21, 1994
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