Windows 3.1 upgrade (from 2.0x) is just same as retail full!

[ibmpc5150]

I've bought Windows 3.1 upgrade package as junked one. (5.25" & 3.5")

Of course, I dumped all and compared with retail full package.

The conclusion : Upgrade package from Windows 2.0x/3.0x is just same as Retail first full version.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Microsoft-Windo ... 3398ea5b2d

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Microsoft-Windo ... 2a47a83bec

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-MICROSO ... 35ba89770b

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Microsoft-Windo ... 1c3c8dda94


If anyone want to buy retail version with cheap price, no problem to buy upgrade version of 3.1.

I don't know why Microsoft sold upgrade version with same condition of Retail Full package.

[Battler]

Did you do a binary comparison of the raw dumps of all the floppies? Hash comparison? Or are you just assuming it's identical because it looks identical?

[gus33000]

I've bought Windows 3.1 upgrade package as junked one. (5.25" & 3.5")

Of course, I dumped all and compared with retail full package.

The conclusion : Upgrade package from Windows 2.0x/3.0x is just same as Retail first full version.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Microsoft-Windo ... 3398ea5b2d

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Microsoft-Windo ... 2a47a83bec

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-MICROSO ... 35ba89770b

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Microsoft-Windo ... 1c3c8dda94


If anyone want to buy retail version with cheap price, no problem to buy upgrade version of 3.1.

I don't know why Microsoft sold upgrade version with same condition of Retail Full package.

Actually, I own and I have uploaded a french WFW 3.11 Upgrade, only the first floppy is different. It has the setup.ini file changed to say upgrade version. In Setup it ask for another installation. Also, maybe the W3.1 or W3.0 upgrade floppies are working differently, but mine are not the same as the full ones.

Also, did you check hat the first floppy says upgrade version, because in my package, only the first one says that, the others says full version.

[ibmpc5150]

>Also, did you check hat the first floppy says upgrade version, because in my package, only the first one says that, the others says full version.

WFW between retail full and retail upgrade is different from disk 1.
I also have WFW (Retail full & Upgrade - Add on)
But on Windows 3.1 package (No WFW, normal Windows 3.1), no difference was found.

[gus33000]

1. > WFW between retail full and retail upgrade is different from disk 1.
I also have WFW (Retail full & Upgrade - Add on)
But on Windows 3.1 package (No WFW, normal Windows 3.1), no difference was found.

That's what I have explained in my message.
But what I want to say is that maybe the Windows 3.0 version or 2.x has a different set of floppies (it is less likely because 3.1 has not a different set). Also if you have the 3.1 upgrade box, can you upload scans of the box and it's content, it would be interesting to see what's inside.

Edit : Also I noticed the "Attention Sellers" paper on a picture on ebay, it clearly says that the seller should ask for the original 3.0 disk 1 or the manual of 3.0, so it is very not likely that 3.0 does have different floppies, otherwise, I don't see why MS did change that.

[ibmpc5150]

>But what I want to say is that maybe the Windows 3.0 version or 2.x has a different set of floppies (it is less likely because 3.1 has not a >different set). Also if you have the 3.1 upgrade box, can you upload scans of the box and it's content, it would be interesting to see what's >inside.

Disks are just same as Retail Full. (Disk Assy Number is identical.

I don't know why Microsoft sold WIN3.1 retail full disks on Upgrade package.

But anyway, disks on Upgrade pacakge are just same as Retail one.

If anyone can't believe this fact, the best way is to buy pacakge and compare the content by dumping as diskimage.

[Battler]

No idea about non-WFW image, but Windows for Workgroups 3.1 (NOT 3.11) clearly differs between Upgrade and Retail. The difference is in one line of SETUP.INF, and it causes Setup require a previous version of Windows. We have the Danish upgrade version, so you can see for yourself.

And are you sure your Retail version isn't actually Upgrade? If you got it from BA, be cautious. It could be the Upgrade edition, but not labeled as such because it wasn't identified correctly.

Edit: I just checked, and it seems like WfW 3.1 and later, have a field in the [data] section of SETUP.INF called Partial, which if set to TRUE, makes the version Upgrade, while if set to FALSE, makes the version Retail. Windows 3.1 does NOT have that field. So ibmpc5150 seems to be right here.

[ibmpc5150]

>>Battler

I only said about fact.

I didn't mention about WFW

[os2fan2]

Sometimes the upgrade is a matter of honesty, rather than being enforced by the code. One must remember that people don't want to install v1 to v3 to get the upgrade to 3.1 to work.

[gus33000]

I have found a picture of a W3.1 Upgrade Box which says that "The enclosed program will search your system to confirm that your are a licensed user of a qualifying program"

That could mean that there was indeed differents floppies for upgrade / full of W3.1

[nerd70]

I have found a picture of a W3.1 Upgrade Box which says that "The enclosed program will search your system to confirm that your are a licensed user of a qualifying program"

That could mean that there was indeed differents floppies for upgrade / full of W3.1

The interesting thing is, Win3.1 retail upgrades from 3.0 just fine.