Windows Versions Supported with Various MS-DOS Versions (83458)

SUMMARY

The chart below shows which versions of MS-DOS can be run with Windows.

If the error "Unsupported DOS version" occurs, check the Windows version and the MS-DOS version against the chart below. It is also important to verify that the MS-DOS version being used is the one recommended by the hardware manufacturer and not an OEM version from another hardware vendor (for example, IBM PC-DOS on a clone machine).

MS-DOS version 3.0 or later is required to run any version of Windows 2.03 through 2.11. MS-DOS version 3.1 or later is required to run Windows versions 3.0 and 3.1.

MORE INFORMATION

   -------------------------MS-DOS Version--------------------------
                       3.0x  3.1x  3.2x  3.3x  4.00, 4.01(a)  5.00
   -----------------------------------------------------------------
   Windows/286 2.03,    Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y           |  (c)
      2.10, and 2.11       |     |     |     |              |
   ------------------------|-----|-----|-----|--------------|-------
   Windows/386 2.03     Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  N           |  N
   ------------------------|-----|-----|-----|--------------|-------
   Windows/386 2.1      N  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  (b)         | (b)(c)
   ------------------------|-----|-----|-----|--------------|-------
   Windows/386 2.11     N  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y           |  (c)
   ------------------------|-----|-----|-----|--------------|-------
   Windows 3.0          N  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y           |  Y
   ------------------------|-----|-----|-----|--------------|-------
   Windows 3.1          N  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y  |  Y           |  Y
   -----------------------------------------------------------------

   Notes
   -----

   (a)  MS-DOS 4.0 or 4.01 or IBM PC-DOS 4.01 -- Windows
        does not work correctly with IBM PC-DOS 4.0

   (b)  If dated 9/7/88 or later, Yes; if not, No

   (c)  Must have SETVER.EXE loaded in the CONFIG.SYS file
        to work correctly with MS-DOS 5.0

"Windows/286" in the table above includes Windows/286 and all Microsoft run-time versions sent out with Microsoft products (Excel, Word for Windows, and so on).

This data is based on MS-DOS version numbers. An OEM DOS product with the same version number may not work correctly. (In these cases, an OEM DOS upgrade may be required to work with Windows).