Windows 2.x: installation and setup (2.0 and 2.1x)

Windows 2.0 added overlapping windows to the original design, but it still runs on top of MS-DOS rather than replacing it. Here is how it was installed, and how hobbyists set it up today in an emulator (a program that imitates an old PC).

What you need

There were two editions. Windows/286 works on 8088 and 80286 PCs. Windows/386 has a protected-mode kernel and can run several DOS programs at once on an 80386 PC.

Set it up in DOSBox-X

DOSBox-X is a free emulator that can run DOS-based Windows. These steps follow the project's own guide, which supplies a sample configuration file: DOSBox-X guide for installing Windows 2.x (an external project wiki). The 86Box emulator is another choice for an accurate old PC.

1. Create a new, empty folder on your computer to act as the emulated C: drive. Do not use the top level of your real C: drive.
2. Inside it, make a folder named INSTALL and copy the contents of all your Windows disks into it.
3. Start DOSBox-X with the sample configuration and mount your new folder as drive C:.
4. If Setup asks for disks even though the files are in the folder, make the folder act as the floppy drive.

   SUBST A C:\INSTALL

5. Change to the install folder, type CD INSTALL and press Enter, then start Setup.

   SETUP

Answering Setup's questions

• Press Enter through the opening screens.
• Version 2.03 asks for the installation drive. Confirm the hard disk. The default folder is C:\WINDOWS, or C:\WIN386 for Windows/386.
• For the computer type, version 2.03 offers IBM Personal System/2 Model 50, 60 or 80 or the IBM PC, XT, AT option (the full name ends with a compatibility note). Windows/286 2.1x uses the AT option, and Windows/386 uses the PS/2 Model 80 option.
• For the screen, choose the IBM VGA option. When asked, choose "No Change" to confirm. From version 2.10, press Enter to make EMS (expanded memory) available. Pick your country from the list.
• For the mouse, choose the Microsoft Mouse on the PS/2 port (for Windows/386 2.01, the Microsoft serial mouse).
• Set up a printer only if you need one. Choose Continue Setup to move on, then press Enter at the readme screen.

Check that it worked

1. Start the emulator again and run the start file. For Windows 2.03 and Windows/286 this is C:\WINDOWS\WIN.COM.
2. Windows/386 starts with C:\WIN386\WIN86.COM in DOSBox-X (the sample configuration's startup commands look for these files). You should see windows that can overlap and icons for minimized programs.

If something goes wrong

Windows 2.x refuses to run on MS-DOS 5.0 or later, and on 2.1x memory errors can appear. The fixes are in Windows 2.x: running programs and fixing common problems. To see where it came from, read how Windows 1.0 was installed.

Frequently asked questions