Windows 2.0

Windows Operating System

Windows 2.0

History of Microsoft Windows•In 1983 Microsoft announced the development of Windows, a graphical user interface (GUI) for its own operating system (MS-DOS), which had shipped for IBM PC and compatible computers since 1981.

•Since then, Microsoft has shipped many versions of Windows, and the product line has changed from a GUI product to a modern operating system.

Oct 85

Nov 87

Dec 87

May 88

Mar 89

May 90

Timeline

Windows 1.0

Windows 2.0

Windows 2.03

Windows 2.10

Windows 2.11

Windows 3.0

Windows 2.0

What is Windows 2.0 ?

Windows 2.0 was released in October 1987 and featured several improvements to the user interface and memory management.

Windows 2.0 was a 16-bit Microsoft Windows graphical user interface-based operating environment that superseded Windows 1.0.

Windows 2.0 allowed application windows to overlap each other and also introduced more sophisticated keyboard-shortcuts.

Comparison with 1.0

Windows 2.0 allowed application windows to overlap each other, unlike its predecessor Windows 1.0, which could only display tiled windows

Windows 2.0 also introduced more sophisticated keyboard-shortcuts and the terminology of "Minimize" and "Maximize", as opposed to "Iconize" and "Zoom" in Windows 1.0.

Different versions

took advantage of the improved processing speed of the Intel 286 processor, expanded memory, and inter-application communication capabilities made possible through Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE).

Windows 2.0

took advantage of the protected mode and extended memory capabilities of the Intel 386 processor. Subsequent Windows releases continued to improve the speed, reliability, and usability of the PC as well as interface design and capabilities.

Windows 2.03

released on 27 May 1988. These versions can take advantage of the specific features of the Intel 80286 and Intel 80386 processors.

Windows 2.10

released on March 1989 with Windows/286 and Windows/386 editions, and some minor changes in memory management, AppleTalk support and faster printing and updated printer drivers.

Windows 2.11

Windows 2.11 two different editions:

Windows/386

still ran in real mode, but could make use of the high memory area.

employed the 386 virtual 8086 mode to multitask several DOS programs, and the paged memory model to emulate expanded memory using available extended memory.

Windows/286

Windows 2.03Requirements

- MS-DOS version 3.0 - Two double-sided disk drives or a hard disk - 512K of memory or greater - Graphics-adapter card

Changes

- Overlapping windows instead of tiled windows - LIM Version 4.0 expanded memory support - Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) support - SMARTDrive disk-cache program included - Revised .FON format for screen fonts

Windows 2.03Changes

- NEWFON.EXE included to convert 1.x font format to 2.x font format- Revised Paint file format- CVTPAINT.EXE included to convert 2.x

Paint file format to 1.x format- About command moved to File menu

from System menu- Printer Timeouts option added to Control Panel- Mouse Acceleration option added to Control Panel- Warning Beep toggle added to Control Panel- Notepad About command reports- Remaining Free Space- 3812 Pageprinter no longer supported

Windows 2.10Requirements

- 512K Memory - MS-DOS version 3.0 or later - One floppy-disk drive AND one hard disk (note that a hard disk is

now required) - Graphics adapter card (the box notes: IBM EGA, IBM VGA, IBM 8514, IBM CGA, Hercules Graphics Card, or compatibles) - Use of the Microsoft Mouse is

optional - Packaged with 5.25-inch 1.2 megabyte disks OR 3.5-inch 720K disks, plus an order form for free 360K 5.25-inch disks

Windows 2.10Changes

- New HIMEM.SYS driver allowing the use of the first 64K of extended memory to store part of

Windows, giving approximately 50K additional conventional memory inside Windows - Support for approximately 65 more printers than version 2.03,

bringing the total supported printers to approximately 127

- Support for additional computers- Support for additional display devices

Windows 2.11Requirements

Same as Version 2.1

Changes

-Accounts for memory freed by XMS when computing the

maximum swap size allowed-Increased minimum bankable memory required for large frame EMS-Setup program no longer terminates when incompatible driver is encountered-Setup corrected to permit set up on

512K machine with MS-DOS version 3.3

Windows 2.11Changes

-Updated COMM.DRV to solve handshaking problems at 9600 bits per second (BPS) -Updated HPPCL.DRV driver that

supports LaserJet series IID, Olivetti LP 5000, Toshiba

-PageLaser 12, and Intel Visual Edge-Updated PSCRIPT.DRV driver that

supports Olivetti LP 5000 in PostScript mode

-Printing speed increased-Windows/386 WINOLDAP.MOD

modified to support high-resolution displays

Windows 2.11Additions

-AppleTalk library (must accompany the new PostScript driver)

-Toshiba 24-pin printer driver- 8514/a driver for Windows/386- /E switch to adjust large frame EMS threshold

Application support

The first Windows versions of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel run on Windows 2.0.

Third-party developer support for Windows increased substantially with this version

However, most developers still maintained DOS versions of their applications, as Windows users were still a distinct minority of their market.

Applications shipping with Windows 2.0:

CALC.EXE

CALENDAR.EXE

CARDFILE.EXE

CLOCK.EXE

CONTROL.EXE

MSDOS.EXE

NOTEPAD.EXE

WRITE.EXE

TERMINAL.EXE

PAINT.EXE

REVERSI.EXE

PRACTICE.WRI

CLIPBRD.EXE

MSDOSD.EXE

Legal conflict with Apple

On 17 March 1988, Apple filed suit against Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard, accusing them of violating copyrights Apple held on the Macintosh System Software

Apple claimed the "look and feel" of the Macintosh operating system, taken as a whole, was protected by copyright and that Windows 2.0 violated this copyright by looking extremely similar to it.

Windows 2.11 was superseded by

Windows 3.0 in May 1990.