Windows 2.0

Windows 2.0
Developer	Microsoft
OS family	Windows
Source model	Closed Source
Released	December 9, 1987
Final release	2.03 December 9, 1987
Available in	English
Platforms	x86
Preceded by	Windows 1.0 (1985)
Succeeded by	Windows 2.1 (1988)
Support status
Unsupported as of December 31, 2001

Windows 2.0 is a 16-bit operating environment from Microsoft released on December 9, 1987, Windows 2.00, Windows 2.01 and Windows 2.03 were shells for the DOS system, providing a graphical user interface for improved interaction than the command-line interface of DOS.

Windows 2.0 was officially released on 9 December 1987, and superceded Windows 1.0. It was succeeded by Windows 2.1x in 1988, Windows 2.11 in 1989 then Windows 3.0 in 1990. Windows 2.0 was officially supported by Microsoft until December 31, 2001. It was the first Windows to have minimization and maximization.

Windows 2.0 was officially released on 9 December 1987, and superceded Windows 1.0. It was succeeded by Windows 2.1x in 1988, Windows 2.11 in 1989 then Windows 3.0 in 1990. Windows 2.0 was officially supported by Microsoft until December 31, 2001. It was the first Windows to have minimization and maximization.

History

Version Release Dates:

• Windows 2.01: September 7, 1987
• Windows 2.03: November 16, 1987

Succeeded by Windows 2.1x In May 27, 1988.

New Features

• Overlapping windows (Windows 1.x could only tile windows)
• Better keyboard shortcuts
• Improved shell design
• VGA graphic support
• EMS memory support

Application support

The first Windows versions of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel ran on Windows 2.0.

Applications that shipped with Windows 2.0:

• CALC.EXE
• CALENDAR.EXE
• CARDFILE.EXE
• CLIPBRD.EXE
• CLOCK.EXE
• CONTROL.EXE
• CVTPAINT.EXE
• MSDOS.EXE
• NOTEPAD.EXE
• PAINT.EXE
• PIFEDIT.EXE
• REVERSI.EXE
• SPOOLER.EXE
• TERMINAL.EXE
• WRITE.EXE

WRITE.EXE

Screenshots of Windows 2.x

The Windows 2.03 logo screen

Windows 2.03 desktop.

Windows 2.03 dialog box.

Windows 2.03 MS-DOS Executive.

Miscellaneous open Windows 2.03 programs.

Windows 2.03 Notepad program.

Windows 2.03 dialog box.

Add a photo to this gallery

External links

• Windows Version History (1.x-3.11) at Microsoft (archived 2005-05-25)
  • A history of Windows (1975-2015) (archived 2016-06-18)
  • Microsoft History: 1987 at Microsoft Library (archived 1996-10-17)
• Windows 2.0 at GUIdebook
• Microsoft Windows history at Computer Hope
• Microsoft Windows/386 2.01 at PCjs Machines