Windows 3.0

Windows 3.0 was released in 1990 as the successor to Windows 2.x and was the last version to support 8088/8086 real mode (640k RAM). Windows 3.1 had a choice between 286 standard modes (max 16MB RAM) and 386 enhanced modes. Regardless of which mode is chosen, Windows 3.0 cannot recognize more than 16 MB of RAM, even in 386 enhanced modes. It was a major improvement over Windows 2.x, featuring a much revamped GUI. Windows 3.0 thus became the first popular version of Windows, unlike Windows 1.x and 2.x, which were viewed as "just another DOS shell". Windows 3.0 can run in up to 24-bit color mode, given the proper display driver and graphics card.