On December 9, 1987, Microsoft introduced Windows version 2.
This new release marked a significant update that greatly improved the product’s viability. With the advancement of computer hardware, Windows 2.0 was able to support a broader range of features.
Among the key enhancements were the ability to overlap and resize application windows—capabilities that were not available in version 1. The update also introduced desktop icons and keyboard shortcuts. Furthermore, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel were launched with this version.
On December 9, 1987, Microsoft introduced Windows version 2. This new release marked a significant upgrade in the viability of the product, as advancements in computer hardware allowed for the addition of more features.
Notably, version 2 introduced the ability to overlap and resize application windows—capabilities that were not available in version 1. Desktop icons and keyboard shortcuts also made their debut. Additionally, this version saw the introduction of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.
Thanks to advancements in hardware, Microsoft was able to offer two versions of Windows: one for earlier-generation processors such as the 8086—which marked the beginning of Intel’s long-running x86 processor family—and another for the newer 80286 and especially the cutting-edge 80386, which featured a 32-bit architecture and supported protected mode.
Indeed, Intel equipped its newer processors with memory protection and segmentation features, allowing the operating system to support multitasking and isolate each task from the others.
The version optimized for the 80386 processor showed clear improvements, including support for preemptive multitasking—the ability to run multiple applications simultaneously with a scheduler managing their execution. This ensured that one program could not monopolize system resources, resulting in a much smoother user experience when running several applications at once. While this may seem standard today, it was a significant leap forward at the time.
This new version of Windows was generally well received due to its many improvements over its predecessor. However, many still viewed it as a work in progress.
Nonetheless, the enhancements resonated positively with users, and this release saw greater adoption than version 1. Still, since it lacked full functionality, users often had to return to the DOS command line to perform various tasks.
System requirements for this version were:
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Two floppy disk drives
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A hard disk drive was desirable, as it was becoming more accessible in terms of cost, but not required
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512 KB of RAM, with 640 KB recommended
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A graphics card
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MS-DOS 3.0
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A mouse was recommended, but not required
The final update to this version was 2.11, released in March 1989, and Microsoft supported it until December 2001. Notably, it was distributed on seven installation floppy disks, plus one additional disk for applications.
