Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions 1.0

Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions 1.0 (also called "Multimedia Windows" by some sources) is a special, multimedia-centric OEM-only release of Windows 3.0, released in 1991-10. Currently available OEM releases include Tandy for the PC in English and German, an English release for the PC by an unidentified OEM, and a Japanese release for NEC PC-98.

It includes new programs for audio and video playback, new drivers for CD-ROM drives, sound cards, displays and joysticks, screensavers, as well as new Control Panel and Help applications like the ones seen later in Windows 3.1. It is otherwise the same as Windows 3.00a, on which it's based. Its distinctive multimedia features were later incorporated into Windows 3.1. Though this release can still run in all three modes, the new multimedia related features are only available in Standard and 386 Enhanced modes.

As this is based on Windows 3.00a, it requires the  fix if you wish to run it in Enhanced Mode in Virtual PC 2004/2007 and it also requires the SB16 adapter card set correctly for proper operation of the multimedia components (see clarifying section below). Certain newer graphics cards (like S3 Virge or Paradise) may also not work as it could lead to display corruption upon loading the graphical interface.

Information from computer magazines
Another possible OEM release is shown and described in 1991-11 issue of Serbian computer magazine "Svet Kompjutera" ("World of computers"). The boot screen shown in the magazine is different from the one in Tandy's release - it says "Windows Version 3.0 + Multimedia Extensions 1.0", whereas Tandy's release says "Windows graphical environment with Multimedia Extensions 1.0". Oddly, Tandy release uses both of these names during installation.

The version shown in the magazine could be from a different OEM or even a beta (see below), though the latter seems less likely. The magazine also calls it "Multimedia Development Kit" (MDK).

Information from antitrust documents
An internal Microsoft document details the initial development plan for "Multimedia Windows". According to the document, the alpha release was shipped to 35 external testing groups on 1990-06-15, with 25-30 additional sites to receive it on 1990-08-01. The beta release was to be released in mid-1990-10 and the final OEM Adaptation Kit (OAK) in 1990-12. A beta version of Multimedia Development Kit (version 59) from 1990-11-09 is leaked and can be installed on top of normal Windows 3.0/3.0a to turn it into Windows with Multimedia Extensions.

Tandy is mentioned as the first OEM to launch their multimedia-capable PC-compatibles with Multimedia Windows. IBM, Fujitsu, Sharp, Olivetti, Zenith, Sony and Intel are listed as potential candidates for release.

Microsoft Works for Windows with Multimedia extensions (available on BetaArchive FTP) is mentioned as one of the apps to tie in with new features of Multimedia Windows.

Windows Help
Windows Help in this release is version 3.07. The About dialog also states "Version 3.1.061d", which suggests this release has some files from pre-release versions of Windows 3.1.

Control Panel
About dialog says "Control Panel for Windows graphical environment with Multimedia Extensions 1.0" and "Version 1.0".

Auto Install
A Tandy OEM application for installing other applications from removable media. Version 1.0.

Welcome
A fullscreen, run-once Tandy OEM application that says "Tandy presents the world of multimedia".

Multimedia Main Menu
A Tandy OEM application for easy access to various multimedia demos, applications, and the Program Manager.

Reset Tandy Demo
A Tandy OEM application which resets the default shell back to FindCD.

FindCD
A Tandy OEM application that offers a tutorial and sound test. When finished, it first starts the Welcome application and then the Multimedia Main Menu.

Startup fix
Tandy has changed the default shell to their application called FindCD (see above). This requires you to insert the installation CD, but the application often hangs at the start (possibly due to bad soundcard configuration) and you won't be able to get into Windows itself without changing the shell back to Program Manager in.

To do this you must open the file  in the installation directory, find the   section and change the line   to  . Windows will now start Program Manager on startup.

This doesn't apply to the non-Tandy versions since they set the shell to progman.exe by default.

Virtual PC Enhanced Mode fix
As this release is based on Windows 3.00a, it also requires a change to  if you wish to run it in 386 Enhanced Mode in Virtual PC 2004/2007.

Other
Both Tandy and non-Tandy versions include special video drivers, including a | 320x200x256color driver, with special fonts, it works on any virtualization software that emulates a VGA card.