Windows 2.0 was released in 1987 and featured improvements like overlapping application windows and more advanced keyboard shortcuts. It could also take advantage of expanded memory. While early Windows versions ran on top of MS-DOS, they provided functions like their own file format and device drivers. Windows 2.0 allowed for use of 286 processor features and included applications like Calculator and Notepad. Apple later sued Microsoft over visual elements in Windows but largely lost the case.

1. Microsoft Windows Version 2.0
History of Microsoft Windows
In 1983 Microsoft announced the development of Windows, a graphical user interface (GUI) for
its own operating system (MS-DOS), which had shipped for IBM PC and compatible computers
since 1981. Since then, Microsoft has shipped many versions of Windows, and the product line
has changed from a GUI product to a modern operating system.
Timeline
Oct 85 Windows 1.0
Nov 87 Windows 2.0
Dec 87 Windows 2.03
May 88 Windows 2.10
Mar 89 Windows 2.11
May 90 Windows 3.0
Windows 2.0
Windows 2.0 was released in November 1987 and featured several improvements to the user
interface and memory management.Windows 2.0 allowed application windows to overlap each
other and also introduced more sophisticated keyboard-shortcuts. It could also make use of
expanded memory.
The early versions of Windows were often thought of as simply graphical user interfaces, mostly
because they ran on top of MS-DOS and used it for file system services. However, even the
earliest 16-bit Windows versions already assumed many typical operating system functions;
notably, having their own executable file format and providing their own device drivers (timer,
graphics, printer, mouse, keyboard and sound) for applications. Unlike MS-DOS, Windows
allowed users to execute multiple graphical applications at the same time, through cooperative
multitasking. Windows implemented an elaborate, segment-based, software virtual memory
scheme, which allowed it to run applications larger than available memory: code segments and
resources were swapped in and thrown away when memory became scarce, and data segments
moved in memory when a given application had relinquished processor control, typically waiting
for user input.
Different versions
Windows 2.0 took advantage of the improved processing speed of the Intel 286 processor,
expanded memory, and inter-application communication capabilities made possible through
Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE).
Windows 2.03 took advantage of the protected mode and extended memory capabilities of the
Intel 386 processor. Subsequent Windows releases continued to improve the speed, reliability,
and usability of the PC as well as interface design and capabilities.
Windows 2.10 was released on 27 May 1988. These versions can take advantage of the specific
features of the Intel 80286 and Intel 80386 processors.
Windows 2.11 was released on March 1989 with Windows/286 and Windows/386 editions, and
some minor changes in memory management, AppleTalk support and faster printing and updated
printer drivers.
Windows 2.11 two different editions:
Windows/386 employed the 386 virtual 8086 mode to multitask several DOS programs, and the
paged memory model to emulate expanded memory using available extended memory.

2. Windows/286 still ran in real mode, but could make use of the high memory area.
Windows 2.03
Requirements
- MS-DOS version 3.0
- Two double-sided disk drives or a hard disk
- 512K of memory or greater
- Graphics-adapter card
Changes
- Overlapping windows instead of tiled windows
- LIM Version 4.0 expanded memory support
- Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) support
- SMARTDrive disk-cache program included
- Revised .FON format for screen fonts
- NEWFON.EXE included to convert 1.x font format to 2.x font format
- Revised Paint file format
- CVTPAINT.EXE included to convert 2.x Paint file format to 1.x format
- About command moved to File menu from System menu
- Printer Timeouts option added to Control Panel
- Mouse Acceleration option added to Control Panel
- Warning Beep toggle added to Control Panel
- Notepad About command reports
- Remaining Free Space
- 3812 Pageprinter no longer supported
Windows 2.10
Requirements
- 512K Memory
- MS-DOS version 3.0 or later
- One floppy-disk drive AND one hard disk (note that a hard disk is now required)
- Graphics adapter card (the box notes: IBM EGA, IBM VGA, IBM 8514, IBM CGA, Hercules Graphics
Card, or compatibles)
- Use of the Microsoft Mouse is optional
- Packaged with 5.25-inch 1.2 megabyte disks OR 3.5-inch 720K disks, plus an order form for free 360K
5.25-inch disks
Changes
- New HIMEM.SYS driver allowing the use of the first 64K of extended memory to store part of Windows,
giving approximately 50K additional conventional memory inside Windows
- Support for approximately 65 more printers than version 2.03, bringing the total supported printers to
approximately 127
- Support for additional computers
- Support for additional display devices
Windows 2.10
Requirements
Same as Version 2.1
Changes
- Accounts for memory freed by XMS when computing the maximum swap size allowed
- Increased minimum bankable memory required for large frame EMS
- Setup program no longer terminates when incompatible driver is encountered
- Setup corrected to permit set up on 512K machine with MS-DOS version 3.3
- Updated COMM.DRV to solve handshaking problems at 9600 bits per second (BPS)
- Updated HPPCL.DRV driver that supports LaserJet series IID, Olivetti LP 5000, Toshiba
- PageLaser 12, and Intel Visual Edge
- Updated PSCRIPT.DRV driver that supports Olivetti LP 5000 in PostScript mode

3. - Printing speed increased
- Windows/386 WINOLDAP.MOD modified to support high-resolution displays
Additions
- AppleTalk library (must accompany the new PostScript driver)
- Toshiba 24-pin printer driver
- 8514/a driver for Windows/386
- /E switch to adjust large frame EMS threshold
Application support
The first Windows versions of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel run on Windows 2.0. Third-
party developer support for Windows increased substantially with this version (some shipped the
Windows Runtime software with their applications, for customers who had not purchased the full
version of Windows). However, most developers still maintained DOS versions of their
applications, as Windows users were still a distinct minority of their market.
Applications shipping with Windows 2.0:
• CALC.EXE
• CALENDAR.EXE
• CARDFILE.EXE
• CLIPBRD.EXE
• CLOCK.EXE
• CONTROL.EXE
• CVTPAINT.EXE
• MSDOS.EXE
• MSDOSD.EXE
• NOTEPAD.EXE
• PAINT.EXE
• PRACTICE.WRI
• REVERSI.EXE
• TERMINAL.EXE
• WRITE.EXE
Apple Computer, Inc. v. Microsoft Corporation
Apple Computer Inc. v. Microsoft Corporation, 35 F.3d 1435 (9th Cir. 1994) was a copyright infringement
lawsuit in which Apple Computer, Inc. (now Apple Inc.) sought to prevent Microsoft Corporation and
Hewlett-Packard from using visual graphical user interface (GUI) elements that were similar to those in
Apple's Lisa and Macintosh operating systems. Some critics[who?] claimed that Apple was really
attempting to gain all intellectual property rights over the desktop metaphor for computer interfaces, and
perhaps all GUIs, on personal computers. Apple lost all claims in the lawsuit, except that the court ruled
that the "trash can" icon and file folder icons from Hewlett-Packard's now-forgotten NewWave windows
application were infringing. The lawsuit was filed in 1988 and lasted four years; the decision was affirmed
on appeal in 1994, [1] and Apple's appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was denied.