Windows 3.0 build 14

Microsoft Windows v3.0 Debug Release 1.14 is a pre-release version of the Microsoft Windows 3.0 operating system.

It was found by RubyTuesday of BetaArchive 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 is a very early debug build of 3.0, which still has Windows 2.1's GUI. It was sent to independent software vendors (ISVs) for testing.

However, it can be only started on a 386+ machine with a specific version of DOS, as not using the right version will cause Windows to crash or refuse launching the shell. It includes no applications or any other use, it was just an ISV release that was clearly rushed.

This build lacks a proper installer, and therefore installs via batch file, much like Windows 1.00 DR5/Alpha. Interestingly, this build features a build tag in the bottom right corner of the screen, something that didn't become the norm for betas until Memphis (Windows 98.)

Installation
Because this release requires a 386-compatible machine, your best bet to get it to work is by using PCem-X.

Step-by-step
1. Download PCem-X, the SoftHistory fork of PCem made by Battler. 2. Extract PCem-X to a folder of your choice. 3. Run PCem-X 4. Choose an AMI 486, Award 430vx, or any 386-compatible machine. 5. Create a HDD (Disc -> Configure Hard Discs...) If you have no idea what to put in, you can use 32 sectors, 16 heads and 32 cylinders for an 8MB HDD. 6. Partition and format the HDD
 * 6.1 Insert the start-up floppy of DOS 3.31 Compaq OEM: Disc -> Change drive A:
 * 6.2 Reboot if needed
 * 6.3 Run fdisk, choose 1, Y, press Esc twice and let it reboot
 * 6.4 Run format C: (Y, Enter)

7. Install DOS on the HDD (you can skip this step if you wish to use DOS bootdisk every time)
 * 7.1 Run sys C:
 * 7.2 Run copy *.* C:\*.*
 * 7.3 Eject the floppy (Disc -> Eject drive A:) and reboot

8. Install Microsoft Windows 3.0 Debug Release 1.14
 * 8.1 Insert Windows 3.0 Debug Release 1.14 disk 1 into drive A:
 * 8.2 Go to the A: drive
 * 8.3 Run setup.bat
 * 8.4 Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows.
 * 8.5 Add DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\HIMEM.SYS to your CONFIG.SYS.
 * 8.6 Reboot

Now, every time you want to run Windows 3.0 Debug Release 1.14, just do "cd c:\windows" and run win386 (or add it to autoexec.bat for automatic booting).

Fixing the MS-DOS Executive not loading
The MS-DOS Executive not loading and being stuck on a blue screen is due to too few file handles. Add the FILES=40 line to CONFIG.SYS and you'll be good to go.

References to past
If you take a look at the version string of this build implemented in driver files, you'll see an older date: "09feb89". The WDEB386 debugger has a version string of "Windows/386 Kernel Debugger v1.62 27.Jan.89". The only interesting time stamp included in the SYM files of disk 2 is SOUND.SYM, with a date of 12/14/1988.

Boot Screen
The boot screen of this build says the following: In order for a Windows 2.0 app to be completely compatible with Windows 2.0, IT MUST BE TESTED WITH WINDOWS USING LIM 4.0! The preferred method is to use Windows/386 with EMS enabled. It is presumed that "compatible with Windows 2.0" is a typo of "compatible with Windows 3.0", but I could as always be wrong.

Task Manager
This build's control menus contain a reference to Task Manager as well as CTRL+ESC, but it doesn't work in this build.

New Error Messages
In this build error messages have been updated since Windows 2.xx and are closer to those in Windows 3.0 final.