Microsoft Windows v3.0 Debug Release 1.14

Microsoft Windows v3.0 Debug Release 1.14
Microsoft Windows v3.0 Debug Release 1.14 Floppy Disks
Creator:	Microsoft
Architecture:	i8086
Date Released:	1989

This early release of Windows 3.0 was released to independent software vendors (ISVs) for testing, and was distributed on 1.2MB 5.25" floppy disks. The label on the disks refer to the build as "Microsoft Windows Pre-Release Version 0.1.".

This pre-release can be only started on a 386+ machine with a specific version of DOS, as not using the correct version will cause Windows to either crash, or refuse to launch the shell. It is speculated that this release was heavily rushed, on the basis of an improvised batch file installation script similar to that of Windows 1.0 DR5, as well as lack of accessories and applications included in later builds of Windows 3.0. Interestingly, this release features a build tag in the bottom right corner of the screen. It will only run a small handful of Windows 2.x or 1.x applications, but you may notice that you can run more of them at once than on Windows 2. This build's control menus contain a reference to the Task Manager as well as the CTRL+ESC keystroke. However, it does not appear to be implemented in this build.

Setup

Windows 3.0 Debug Release 1.14 requires at minimum a 386 processor, with MS-DOS 3.x and MS-DOS 4.x (COMPAQ's 3.31 release is recommended) installed. The script will alert you that you need to manually add the instruction to load HIMEM.SYS to your CONFIG.SYS file. Unlike the final release, this build is started by running the executable WIN386.COM. Should the MS-DOS Executive hang, raise the maximum amount of file handles in CONFIG.SYS (a minimum of 40 is recommended).

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