1990 – Windows 3.0
Released on May 22, 1990, Windows 3.0 marked a major milestone in the history of the operating system. While it still functioned as a graphical shell over DOS, the features introduced in this version significantly reduced the need to use the command prompt.
This version introduced a completely new graphical user interface. It saw the debut of the iconic Program Manager, which remained a key component for years. The Control Panel was redesigned to resemble the one found in Mac OS. Unlike earlier versions that displayed applications in list form, Windows 3.0 used clickable icons to represent programs. It also introduced support for CD-ROMs and included enhanced multimedia capabilities.
Windows 3.0 was the first version to fully leverage the protected memory features of Intel’s 80386 processor. This allowed each running program to operate in its own memory space, helping to prevent memory corruption and system crashes.
There were three ways to launch Windows 3.0 from the DOS command line, depending on the desired memory mode:
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win /R: launched Windows in real mode, with no memory protection. -
win /S: launched in standard mode, supported by the 80286 processor. -
win /3: launched in enhanced or protected mode, utilizing the 80386 processor’s capabilities.
Notably, Windows 3.0 was the first version to achieve significant commercial success, both in the business world and among home users. Many began to view it as a serious competitor to the Macintosh, which had been on the market since 1984.
At the time, Microsoft was still partnering with IBM, licensing MS-DOS to them. However, IBM refused to include Windows in its product lineup, likely to promote its own emerging operating system, OS/2, which it was co-developing with Microsoft until 1992.
Personally, I recall that Windows 3.0 was the first version that truly made me want to use Windows. At the time, I was primarily using MS-DOS, but also had experience with IBM’s OS/2.
System Requirements for Windows 3.0:
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1 MB of RAM, consisting of 640 KB of conventional memory and 384 KB of extended memory, as memory was not unified back then.
A minimum of 2 MB of RAM was recommended, which was considered quite high for that era. -
A hard drive with at least 8 MB of free space.
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Installation could be done via floppy disk, but CD-ROM was preferred, as the entire installation could be completed with just one disc.
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A mouse was not required, except for multimedia features.
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MS-DOS version 3.1 or higher was necessary.
Windows 3.0 became the first version of Windows to achieve commercial success. With an estimated 40 million personal computers in use globally at the time, the operating system had already sold 2 million copies within just six months of its release.
The final update, version 3.00a, was released in October 1991, and Microsoft continued to support it until December 2001.
