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"DR5" is the earliest release known to still exist. If you think you have found an earlier build, please email contact@winlibrary.net!
This was the 5th pre-release of Windows given to developers. It contained sample applications, some with source code. This requires MS-DOS 2.x or 3.0 to run. A serial or bus mouse is also required.
CGA and Hercules graphics support was included in both.
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The Windows Alpha is very rough and incomplete, similar to DR5. It also includes development tools and source samples.
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The Beta version is more complete than Alpha but still has some bugs and has no PS/2 mouse suppport and is still incomplete.
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Windows Premiere Edition was an interim release between the development releases and the final 1.01 version that was designated to the masses. This release was partially made to discredit claims of vaporware and to also fulfill a promise, to a degree, of shipping Windows 1.0 in the summer.
This version has been redumped and verified with an archive from community member Alias who was an intern with Microsoft at the time. According to The Secret Origin of Windows, an account of Tandy Trower the 5th project manager who ultimately shipped Windows 1.0, by the start of summer in 1985 they "were not close to being done" and Trower dubbed this Premiere Edition a preliminary release for application developers, analysts, and the press. This was made not only to remove doubts of Windows being vaporware, but to also solicit feedback and partially deliver on a promise from Steve Balmer to ship in the summer of 1985. Many of individuals worked night and day, 7 days a week, with Gabe Newell even sleeping in his office.
This version exhibits many bugs, such as crashing when closing a larger application. It defaults to a monochrome color scheme, and has many other differences. There are also differences in the Windows API between Premiere Edition and final Windows 1.01. Fonts and device drivers are also shipped with a .EXE extension. This release includes the PIF editor although lacks Windows Write the 5th disk.
BETA This version is a pre-release, essentially a beta. Most applications written for Windows 1.01 will have problems or fail to run under Windows Premiere Edition.
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This is a looping animated slide show demonstrating the features of Microsoft Windows 1.01. It uses CGA graphics, and will fit on a standard 5.25" 360k floppy disk.
It is non-interactive and designed to be left running in a loop on a sales display PC.
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Windows 1.01 was the first release made available on store shelves. It was also bundled as a graphical run-time with several applications.
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Windows 1.02 is the second release of Windows 1 and adressed some bugs and added some features used by OEMs that come disabled by default when installed on a normal system.
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There are two known, slightly different, retail US versions of 1.03. They differ only in that the 08-24-86 version has a slightly different USER.EXE than the 08-21-86 version. The 08-24-86 version (newer user.exe) is verified to have shipped on retail Microsoft disks. The 08-21-86 (older user.exe) version is confirmed to have shipped on at least some OEM disks and may or may not have shipped on retail Microsoft disks.
It is not currently known what code difference actually does, if anything.
It appears the DEC Rainbow version may not have been commercially distributed, hence factory original disks may not exist.
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The IBM PS/2 disks contain support for the IBM PS/2 Model 30, 50, 60, 80 and were distributed using 3.5" 720k media. They include drivers for the IBM PS/2 mouse interface, IBM MCGA video (monochrome VGA), IBM VGA video, and IBM 8514/A video. Because these standards were adopted on PC clones, these disks will work on many other computers and emulators.
The IBM version of Windows 1.04 was used as the runtime in the "IBM PS/2 Collegiate Kit".
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