Windows 3.1

MS Windows · 02 Nov 2010

I know you all are going to think I'm completely insane, and probably aren't expecting this, but yes, I do use Windows 3.1 on my home computer.

Windows 3.1 in Action

Every day, I fire up my 14-year-old Gateway2000 P5-200 computer (A cutting-edge system in 1996), and do some typing, check my e-mail, do my finances, and, of course, browse forums. I use high-speed DSL internet, and have my modem hooked up to the computer system through ethernet, to an older 3Com 10/100 card I put in.

Many people prefer to use much more modern computers than old clunkers like mine, but there's still a lot you can get done in this 16-bit operating system from 1992. While it can't do everything, you can still browse the Internet OK, play some computer games, do your word processing and spreadsheets, and, of course, enjoy the classic Flying Toaster screen saver you all wish you had. And there's no product key or activation to worry about.

My co-workers in the IT department always laugh when they see that I use Windows 3.1. They're surprised I even got it on the Internet! But, if any of you all are interested in playing around with the older stuff, or getting that dusty old computer in the closet running again, I'll be happy to help you. I know some great sites for drivers and programs for Windows 3.1.

Now, I'm sure you all are asking why am I talking about Windows 3.1 on a Windows 7 forum? Well, like I said before, I'm kind of crazy. But, when you think about it, Windows 3.1 is an important chapter in the history of computers, and I thought you guys might like having a look at it.

By the way, like my new desktop? I changed it to the Windows 7 wall paper to get with 2010!

Night Hawk · 02 Nov 2010

Laugh? Why? I was trying to see if I could get 3.1 on a VM here but did manage 98SE so far.

Following the failed attempts with 3.1 I next went to 95 but now lack a floppy drive on the present build for booting purposes with a floppy or floppy image since those old installers still look for Drive A!

MS Windows · 02 Nov 2010

Night Hawk said:

Laugh? Why? I was trying to see if I could get 3.1 on a VM here but did manage 98SE so far.

Following the failed attempts with 3.1 I next went to 95 but now lack a floppy drive on the present build for booting purposes with a floppy or floppy image since those old installers still look for Drive A!

I would recommend perhaps using a USB floppy drive as your drive A. They're pretty cheap to pick up and then you floppy installers can all work.

But, if you don't feel like doing that, I do know for a fact that Windows 3.1 and 95 do have CD versions. I'd recommend taking a peek at vetusware.com to see if you can find them. Also, if you already got MS-DOS installed (Finding a CD of that might be hard), you can install Windows 3.1 over the network.

Night Hawk · 02 Nov 2010

Originally I bought 3.1 new when first seen retail on a set of 6 floppies. That's going back a good 16yrs. now! If I hadn't given away one old case just refurbished I could have easily set 3.1 up on that one still seeing an ide drive as well as floppy for use. As far as usb floppy drives those old versions lacked any usb support to start with. 98 was the first to see USB 1.0-1.1 there.

stve · 02 Nov 2010

As far as i can remember you could still play Ultima Underworld Dos game on Win 3.1 used to be my favorite game.
I guess running something that old must make you pretty safe from viruses & malware ?
What's the most modern programs & browsers that you can run on 3.1 ?

:)

LiquidSnak · 02 Nov 2010

I'm actually in the process of building a Windows 95 box to run my old games that I have laying around

Congrats on keeping your machine running for this long!

Night Hawk · 02 Nov 2010

There wasn't many games around at the time to run except a few for Windows in addition to the few included like card games. The classic oldies like Wolf3D, Duke Nukem, Nukem 2, and a small list of other dos games would likely be found in an online museum!

As for browsers you would need to find a site that still keeps the oldest versions for Netscape and a few others that would run on the old Fat 16 OS there.

Have fun trying any that old like IE 4.0 being seen with 95. 3.11 was the better one for getting online being geared more in the direction that NT 3.1 saw later.

LiquidSnak · 02 Nov 2010

Janes ATF is still one of my favorite games, and as of yet, the only game I haven't become dis-interested in

Trucidation · 02 Nov 2010

Not strange at all - I see dozens of 3.11/95/98/ME machines on various networks at work all day (go go Flying Toaster screensaver!); the only catch being that they're almost always production line machines running really old software. We don't let them get on the internet so they work just fine. Ironically, the machines we do have hooked up because they are running more current OSes (NT/XP/Vista/7) are the cause of most problems.

Night Hawk · 02 Nov 2010

That old Packard Bell that saw 95 running on it is still in good shape! The problem is that I don't have it onhand to try things out like dual booting the old stuff on it!

I gave that away back in the 90s but since learned it was still in working shape after all these years. It would be something to see some of those "golden oldies" running again however.

(thankfully there's dosbox for some!

)