←back to thread

Why did Windows 95 setup use three operating systems?

(devblogs.microsoft.com)
305 points mooreds | 1 comments | 17 Nov 24 19:54 UTC | HN request time: 0.207s | source
Show context
Animats ◴[17 Nov 24 22:11 UTC] No.42167811[source]▶
Because, when they did it right, in Windows NT 3.51, the users with legacy 16 bit applications screamed. There was a 16-bit DOS compatibility box, but it wasn't bug-compatible with DOS.

Microsoft underestimated the inertia of the applications market. NT 3.51 was fine if you used it as a pure 32-bit operating system. You could even configure it without DOS compatibility. Few did.

replies(3): >>42167845 #>>42168418 #>>42171920 #
1. bitwize ◴[18 Nov 24 12:55 UTC] No.42171920[source]▶
Contemporaneously on Linux, there was a "DOS box" (DOSEMU) running that could play Doom at full speed, with sound. Something the NT DOS box couldn't manage.

Microsoft had the resources and expertise to make excellent DOS compat on NT. They just didn't. The reasons are many: they just didn't want the expense, "binning" (Windows 9x for consumers, Windows NT for professionals and enterprises), plus Windows NT was a memory hog at the time and just wouldn't run on grandma's PC.