Win32 Subsystem

Win32 is the native environment subsystem of Windows NT. Prior to Windows NT 4.0, this subsystem included graphics, windowing, and messaging support and the graphics device drivers. These functions have been moved into the Windows NT Executive as executive services running in user mode. For more information about this change, see "What's Changed in Windows NT 4.0 Workstation," earlier in this chapter.

The remaining Win32 user-mode functions, known as the Console and miscellaneous environment functions support 32-bit Windows applications:

• The Console provides text window support, shutdown, and hard-error handling.

• Miscellaneous environment functions consist of specialized functions for 32-bit Windows applications, like creating and deleting processes.