Windows 3.11 for Workgroups

Windows 3.1x (codenamed Janus) is a series of 16-bit operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers. The series began with Windows 3.1, which was first sold during April 1992 as a successor to Windows 3.0. Subsequent versions were released between 1992 and 1994 until the series was superseded by Windows 95. During its lifespan, Windows 3.1 introduced several enhancements to the still MS-DOS-based platform, including improved system stability, expanded support for multimedia, TrueType fonts, and workgroup networking.

Windows 3.11 was released on November 8, 1993. It did not add any feature improvements over Windows 3.1; it only corrected problems.

Windows for Workgroups is an extension that allowed users to share their resources and to request those of others without a centralized authentication server. It used SMB protocol over NetBIOS. 

Windows for Workgroups 3.11 (originally codenamed Snowball) was released on August 11, 1993,[15] and shipped in November 1993.[16] It supported 32-bit file access, full 32-bit network redirectors, and VCACHE.386 file cache, shared between them. WFW 3.11 dropped standard mode support and requires a 386 machine to run.

A Winsock package was required to support TCP/IP networking in Windows 3.x. Usually third-party packages were used, but in August 1994, Microsoft released an add-on package (codenamed Wolverine) that provided TCP/IP support in Windows for Workgroups 3.11. Wolverine was a 32-bit stack (accessible from 16-bit Windows applications via WinSock Thunk), which gave it superior performance to most of the third-party TCP/IP Windows stacks available. However, it was only compatible with Windows for Workgroups 3.11, and lacked support for dial-up. Wolverine stack was an early version of the TCP/IP stack that would later ship with Windows 95, and provided an early testbed for the 16-to-32-bit compatibility layer that was crucial to Windows 95's success.

Following the release of MS-DOS 6.22 in 1994, WFW 3.11 largely replaced Windows 3.1 for OEM installations on new PCs due to its improved capabilities and greater stability.

Windows 3.1x introduced new possibilities for applications, especially multimedia applications. During this era, Microsoft developed a new range of software that was implemented on this operating environment, called Microsoft Home, Microsoft Bob being one of the programs.

As the first versions of Windows to enjoy major commercial success and software support, Windows 3.1 and WFW 3.11 quickly replaced DOS as the platform for application software on PC compatibles. Multimedia software (especially games) proliferated, although many games continued to run on DOS until Windows 95.

Requirements:

 - MS-DOS 3.3 or later (6.2 or later recommended).
 - PC with 386SX or higher processor.
 - 3 MB RAM; 4 MB recommended (with no network installed, requires only
   2 MB).
 - One 5.25" or 3.5" high-density, or 3.5" low-density disk drive.
 - Hard disk drive with 10.5 MB available space (15.5 MB recommended).
 - VGA, Super VGA, 8514/A, or video graphics adapter and monitor
   compatible with Windows 3.1 (color VGA or better resolution monitor
   recommended).
 - For fax capability: Class 1, Class 2, or Communications Application
   Specification (CAS) modem required (only Class 1 modems will support
   binary file transfer).
 - Microsoft Windows-compatible network adapter card and cabling. NOTE: No
   network hardware (network adapter card and cabling) is required if you
   want to run WFW with networking turned off.

Options:

 - Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device (mouse recommended).
 - Hayes or compatible modem.
 - Audio board.
 - CD-ROM drive.