Windows 3.0

	Email		Print
	Bookmark		Link

Windows 3.0

Windows 3.0 is the third major release of Microsoft

Microsoft

Microsoft Corporation is a multinational corporation computer technology corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of computer software products for computing devices....
Windows

Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Windows is a series of software operating systems and graphical user interfaces produced by Microsoft. Microsoft first introduced an operating environment named Windows in November 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces ....
, and was released on 22 May 1990. It became the first widely successful version of Windows and a powerful rival to Apple Macintosh

Macintosh

File:Imac alu.pngMacintosh, commonly shortened to Mac, is a brand name which covers several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc....
and the Commodore Amiga on the GUI

Gui

Gui or guee is a generic term to refer to grillinged dishes in Korean cuisine. These most commonly have meat or fish as their primary ingredient, but may in some cases also comprise grilled vegetables or other vegetarian ingredients....
front. It was succeeded by Windows 3.1

Windows 3.1x

Windows 2.1x

Windows 2.1x is a family of Microsoft Windows graphical user interface-based operating environments.Less than a year after the release of Windows 2.0, Windows/286 2.10 and Windows/386 2.10 were released on 27 May 1988....
and included a significantly revamped user interface

User interface

The user interface is the aggregate of means by which people—the User s—Interaction with the system—a particular machine, device, computer program or other complex tools....
as well as technical improvements to make better use of the memory management

Memory management

Memory management is the act of managing computer memory. In its simpler forms, this involves providing ways to allocate portions of memory to programs at their request, and freeing it for reuse when no longer needed....
capabilities of Intel's 80286

Intel 80286

The Intel 286, introduced on February 1, 1982, was an x86 16-bit microprocessor with 134,000 transistors.It was widely used in IBM PC compatible computers during the mid 1980s to early 1990s....
and 80386

Intel 80386

Discussion

Ask a question about 'Windows 3.0'

Start a new discussion about 'Windows 3.0'

Answer questions from other users

Full Discussion Forum

Encyclopedia

Windows 3.0 is the third major release of Microsoft

Microsoft

Microsoft Windows

Macintosh

Gui

Windows 3.1x

Features

Windows 3.0 succeeded Windows 2.1x

Windows 2.1x

User interface

Memory management

Intel 80286

Intel 80386

The Intel 80386, otherwise known as the i386 or just 386, is a microprocessor which has been used as the central processing unit of many personal computers and workstations since 1986....
processors. Text-mode programs written for MS-DOS

MS-DOS

MS-DOS is an operating system commercialized by Microsoft. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems and was the main operating system for personal computers during the 1980s....
could be run within a window (a feature previously available in a more limited form with Windows/386 2.1), making the system usable as a crude multitasking

Computer multitasking

In computing, multitasking is a method by which multiple tasks, also known as Computer process, share common processing resources such as a Central processing unit....
base for legacy programs. However, this was of limited use for the home market, where most games and entertainment programs continued to require raw DOS access.

The MS-DOS Executive file manager/program launcher was replaced with the icon-based Program Manager

Program Manager

Program Manager is the Shell of Windows 3.1x and Windows NT 3.x operating systems. This shell exposed a task-oriented graphical user interface , consisting of icon s arranged into program groups....
and the list-based File Manager, thereby simplifying the launching of applications. The MS-DOS Executive is also included as an alternative to these. The Control Panel, previously available as a standard-looking applet

Applet

An applet is a software component that runs in the context of another program, for example a web browser. An applet usually performs a very narrow function that has no independent use....
, was re-modeled after the one in Mac OS

Mac OS

Mac OS is the trademarked name for a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems....
. It centralized system settings, including limited control over the color scheme of the interface. A number of simple applications were included, such as the text editor Notepad

Notepad

Notepad is a simple text editor included in all versions of Microsoft Windows since Windows 1.0 in 1985....
and the word processor Write (both inherited from earlier versions of Windows), a macro recorder (new; later dropped), and a calculator (also inherited). The earlier Reversi

Reversi

Reversi is an abstract strategy game board game which involves play by two parties on an eight-by-eight square grid with pieces that have two distinct sides....
game was complemented with a card game

Card game

A card game is any game using playing cards as the primary things with which the game is played, be they traditional or game-specific. Countless card games exist, including families of related games ....
named Solitaire

Klondike (solitaire)

Klondike is a solitaire card game. Many people refer to Klondike as "solitaire". It has been proposed that the version shipped with Microsoft Windows is the most popular video game of all time, Chris Sells, a Microsoft employee, was quoted as describing it as the "most used Windows application"....
.

Windows 3.0 includes a Protected/Enhanced mode which allows Windows applications to use more memory in a more painless manner than their DOS counterparts could. It can run in any of Real, Standard, or 386 Enhanced modes, and is compatible with any Intel processor from the 8086

Intel 8086

The 8086 is a 16-bit microprocessor chip designed by Intel and introduced on the market in 1978, which gave rise to the x86 architecture. Intel 8088, released in 1979, was essentially the same chip, but with an external 8-bit bus , and is notable as the processor used in the original IBM PC....
/8088

Intel 8088

The Intel 8088 is an Intel x86 microprocessor based on the Intel 8086, with 16-bit registers and an 8-bit external data bus. It can address up to 1 megabyte of random access memory....
up to 80286

Intel 80286

Intel 80386

Real mode

Real mode, also called real address mode, is an operating mode of 80286 and later x86-compatible Central processing unit. Real mode is characterized by a 20 bit segmented memory address space , direct software access to BIOS routines and peripheral hardware, and no concept of memory protection or computer multitasking at the hardware le...
), /s ("standard" 286 protected mode

Protected mode

In computing, protected mode, also called protected virtual address mode, is an operational mode of x86-compatible central processing units ....
) and /3 (386 enhanced protected mode

Protected mode

In computing, protected mode, also called protected virtual address mode, is an operational mode of x86-compatible central processing units ....
) respectively. This was the first version to run Windows programs in protected mode, although the 386 enhanced mode kernel

Kernel

Kernel may refer to:...
was an enhanced version of the protected mode kernel in Windows/386.

Due to this backward compatibility, Windows 3.0 applications also must be compiled in a 16-bit

16-bit

16-bit architectureThe HP 2100#Descendants and variants , introduced in 1975, was the world's first 16-bit microprocessor.Prominent 16-bit processors include the PDP-11, Intel 8086, Intel 80286 and the WDC 65C816....
environment, without ever using the full 32-bit

32-bit

The range of integer values that can be stored in 32 bits is 0 through 4,294,967,295 or -2,147,483,648 through 2,147,483,647 using two's complement encoding....
capabilities of the 386 CPU.

A "multimedia" version, Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions 1.0, was released several months later. This was bundled with "multimedia upgrade kits", comprising a CD-ROM drive and a sound card

Sound card

A sound card is a computer expansion card that facilitates the input and output of sound to/from a computer under control of computer programs....
, such as the Creative Labs Sound Blaster Pro. This version was the precursor to the multimedia features available in Windows 3.1 and later, and was part of the specification for Microsoft's specification for the Multimedia PC

Multimedia PC

The Multimedia PC, or MPC, was a recommended configuration for a PC with a CD-ROM drive. The standard was set and named by the "Multimedia PC Marketing Council", which was a working group of the Software and Information Industry Association ....
.

Windows 3.0 was the last version of Windows to advertise 100% compatibility with older Windows applications. This only applies to real mode.

Interface

Windows 3.0 included a more user friendly interface and did include the MS-DOS Executive with the File Manager. It had two file managers and Program Manager. It included Solitaire as an additional game with Reversi. Paint (renamed Paintbrush) allowed the user to draw in color and create bitmap and PCX images. It included support for VGA Monitors. Icons were given color treatment which provided an even more user friendly interface. Unlike Windows 1.0 and 2.0, the user could change the system configuration (mouse, display, network adapter).

Windows 3.0 with VGA Support included improved color support. Control Panel was improved with all main controls in icons. Windows Setup was located in the Main program Group. Program Manager allowed the users as well as program to create program groups making commonly used programs easy to find without knowing the programs real file name (PROGMAN.EXE).

System requirements

The official system requirements for Windows 3.0:

8086
Intel 8086

The 8086 is a 16-bit microprocessor chip designed by Intel and introduced on the market in 1978, which gave rise to the x86 architecture. Intel 8088, released in 1979, was essentially the same chip, but with an external 8-bit bus , and is notable as the processor used in the original IBM PC....
/8088
Intel 8088

The Intel 8088 is an Intel x86 microprocessor based on the Intel 8086, with 16-bit registers and an 8-bit external data bus. It can address up to 1 megabyte of random access memory....
processor or better
640K conventional memory
a hard disk with 6-7MB of free space
CGA/EGA/VGA/Hercules/8514/a graphics and an appropriate and compatible monitor

Also, a Microsoft-compatible mouse is recommended.

Memory modes

Windows 3.0 was the only version of Windows that could be run in three different memory modes:

Real mode, intended for older computers with a CPU below Intel 80286
Intel 80286

The Intel 286, introduced on February 1, 1982, was an x86 16-bit microprocessor with 134,000 transistors.It was widely used in IBM PC compatible computers during the mid 1980s to early 1990s....
, and corresponding to its real mode
Real mode

Real mode, also called real address mode, is an operating mode of 80286 and later x86-compatible Central processing unit. Real mode is characterized by a 20 bit segmented memory address space , direct software access to BIOS routines and peripheral hardware, and no concept of memory protection or computer multitasking at the hardware le...
;
Standard mode, intended for computers with an 80286 processor, and corresponding to its protected mode
Protected mode

In computing, protected mode, also called protected virtual address mode, is an operational mode of x86-compatible central processing units ....
;
386 Enhanced mode, intended for newer computers with an Intel 80386
Intel 80386

The Intel 80386, otherwise known as the i386 or just 386, is a microprocessor which has been used as the central processing unit of many personal computers and workstations since 1986....
processor or above, and corresponding to its protected mode and virtual 8086 mode
Virtual 8086 mode

In the 80386 microprocessor and later, Virtual 8086 mode, also called virtual real mode or VM86, allows the execution of real mode applications that are protected mode#Real_mode_application_compatibility directly in protected mode....
.

Real mode primarily existed as a way to run Windows 2.x

Windows 2.x

Windows 2.x can refer to either an individual or all of the following versions of Microsoft Windows:* Windows 2.0* Windows 2.1x...
applications. It was removed in Windows 3.1x

Windows 3.1x

Windows 3.1x is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers. The line began with Windows 3.1, which was released in March 1992 as a successor to Windows 3.0....
. Almost all applications designed for Windows 3.0 had to be run in Standard or 386 Enhanced modes. However, it was necessary to load Windows 3.0 in Real mode to run SWAPFILE.EXE, which allowed users to change virtual memory settings.

Standard mode was used most often as its requirements were more in-line with an average PC of that era – a 286 processor with at least 1MB of memory. Incidentally, not all 286 and 386 computers remapped memory between 640 KB (the upper limit of Conventional memory

Conventional memory

In computing, conventional memory is the first 640 kilobytes of the memory on IBM PC compatible systems....
) and 1 MB as extended memory — some did not show memory between 640 KB and 1 MB at all — so on some systems with 1 MB of RAM, there is no extended memory and memory was limited to 640 KB. On such a system, Windows was limited to real mode. Many 386 computers ran Windows 3.0 in Standard mode due to a lack of memory.

386 Enhanced mode implemented all the benefits of Standard mode, plus 32-bit addressing and paging for faster memory access, and virtual 8086 mode

Virtual 8086 mode

In the 80386 microprocessor and later, Virtual 8086 mode, also called virtual real mode or VM86, allows the execution of real mode applications that are protected mode#Real_mode_application_compatibility directly in protected mode....
for safer execution of MS-DOS programs: each of them now ran in a virtual machine. In the previous modes, multiple MS-DOS programs could only be run in full-screen, and only the program currently active was executing; but in 386 enhanced mode, they could be run simultaneously in separate windows. This mode required a 386 processor and 1MB of extended memory (in addition to the base 640KB) – beyond the specifications of most PCs sold in 1990.

Multimedia Extensions

The Multimedia Extensions were released in autumn 1991 to support sound card

Sound card

A sound card is a computer expansion card that facilitates the input and output of sound to/from a computer under control of computer programs....
s, as well as CD-ROM

CD-ROM

CD-ROM is a pre-pressed Compact Disc that contains Computer data storage accessible to, but not writable by, a computer. While the Compact Disc format was originally designed for music storage and playback, the 1985 Yellow Book standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of Binary file....
drives, which were then becoming increasingly available. The Multimedia Extensions were released to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)

Original Equipment Manufacturer

OEM stands for "Original Equipment Manufacturer".An original equipment manufacturer, or OEM is typically a company that uses a component made by a second company in its own product, or sells the product of the second company under its own brand....
, mainly CD-ROM drive and sound card manufacturers, and added basic multimedia

Multimedia

Multimedia is media and content that utilizes a combination of different content format. The term can be used as a noun or as an adjective describing a medium as having multiple content forms....
support for audio input and output and a CD

Compact Disc

A Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store Data , originally developed for storing digital audio. The CD, available on the market since October 1982, remains the standard physical medium for sale of commercial Sound recording and reproduction to the present day....
audio player application to Windows 3.0. The Multimedia Extensions' new features were not available in Windows 3.0 real mode. Windows 3.1x

Windows 3.1x

Windows Sound System

Windows Sound System was a sound card specification developed by Microsoft for use in their Windows 3.0#The Multimedia Extensions. WSS featured support for up to 16-bit 48 kHz digital sampling, better than the contemporary Sound Blaster Pro....
sound card specification to complement these extensions.

The MME API was the first universal and standardized Windows audio API. Wave sound events played in Windows (up to Windows XP

Windows XP

Windows XP is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptop, and media centers....
) and MIDI I/O use MME. The devices listed in the Multimedia/Sounds and Audio control panel applet represent the MME API of the sound card

Sound card

A sound card is a computer expansion card that facilitates the input and output of sound to/from a computer under control of computer programs....
driver.

MME supports sharing the audio device for playback between multiple applications, up to two channels of recording, 16-bit audio bit depth

Audio bit depth

In digital audio, bit depth describes the number of bits of information recorded for each Sample_. Bit depth directly corresponds to the resolution of each sample in a set of digital audio data....
and sampling rate

Sampling rate

The sampling rate, sample rate, or sampling frequency defines the number of sample per second taken from a continuous signal to make a discrete signal....
s of up to 44.1 kHz with all the audio being mixed and sampled to 44.1 kHz. MME lacks channel mixing, so only one audio stream can be rendered at a time.

Marketing

This version of Windows was the first to be pre-installed on hard drives by PC-compatible manufacturers. Zenith Data Systems

Zenith Data Systems

Zenith Data Systems was a division of Zenith Electronics Corporation founded in 1979 after Zenith acquired Heathkit, who had, at that time, recently entered the personal computer market....
had previously shipped all of its computers with Windows 1.0 or later 2.x on diskettes but committed early in the development of Windows 3.0 to shipping it pre-installed. Indeed, the Zenith division had pushed Microsoft hard to develop the graphical user interface because of Zenith's direct competition with Apple

Apple Computer

Apple Inc., formerly Apple Computer Inc., is an United States multinational corporation which designs and manufactures consumer electronics and software products....
in the college & university market.

Windows 3.0 was not available as a run-time version, as was the case with its predecessors. A limited-use version of Windows 2.x was often bundled with other applications (i.e. Ami Pro) due to the low market penetration of Windows itself. Starting with Windows 3.0, Microsoft required that customers obtain a copy of Windows (in addition to obtaining DOS), in order to be able to use Windows applications.

External links

- A website dedicated to preserving and showcasing Graphical User Interfaces
Support, links and freeware downloads for users of Windows 3x.