Windows Version History

ID: Q32905

1.x 2.x 3.00 3.00a 3.10 3.11
WINDOWS
kbdisplay kbnetwork kbref kbsound
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows versions 1.x, 2.x, 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11

The following is a product history for Microsoft Windows versions 1.x, 2.03, 2.1, 2.11, 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, and 3.11:

   Version   Date     Requirements
   -------   ----     ------------

   1.01      11/85    - MS-DOS version 2.0
                      - Two double-sided disk drives or a hard disk
                      - 256K of memory or greater
                      - Graphics-adapter card

   1.03       8/86    Requirements

                      - MS-DOS version 2.0
                      - Two double-sided disk drives or a hard disk
                      - 320K of memory or greater
                      - Graphics-adapter card

                      Changes:

                      - MS-DOS version 3.2 support
                      - Enhanced keyboard support
                      - AT&T 6300 and AT&T 6300 Plus support
                      - 14-, 18-, and 24-point sizes added to
                        TimesRoman and Helvetica fonts
                      - Generic/Text Only printer driver added
                      - PostScript printer driver added
                      - .WRI extension used for Windows Write files
                        (version 1.01 used .DOC extension)
                      - Support for all features of the international
                        version

   DDL        1/87    Windows Device Driver Library Volume 1

                      Additional support for display devices,
                      printers, and pointing devices added

   1.04       4/87    Requirements

                      - MS-DOS version 2.0
                      - Two double-sided disk drives or a hard disk
                        320K of memory or greater
                      - Graphics-adapter card

                      Changes

                      - IBM Personal System/2 support
                      - COMM.DRV revised to support ept port for IBM
                        3812 Pageprinter
                      - HP downloadable soft font support

   2.03      11/87    Requirements

                      - MS-DOS version 3.0
                      - Two double-sided disk drives or a hard disk
                      - 512K of memory or greater
                      - Graphics-adapter card

                      Changes

                      - Overlapping windows instead of tiled windows
                      - LIM Version 4.0 expanded memory support
                      - Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) support
                      - SMARTDrive disk-cache program included
                      - Revised .FON format for screen fonts
                      - NEWFON.EXE included to convert 1.x font
                        format to 2.x font format
                      - Revised Paint file format
                      - CVTPAINT.EXE included to convert 2.x
                        Paint file format to 1.x format
                      - About command moved to File menu from System
                        menu
                      - Printer Timeouts option added to Control
                        Panel
                      - Mouse Acceleration option added to Control
                        Panel
                      - Warning Beep toggle added to Control Panel
                      - Notepad About command reports
                      - Remaining Free Space
                      - 3812 Pageprinter no longer supported

   2.10    5/27/88   Requirements

                     - 512K Memory
                     - MS-DOS version 3.0 or later
                     - One floppy-disk drive AND one hard disk (note
                       that a hard disk is now required)
                     - Graphics adapter card  (the box notes: IBM
                       EGA, IBM VGA, IBM 8514, IBM CGA, Hercules
                       Graphics Card, or compatibles)
                     - Use of the Microsoft Mouse is optional
                     - Packaged with 5.25-inch 1.2 megabyte
                       disks OR 3.5-inch 720K disks, plus an
                       order form for free 360K 5.25-inch disks

                     Changes

                     - New HIMEM.SYS driver allowing the use of the first
                       64K of extended memory to store part of Windows,
                       giving approximately 50K additional conventional
                       memory inside Windows
                     - Support for approximately 65 more printers than
                       version 2.03, bringing the total supported
                       printers to approximately 127
                     - Support for additional computers
                     - Support for additional display devices

   2.11   3/13/89    Requirements

                     Same as Version 2.1

                     Changes

                     - Accounts for memory freed by XMS when computing
                       the maximum swap size allowed
                     - Increased minimum bankable memory required for
                       large frame EMS
                     - Setup program no longer terminates when
                       incompatible driver is encountered
                     - Setup corrected to permit set up on 512K machine
                       with MS-DOS version 3.3
                     - Updated COMM.DRV to solve handshaking problems at
                       9600 bits per second (BPS)
                     - Updated HPPCL.DRV driver that supports LaserJet
                       series IID, Olivetti LP 5000, Toshiba
                     - PageLaser 12, and Intel Visual Edge
                     - Updated PSCRIPT.DRV driver that supports
                       Olivetti LP 5000 in PostScript mode
                     - Printing speed increased
                     - Windows/386 WINOLDAP.MOD modified to support high-
                       resolution displays

                     Additions

                     - AppleTalk library (must accompany the new
                       PostScript driver)
                     - Toshiba 24-pin printer driver
                     - 8514/a driver for Windows/386
                     - /E switch to adjust large frame EMS threshold 

   3.0    5/22/90    Requirements

                     2.11 requirements plus the following:

                     - MS-DOS 3.1 or higher
                     - 640K Conventional Memory
                     - 256K Extended Memory

                     Changes

                    - Windows runs in protected mode -- direct extended
                      memory access
                    - 386 enhanced mode virtual memory provides more
                      memory than physically in RAM by swapping blocks
                      of RAM to the hard drive.
                    - Color palette managed by Windows 3.0
                    - Device-independent color bitmap support
                    - Improved network support
                    - New dialog boxes, system fonts, and menus
                    - Graphical environment
                    - New HIMEM.SYS XMS (spec. 2.0) driver. 16 MB
                      support
                    - EMM386.SYS expanded memory manager
                    - 32 printer drivers supporting 170 different
                      printers -- including HP LaserJet III series
                    - MS-DOS programs run in a window
                    - Three mode operation (real, standard, 386
                      enhanced).
                    - Icon-based Program Manager
                    - Tree-structured File Manager
                    - Asymetrix Daybook 1.0a bundled

   3.00a  10/31/90   Requirements

                    Same as Windows 3.0

                    Changes

                    - Maintenance release of 3.0 focusing on very
                      specific problems with:

                       Networking
                       Dynamic Data Exchange
                       Low-memory conditions
                       Setup
                       Extended character support for printers

                    - Retail package shipped with Windows Q&A booklet

    3.00a
Multimedia    Fall
Extensions    1991    Requirements

                      Multimedia PC (MPC) Specifications:

                      - 80386 sx or dx IBM compatible
                      - 2 megabytes RAM
                      - VGA or higher (16 color minimum)
                      - 30 Megabyte hard drive
                      - CD-ROM (with audio output support)
                      - 2-button mouse
                      - Audio hardware

                      Changes

                      - Available only through hardware OEM
                      - New device drivers to connect with specific MPC
                        hardware.
                      - Introduced Media Control Interface (MCI)
                      - Enhanced Control Panel includes screen saver,
                        video driver icon (Drivers), joystick control,
                        driver installer, event based sound control,
                        and MIDI mapping control
                      - New Accessories: MPC Alarm Clock, Media Player,
                      - Sound Recorder

   3.10   4/6/92     Requirements

                     - MS-DOS 3.1 or later
                     - IBM compatible 80286 or higher (386 recommended)
                     - 640K Conventional memory
                     - 256K extended memory (XMS v 2.0 or higher)
                     - 1024K extended memory recommended on 80286
                     - 2048K extended memory recommended on 80386
                     - 5.25-inch (high density) or 3.5-inch floppy
                       drive
                     - Fixed drive with 6 megabytes free (10 megabytes
                       recommended)
                     - EGA, VGA, SVGA, XGA, 8514/A, or Hercules video
                       card or 100% compatible card, and monitor
                     - Mouse recommended

                     Changes

                     - Available in upgrade or full package (upgrade
                       does not require earlier version)
                     - Improved Setup program offers express, custom,
                       network, and troubleshooting setup
                     - Computer-based Windows 3.1 tutorial
                     - Consistent dialog boxes
                     - Improved online Help
                     - OLE Drag and drop, OLE support in many applications
                     - Improved File Manager
                     - Improved printer support through use of
                       UNIdriver
                     - New video drivers support MS-DOS graphics in a
                       window
                     - WD1003 virtual hard drive controller
                     - Virtual memory changeable in Control Panel
                     - Standard and enhanced mode operation only
                     - TrueType scalable font support
                     - Includes multimedia extensions (inclusions)
                     - Includes new SMARTDrive version 4.0, HIMEM XMS
                       manager 3.0, new EMM386.EXE
                     - Standard mode can now run with EMM386.EXE running
                     - Documentation includes "Getting Started" manual
                     - 266 different types of printers supported

   3.11  12/31/93   Requirements

                     - Same as version 3.1

                    Changes

                     - Certificate of Authenticity
                     - More sophisticated hologram and an MS (3M) sticker
                       on box
                     - An 800 number to call (in the United States &
                       Canada) and check for product legitimacy
                     - Updated drivers
                     - Five updated core files
                     - NetWare support files (from Novell) 

Additional query words: 2.1 2.10 3.0 3.00 3.0a 3.00a 3.1 3.10 3.11

Keywords :
Version : WINDOWS:1.x, 2.x, 3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :


Last Reviewed: September 16, 1999
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