Windows 3.x

The version 3 of Windows is a Operating system appeared in 1990. Version 3 was the first to be a broad success, making it possible its originator Microsoft to compete with the Apple Macintosh or the Amiga of Commodore in the field of the graphical interface. To note that the line 3x of Windows is the first with being marketed directly on a new PC.

It is advisable to make the difference with the line Windows NT 3x in Windows which in common has only little thing with Windows 3x. Windows NT is technically very different from Windows 3x.

Windows 3.0

Windows 3.0 was launched the May 22nd 1990 and included compared to the previous model of the significant improvements, in particular on the level of the interface and the level of the management of the memory thanks to the capacities of the processors Intel 80286 and 80386.

This program launched out since invites of order MS/DOS using the order win . It was presented in the form of a graphic surcouche for MS/DOS, just like the previous models of Windows. However, its launching replaced also some routines of DOS by Windows routines in particular on the level of the stock management memory. It is the last version which proposes a perfect compatibility with the applications written for the previous models of Windows.

As regards the graphic aspect the management system of the MS-DOS programs was replaced by an administrative programs based on a system of icons and a management system of file in the form of lists called Winfile . The launching of applications was thus largely simplified. MS-DOS remained the principal interface, since which one launched Windows.

The Control panel had been remelted by imitating that of Mac OS. It contained in only one point the adjustments of the system as well as a simple control panel governing the appearance of the interface.

Some applications were provided the such Bloc-notes or the Write (predecessor of WordPad), already present on the previous models as well as the Calculatrice. The play provided until there, Reversi was supplemented by a very new play, the Solitaire.

This version also tested subjacent DOS and transmitted messages of warning statement if it were not about DOS Microsoft (for example the DR-DOS created by DIGITAL Research).

Procedures

There exist three operating processes of the system. Windows 3.0 has three different cores which deal with the improvements made by processors 80286 and 80386:

real Mode:

This mode corresponds to the code execution native on the 8086/8088 and 80186. Processors 80286 and higher can operate in this procedure. But it do not reach whereas a maximum of 1Mo of memory in a direct way (more with pilots EMS but through windows of access).

standard Mode:

This mode corresponds to the mode protected from the 80286. It is less advanced conceptually than the mode protected from the 80386. This mode allows an direct access with the memory of 16Mo, the virtual Memory as well as protection (separation of the memory capacity of the process making impossible corruption of the memory by another program). It is the appearance of the concept of space core and space user on the range of processor x86.

Mode 386 wide:

This mode corresponds to the Mode protected appeared on the processors 80386. It preserves the advantages of the standard mode with in more one linear of the memory on 32 bits thus giving accesses to 4 Go of theoretical memory. This generation of protected mode allows also the use of the environment Virtual86 which allows programs written for the real mode to function directly without adaptation. It can reach segments report and peripheral exactly as it would do it with the real mode, without any restriction imposed normally by the protected mode.

Thus each process DOS launched on the machine is carried out in an autonomous way in separate virtual machines without knowing the existence of the other launched applications, whereas the graphic Windows applications are mixed within the same wire of execution (thread) and thus share the same memory capacity. A Windows application can thus endanger another Windows application whereas applications DOS (in theory) are isolated between them.

An upward compatibility exists. It is thus possible to use for example the core 80286 on a computer equipped with a processor 80386 but the opposite operation is not possible. Windows 3.0 is the last operating system of the Microsoft firm which supports processor 8086 equipping the first IBM-PC.

The selection of the mode appropriate to the launching of Windows is managed by the order win.com . It automatically detects the mode more adapted during its launching. It is all the same possible to force the use of a particular mode using a switch at the time of the call of the order:

win /R: Launch Windows in real mode
win /S: Launch Windows in standard mode
win /3: Launch Windows in extend mode 386

The multitask was made possible since the programs written in text mode for MS-DOS could be launched in a window there (possibility already offered, but limited in Windows 2.1 per 386). Besides at that time, the majority of the programs remained still written for DOS.

Extensions multi-media

The extensions multi-media were launched to at the end of 1991 for the computers equipped with Windows as of their sale (versions OEM). These late versions of Windows 3.0 had in addition to original reader of CD audio as well as a basic support for an audio entry and exit. The format General MIDDAY not being yet very widespread, a named application the Midi mapper made it possible to reallocate with the flight the channels MIDDAY.

All these functions were then added in Windows 3.1.

Windows 3.1x

Windows 3.1 (code name Janus ), successor of version 3.0 was launched the March 18th 1992.

This new system included a police force TrueType like several préinstallées useful police forces, making of Windows an honest platform for the word processing for the first time. A similar function was available under Windows 3.0, but it was necessary to install ATM (Standard Adobe Manager).

Windows 3.1 was designed while keeping in mind that it had to keep a compatibility with the previous versions. Windows 3.1 and 3.11 did not support many formats: for example, for the images, not of GIF or JPEG; only the Bitmap 8 bits (possibly RLE) or 24 bits was recognized without addition of filters to install. Moreover using adapted graphic pilots it is possible to reach the current resolutions such as XGA (1024*768 pixels) with a depth of colors of 24 bits for a better comfort of use.

As in Windows 3.0, one finds the manager of files and the manager of programs. Windows 3.1 was the Windows last not to include the contextual menu by click-right such as one knows it today. The bomb disposal expert replaced Reversi starting from this version.

A special Windows 3.1 version was designed for the markets of Eastern Europe and Center in order to be compatible with the Cyrillic alphabet, this version including/understanding of the police forces with diacritic marks characteristic of the Eastern-European languages.

Technically Windows 3.1 is characterized by the abandonment of the real Mode in the execution of Windows. It is thus necessary to have a computer equipped with a 80286 processor or more recent to be able to use Windows 3.1.

There exists a minor update towards Windows 3.11 distributed in remote loading. For those which did not have Windows 3.1 copy, a set of diskettes including Windows 3.11 directly was also available.

Windows for Workgroups

It was about a Windows 3.1 version extended for an easy support of the work groups on a lan. A version based on Windows 3.11 at also seen the day. Windows for Workgroups 3.1 (code name Kato ), was a wide Windows 3.1 version which included the file-sharing SMB thanks to the protocols networks NetBEUI and/or IPX. The support of the network TCP/IP under Windows 3.x was pressed on installations external in Windows such as Trumpet Winsock. An extension of Microsoft (code name Wolverine ) also allowed the support of the TCP/IP in Windows for Worksgroups but it was not often installed because of absence of customer DHCP forcing the user to regulate addressing IP manually.

Version 3.11 of Windows for Workgroups (code name Snowball ) allows the execution of the system only in wide mode 386 showing the will to leave side architecture 16 bits to migrate towards a system in Mode protected 32 bits. This version is the last parrue officially before the line 4x. It was used as a basis for the development of the core of version 4 of Windows (code name: Chicago ) which will give thereafter celebrates it Windows 95. This version also gives access to the hard drive in 32 bits. Concretely Windows can from now on directly control the hard drive using pilots adapted without passing by the stages: DOS - > BIOS - > Controller of disc. It results a much better performance from it since Windows remains in its procedure 32 bits, and does not call the routines of the BIOS. Thus more mode switch-over real for the access to the discs nor by the ROMANIAN of the BIOS. It was however necessary to have a pilot compatible with his controller IDE.

Windows for Workgroups 3.2 was a special alternative intended exclusively for the Chinese market with an assumption of responsibility of the wide character sets.

Moreover, one layer of compatibility limited with the API 32 bits used by Windows NT was provided in another extension, Win32s.

Win32s (32 bits subset)

It was an extension of Windows 3.x requiring a machine IA-32 containing the assumption of responsibility of a very reduced play of instructions Win32 (" s" wants to say " subset"). Win 32 S.A. supported by the compilers of Microsoft up to 1997, where the new configuration of the compilers built the achievable ones where the load address is not available and where the section .reloc is missing (see). It is not to in no case a problem on Win32 truths (Windows 9x/NT/XP and others) because the virtual addressing makes accept the program that all the memory of a segment is available.

The standard distribution was provided with a play named Freecell whose version 32 bits (provided in addition with Windows 9x/NT) allowed the test of the good performance of the calls system Win32. The Mise in work of Win32 was much more complete under Windows 95 which was almost completely compatible with Windows NT 3.x.

Windows for PEN Computing

Windows for PEN Computing is not a Windows system strictly speaking but rather a pilot who, using a peripheral of adapted pointing, allows to do without the mouse. One thinks in particular of the laptops of the time. The PC under Windows became thus easier to use on this kind of machine. It is conceptually about the ancestor of the current edition Windows for TabletPC .

Succession

Windows 3.x was replaced in 1995 by Windows 95 (code name Chicago ) which joined together Windows and MS-DOS in only one system.

History

Windows 3.0: Exit on May 22nd, 1990
Windows 3.0a (with Extensions multi-media): Exit on October 20th, 1991
Windows 3.1: Exit on April 6th, 1992
Windows 3.1 for Workgroups: Exit on October 27th, 1992
Windows 3.11: Exit semi-1993
Windows 3.11 for Workgroups: Exit on November 8th, 1993

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