Windows 3.0

Windows 3.0
	Version of Microsoft Windows
OS family	16-bit Windows
Version	3.0
Architecture	x86 16-bit
Latest build	3.0 (with Multimedia Extensions)
Release date	1990-05-22
Support end	2001-12-31
Replaces
	Windows 2.x
Replaced by
	Windows 3.1x

Windows 3.0 is a major release of Microsoft Windows that was released on 22 May 1990 as the successor to Windows 2.x and was the first truly popular version of Windows. It was a major improvement over Windows 2.x, featuring a completely revamped user interface with the Program Manager and File Manager, replacing the MS-DOS Executive in versions prior.

It was the last version to support 8088/8086 real mode (supporting up to 640 KB of RAM) as Windows 3.1 only offered "Standard mode" (up to 16 MB of RAM on 80286) and "386 Enhanced mode" (on 80386). Regardless of which mode is chosen, Windows 3.0 cannot recognize more than 16 MB of RAM, even in 386 enhanced mode.

System requirements[edit | edit source]

According to Microsoft, the following are the recommended system requirements for Windows 3.0.^[1] This table takes account retail versions; OEM versions will vary depending on the hardware that it was intended to be installed on.

Recommended system requirements
Name	CPU	RAM	Storage	Video adapter	MS-DOS version	Other
Windows 3.0 build 14	80386 processor	512 KB	One hard disk with 3 MB of hard disk space	Hercules, CGA, EGA, or VGA	MS-DOS 3.00 to MS-DOS 3.31	—
Windows 3.00	8088 processor	1 MB	One hard disk with 6 MB of hard disk space		MS-DOS 3.10 and above	—
Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions 1.0	80386 processor	2 MB	One hard disk with 30 MB of hard disk space		MS-DOS 3.10 and above	Sound card, CD-ROM drive

Despite recommending an 80386 processor, Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions can be installed and run in the 8088 real mode and the 80286 Standard mode. However, most of the multimedia features will only function on 286 Standard or 386 Enhanced modes.

Easter egg[edit | edit source]

Background Easter egg in Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions 1.0

All builds of Windows 3.0 include an Easter egg.^[2] In build 14, it was implemented the same way as in Windows 2.x, but the function for the credits window was stubbed out. Build 55 changed the Easter egg entirely to paint the background white with a plaintext string of the credits itself. In build 55, it could be activated with F8, F4, F8, F4, and Backspace in quick succession, but the background would have no text due to the credits string data being empty. The RC2 build changed the hotkey to require the user to type WIN3 then press Backspace while holding F3, and included the actual credits data.