Windows 3.x/3.00.55: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 07:58, 6 November 2023

**3.00.55**

Kernel version	3.0
CPU architecture	x86
Compile date	2nd January 1990
TCB	Available

Windows 3.0 build 55 is a pre-release build of Microsoft Windows 3.0, that was shipped to testers on 2nd January 1990, as a demonstration of the upcoming version of Windows.

At this point, the product was nearly finished in terms of features and overall usability, and aside from major memory improvements over Windows 2.x, would also include a completely redesigned graphical user interface, namely the Program and File Manager to replace the MS-DOS Executive seen in previous versions of Windows.

A personal computer magazine, InfoWorld, has a full article demonstrating a version of Microsoft Windows 3.0 from this time period in an issue from January 1990.

This version should be installed on a machine running MS-DOS 4.0, IBM DOS 4.0, or Compaq DOS 3.31 in order to take advantage of the new features available in this version of Windows.

Notes

Version numbers shown in About dialogs

Write shows Version 3.0 Beta 1.55.
Terminal shows Terminal 3.20, Beta-Release 01/02/90.
Calculator shows Version 3.00.16.
Windows Setup shows WinSetup Version 3.00.137.
Swapfile has a hidden About dialog box which can be seen when examined in a hex editor, showing WinSpart Version 3.00.139.

Version 3.00.14

WINOLDAP.MOD of this build has a version string of "3.00.14.20jan89", shortly prior to an earlier pre-release version 3.00.14 dated February 22, 1989.

Paintbrush beta release warnings

Paintbrush contains the following warnings in this pre-release version of Microsoft Windows 3.0:

Beta Warning 
Multiple instances of Paintbrush are disabled (beta release only) for your protection. This instance will be terminated.

Beta Warning 
Paintbrush is disabled under real mode EMS systems (beta release only) for your protection. This instance will be terminated.

Beta Warning
Paintbrush does not deal with low memory situations well in this beta release.
To avoid losing work, run Paintbrush under 286 or 386 protected mode. 
This is the only time that you will receive this warning.

Beta Warning
There is a known bug in Paintbrush that can cause the contents of overlapping windows to be placed in your drawing.
For this reason it is not recommended to bring up other applications on top of the Paintbrush window. 
This is only a problem for the beta release. This is the only time that you will receive this warning.

Windows Help

This pre-release version includes Windows Help version 3.00.2000. It may also occasionally crash with a Divide by Zero error due to faults in the pre-release code.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[File:Winbeta55.png|thumb|Windows 3.0 Build 55]]
+{{Infobox Buildinfo
-'''Windows 3.0 build 55''' is one of the only leaked beta builds of Windows 3.0. This is due to the fact that testers were under strict NDA, even so strict they were not allowed to say there even was a new version of Windows in development.
+|title = 3.00.55
+|image = Winbeta55.png
+|kernel = 3.0
+|arch = x86
+|compiled = 2nd January 1990
+|tcb = [https://thecollectionbook.info/windows/30/997 Available]
+}}
+'''Windows 3.0 build 55''' is a pre-release build of [[Microsoft]] [[Windows 3.x|Windows 3.0]], that was shipped to testers on 2nd January 1990, as a demonstration of the upcoming version of Windows.
-It was leaked on BA on March 3, 2014 by member The Distractor as a pre-installed folderdump. Attempts were made to recreate the installation disks, but the disks may not work properly in certain configurations. Best way to use this build is to install MS-DOS (any version from 3.31-6.22) and then copying the WINDOWS folder to the system partition. The system was configured with a Logitech mouse, which will not work in Virtual PC. This can be fixed by opening "'''SYSTEM.INI'''" and changing the line "'''mouse=lmouse.drv'''" to "'''mouse=mouse.drv'''", which will change the mouse to a generic Microsoft Serial Mouse/PS/2 compatible.
+At this point, the product was nearly finished in terms of features and overall usability, and aside from major memory improvements over Windows 2.x, would also include a completely redesigned graphical user interface, namely the Program and File Manager to replace the MS-DOS Executive seen in previous versions of Windows.
-After the above change, the build will run fine in Virtual PC in Real and Standard Mode. 386 Enhanced mode only works using MS-DOS 3.x or PC-DOS 3.x.
+A personal computer magazine, InfoWorld, has a full article demonstrating a version of Microsoft Windows 3.0 from this time period in an issue from January 1990.
-==Findings==
+This version should be installed on a machine running MS-DOS 4.0, IBM DOS 4.0, or Compaq DOS 3.31 in order to take advantage of the new features available in this version of Windows.
-===Interesting About Boxes===
-*''Write'' shows '''Version 3.0 Beta 1.55''', confirming this to be a debug build as 1.x build numbers are generally used only in debug builds.
+== Notes ==
+=== Version numbers shown in About dialogs ===
+*''Write'' shows '''Version 3.0 Beta 1.55'''.
 *''Terminal'' shows '''Terminal 3.20, Beta-Release 01/02/90'''.
-*''Calculator'' shows '''Version 3.00.16'''. It is unknown, however if this refers to a Windows version or an executable version.
+*''Calculator'' shows '''Version 3.00.16'''.
-*''Windows Setup'' shows '''WinSetup Version 3.00.137'''. Most likely this is an executable version.
+*''Windows Setup'' shows '''WinSetup Version 3.00.137'''.
-*''Swapfile'' has a hidden about box visible if you open it up in a hex editor, showing '''WinSpart Version 3.00.139'''. Most likely this is an executable version.
+*''Swapfile'' has a hidden About dialog box which can be seen when examined in a hex editor, showing '''WinSpart Version 3.00.139'''.
-===Build 3.00.14===
-WINOLDAP.MOD of this build has a version string of "'''3.00.14.20jan89'''", before the recent [[Windows:3.00.1.14|Windows 3.0 debug release 1.14]] leak, which is from February 22, 1989.
+=== Version 3.00.14 ===
-===Paintbrush Beta Warnings===
+WINOLDAP.MOD of this build has a version string of "'''3.00.14.20jan89'''", shortly prior to an earlier pre-release version [[windows 3.x/3.00.14|3.00.14]] dated February 22, 1989.
-Paintbrush contains the following warnings in this beta build of Windows 3.0:
+=== Paintbrush beta release warnings ===
+Paintbrush contains the following warnings in this pre-release version of Microsoft Windows 3.0:
 <pre>
 Beta Warning
-Multiple instances of Paintbrush are disabled (beta release only) for your protection.  This instance will be terminated.
+Multiple instances of Paintbrush are disabled (beta release only) for your protection. This instance will be terminated.
+</pre>
+<pre>
 Beta Warning
-Paintbrush is disabled under real mode EMS systems (beta release only) for your protection.  This instance will be terminated.
+Paintbrush is disabled under real mode EMS systems (beta release only) for your protection. This instance will be terminated.
+</pre>
+<pre>
 Beta Warning
 Paintbrush does not deal with low memory situations well in this beta release.
 To avoid losing work, run Paintbrush under 286 or 386 protected mode.
 This is the only time that you will receive this warning.
+</pre>
+<pre>
 Beta Warning
 There is a known bug in Paintbrush that can cause the contents of overlapping windows to be placed in your drawing.
@@ Line 34: / Line 47: @@
 This is only a problem for the beta release. This is the only time that you will receive this warning.
 </pre>
-===Windows Help===
-This build is the first leaked build to include Windows Help. It has a version of '''3.00.2000''' although this is most likely an executable version. It is buggy though and will eventually crash with a Divide by Zero error.
+=== Windows Help ===
+This pre-release version includes Windows Help version '''3.00.2000'''. It may also occasionally crash with a Divide by Zero error due to faults in the pre-release code.
+[[Category:Windows 3.x]]