Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions 1.0

Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions 1.0 (also called "Multimedia Windows" by some sources) was released in October 1991. It is an OEM only release, with Tandy version being the only one currently available online for PC compatible systems.

It includes new programs for audio and video playback, new CD-ROM, soundcard, display and joystick drivers, 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 SYSTEM.INI 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.

Information from computer magazines
Another possible OEM release is shown and described in November 1991 issue of Serbian computer magazine "Svet Kompjutera" ("World of computers"). The bootscreen 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 magazine release could be from a different OEM or even a beta version (see below), though the latter seems less likely. The magazine also calls it "Multimedia Development Kit" (MDK).

Information from antitrust documents
Microsoft antitrust document PX07531 details the initial development plan for "Multimedia Windows". According to the document, alpha release was shipped to 35 external testing groups on 15th June 1990, with 25-30 additional sites to receive the said alpha on 1st August. Beta release was to be released in mid-October and the final OEM Adaptation Kit (OAK) in December 1990.

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 Welcome and then 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.

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.