Windows 3.0
The first version of Windows that "put Windows on the map." Introduced in 1990, it was a complete overhaul of Windows 2.0 and Windows/386, which were never widely used. It replaced the earlier and very clunky MS-DOS Executive with a colorful and functional user interface made up of Program Manager and File Manager. Within a couple of years, Windows would become the major desktop operating system worldwide.
It Still Booted in DOS
Although the PC still booted up in DOS, Windows 3.0 included a DOS extender that broke DOS's infamous one megabyte barrier and allowed applications to use up to 16MB of memory, a huge amount for that time. Windows 3.0 ran 16-bit Windows applications and DOS applications, and much of its popularity in the beginning was because it could multitask DOS applications. It required a 286 CPU; laughable by today's standards. See Windows and Windows 3.1.
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| Windows 3.X |
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| The Windows 3.x graphical user interface (GUI) was a vast improvement over previous versions of Windows. |
| (operating system) | Windows 3.0 - A complete rework of Microsoft Windows
with many new facilities such as the ability to address memory
beyond 640k. It was released in 1990, and vigorous
development of applications by third parties helped Microsoft
sell over 10 million copies. | |