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Q83458: Windows Versions Supported with Various MS-DOS Versions

Article: Q83458
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:2.x,3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 18-DEC-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows versions 2.03, 2.1, 2.11, 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

The chart below shows which versions of MS-DOS can be run with Windows.

If the error "Unsupported DOS version" occurs, check the Windows version and the
MS-DOS version against the chart below. It is also important to verify that the
MS-DOS version being used is the one recommended by the hardware manufacturer
and not an OEM version from another hardware vendor (for example, IBM PC-DOS on
a clone machine).

MS-DOS version 3.0 or later is required to run any version of Windows 2.03
through 2.11. MS-DOS version 3.1 or later is required to run Windows versions
3.0 and 3.1.

MORE INFORMATION
================

  -------------------------MS-DOS Version--------------------------
                      3.0x  3.1x  3.2x  3.3x  4.00, 4.01(a)  5.00
  -----------------------------------------------------------------
  Windows/286 2.03,    Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y           |  (c)
     2.10, and 2.11       |     |     |     |              |
  ------------------------|-----|-----|-----|--------------|-------
  Windows/386 2.03     Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  N           |  N
  ------------------------|-----|-----|-----|--------------|-------
  Windows/386 2.1      N  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  (b)         | (b)(c)
  ------------------------|-----|-----|-----|--------------|-------
  Windows/386 2.11     N  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y           |  (c)
  ------------------------|-----|-----|-----|--------------|-------
  Windows 3.0          N  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y           |  Y
  ------------------------|-----|-----|-----|--------------|-------
  Windows 3.1          N  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y           |  Y
  -----------------------------------------------------------------

  Notes
  -----

  (a)  MS-DOS 4.0 or 4.01 or IBM PC-DOS 4.01 -- Windows
       does not work correctly with IBM PC-DOS 4.0

  (b)  If dated 9/7/88 or later, Yes; if not, No

  (c)  Must have SETVER.EXE loaded in the CONFIG.SYS file
       to work correctly with MS-DOS 5.0

"Windows/286" in the table above includes Windows/286 and all Microsoft run-time
versions sent out with Microsoft products (Excel, Word for Windows, and so on).

This data is based on MS-DOS version numbers. An OEM DOS product with the same
version number may not work correctly. (In these cases, an OEM DOS upgrade may
be required to work with Windows).

Additional query words: 2.10 3.00 3.00a 3.10 Excel win386 Incorrect DOS version Winword

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin203 kbWin210 kbWin211 kbWin300 kbWin300a kbWin310 kbWin311
Version           : WINDOWS:2.x,3.0,3.0a,3.1,3.11

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