Development and History[]
Windows 3.0 was Released May 22, 1990, and included dramatic performance increases for Windows applications.
Advances in ease of use conformed to the Common Users Access (CUA) guidelines for same style of graphical operating system user interaction.
While Windows 3.0 was designed for the home user, it possessed the ability to be straightforwardly integrated into corporate computing environments.
Windows 3.0 was also the first Windows Version to offer built-in Network Drivers. IBM even started to offer Windows 3.0 as a PS/2 Option, and it was initially presented as a stepping stone to IBM OS/2.
Windows 3.0 Could also use up to 16Mb of RAM memory, enabling user to run more programs simultaneously.
Screenshot[]
Easter Egg: Program Manager is still included in Windows XP, you just have to look for it! (It's in the system32)
Available Versions[]
Windows 3.0[]
Initial Version
Windows 3.0 A[]
Windows 3.0 A was a maintenance version released in October 1991, and was, in effect, a Service Update to Windows 3.0
Windows 3.0 with Multimedia[]
Release in 1991, Windows 3.0 MM was an OEM offer by IBM, and was an option for PS/2 computers. Came on a single CD-ROM.
Windows 3.1[]
Windows 3.1 was released April 6 1992, and included over 1,000 enhancements.
It created unprecedented user demand, with over one million advance orders placed worldwide. Windows 3.1 also added support for Truetype Fonts, and Multimedia.
An upgrade version for Windows 3.0 was available (Win31UG), but Windows 3.1 was released as a Competitor to OS/2, and was no longer a stepping stone.
Modes[]
Windows 3.1 offered a variety of Modes to run Windows in:
386 Enhanced Mode, with minimum 4M RAM, and Standard Mode with minimum 2M RAM.
Windows for Workgroups 3.1[]
Windows for Workgroups (WFW) 3.1, codenamed Janus, was released October 1992, and integrated Networking and Workgroup functionality directly into Windows.
WFW 3.1 can provide networking capabilities on its own, or it can be used as a client on an existing Local Area Network (LAN).
Both DOS upgrade and a Windows Upgrade versions were available (WFW31AD, and WFW31AW, respectively).
Windows 3.11[]
Released in December 1993, Windows 3.11, it now included the Windows for Workgroups Compatable Core Files (also as WW0981UD.EXE).
Windows 3.11 also included SVGA & updated drivers (also as SVGA.EXE). Although it was never marketed as such, Windows 3.11 was a Service Release (SR) of Windows 3.1. The only way to check to see if you have it installed, was to click the 'About' Box.
Windows for Workgroups 3.11[]
Windows for Workgroups 3.11 was also released in December 1993, and included the following functionality:
- File sharing.
- Printer sharing.
- Network dynamic data exchange (DDE).
- Microsoft Mail.
- Microsoft Schedule+.
- Microsoft At Work PC Fax.
- Remote Access Services.
- 32-bit file and disk access.
- Advanced security.
Both a DOS upgrade version available, as well as Windows 3.1 or WFW 3.1 upgrade versions, were available (WFW311AD, and WFW311AW, respectively).
Windows 3.12[]
Windows 3.12 is Windows 3.11, but aimed at the Chinese Market.
Addons for Windows 3.1[]
| Windows 3.1 Addons |
| Windows 3.1 Addons: VFW | Win32s | WinG |
Win32s[]
Win32s was a simply a set of Win32 -> Win16 Thunkers, that allowed Windows 3.1 to run simple Win32 apps written for Windows NT 3.1
Video for Windows[]
Video for Windows or VFW, added basic Video support to Windows. Since Windows 95, It's been included as Standard.
WinG[]
WinG was a set of Multimedia Software that some old games required to run. Now, it is depreciated.
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