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Development and History[]

Windows NT 3.1 was essentually a Re-Written version of OS/2, that work began on in November 1988. OS/2 was an operating system that was developed jointly by Microsoft and IBM.

Windows NT 3.1 originally began development as OS/2 3.0. However, that changed when Microsoft began selling Windows 3.0. This was the very first Windows version designed for the consumer, and it was so successful, that Microsoft changed the core API of the then still-unreleased OS/2 3.0 from an Extended OS/2 API, to an Extended Windows API.

IBM did not like this, as the relationship between the two companies became strained, and eventually broke apart, leaving IBM to continue OS/2 development along, with Microsoft taking up development of Windows NT.

Windows NT and OS/2 briefly battled together, before Microsoft's superior Marketing Team gave IBM a painful lesson in how to market their products. OS/2 development was subequently discontinued.

Windows NT 3.1 was ultimately designed as a replacement for OS/2. Unlike Windows 3.1, Windows NT 3.1 was written from the ground up as a Pure 32-Bit System, although still retaining 16-Bit support for Win16 MS-DOS and Windows Executables.

It took nearly 5 years for Windows NT's first version to be released. On July 23rd 1993, Windows NT 3.1 finally shipped.

Timeline[]

  • NT's first public show off at Comdex Oct '91
  • Windows NT 3.1 Pre-Beta testing begins December 1991
  • NT's another show off at WinPDC in July 1992
  • First Beta Testing of Windows NT 3.1 Beta 1, begins October 12 1992
  • Windows NT 3.1 Beta 2 begins March 8 1993.
  • Windows NT 3.1 Beta 3 begins June 9 1993.
  • Windows NT 3.1 was Released to Manufacturing (RTM) July 26 1993.
  • Windows NT 3.1 was Released on 3.5" disks August 1993.
  • Windows NT 3.1 Service Pack 1 released October 1993.
  • Last known for Service Pack for Windows NT 3.1 was Sp3, released October 1994.

System Requirements[]

  • CPU: 386 or 486/25MHz
  • RAM: Workstation 12MB, Server 16MB
  • CD-ROM, 1.44MB or 1.2MB Floppy Drive or active Network Connection
  • Graphics System: VGA-Level Video Support
  • IDE, EIDE, SCSI or ESDI hard drive
  • Free Hard Drive Space: 90MB

Different Platforms[]

Windows NT 3.1, to appeal to areas of the Business Community, ran on a variety of system architectures. Intel's IA-32 Processors, the DEC Alpha, the MIPS R4000, and Motorola's PowerPC processors, were all supported by Windows NT 3.1.

Released Versions[]


Windows NT 3.1 Product List
Windows NT 3.1 Product List: Workstation | Advanced Server

Service Packs[]


Complete Microsoft Windows Service Pack List
Complete Microsoft Windows Service Pack List:

Windows 95: SP1

Windows 98: SP1

Windows NT 3.1: SP1 | SP2 | SP3

Windows NT 4.0: SP1 | SP2 | SP3 | SP4 | SP5 | SP6 | SP6a

Windows 2000: SP1 | SP2 | SP3 | SP4

Windows XP: SP1 | SP2 | SP3

Windows Server 2003: SP1 | SP2

The Number 3.1[]

The Number 3.1 was used for three reasons. First off, the UI was a clone of Windows 3.1. Secondly, Windows NT 3.1 conveniently one-upped OS/2 2.1 that shipped earlier, and lastly, Windows NT 3.1 gave a more 'Stable' appearence than Windows NT 3.0.

The NT Designation[]

There has been much speculation over what the 'NT' name actually means. In 1998, it was revealed that 'NT' originally meant 'New Technology', but now it just serves as an acronym with no meaning.

Windows 2000 was orignally known as Windows NT 5.0, but Microsoft dropped NT from its name. In Hindsight, with Windows XP on the scene, the removal of NT could be seen as an early hint that the Windows NT and 9x product lines were to Merge. But, it was also believed that Microsoft and Nortel were involved in a Trademark dispute over NT, so Microsoft could have removed NT to avoid further hassle.

Differences compared to Windows 3.1[]

Most of the accessories and applications in Windows NT 3.1 are 32-bit ports of the Windows 3.1 versions, although some stayed 16-bit, and ran using the Windows 3.1 Emulation subsystem. Perhaps one of the biggest improvements to Windows NT, compared to other versions, was it's internal use of Unicode, as opposed to most others using ANSI.


Microsoft Operating System Versions
Microsoft Operating System Versions:

MS-DOS: QDOS | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.11 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.21 | 3.3 | 3.3A | 3.31 | 4.0 | 4.01 | 4.01A | 5.0 | 5.0A | 6.0 | 6.2 | 6.21 | 6.22 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 8.0

Windows 1.x: 1.0 | 1.01 | 1.02 | 1.03 | 1.04

Windows 2.x: 2.0 | 2.01 | 2.1 | 2.2

Windows 3.x: 3.0 | 3.0A | 3.1 | 3.11 | 3.2

Windows for Workgroups 3.x: 3.1 | 3.11

Windows 9x: 95 | 98 | ME

Windows NT: 3.1 | 3.5 | 3.51 | 4.0 | 2000 | XP | 2003

Windows NT: Vista | Longhorn Server | Blackcomb Server

Windows NT: Windows 8 | Windows 10 | Windows 11

Windows CE: 1.0 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.11 | 2.12 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 5.0

Windows Embedded: NT | XP

Windows Mobile: 2003 | 5.0

Previous Windows Codenames: Janus | Snowball | Kato | Daytona | Chicago | Memphis | Millennium | Cairo | Odyssey | Neptune | Whistler | Longhorn | Blackcomb