Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions 1.0

3.0 with Multimedia Extensions 1.0
	Build of Windows 3.0
OS family	16-bit Windows
Version number	3.00a
Architecture	x86, PC-98, Fujitsu FM-Towns
About dialog

Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions 1.0 (also called Multimedia Windows by some sources) is a special, multimedia-centric release of Windows 3.0, exclusively released on 20 October 1991 by various original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Currently available releases include Tandy for the PC in English and German, an English release for the PC by Creative Labs, and Japanese releases for NEC PC-98 and Fujitsu FM-Towns.

It is the first version of Windows to support sound output and includes new programs for audio and video playback, including the first version of Media Player, new drivers for CD-ROM drives, sound cards, displays and joysticks and screensavers. The multimedia improvements were later incorporated into Windows 3.1. Although the operating system supports running in real mode, the new changes are only available in the Standard and 386 Enhanced modes.

Information from computer magazines[edit | edit source]

Another possible OEM release is shown and described in the November 1991 issue of Serbian computer magazine "Svet Kompjutera" (World of Computers).^[1] The boot screen shown in the magazine is different from the one in Tandy's release, referring to itself as Version 3.0 + Multimedia Extensions 1.0, whereas Tandy's release refers to itself as "graphical environment with Multimedia Extensions 1.0". The Tandy release uses both names during the installation process.

It is unknown if the version shown in the magazine is from a different OEM (see below) or a pre-release, as the magazine also calls it a "Multimedia Development Kit" (MDK).

Information from antitrust documents[edit | edit source]

An internal Microsoft document released during the Comes v. Microsoft antitrust hearings details the initial development plan for a "Multimedia Windows" release.^[2] According to the document, the alpha release was shipped to 35 external testing groups on 15 June 1990, with 25-30 additional sites to receive it on 1 August 1990. The beta release was to be released in mid-October 1990 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 is mentioned as one of the apps to tie in with new features of Multimedia Windows.

New applications (Tandy OEM)[edit | edit source]

Windows Help[edit | edit source]

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 and implies Tandy released it shortly after build 061d was compiled.

Control Panel[edit | edit source]

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

Auto Install[edit | edit source]

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

Welcome[edit | edit source]

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

Multimedia Main Menu[edit | edit source]

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

Reset Tandy Demo[edit | edit source]

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

FindCD[edit | edit source]

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.

New applications (Creative Labs OEM)[edit | edit source]

The Creative Labs OEM notably includes utilities from the Sound Blaster driver kit, including the Sound Blaster Pro Mixer.

Problems and fixes[edit | edit source]

Display drivers[edit | edit source]

Certain newer graphics cards (like S3 ViRGE or Paradise) may not work as it could lead to display corruption upon loading the graphical interface.

Startup fix[edit | edit source]

Tandy has changed the default shell in their release 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 SYSTEM.INI.

To do this you must open the file SYSTEM.INI in the installation directory, find the [boot] section and change the line shell=findcd.exe to shell=progman.exe. 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[edit | edit source]

As this release is based on Windows 3.00a, it also requires a change to SYSTEM.INI if you wish to run it in 386 Enhanced Mode in Virtual PC 2004/2007.^[3]

Other[edit | edit source]

Both Tandy and non-Tandy versions include special video drivers, including a 320×200×256 color driver, with special fonts, it works on any virtualization software that emulates a VGA card. It can also be used on later versions of Windows (up to Windows 95) by upgrading from this version.

File differences[edit | edit source]

The following files have been introduced or removed compared to Windows 3.00 MDK Version 59:

Added files
Name	Description	Version
ALARMCLK.EXE
ALARMCLK.HLP
ALMONDS.MID
CALC.HLP
CALENDAR.HLP
CANYON.MID
CARDFILE.HLP
CDISC.BMP
CLIPBRD.HLP
CONTROL.CPL
CONTROL.HLP
CONTROL3.EXE
CPL.HLP
DISPDIB.DLL
GONG.WAV
HYPER.ICO
METBLAST.MID
MIDI.BMP
MIDIMAP.CFG
MMCBOX.EXE
MMDLG.DLL
MMJBOX.EXE
MMSETUP.EXE
MMSETUP.INF
MPLAYER.HLP
MSD.EXE
MUSICBOX.EXE
MUSICBOX.HLP
NOTEPAD.HLP
PASSPORT.MID
PBRUSH.HLP
PIFEDIT.HLP
PRINTMAN.HLP
PROGMAN.HLP
RECORDER.HLP
REVERSI.HLP
SAMPLE.MMM
SB15SND.DRV
SBFM.DRV
SBPMIXER.EXE
SBPR.BMP
SCRNSAVE.SCR
SIREN.WAV
SOL.HLP
SOUNDREC.EXE
SOUNDREC.HLP
STOMP.MID
SYSINI4.TXT
T1024.DRV
TERMINAL.HLP
VADMAD.386
VERINFO.EXE
VGA.DRV
VGAGRAY.DRV
VGAPAL.DRV
VSBD.386
WATER.WAV
WAVELINE.FON
WINBLA.BMP
WINFILE.HLP
WINHELP.INI
WININI3.TXT
WRITE.HLP
WUGNET.TXT

Removed files
Name	Description	Version
ADLIB.DRV
CLAVIER.MID
CPL.EXE
DOOR.WAV
MCIPIONR.DRV
MEDBITS.MMH
MIDIMAP.INI
MMCLOCK.EXE
MMCPL.CPL
MMWINVER.EXE
MPU401.DRV
SNDBLST.DRV
SSCLOCK.SCR
SSCLRWSH.SCR
SSDIMMER.SCR
SSROCKET.SCR
SSRSEDSK.SCR
SSSHWPCT.SCR
T1024C.DRV
TRAIN.WAV
VGAGREY.DRV
WINFILE.INI