Windows 3.1#Windows for Workgroups 3.1

File:Windows logo (1991).svg

Windows 3.0, the predecessor of 3.1, was released in 1990, and is considered to be the first version of Windows to receive critical acclaim.{{cite news |last=Lendino |first=Jamie |date=November 20, 2015 |title=Microsoft Windows turns 30: A brief retrospective |url=https://www.extremetech.com/computing/218336-microsoft-windows-turns-30-a-brief-retrospective |access-date=December 22, 2019 |work=ExtremeTech |archive-date=December 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223025101/https://www.extremetech.com/computing/218336-microsoft-windows-turns-30-a-brief-retrospective |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |last1=Fitzpatrick |first1=Alec |date=November 20, 2014 |title=It Took Microsoft 3 Tries Before Windows Was Successful |url=https://time.com/3592071/windows-1-history/ |access-date=September 23, 2022 |magazine=Time |publisher=}} Windows 3.0 received around 10 million sales before the release of Windows 3.1 on April 6, 1992.{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Benj |date=April 6, 2022 |title=Windows 3.1 Turns 30: Here's How It Made Windows Essential |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/795478/windows-31-30-years-later/ |access-date=April 20, 2022 |website=How-To Geek |language=en-US |archive-date=June 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623211155/https://www.howtogeek.com/795478/windows-31-30-years-later/ |url-status=live }} Microsoft began a television advertising campaign for the first time on March 1, 1992. The advertisements, developed by Ogilvy & Mather, were designed to introduce a broader audience to Windows.{{cite web |title=Microsoft History 1992 |url=http://library.microsoft.com/msinfo/mshist/1992.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961017232356/http://library.microsoft.com/msinfo/mshist/1992.htm |archive-date=October 17, 1996 |access-date=September 4, 2009 |publisher=Microsoft}} Internet Archive

Like its predecessors, the operating environment runs as a shell on top of MS-DOS, although it does not include the MS-DOS Executive shell.{{Cite web |last=Lineback |first=Nathan |title=Windows 3.1 |url=http://toastytech.com/guis/win31.html |access-date=April 20, 2022 |website=ToastyTech |archive-date=October 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007093334/http://toastytech.com/guis/win31.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite book |last=Mullen |first=Robert |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/25808566 |title=Windows 3.1 revealed |date=1992 |publisher=SAMS |others=Paul Hoffman, Barrie A. Sosinsky |isbn=978-0-672-30192-6 |edition=1 |location=Carmel, Ind. |oclc=25808566 |access-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702113524/https://www.worldcat.org/title/windows-31-revealed/oclc/25808566 |url-status=live }}{{rp|page=3}} After the introduction of Windows 1.0, Microsoft had worked on gaining support from companies to expand its operating environment on different types of PCs. Tandy Corporation was open to shipping Tandy Sensation PCs with the Windows 3.1 operating environment.{{Cite web |last=Reinhardt |first=Andy |date=March 1994 |title=Building The Data High Way |url=http://www.byte.com/art/9403/sec5/art1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961221001437/http://www.byte.com/art/9403/sec5/art1.htm |archive-date=December 21, 1996 |access-date=April 20, 2022 |website=BYTE}} IBM and its PCs were also provided with Windows 3.1.{{Cite web |date=April 6, 2022 |title=Microsoft Releases Windows 3.1 |url=https://www.computerhistory.org/tdih/april/6/ |access-date=April 21, 2022 |website=Computer History Museum |archive-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421133053/https://www.computerhistory.org/tdih/april/6/ |url-status=live }}

File:Windows 3.1 (customized colour scheme).png

Further enhancements were introduced in Windows 3.1. The TrueType font system was introduced to provide scalable fonts to Windows applications, without having to resort on using third-party technology such as Adobe Type Manager (ATM).{{cite news |date=November 19, 2010 |title=Visual tour: 25 years of Windows |newspaper=Computerworld |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2514541/visual-tour--25-years-of-windows.html |access-date=September 24, 2022 |quote=Windows 3.1 introduced TrueType fonts}} Windows 3.1 introduced Arial, Courier New, and Times New Roman fonts, in regular, bold, italic, and bold-italic versions, which could be scaled to any size and rotated, depending on the application.{{cite journal |last1=Edson |first1=Kate |date=March 1993 |title=Windows 3.1 and TrueType Fonts |url=http://www.melbpc.org.au/pcupdate/9303/9303article3.htm |url-status=dead |journal=PC Update |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020511131315/http://www.melbpc.org.au/pcupdate/9303/9303article3.htm |archive-date=May 11, 2002 |access-date=October 24, 2014}}{{Cite news |last=Corrigan |first=Hope |date=April 11, 2022 |title=Happy birthday, Windows 3.1 |language=en |work=PC Gamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/happy-birthday-windows-31/ |access-date=April 20, 2022 |archive-date=April 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420222045/https://www.pcgamer.com/happy-birthday-windows-31/ |url-status=live }}

To improve user interaction, Microsoft initiated warning and event sounds, and introduced computer command shortcuts for copy, cut, and paste. Windows 3.1 is also noted for its improvement of multimedia; screensavers, Windows Media Player, and Sound Recorder were introduced into the operating environment. These features were already present on the Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions version, although they were only available to users with newly bought PCs. The Media Player could play MIDI music files and AVI video files, while the Sound Recorder could play, record, and edit sound files that were affiliated with the WAV format.{{Cite book |title=Getting Started with Microsoft Windows: For the Microsoft Windows Operating System |publisher=Microsoft Corporation |year=1991}}{{rp|page=21|pages=}} Minesweeper was officially introduced in Windows 3.1 as a replacement for Reversi, alongside Solitaire.{{Cite web |last=Gibbs |first=Samuel |date=October 2, 2014 |title=From Windows 1 to Windows 10: 29 years of Windows evolution |url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/oct/02/from-windows-1-to-windows-10-29-years-of-windows-evolution |access-date=April 20, 2022 |website=The Guardian |language=en |archive-date=April 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414091918/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/oct/02/from-windows-1-to-windows-10-29-years-of-windows-evolution |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=February 26, 2007 |title=Beyond Tetris – Minesweeper |url=http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2007/02/column_beyond_tetris_minesweep.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011125507/http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2007/02/column_beyond_tetris_minesweep.php |archive-date=October 11, 2018 |access-date=April 20, 2022 |website=Game Set Watch}} MS-DOS programs were previously not able to be controlled with a mouse; this ended up being introduced in Windows 3.1. Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) was added to allow drag-and-drop embedding of images and formatted text between Windows programs.{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Benj |date=April 6, 2017 |title=Windows 3.1: Twenty-five years later, it's still a Microsoft milestone |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/469692/windows-3-1-twenty-years-later.html |access-date=April 21, 2022 |website=PCWorld |language=en-US |archive-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421133051/https://www.pcworld.com/article/469692/windows-3-1-twenty-years-later.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Definition of Windows 3.1 |url=https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/windows-31 |access-date=April 21, 2022 |website=PC Magazine |language=en |archive-date=June 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615105652/https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/windows-31 |url-status=live }} SVGA color support was also introduced in this version.

File Manager had also received tweaks; split view-mode was introduced, users were now able to browse files without having to open separate windows, while files were able to be dragged and dropped to other locations on the system.{{cite book |last1=Livingston |first1=Brian |url=https://archive.org/details/morewindows31sec0000livi |title=More Windows 3.1 Secrets |publisher=UDG Books Worldwide |year=1993 |isbn=978-1-56884-019-2 |location=San Mateo, CA |url-access=registration}}{{rp|page=11|pages=}} An option for quick formatting was introduced to format floppy disks and copy its files without having to quit Windows.{{rp|page=19|pages=}} File Manager is an MDI application that is used for moving, deleting, and managing files on the system. Microsoft also built Microsoft Bob, a utility that would act as a search assistant, on Windows 3.1, only for it to be released on Windows 95 in 1995.{{Cite book |last=Loguidice |first=Bill |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/874011835 |title=Vintage game consoles : an inside look at Apple, Atari, Commodore, Nintendo, and the greatest gaming platforms of all time |date=2014 |publisher=Focal Press |others=Matt Barton |isbn=978-1-135-00651-8 |location=Burlington, MA |pages=235 |oclc=874011835 |access-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-date=June 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604163911/https://www.worldcat.org/title/vintage-game-consoles-an-inside-look-at-apple-atari-commodore-nintendo-and-the-greatest-gaming-platforms-of-all-time/oclc/874011835 |url-status=live }}{{Cite book |last=Winter |first=Max |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/896127131 |title=Powering up a career in artificial intelligence |date=2016 |isbn=978-1-4994-6089-6 |location=New York |pages=9 |oclc=896127131 |access-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702113524/https://www.worldcat.org/title/powering-up-a-career-in-artificial-intelligence/oclc/896127131 |url-status=live }} The introduction of Windows Registry, a centralized database that could store configuration information and settings for various operating systems components and applications, also occurred in this version. The Control Panel also received changes; its items were now hard-coded, and additional items could be added by placing additional .cpl files. Similarly, the Calendar uses the .cal extension.{{Cite book |last1=Harrison |first1=Mark |url=https://www.abebooks.com/9780201634747/Effective-TclTK-Programming-Writing-Better-0201634740/plp |title=Effective Tcl/Tk Programming: Writing Better Programs with Tcl and Tck |last2=McLennan |first2=Michael |publisher=Addison-Wesley |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-201-63474-7}}{{rp|page=154|pages=}} Printer management tasks were moved over to Control Panel and Print Manager. Several printer drivers were improved in Windows 3.1, making the Print Manager more efficient to use.{{rp|page=20|pages=}} Windows 3.1 also includes troubleshooting and diagnostic tools such as the Dr. Watson utility which saves information about application errors, and Microsoft Diagnostics.{{Cite news |last=Livingston |first=Brian |date=April 6, 1992 |title=New and improved, finally |volume=14 |pages=61 |work=InfoWorld |publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6z0EAAAAMBAJ |access-date=April 21, 2022 |issn=0199-6649 |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702113523/https://books.google.com/books?id=6z0EAAAAMBAJ |url-status=live }}{{Cite book |last=Norton |first=Peter |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/27301277 |title=Peter Norton's user's guide to Windows 3.1 |date=1993 |publisher=Bantam Books |others=Peter Kent |isbn=978-0-553-37148-2 |location=New York |pages=563 |oclc=27301277 |access-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702113524/https://www.worldcat.org/title/peter-nortons-users-guide-to-windows-31/oclc/27301277 |url-status=live }}

Windows 3.1 also includes add-ons; Video for Windows was introduced in November 1992 as a reaction to Apple's QuickTime technology.{{Cite news |last1=Damore |first1=Kelley |last2=Corcoran |first2=Cate |date=November 16, 1992 |title=VFW to spark multimedia ground swell |volume=14 |pages=12 |work=InfoWorld |publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N1EEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=April 21, 2022 |issn=0199-6649 |archive-date=May 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240527090521/https://www.webcitation.org/6YnFN9lh9?url=https://filetea.me/t1sBdIbxLvYTQuc167ruzsQRg |url-status=live }} At the price of $200, the software included editing and encoding programs.{{Cite news |last=Quain |first=John |date=January 12, 1993 |title=Microsoft Goes Hollywood With Video for Windows |volume=12 |pages=38 |work=PC Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis, Inc. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LIyy_CtozLcC |access-date=April 21, 2022 |issn=0888-8507 |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702113524/https://books.google.com/books?id=LIyy_CtozLcC |url-status=live }}{{Cite book |last=Waggoner |first=Ben |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/500579083 |title=Compression for great video and audio: master tips and common sense |date=2010 |publisher=Focal Press |others=Ben Waggoner |isbn=978-0-240-81213-7 |edition=2 |location=Burlington, MA |pages=503 |oclc=500579083 |access-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702113525/https://www.worldcat.org/title/compression-for-great-video-and-audio-master-tips-and-common-sense/oclc/500579083 |url-status=live }} It was later built into Windows 95.{{Cite book |last=Bolante |first=Antony |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/46944932 |title=Adobe After Effects 5: for Macintosh and Windows |date=2002 |publisher=Peachpit |isbn=978-0-201-75043-0 |location=Berkeley, CA |pages=577 |oclc=46944932 |access-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702113525/https://www.worldcat.org/title/adobe-after-effects-5-for-macintosh-and-windows/oclc/46944932 |url-status=live }} Microsoft also published Windows for Pen Computing, a pen computing interface which was created in response to PenPoint OS by GO Corporation.{{Cite book |last=Cowart |first=Robert |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/297575769 |title=Special edition using Microsoft Windows Vista |date=2008 |publisher=Que |others=Brian Knittel |isbn=978-0-7686-8258-8 |edition=2 |location=Indianapolis, Ind. |pages=1356 |oclc=297575769 |access-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702113525/https://www.worldcat.org/title/special-edition-using-microsoft-windows-vista/oclc/297575769 |url-status=live }}{{cite book |last1=Eller |first1=Marlin |title=Barbarians Led by Bill Gates |last2=Edstrom |first2=Jennifer |publisher=Owl Books |year=1998 |pages=132 |author-link1=Marlin Eller}} The operating environment was also given limited compatibility with the then-new 32-bit Windows API, by introducing Win32s, an enabling technology.{{Cite news |date=June 15, 1993 |title=Thinking: Running 32-bit Apps Without NT |volume=12 |pages=42 |work=PC Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis, Inc. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jMKfH6i9OcYC |access-date=April 21, 2022 |issn=0888-8507 |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702113524/https://books.google.com/books?id=jMKfH6i9OcYC |url-status=live }} Microsoft also provided WinG, an application program interface, to entice developers to move from DOS to Windows.{{Cite news |last=Raskin |first=Robin |date=August 1995 |title=Pity the Poor Developer |volume=14 |pages=30 |work=PC Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis, Inc. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aS7TOePnRDAC |access-date=April 22, 2022 |issn=0888-8507}} It also provided a device-independent interface to graphics and printer hardware, and allowed programs to have both read and write capabilities to the WinGDC.{{cite web |last=Hecker |first=Chris |date=June 1, 1997 |title=A Whirlwind Tour of WinG |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/programming/a-whirlwind-tour-of-wing |access-date=November 17, 2014 |publisher=Gamasutra |archive-date=February 27, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227081926/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3199/a_whirlwind_tour_of_wing.php |url-status=live }}

Unlike all previous versions, Windows 3.1 could not run in real mode and it insisted on the use of 80286 processors or above. Because of this, the maximum memory available was increased.{{Cite web |last=Speed |first=Richard |date=April 7, 2022 |title=Windows 3.1 is 30 years old today |url=https://www.theregister.com/2022/04/07/windows_3_1_30/ |access-date=April 20, 2022 |website=The Register |language=en |archive-date=April 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420222432/https://www.theregister.com/2022/04/07/windows_3_1_30/ |url-status=live }} While Windows 3.0 was limited to 16 MB maximum memory, Windows 3.1 could access a theoretical 4 GB in the 386 enhanced mode. The actual practical ceiling is 256 MB.{{cite web |title=Windows 3.1 Memory Limits |url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/84388 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518111050/https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/84388 |archive-date=May 18, 2015 |website=Windows Support |publisher=Microsoft}} Like its predecessors, it runs as a 16-bit system; Windows 3.1 is also the last Windows to run in 16-bit mode.{{Cite web |title=Definition of Windows versions |url=https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/windows-versions |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=PC Magazine |language=en}} It is also the first Windows to be distributed on a CD-ROM. The setup interface was simplified; express mode was introduced to automatically set up Windows.{{rp|page=22|pages=}} Windows 3.1 also includes an online tutorial applet for users regarding the use of the Windows 3.1 user interface.{{rp|page=20|pages=|quote=Online Tutorial - You can run the Tutorial when you run Windows Setup or...choose the Windows Tutorial...from the Help menu in Program Manager.}} In addition it supported the Advanced Power Management standard.Intel Corporation, "NewsBit: Microsoft, Intel Develop Power Standard", Microcomputer Solutions, March/April 1992, page 1

File:Microsoft Windows 3.1 Jpn box.jpg

A special version named "Windows 3.1 for Central and Eastern Europe" introduced eleven languages to Windows 3.1.{{Cite news |date=1991 |title=Software-industry report |pages=2 |publisher=Computer Age |location=University of Minnesota}} It also provided support for the Cyrillic script.{{Cite news |date=1994 |title=Chamber World Reports |pages=75 |publisher=Chamber World Network |location=Indiana University}} To use Czech, Hungarian, and Polish terminologies this version was required, while to use Russian terminologies a Russian version of Windows 3.1 was needed.{{Cite book |last=Tresman |first=Ian |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/28939377 |title=The multilingual PC directory : a guide to multilingual and foreign language products for IBM PCs and compatibles |date=1994 |publisher=Knowledge Computing |isbn=978-1-873091-02-9 |edition=2 |location=Borehamwood, Herts., U.K. |pages=47 |oclc=28939377 |access-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702113525/https://www.worldcat.org/title/multilingual-pc-directory-a-guide-to-multilingual-and-foreign-language-products-for-ibm-pcs-and-compatibles/oclc/28939377 |url-status=live }} Similarly, Microsoft also released Windows 3.1J with support for Japanese, which shipped 1.46 million copies in its first year on the market (1993) in Japan.{{cite web |author=Kouyoumdjian |first=Virginia |date=August 1994 |title=DOS/V, Windows, Prices, and the Future... |url=http://www.japaninc.com/cpj/magazine/issues/1994/aug94/08trend.html |access-date=September 4, 2009 |publisher=Computing Japan |archive-date=April 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423022004/https://www.japaninc.com/cpj/magazine/issues/1994/aug94/08trend.html |url-status=live }}

Modular Windows was built for real-time consumer electronics, and was designed to be controlled via television.{{Cite web |title=Definition of Modular Windows |url=https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/modular-windows |access-date=April 21, 2022 |website=PC Magazine |language=en |archive-date=July 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728082132/https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/modular-windows |url-status=live }}{{Cite book |last=Dillon |first=Patrick M. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/43802985 |title=Multimedia and the Web from A to Z |date=1998 |publisher=Oryx Press |others=David C. Leonard, Patrick M. Dillon |isbn=978-0-585-06371-3 |edition=2 |location=Phoenix, AZ |pages=180 |oclc=43802985 |access-date=April 21, 2022 |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702113525/https://www.worldcat.org/title/multimedia-and-the-web-from-a-to-z/oclc/43802985 |url-status=live }} It was a special version of Windows 3.1, which was designed to run on Tandy Video Information System; it allowed users to run multimedia software without having to buy a personal computer.{{Cite news |last=Venditto |first=Gus |date=November 24, 1992 |title=Windows Takes Root in Hardware |volume=11 |pages=30 |work=PC Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis, Inc. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RJBJPJvct40C |access-date=April 2, 2022 |issn=0888-8507 |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922143947/https://books.google.com/books?id=RJBJPJvct40C |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Hammett |first=Jim |date=August 31, 1992 |title=Tandy multimedia system to run Modular Windows |volume=14 |pages=6 |work=InfoWorld |publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EVEEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=April 22, 2022 |issn=0199-6649 |archive-date=August 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805233314/https://books.google.com/books?id=EVEEAAAAMBAJ |url-status=live }} It also contained a software development kit (SDK) for programmers to write applications that would run on devices that have Modular Windows. The SDK was sold for $99.{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Stuart |date=December 7, 1992 |title=Microsoft to ship Modular Windows development kit |volume=14 |pages=21 |work=InfoWorld |publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RVEEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=April 22, 2022 |issn=0199-6649 |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922143948/https://books.google.com/books?id=RVEEAAAAMBAJ |url-status=live }} Modular Windows was discontinued in 1994.{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1004377946 |title=Entrepreneurship, innovation, and platforms |date=2017 |others=Jeffrey L. Furman, Annabelle Gawer, Brian S. Silverman, Scott Stern |isbn=978-1-78743-079-2 |edition=1 |location=Bingley, UK |pages=288 |oclc=1004377946}}

Released on November 8, 1993, Windows 3.11 was introduced with fixes for network problems which were present on Windows 3.1.{{Cite book |last=Shinder |first=Thomas W. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/55664320 |title=MCSA/MCSE managing and maintaining a Windows server 2003 environment : exam 70–290 study guide and DVD training |date=2003 |publisher=Syngress |others=Debra Shinder Littlejohn, Jeffrey A. Martin |isbn=978-0-08-047925-5 |location=[Rockland, Mass.] |pages=6 |oclc=55664320 |access-date=April 22, 2022 |archive-date=June 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604163857/https://www.worldcat.org/title/mcsamcse-managing-and-maintaining-a-windows-server-2003-environment-exam-70-290-study-guide-and-dvd-training/oclc/55664320 |url-status=live }} As a minor update, new features were not present in this version. It also did not run on IBM's OS/2 for Windows.{{Cite book |last=Bajpai |first=S. K. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/946267708 |title=Introduction to computers and c programming. |date=2008 |publisher=New Age International Pvt |isbn=978-81-224-1379-3 |location=[Place of publication not identified] |pages=97 |oclc=946267708}}{{Cite news |last=Barney |first=Doug |date=March 7, 1994 |title=MS OSes hit by compatibility woes |pages=10 |work=InfoWorld |publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BTsEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=April 22, 2022 |issn=0199-6649 |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922143951/https://books.google.com/books?id=BTsEAAAAMBAJ |url-status=live }} Windows 3.11 allowed users to connect to each other as peers to share the resources of their computers.{{Cite book |last=Shapiro |first=Jeffrey R. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/608623176 |title=Windows server 2008 bible |date=2008 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-0-470-39969-9 |location=Indianapolis, IN |pages=17 |oclc=608623176}} Microsoft replaced all retail and OEM versions of Windows 3.1 with Windows 3.11 and provided a free upgrade to anyone who owned Windows 3.1.

An updated Simplified Chinese version of Windows 3.1 was released in November 1993, as Windows 3.2.{{cite web |date=October 30, 2003 |title=Microsoft Windows Simplified Chinese 3.2 Upgrade Is Available |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/129451 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108051648/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/129451 |archive-date=November 8, 2006 |publisher=Microsoft}}{{Cite book |last=Haldar |first=Sinbsankar |title=Operating Systems (Self Edition 1.1. Abridged) |year=2016 |pages=688}} The update was limited to this language version, as it only fixed issues related to the complex input system for the Simplified Chinese language. A font editor is present in Windows 3.2; it is used to add new Chinese characters to the already-existing fonts.{{Cite web |last=Lineback |first=Nathan |title=Windows 3.2 (Chinese Windows) |url=http://toastytech.com/guis/win32.html |access-date=April 22, 2022 |website=ToastyTech |archive-date=July 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729193500/http://toastytech.com/guis/win32.html |url-status=live }}

File:Microsoft Windows for Workgroups logo with wordmark.svg

Windows for Workgroups served as an update to Windows 3.1, and it was the first version of Windows that was suitable for integrated networking.{{Cite book |last=Tomsho |first=Greg |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1202601191 |title=Guide to Operating Systems |date=2020 |publisher=Cengage Learning |isbn=978-0-357-43396-6 |oclc=1202601191}}{{Cite book |last=Petersen |first=Julie K. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/51169186 |title=The telecommunications illustrated dictionary |date=2002 |publisher=CRC Press |others=Julie K. Petersen |isbn=978-0-8493-1173-4 |edition=2 |location=Boca Raton, Fla. |pages=992 |oclc=51169186}} Initially developed as an add-on for Windows 3.0, it was later released in 1992. It introduced drivers and protocols for peer-to-peer networking.{{Cite web |date=August 3, 2009 |title=A Brief History of Microsoft Windows |url=https://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1358665&seqNum=3 |access-date=April 22, 2022 |website=InformIT |page=3 |archive-date=March 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320050142/https://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1358665&seqNum=3 |url-status=live }} Windows for Workgroups was mostly oriented towards businesses.

The first version of Windows for Workgroups, 3.1, was released on October 27, 1992.{{cite web |date=November 14, 2003 |title=Windows for Workgroups Version History |url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/126746 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107200040/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/126746 |archive-date=November 7, 2006 |access-date=September 23, 2010 |publisher=Microsoft}} Codenamed Winball and Sparta, it allows users to share files, use print servers, and chat online; files could be accessed from other machines that run either Windows or DOS.{{Cite book |last=Das |first=Sudipto |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hq-jN_nixE8C&pg=PA69 |publisher=Laxmi Publications Pvt. Ltd. |title=A complete guide to computer fundamentals |date=2010 |isbn=978-81-318-0550-3 |edition=1 |location=New Delhi, India |pages=69 |oclc=913009741}} The Microsoft Hearts card game was also added, while Object Linking and Embedding, which was implemented in Windows 3.1, was also included in the Windows for Workgroups version.{{Cite news |last=Johnston |first=Stuart |date=May 18, 1992 |title=Windows to boost data sharing |volume=14 |pages=39 |work=InfoWorld |publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XlEEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=April 22, 2022 |issn=0199-6649 |archive-date=May 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240527090441/https://www.webcitation.org/6YnF6x0m9?url=https://filetea.me/t1s93DMYfS1T7Gs3VyxWzxRZw |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Foster |first=Ed |date=January 25, 1993 |title=Put name-game hype aside and WFW is just a network |volume=15 |pages=43 |work=InfoWorld |publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2zsEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=April 22, 2022 |issn=0199-6649 |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922143951/https://books.google.com/books?id=2zsEAAAAMBAJ |url-status=live }} The Workgroups version also introduced the Microsoft Mail program, which allowed users to receive and send email, and Microsoft Schedule+, a time management app.

Windows for Workgroups could also be accessed from an OS/2 client that uses the Server Message Block (SMB), a protocol used for sharing files and printers over local networks.{{Cite news |last=Chapin |first=Rod |date=August 15, 1994 |title=Windows for Workgroups moves faster in 32-bit mode, but it's no panacea |volume=16 |pages=65 |work=InfoWorld |publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nDgEAAAAMBAJ |url-status=live |access-date=April 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922143952/https://books.google.com/books?id=nDgEAAAAMBAJ |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |issn=0199-6649}}{{Cite book |last=Kroah-Hartman |first=Greg |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/85872757 |title=Linux kernel in a nutshell |date=2006 |publisher=O'Reilly |isbn=978-0-596-51540-9 |location=Sebastopol, Calif. |pages=156 |oclc=85872757}} It introduced support for the NetBEUI protocol.{{Cite book |last=Morphet |first=John |title=Windows on the Internet: The Complete Toolchest |publisher=McGraw-Hill |year=1995 |isbn=978-0-07-912173-8 |location=University of Michigan |pages=280}} The price sat at $69 for Windows 3.1 users.{{Cite news |last=Willett |first=Shawn |date=November 2, 1992 |title=WFW tempts at $69; bundles to come |volume=14 |pages=103 |work=InfoWorld |publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hVEEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=April 22, 2022 |issn=0199-6649 |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922144015/https://books.google.com/books?id=hVEEAAAAMBAJ |url-status=live }}

File:Windows for Workgroups.png

The other version, Windows for Workgroups 3.11, was released on November 8, 1993.{{cite news |author=Peter H. Lewis |date=October 18, 1992 |title=Ever Expanding, Microsoft Readies a Network Windows |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/18/business/the-executive-computer-ever-expanding-microsoft-readies-a-network-windows.html |access-date=September 29, 2020 |archive-date=February 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222013419/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/18/business/the-executive-computer-ever-expanding-microsoft-readies-a-network-windows.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |date=June 17, 2002 |title=Windows history |url=http://members.fortunecity.com/pcmuseum/windows.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316142956/http://members.fortunecity.com/pcmuseum/windows.htm |archive-date=March 16, 2012 |access-date=September 4, 2009 |publisher=PC Museum}} It was codenamed Snowball, and it introduced support for 32-bit file access, drive sharing, and group calendaring.{{Cite news |last=Lindquist |first=Christopher |date=July 26, 1993 |title=Microsoft, get it together |pages=39 |work=Computerworld |publisher=IDG Enterprise |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zl-FH_yiTrQC |access-date=April 22, 2022 |issn=0010-4841 |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922143952/https://books.google.com/books?id=zl-FH_yiTrQC |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last1=Derfler |first1=Frank Jr. |last2=Ringey |first2=Steve |date=January 11, 1994 |title=Windows for Workgroups 3.11: The Best Windows for All? |volume=13 |pages=38 |work=PC Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis, Inc. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E9TvMcu1mIwC |access-date=April 22, 2022 |issn=0888-8507 |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922144019/https://books.google.com/books?id=E9TvMcu1mIwC |url-status=live }} It also has built-in fax capabilities.{{Cite news |last=Burns |first=Christine |date=October 11, 1993 |title=Microsoft releases details of Windows for Workgroups 3.11 |volume=10 |pages=20 |work=Network World |publisher=IDG Network World Inc |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4w0EAAAAMBAJ |access-date=April 22, 2022 |issn=0887-7661 |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922143953/https://books.google.com/books?id=4w0EAAAAMBAJ |url-status=live }}

It received network improvements; a Winsock package was released for Windows for Workgroups, although it was later replaced by a 32-bit stack add-on package (codenamed Wolverine) that provided TCP/IP support in Windows for Workgroups 3.11.{{Cite news |last=Watt |first=Peggy |date=March 6, 1995 |title=Group extends WinSock spec to include IPX, DECnet and OSI |volume=12 |pages=8 |work=Network World |publisher=IDG Network World Inc |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WBgEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=April 22, 2022 |issn=0887-7661 |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922143953/https://books.google.com/books?id=WBgEAAAAMBAJ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Noss |first=John |date=January 2, 1995 |title=More bang for the buck |volume=16–17 |pages=51 |work=InfoWorld |publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gDgEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=April 22, 2022 |issn=0199-6649 |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922143953/https://books.google.com/books?id=gDgEAAAAMBAJ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Diamond |first=Joel |date=January 30, 1995 |title=Giving Windows for Workgroups a workout |volume=12 |pages=19 |work=Network World |publisher=IDG Network World Inc |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1hcEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=April 22, 2022 |issn=0887-7661 |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922144022/https://books.google.com/books?id=1hcEAAAAMBAJ |url-status=live }} Its connectivity with NetWare networks was increased, while it also introduced support for Open Data-Link Interface cards and Internetwork Packet Exchange drivers. Remote access service was introduced as a product for users to remotely access Windows NT and its Advanced Server networks.

It runs in 80386 enhanced mode, and it supports the use of network redirectors.{{rp|page=56|pages=}}{{Cite book |title=Microsoft Windows for Workgroups Resource Kit |publisher=Microsoft Corporation |year=1992 |pages=17}} It was sold in two versions; the complete package cost {{US$|long=no|219}} while the "Workgroup Add-on for Windows" cost {{US$|long=no|69}}.

The official system requirements for Windows 3.1 and subsequent versions include the following:

To use a printer or to run Windows on a network, additional 2.5 MB of free space will be needed on the hard drive.{{rp|page=19|pages=}} The amount of RAM is dependent on software that runs on the PC; if the user is on the network and if the network requires a lot of memory, more RAM will be needed.{{rp|page=21|pages=}} Windows 3.1 includes more drivers for printers than its predecessor.{{rp|page=25|pages=}} It is also possible to connect to a network using Windows 3.1 via Hayes, Multi-Tech, or Trail Blazer modems.{{rp|page=26|pages=}}{{rp|page=14|pages=}}

Windows 3.1 is considered to be more stable and multimedia-friendly in comparison with its predecessor, while its user interface was reinvigorated. It has been shown as an improvement, and it possesses more features in comparison with its rival IBM OS/2 2.0, which launched a month earlier than Windows 3.1. InfoWorld rated the operating environment a "very good" value.{{Cite news |last=Gookin |first=Dan |date=June 8, 1992 |title=Windows 3.1 vs. OS/2 2.0 |volume=14 |pages=72 |work=InfoWorld |publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YFEEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=April 21, 2022 |issn=0199-6649 |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922143954/https://books.google.com/books?id=YFEEAAAAMBAJ |url-status=live}} PC said in 1994 that small-business accounting software for Windows had substantially fewer features than DOS counterparts. "A potentially serious problem with all Windows applications, accounting packages included", the magazine added, was "the frequency of system crashes—especially when running several applications simultaneously".{{Cite magazine |last=White |first=Thomas |last2=Yakal |first2=Kathy |date=1994-01-25 |title=Windows of Opportunity |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qRzjFB6Ic3oC&pg=PA193#v=onepage&q&f=true |access-date=2025-05-03 |magazine=PC Magazine |pages=193-235 |volume=13 |issue=2}}

Windows for Workgroups received lukewarm reception; it has been praised for its technical design, but it has been also noted as a "business disappointment" due to its small amount of sold copies.{{Cite news |last=Paul |first=Fredric |date=July 19, 1993 |title=Reworking Windows for Workgroups |volume=10 |pages=4 |work=Network World |publisher=IDG Network World Inc |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nREEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=April 22, 2022 |issn=0887-7661 |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922143954/https://books.google.com/books?id=nREEAAAAMBAJ |url-status=live}}

Regarding the marketplace, Windows 3.1 had received an enthusiastic reception; its retail price sat at $149, and over three million copies of Windows 3.1 were sold in the first three months.{{Cite news |last=Gibson |first=Steve |date=June 8, 1992 |title=Readers help give 'launcher bar' access to more icons groups |volume=14 |pages=46 |work=InfoWorld |publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YFEEAAAAMBAJ |access-date=April 21, 2022 |issn=0199-6649 |archive-date=September 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922143954/https://books.google.com/books?id=YFEEAAAAMBAJ |url-status=live}}{{Cite book |last=Davis |first=Frederic E. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/26975598 |title=The Windows 3.1 bible |date=1993 |publisher=Peachpit Press |isbn=978-1-56609-015-5 |location=San Rafael, Calif. |pages=xvii |oclc=26975598 |access-date=April 22, 2022 |archive-date=June 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606043236/http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/26975598 |url-status=live}} The year of Windows 3.1's release was successful for Microsoft, which was named the "Most Innovative Company Operating in the U.S." by Fortune magazine, while Windows became the most widely used GUI-based operating environment.{{cite web |title=Microsoft History 1993 |url=http://library.microsoft.com/msinfo/mshist/1993.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961017232408/http://library.microsoft.com/msinfo/mshist/1993.htm |archive-date=October 17, 1996 |access-date=September 4, 2009 |publisher=Microsoft}} Internet Archive

Microsoft ended its support for Windows 3.1 and Windows for Workgroups on December 31, 2001, although the embedded version of Windows for Workgroups 3.11 was retired on November 1, 2008.{{Cite web |last=Fiveash |first=Kelly |date=November 5, 2008 |title=Microsoft retires Windows 3.11 on 18th birthday |url=https://www.theregister.com/2008/11/05/microsoft_retires_windows_3_1_1/ |access-date=April 22, 2022 |website=The Register |language=en |archive-date=March 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326174447/https://www.theregister.com/2008/11/05/microsoft_retires_windows_3_1_1/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite book |last=Cowart |first=Robert |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/56647752 |title=Special edition using Microsoft Windows XP home |date=2005 |publisher=Que |others=Brian Knittel |isbn=978-0-7897-3279-8 |edition=3 |location=Indianapolis, Ind. |pages=92 |oclc=56647752 |access-date=April 22, 2022 |archive-date=June 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604163856/https://www.worldcat.org/title/special-edition-using-microsoft-windows-xp-home/oclc/56647752 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Hruska |first=Joel |date=November 5, 2008 |title=Microsoft puts Windows 3.11 for Workgroups out to pasture |publisher=ArsTechnica |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2008/11/microsoft-puts-windows-3-11-for-workgroups-out-to-pasture/ |access-date=October 15, 2020 |archive-date=October 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016210237/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2008/11/microsoft-puts-windows-3-11-for-workgroups-out-to-pasture/ |url-status=live}} The operating environment was superseded by Windows NT 3.1, which was released in 1993, and Windows 95 in 1995.{{Cite book |last=Halsey |first=Mike |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/919201454 |title=Windows software compatibility and hardware troubleshooting |date=2015 |others=Andrew Bettany |isbn=978-1-4842-1061-1 |location=[Berkeley, CA] |pages=3 |oclc=919201454}}{{cite news |date=September 3, 1995 |title=Windows 95 Not All It's Cracked Up to Be |newspaper=The Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-03-fi-41735-story.html |access-date=April 22, 2022}}

{{main|AARD code}}

The installer of the beta release used code that checked whether it was running on Microsoft-licensed DOS or another DOS operating system, such as DR-DOS.{{cite web |author-last=Lea |author-first=Graham |author-link=Graham Lea (journalist) |date=November 5, 1999 |title=How MS played the incompatibility card against DR-DOS – Real bear-traps, and spurious errors |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/11/05/how_ms_played_the_incompatibility/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125041121/https://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/11/05/how_ms_played_the_incompatibility/ |archive-date=November 25, 2016 |access-date=September 26, 2013 |work=The Register}} It was known as AARD code, and Microsoft disabled it before the final release of Windows 3.1, though without removing it altogether.{{cite book |author-last1=Schulman |author-first1=Andrew |url=https://archive.org/details/undocumenteddosp00andr_0 |title=Undocumented DOS: A programmer's guide to reserved MS-DOS functions and data structures – expanded to include MS-DOS 6, Novell DOS and Windows 3.1 |author-last2=Brown |author-first2=Ralf D. |author-link2=Ralf D. Brown |author-last3=Maxey |author-first3=David |author-last4=Michels |author-first4=Raymond J. |author-last5=Kyle |author-first5=Jim |date=1994 |publisher=Addison Wesley |isbn=978-0-201-63287-3 |edition=2 |url-access=registration |orig-year=November 1993}} (xviii+856+vi pages, 3.5-inch floppy) Errata: [https://web.archive.org/web/20190417215556/http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/user/ralf/pub/books/UndocumentedDOS/errata.ud2][https://web.archive.org/web/20190417212906/https://www.pcjs.org/pubs/pc/programming/Undocumented_DOS/#errata-2nd-edition] Digital Research, who owned DR-DOS, released a patch within weeks to allow the installer to continue.{{cite magazine |date=April 20, 1992 |title=DR DOS 6.0 does Windows 3.1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w1yCn870hscC&pg=PA6 |url-status=live |magazine=Computerworld |page=6 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190722175928/https://books.google.nl/books?id=w1yCn870hscC&pg=PA6&lpg=PA6&redir_esc=y%23v=onepage&q&f=false |archive-date=July 22, 2019 |access-date=July 22, 2019 |series=News Shorts}} Memos that were released during the United States v. Microsoft Corp. antitrust case in 1999 revealed that Microsoft specifically focused it on DR-DOS.{{cite news |date=August 28, 1998 |title=Windows Warning Resurfaces in Suit |work=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/f98bb622c4df848fee85f8ede1f32f72 |url-status=live |access-date=November 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125043840/http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1998/Windows-Warning-Resurfaces-in-Suit/id-f98bb622c4df848fee85f8ede1f32f72 |archive-date=November 25, 2016 |author-first=Ted |author-last=Bridis}} When Caldera bought DR-DOS from Novell, they brought a lawsuit against Microsoft over the AARD code, which was later settled with Microsoft paying $280 million.{{cite news |author-link=Graham Lea (journalist) |date=January 13, 2000 |title=Caldera vs Microsoft – the settlement |publisher=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/600488.stm |access-date=September 4, 2009 |author-first=Graham |author-last=Lea |archive-date=December 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214121002/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/600488.stm |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Gomes |first=Lee |date=January 11, 2000 |title=Microsoft Will Pay $275 Million To Settle Lawsuit From Caldera |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB947543007415899052 |access-date=April 22, 2022 |issn=0099-9660 |archive-date=December 31, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231130504/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB947543007415899052 |url-status=live}}

Windows 3.1 found a niche market as an embedded operating system after becoming obsolete in the PC world. By 2008, both Virgin Atlantic and Qantas employed it for some of the onboard entertainment systems on long-distance jets. It also sees continued use as an embedded OS in retail cash tills.{{cite news |author=Mark Ward |date=November 5, 2008 |title=The end of an era – Windows 3.x |publisher=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7707016.stm |access-date=September 4, 2009 |archive-date=June 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624160037/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7707016.stm |url-status=live}} On July 14, 2013, Linux kernel version 3.11 was officially named "Linux for Workgroups" as a tongue-in-cheek reference to Windows for Workgroups 3.11.{{Cite web |last=McAllister |first=Neil |date=July 15, 2013 |title=Linux 3.11 to be known as 'Linux for Workgroups' |url=https://www.theregister.com/2013/07/15/linux_for_workgroups/ |access-date=April 22, 2022 |website=The Register |language=en |archive-date=March 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325201704/https://www.theregister.com/2013/07/15/linux_for_workgroups/ |url-status=live}}

In November 2015, the failure of a Windows 3.1 system in Orly Airport in Paris, which was responsible for communicating visual range information in foggy weather to pilots, made operations temporarily cease. Whether the failure was hardware- or software-based is not specified, though the highlighting of the operating system suggests a software failure.{{cite web |publisher=Ars Technica |title=Failed Windows 3.1 system blamed for shutting down Paris airport |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/11/failed-windows-3-1-system-blamed-for-taking-out-paris-airport/ |access-date=February 7, 2022 |language=en-us |date=November 13, 2015 |archive-date=February 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207235532/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/11/failed-windows-3-1-system-blamed-for-taking-out-paris-airport/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Longeray |first=Pierre |date=November 13, 2015 |title=Windows 3.1 Is Still Alive, And It Just Killed a French Airport |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/windows-31-is-still-alive-and-it-just-killed-a-french-airport/ |access-date=April 22, 2022 |website=Vice News |language=en |archive-date=March 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328050142/https://www.vice.com/en/article/7xakd9/windows-31-is-still-alive-and-it-just-killed-a-french-airport |url-status=live}} In 2016, the Internet Archive organization released Windows 3.1 as an emulated environment in a web browser.{{Cite web |last=Tung |first=Liam |date=February 12, 2016 |title=Don't want Windows 10? No problem, upgrade to Windows 3.1 instead |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/dont-want-windows-10-no-problem-upgrade-to-windows-3-1-instead/ |access-date=April 22, 2022 |website=ZDNet |language=en |archive-date=April 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422225558/https://www.zdnet.com/article/dont-want-windows-10-no-problem-upgrade-to-windows-3-1-instead/ |url-status=live}}

In January 2024, German state-owned national railway company Deutsche Bahn posted a job listing for a system administrator with "knowledge of legacy operating systems". The main responsibilities listed in the post were maintenance of the old system and driver updates. The need for the continued use of Windows 3.11 could apparently be traced back to Siemens' SIBAS (Siemens Bahn Automatisierungs System) automation system used to control trains. The job post was retracted due to "unfortunate wording".{{cite news |date=January 30, 2024 |title=Deutsche Bahn sucht Administrator für Windows 3.11 und MS-DOS |url=https://www.derstandard.at/story/3000000205212/deutsche-bahn-sucht-administrator-fuer-windows-311-und-ms-dos |access-date=January 30, 2024 |trans-title=Deutsche Bahn is looking for an administrator for Windows 3.11 and MS-DOS |language=de |work=Der Standard}}{{cite news |author=Richard Speed |date=January 30, 2024 |title=Windows 3.11 trundles on as job site pleads for 'driver updates' on German trains |work=The Register |url=https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/30/windows_311_trundles_on/ |access-date=January 30, 2024 |publisher=Situation Publishing}}

• History of Microsoft Windows
• Windows NT, the technology behind its successor Windows NT 3.1
• Windows 9x, the technology behind its successor Windows 95

{{Notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRi5mjMgORk Learning Windows 3.1], at YouTube

{{Microsoft Windows family}}

Category:1992 software

Category:DOS software

Category:Products and services discontinued in 2001

3.1

Category:History of Microsoft

Category:History of software

Category:Products introduced in 1992

Category:Products and services discontinued in 2008