# Windows 2.1

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**Windows 2.1** is a release of [Microsoft Windows](/source/Microsoft_Windows), a family of [graphical](/source/Graphical_user_interface) [user shells](/source/Shell_(computing)#Graphical_shells) and [operating systems](/source/Operating_system). It was [released to manufacturing](/source/Released_to_manufacturing) on May 27, 1988, as a successor to [Windows 2.0](/source/Windows_2.0).

It was released with two different variants with differing [CPU](/source/CPU) compatibility, also known as **Windows/286** and **Windows/386**, so the versions are considered to be similar to its predecessor. In comparison, the Windows/386 variant is considered to be better than Windows/286, since it provides support for [EMS emulation](/source/Expanded_memory) and is designed to use both conventional and extended memory. Changes to the [user interface](/source/User_interface) did not occur in this version, and rather, its performance was increased and enhanced memory management was added. The version is also noted to be the first one to require a [hard disk drive](/source/Hard_disk_drive). A minor update version, Windows 2.11, was released in March 1989.

Enhancements that were introduced were considered to have improved the [operating environment](/source/Operating_environment), while the Windows/386 variant was noted to have a good level of functionality. It was considered to be one of the most popular [80386](/source/I386)-based systems. The sales of Microsoft Windows continued to go up after its release, and in May 1990, it was succeeded by [Windows 3.0](/source/Windows_3.0), which is considered to be the first Windows version to perform well both critically and commercially. Microsoft ended its support on December 31, 2001.

## Release versions

### Windows 2.1

Like its predecessor, [Windows 2.0](/source/Windows_2.0), the [operating environment](/source/Operating_environment) was released with two different variants with differing [CPU](/source/CPU) compatibility. However, the cosmetic naming convention was changed to "Windows/286" and "Windows/386".[1] It was released on May 27, 1988, and it was the first version of Windows to require a [hard disk drive](/source/Hard_disk_drive).[2][3]

Despite its name, Windows/286 did not require a [80286](/source/Intel_80286) processor and was fully operational on an [8088](/source/Intel_8088) or [8086](/source/Intel_8086) processor, although it would not use the [high memory area](/source/High_memory_area) since the latter lacked the feature.[4][5] It is a rehash of its predecessor, Windows 2.03. The variant uses an additional 64 KB of the extended 80286 memory in [real mode](/source/Real_mode). To access the additional memory, [HIMEM.SYS](/source/HIMEM.SYS) is needed.[6] A few PC vendors shipped Windows/286 with Intel 8086 hardware; one such example was [IBM](/source/IBM)'s [PS/2 Model 25](/source/IBM_PS/2_Model_25), which included Windows/286, resulting in some customer confusion.[7][8]

The other variant, Windows/386, is more advanced since it had introduced a [protected mode](/source/Protected_mode) kernel, and it allows several [MS-DOS](/source/MS-DOS) programs to run in parallel in the [virtual 8086 mode](/source/Virtual_8086_mode) of the [80386](/source/I386) processor, rather than suspending background applications.[9] It has also provided support for [EMS emulation](/source/Expanded_memory), to use [RAM](/source/RAM) beyond the 640 KB limit.[10] It has spruced-up rendering of the 80386 version, and its setup program is considered to be better than the Windows/286 one.[6] Windows/386 is designed to use both conventional and extended memory, although it ignores expanded memory.[11]: 121 The facilities for converting extended memory into expanded memory are built into Windows/386, although, any EMS that is separately controlled would not be available on Windows/386.[12]: 329 To customize Windows/386, users would have to manually change the [CONFIG.SYS](/source/CONFIG.SYS) file.[12]: 336 Microsoft ended its support for Windows 2.1 on December 31, 2001.[13][14]

A Korean version of Windows 2.1 was published by Microsoft in May 1990.[15][16] It was re-released in September 1990 as Windows 2.12.[15]

### Windows 2.11

Windows 2.11 was released on March 13, 1989.[17] As the successor of Windows 2.1, it was also released in Windows/286 and Windows/386 editions, with some minor changes in memory management and updates regarding printing options.[18][19] It was noted that costs for organizations that ran Windows 2.11 were lower.[20]

## Features

Changes to the [user interface](/source/User_interface) did not occur in this version; instead, Microsoft had increased its performance and added enhanced memory management.[21] The Windows/286 variant introduced [LIM 4.0](/source/LIM_4.0) boards to store and swap executable code. Both variants had also introduced support towards more devices, while its printer support has been improved.[6] Windows/386 allows sharing a single printer to multiple windows. Microsoft has also introduced a disk-caching program, [SmartDrive](/source/SmartDrive),[11]: 124 while third-party developers had introduced more apps to Windows 2.1 and 2.11.[22][23]

## System requirements

The official system requirements for Windows 2.1 include the following:

Windows/286[6] Windows/386[6][11]: 124[24][25]: 34 CPU 8086 processor (80286 recommended) 80386 processor RAM 512 KB of memory 1 MB of memory Storage A hard disk 2 MB of hard disk space Video EGA or VGA adapters (works with CGA) OS MS-DOS 3.0 or higher MS-DOS 3.1 or higher Mouse A Microsoft-compatible pointing device is recommended, but not required

Windows 2.1 is shipped with 1.2 MB 5¼-inch or 720K 3½-inch floppy disks.[6] The Windows/386 variant also comes with [user's guides](/source/User_guide), a quick-reference card and a manual that explains the features of the 386 variant.[24]

## Reception

The enhancements that were introduced in Windows 2.1 are considered to have improved the operating environment.[6] The Windows/386 variant has good level of functionality, and it lets applications run in full- or partial-screen windows, while the operating environment also slows down when running graphic-based applications. *[InfoWorld](/source/InfoWorld)* rated Windows/386 an excellent value.[24] Alongside [DESQview 386](/source/DESQview), they were considered to be the most popular 386 environments by 1989, although [DESQview](/source/DESQview) 386 is considered to be more flexible than Windows/386.[12]: 329–336 Compared to other 80386-based systems, Windows/386 requires less DOS memory.[25]: 33

The price tag for Windows/286 sat at US$99, while the Windows/386 variant cost US$195.[6] By January 1990, the sales of Microsoft Windows had reached less than two million.[26] It was succeeded by [Windows 3.0](/source/Windows_3.0) released in 1990, and after that, [Windows 3.1](/source/Windows_3.1x) in 1992. Windows 2.1 is considered to be the first version of Microsoft Windows to perform well both critically and commercially.[27][28][29]

## See also

- [LOADALL](/source/LOADALL)

## References

1. ["High-Impact Graphics"](https://books.google.com/books?id=UenCawr7OowC). *PC Magazine*. Vol. 7, no. 16. Ziff Davis. September 27, 1988. p. 38. [ISSN 0888-8507](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0888-8507). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220702112502/https://books.google.com/books?id=UenCawr7OowC) July 2, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 18, 2022.

1. Purcaru, Bogdan Ion (2014). *Games vs. Hardware. The History of PC video games: The 80's*. p. 415.

1. Sexton, Michael Justin Allen (November 12, 2016). ["History of Microsoft Windows"](https://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/739-history-of-microsoft-windows.html). *Tom's Hardware*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220922142904/https://www.tomshardware.com/picturestory/739-history-of-microsoft-windows.html) September 22, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 9, 2022.

1. ["High-Impact Graphics"](https://books.google.com/books?id=UenCawr7OowC). *PC Magazine*. Vol. 7, no. 16. Ziff Davis. September 27, 1988. p. 38. [ISSN 0888-8507](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0888-8507). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220702112502/https://books.google.com/books?id=UenCawr7OowC) July 2, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 18, 2022.

1. Patton, Carole & Mace, Scott (July 4, 1988). ["Windows Gets More Memory With Upgrade"](https://books.google.com/books?id=4z4EAAAAMBAJ). *Info World*. Vol. 10. InfoWorld Media Group. p. 1. [ISSN 0199-6649](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0199-6649). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220922142905/https://books.google.com/books?id=4z4EAAAAMBAJ) September 22, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 9, 2022.

1. ["High-Impact Graphics"](https://books.google.com/books?id=UenCawr7OowC). *PC Magazine*. Vol. 7. Ziff Davis. September 27, 1988. p. 38. [ISSN 0888-8507](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0888-8507). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220702112502/https://books.google.com/books?id=UenCawr7OowC) July 2, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 18, 2022.

1. *IBM Personal System 2 and IBM Personal Computer Product Reference*. 4. New York: IBM. 1988. p. 78.

1. Miller, Michael (August 17, 1987). ["First Look"](https://books.google.com/books?id=2jsEAAAAMBAJ). *Info World*. Vol. 9. InfoWorld Media Group. p. 44. [ISSN 0199-6649](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0199-6649). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220408145524/https://books.google.com/books?id=2jsEAAAAMBAJ) April 8, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 9, 2022.

1. ["Graphical: The Better Interface"](https://books.google.com/books?id=hEaMhncO06EC). *PC Magazine*. Vol. 8. Ziff Davis. September 12, 1989. p. 115. [ISSN 0888-8507](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0888-8507). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220702112952/https://books.google.com/books?id=hEaMhncO06EC) July 2, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 18, 2022.

1. ["PC labs tests 24 VGA monitors"](https://books.google.com/books?id=GNYH0lLwKgAC). *PC Magazine*. Vol. 9. Ziff Davis. May 15, 1990. p. 240. [ISSN 0888-8507](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0888-8507). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220702112952/https://books.google.com/books?id=GNYH0lLwKgAC) July 2, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 18, 2022.

1. ["The Software Side of the 386 Equation: PC Labs Test Five 386-based Multitasking Solutions"](https://books.google.com/books?id=9wwQdu9dei0C). *PC Magazine*. Vol. 8. Ziff Davis. February 28, 1989. pp. 121–131. [ISSN 0888-8507](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0888-8507). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211116232519/https://books.google.com/books?id=9wwQdu9dei0C) November 16, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 18, 2022.

1. ["PC Labs Tests Every 80386"](https://books.google.com/books?id=HpsOD9ZeqScC). *PC Magazine*. Vol. 8. Ziff Davis, Inc. May 30, 1989. pp. 329–341. [ISSN 0888-8507](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0888-8507). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220702112954/https://books.google.com/books?id=HpsOD9ZeqScC) July 2, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 18, 2022.

1. ["Obsolete Products"](https://web.archive.org/web/20050814234847/http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifeobsoleteproducts). *Support*. [Microsoft](/source/Microsoft). July 25, 2011. Archived from [the original](http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifeobsoleteproducts) on August 14, 2005.

1. Cowart, Robert (2005). *Special Edition Using Microsoft Windows XP Home*. 3 ed. Indianapolis, Indiana: Que. p. 92. ISBN 978-0-7897-3279-8. [OCLC 56647752](https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/56647752)

1. ["주요 한글 제품 발표"](http://www.microsoft.com/korea/info/product/default.htm) [Major Korean Product Announcements] (in Korean). *Microsoft*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/19990508211652/http://www.microsoft.com/korea/info/product/default.htm) May 8, 1999 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 23 May 2024.

1. ["한글 윈도우 2.1의 존재"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220419005732/https://virtualwindows.tistory.com/327) [The Existence of Korean Windows 2.1] (in Korean). *Virtual Windows*. January 1, 2022. Archived from [the original](https://virtualwindows.tistory.com/327) on April 19, 2022. Retrieved August 24, 2024.

1. Schreuder, Duco A. (2014). *Vision and visual perception: the conscious base of seeing*. Bloomington, IN: Archway Publishing. p. 428. ISBN 978-1-4808-1294-9. [OCLC 898160678](https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/898160678)

1. Timacheff, Serge & Miller, Michael (June 4, 1990). ["Microsoft Windows 3.0: The Graphics Interface Grows up"](https://books.google.com/books?id=RTsEAAAAMBAJ). *Info World*. Vol. 12. InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. p. 113. [ISSN 0199-6649](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0199-6649). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220922142905/https://books.google.com/books?id=RTsEAAAAMBAJ) September 22, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 9, 2022.

1. Brownstein, Mark (May 28, 1990). ["Windows Drivers For Printers"](https://books.google.com/books?id=nzsEAAAAMBAJ). *Info World*. Vol. 12. InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. p. 33. [ISSN 0199-6649](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0199-6649). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210814062230/https://books.google.com/books?id=nzsEAAAAMBAJ) August 14, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 9, 2022.

1. Johnson, Stuart (September 17, 1990). ["Hidden Windows Costs Worthwhile"](https://books.google.com/books?id=LDwEAAAAMBAJ). *InfoWorld*. Vol. 12. InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. p. 13. [ISSN 0199-6649](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0199-6649). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220702112953/https://books.google.com/books?id=LDwEAAAAMBAJ) July 2, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 18, 2022.

1. ["High-end Windows going corporate with graphics, multitasking abilities"](https://books.google.com/books?id=ks9KBZrRragC). *Computerworld*. IDG Enterprise. June 20, 1988. p. 4. [ISSN 0010-4841](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0010-4841). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220702112952/https://books.google.com/books?id=ks9KBZrRragC) July 2, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 18, 2022.

1. Quinn, Stephen R. (October 25, 1993). ["FileMaker Pro eases interface"](https://books.google.com/books?id=FDsEAAAAMBAJ). *InfoWorld*. Vol. 15. InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. p. 108. [ISSN 0199-6649](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0199-6649). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220702112953/https://books.google.com/books?id=FDsEAAAAMBAJ) July 2, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 18, 2022.

1. ["Small-Office Software: The Essentials"](https://books.google.com/books?id=zzURbSGI6q4C). *PC Magazine*. Vol. 14. Ziff Davis, Inc. June 13, 1995. p. 120. [ISSN 0888-8507](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0888-8507). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220702112953/https://books.google.com/books?id=zzURbSGI6q4C) July 2, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 18, 2022.

1. ["Other Multitasking, Multiuser Environments Capable of Running MS-DOS Applications"](https://books.google.com/books?id=QDoEAAAAMBAJ). *InfoWorld*. Vol. 11. InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. February 13, 1989. p. 58. [ISSN 0199-6649](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0199-6649). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210605120247/https://books.google.com/books?id=QDoEAAAAMBAJ) June 5, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 18, 2022.

1. Rosch, Winn (December 22, 1987). ["Windows/386 Juggles DOS Tasks in Every Bit of RAM"](https://books.google.com/books?id=gC-DsOtl2MgC). *PC Magazine*. Vol. 6. Ziff Davis, Inc. pp. 33–34. [ISSN 0888-8507](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0888-8507). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220702112953/https://books.google.com/books?id=gC-DsOtl2MgC) July 2, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 18, 2022.

1. McCracken, Harry (May 7, 2013). ["A Brief History of Windows Sales Figures, 1985-Present"](https://techland.time.com/2013/05/07/a-brief-history-of-windows-sales-figures-1985-present/#:~:text=Windows%20sales%20in%201988%20(Windows,less%20than%202%20million%20(InfoWorld)). *Time*. [ISSN 0040-781X](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0040-781X). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220418124401/https://techland.time.com/2013/05/07/a-brief-history-of-windows-sales-figures-1985-present/#:~:text=Windows%20sales%20in%201988%20(Windows,less%20than%202%20million%20(InfoWorld)) April 18, 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 18, 2022.

1. ["Vision for the Future"](https://archive.org/details/makingofmicrosof00ichb/). *The Making of Microsoft: How Bill Gates and His Team Created the World's Most Successful Software Company*. [Prima Publishing](/source/Prima_Publishing). 1991. p. 239. ISBN 978-1-55958-071-7. Retrieved January 14, 2020.

1. ["Windows 3.0 ends the wait"](https://archive.org/details/computerworld2431unse). *[Computerworld](/source/Computerworld)*. Vol. 24, no. 31. July 30, 1990. p. 33. Retrieved December 25, 2019.

1. Venditto, Gus (July 1990). ["Windows 3.0 Brings Icons, Multitasking, and Ends DOS's 640K Program Limit"](https://books.google.com/books?id=ofXGcGVTvoEC). *[PC Magazine](/source/PC_Magazine)*. Vol. 9, no. 13. pp. 33–35. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210225224431/https://books.google.com/books?id=ofXGcGVTvoEC) February 25, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 21, 2019.

## External links

- [Microsoft Windows Timeline](https://www.officetimeline.com/blog/microsoft-windows-timeline)
- [Windows/386 promotion video](https://www.youtube.com/noEHHB6rnMI) on YouTube

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Windows 2.1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_2.1) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_2.1?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.