Lunduke
News • Science & Tech
Myth: Windows 3.1 was just a shell on top of DOS
Bonus Myth: Windows 3.1 did not have real multitasking
May 22, 2023
post photo preview

The computer industry is filled to the brim with myths.  One such myth -- a myth that just won't seem to die -- goes something like this:

"Windows 3.1 was not really an operating system.  It was just a shell on top of DOS."

Let's just put this to bed right now.  To consider Windows 3.1 to simply be simply a shell on top of DOS is wildly -- wildly -- incorrect.

When Windows 3.1 is launched, DOS is unloaded.

While Windows 3.1 does, most certainly, take advantage of DOS to provide some DOS-specific features... DOS is, in reality, mostly used as a boot loader to get Windows 3.1 running.  In many ways -- in this scenario -- DOS is acting a great deal like GRUB does on a Linux system... acting as a boot loader that then launches the kernel.

To showcase just how powerful (and misunderstood) Windows 3.1 really is... let's also dispel another myth:

"Windows 3.1 did not have real multitasking"

Did Windows 3.1 have "real" multitasking?  You bet your bottom it did!


Before we go further, for those not in the know, here is a super fast (super high level) primer on the two types of multitasking we'll be talking about:

 

Cooperative Multitasking -- Each application is responsible for giving up time to the other software running on the computer.  This is typically viewed as less powerful as it relies on each application being "well behaved" in order for the entire system to work efficiently.

 

Preemptive Multitasking -- The operating system itself is responsible for allocating CPU time to each application.  Which means the individual pieces of software didn't even need to be designed with multitasking in mind (in many cases).

 

This is a wild simplification.  But for the sake of this topic, it'll do.


Windows 3.1 actually consists of two different "kernels" -- two virtual machines that run different types of software:

  • Win386 : A protected mode hypervisor
  • System VM : aka "The Windows 3.1 kernel" that ran individual Win16 applications

Win386 ran individual "V8086" processes -- which was a key feature of the Intel 386 processor running in Protected Mode -- in a completely preemptive multitasking way.

This is key: All DOS applications ran as independent "V8086'' processes.

Which means that, if you were running DOS software under Windows 3.1... every single DOS application was preemptively multitasked.  Seriously.  Those DOS applications were designed to run in a single-tasking system (DOS) and, thanks to Windows 3.1's powerful Win386 hypervisor, were now running in a modern, preemptive multitasking system.

Then that "System VM" was running, as one of those "V8086" processes, which is a cooperative multitasking kernel.  Within that kernel is where each of the Windows 3.1 applications were run.  These pieces of "Win16" software (aka "16 bit Windows") were cooperatively sharing one V8086.

And all of this was happening with DOS acting -- more or less -- as a boot loader.

So.

Was Windows 3.1 merely a "Shell on top of DOS"?

Heck, no.  If that's the case, that means "Linux" is nothing more than a "Shell on top of GRUB".

And did Windows 3.1 have "real multitasking"?

You be your sweet bippy.  In fact... it had both of the two types of multitasking: preemptive and cooperative.  Which is a heck of a lot more than classic MacOS could say...

Windows 3.1 had a lot of flaws.  In fact, you could write an entire book about all of the problems with that system.  But, just the same, it was an incredibly powerful OS... that was most certainly not just a "shell on top of DOS".

The next time you run across someone trying to sell that tired, busted myth... send them here.

community logo
Join the Lunduke Community
To read more articles like this, sign up and join my community today
20
What else you may like…
Videos
Podcasts
Posts
Articles
December 19, 2024
ChatGPT Can Not Say "Bryan Lunduke"

Move over David Mayer, Lunduke joins the list of names which OpenAl will not display. Here's how this was accomplished.

00:22:23
December 19, 2024
Mozilla Executive Pay Doubles as Loss of 80% of Revenue Looms

"Mozilla has shifted much of its work toward Al" as funds directed towards African "Digital Justice", "Queer Youth Inclusion", & "Digital Activism for Young Feminists".

00:25:04
December 17, 2024
Wordpress Contributors Must Now Agree That "Pineapple is Delicious on Pizza'

The Wordpress v. WP Engine legal battle just took a detour into... food.

00:05:57
November 22, 2023
The futility of Ad-Blockers

Ads are filling the entirety of the Web -- websites, podcasts, YouTube videos, etc. -- at an increasing rate. Prices for those ad placements are plummeting. Consumers are desperate to use ad-blockers to make the web palatable. Google (and others) are desperate to break and block ad-blockers. All of which results in... more ads and lower pay for creators.

It's a fascinatingly annoying cycle. And there's only one viable way out of it.

Looking for the Podcast RSS feed or other links? Check here:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4619051/lunduke-journal-link-central-tm

Give the gift of The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4898317/give-the-gift-of-the-lunduke-journal

The futility of Ad-Blockers
November 21, 2023
openSUSE says "No Lunduke allowed!"

Those in power with openSUSE make it clear they will not allow me anywhere near anything related to the openSUSE project. Ever. For any reason.

Well, that settles that, then! Guess I won't be contributing to openSUSE! 🤣

Looking for the Podcast RSS feed or other links?
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4619051/lunduke-journal-link-central-tm

Give the gift of The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4898317/give-the-gift-of-the-lunduke-journal

openSUSE says "No Lunduke allowed!"
September 13, 2023
"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044

This episode is free for all to enjoy and share.

Be sure to subscribe here at Lunduke.Locals.com to get all shows & articles (including interviews with other amazing nerds).

"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044
post photo preview

Sunday Sounds, because it's Sunday somewhere.

Apostrophe(') was not Frank Zappa's first album. Over the years, he did many albums in many different styles. Always the comedian, but so talented and his band, The Mothers of Invention were fantastic. This is a great place to introduce a newby to Frank's work. This is also my number one album to test a new stereo system or component.

Frank Zappa - Apostrophe(')

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mug91Ew3YKUFXp5wOeFKayvtsdrg82U8s

post photo preview
post photo preview
Funny Programming Pictures Part LXVII
More funny, nerdy pictures than you can [idiom for large quantity understandable by humans]

There are XXXIX pictures in part LXVII of "Funny Programming Pictures".

IX out of X people reading that sentence just googled "Roman Numeral Converter".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read full Article
December 18, 2024
The real "Year of The Linux Desktop"...
Read full Article
December 16, 2024
Lunduke's Quest - December 16, 2024
Read full Article
See More
Available on mobile and TV devices
google store google store app store app store
google store google store app tv store app tv store amazon store amazon store roku store roku store
Powered by Locals