Windows 2

From WE Computers Museum
Revision as of 06:03, 29 June 2023 by Jenni (talk | contribs)
Windows 386 2.10 box.png
Windows 2.x
Developer Microsoft
Publisher Microsoft
Platforms x86
Released 2.01: September 7, 1987
2.02: September 14, 1987
2.03: December 9, 1987
2.1: May 27, 1988
2.11: March 14, 1989
Added to
Museum
Not yet

Windows 2.0 is the second iteration of the Windows product line by Microsoft.

Like its predecessor, Windows 2.0 was a mouse-controlled graphic user interface rather than an operating system.

New features

Windows 2.0 added overlapping windows, more keyboard shortcuts, and a control panel.

Versions

Windows 2.01, 2.02, 2.03, 2.1, and 2.11 were restricted to the 16-bit architecture of DOS as they relied on the DOS operating system for essential functions.

2.1 and 2.11 were split into 286 and 386 versions and required a hard drive. Windows/286 included a himem.sys file that allowed access to the high memory area freeing up conventional memory. Windows/386 also had himem.sys, and used the virtual 8086 mode of the 80386 to allow for multi-tasking of DOS applications.

Windows/386 2.1 and 2.11 ran DOS programs through a DOS-based Virtual DOS Machine.

Compatibility

Applications created with these versions were compatible with Windows 1 but weren't compatible with Windows 3 and higher operating systems due to the lack of protected mode.

Digital 16-bit Windows 2.x games owned by WEC Museum

Title Developer Released Date Added to the Museum Notes
Taipei! Bogus Software 1987 April 26, 2019 Version 1.02 of a Mahjong Solitaire game for Windows 2.1.