Windows 3.1/WFWG3.11 Notes

 

Still running Windows 3.1?

BASE OS (DOS) Choice

If you don't already own a DOS, I would suggest FreeDOS, but I don't know if it works well with Windows 3.1 or not (somebody try it and report back to me). try something safe like IBM PC DOS 2000 (don't get it from amazon). It is still available.

config.sys

rem device=C:\ADISOUND\ad1815.exe /V/O/L0=B220B388B530I5D1D3/L1=B330I9/L2=B201/ID=ADS7150/SN=FFFFFFFF
Device=C:\PLUGPLAY\DRIVERS\DOS\DWCFGMG.SYS
BUFFERS=30
FILES=70
DOS=HIGH,umb
STACKS=9,256
DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
DEVICEhigh=C:\DOS\SETVER.EXE
DEVICE=C:\CDROM\CDTECH.SYS /D:MSCD001 /UDMA2 /V
SHELL=C:\COMMAND.COM C:\  /p /e:2048
DEVICE=C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.EXE /DOUBLE_BUFFER
DEVICE=C:\DOS\POWER.EXE
[common]
LASTDRIVE=M

autoexec.bat

set pctcp=F:\IE\pctcp.shv
set ieppp=F:\IE
path=F:\IE
SET ATI_NOEE_M64=C:\MACH64\EEDATA.EE_
                @rem C:\MACH64\CUSTOM.COM q
LOADHIGH C:\DOS\SHARE.EXE /L:500 /F:5100
c:\dos\mscdex.exe /D:MSCD001
C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.EXE /L 4096
SET CPBACKUP=C:\CPBACKUP\DATA
SET TEMP=C:\TEMP
set TZ=PST8PDT
PATH C:\DOS;C:\WINDOWS;D:\WINWORD;C:\WP51;C:\BAT;C:\X;C:\U;f:\powerpnt;e:\excel;C:\MACH64;c:\ati\atidesk;c:\ati;c:\bkshlf
SET lmouse=c:\mouse
@rem loadhigh c:\mouse\MOUSE
rem c:\mouse\mouse.exe
rem SET WIN$=D:\WINDOWS
SET WIN$=C:\WINDOWS
                @rem C:\DOS\MOUSE.COM
C:\DOS\DOSKEY.COM /bufsize=300
SET IBMAV=C:\DOS
                @rem CALL C:\DOS\IBMAVDR.BAT C:\DOS\
@PROMPT TYPE 'win :' for WINDOWS or 'shutdown'. $P$G
@ECHO OK... TO START MICROSOFT WINDOWS,
@ECHO WIN :
C:\ADISOUND\dosmixer.exe /AUTO /SB:220 /WSS:530
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 T4
rem PATH %PATH%;C:\MOUSE
set CDPATH=C:\BKSHLF;J:\SOFTWARE;J:\BOOK
set CDRAM=

105-file limit of root directory

c:\ has a limit of 105 files. once you get to this point, no matter how much free space your disk really has (could be GB), DOS will FAIL and report "DISK FULL". You will also have problems with your windows swap file I'm sure.

make a shutdown.bat file

Put this file in c:\bat and for its content: C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.EXE /C. You can do this from the command line: echo C:\DOS\SMARTDRV.EXE /C>c:\bat\shutdown.bat

Use this before your turn off your machine. It flushes the disk cache. From now on at the dos prompt all you have to do is type shutdown and hit enter and then turn off your machine after the disk light goes off.

Limitations

  • 30 Program Groups- I think.
  • windows: 4GiB RAM in standard mode. 2044MB RAM for 386 Enhanced mode. Windows 3.1 uses himem.sys (an XMS driver) to allocate memory. see microsoft KB article
  • windows: 256MB Virtual Memory. The actual virtual memory size stays at 256 MB once you reach 64 MB of total physical memory, and never gets any bigger. see microsoft KB article
  • Due to DOS limitations, 2GB/partition.
  • DOS: as I stated before, 105 files in the root directory (or 512 root directory entries)
  • DOS: himem.sys limitation of 16MB. I do not know about IBM PC DOS 2000. Therefore, windows is limited to 16MB RAM.

Y2k Fixes

update to vshare.386

fixes problems with hung Windows 3.1/3.11 when it starts. fix

IE5.01 for Windows 3.1

I think it also includes outlook express 5. installer on windows 3.1 cd ISO

Software

  • check out this german site. has an MP3 player. also has IE5.01 and win32S and other stuff.

Getting a cable modem to work with WFWG3.11

see artlcle

It appears FreeDOS is not yet working for any of the windows 3.1 series.