Q32905: Windows Version History

Article: Q32905
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:1.x, 2.x, 3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 20-SEP-1999

1.x 2.x 3.00 3.00a 3.10 3.11

WINDOWS

kbdisplay kbnetwork kbref kbsound

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows versions 1.x, 2.x, 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11 
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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

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin300a kbWin310 kbWin311
Version           : WINDOWS:1.x, 2.x, 3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11

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