Microsoft Wiki

Be sure to join our wiki's Discord server by clicking here
Also follow our wiki's Twitter by clicking here

READ MORE

Microsoft Wiki
Register
Advertisement

Windows 2.0 is a 16-bit operating environment from Microsoft released on December 9, 1987. Windows 2.0, 2.01, and 2.03 are shells for the MS-DOS system, providing a graphical user interface for improved interaction over the command-line interface of DOS.

Windows 2.0 was officially released on December 9, 1987, superseding Windows 1.0. It was succeeded by Windows 2.1 in 1988, then Windows 3.0 in 1990. Windows 2.0 was officially supported by Microsoft until December 31, 2001.

Release history[]

  • Windows 2.01: September 7, 1987
  • Windows 2.03: November 16, 1987
Succeeded by Windows 2.1 on May 27, 1988.

New features[]

  • Overlapping windows (Windows 1.x could only tile windows)
  • Minimization and maximization of windows.
  • Better keyboard shortcuts
  • Improved shell design
  • VGA graphics support
  • EMS memory support

Application support[]

The first Windows versions of Microsoft Word and Excel ran on Windows 2.0.

Applications that shipped with Windows 2.0:

Screenshots of Windows 2.x[]

External links[]

VersionsComponentsHistory
Original
DOS-based
Windows 1.0Windows 2.0Windows 2.1 (Windows/286Windows/386) • Windows 3.0Windows 3.1
Windows 9x
Windows 95Windows 98Windows Me
Windows NT
Early versions
Windows NT 3.1Windows NT 3.5Windows NT 3.51Windows NT 4.0Windows 2000
Client
Windows XP (development) • Windows Vista (editionsdevelopment) • Windows 7 (editionsdevelopment) • Windows 8Windows 10Windows 11
Windows Server
Server 2003Server 2008 (2008 R2) • HPC Server 2008Home ServerSmall Business ServerEssential Business ServerWindows Server 2012Windows Server 2016Windows Server 2019Windows Server 2022
Specialized
Windows EmbeddedWindows PEWindows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs
Mobile
Windows MobileWindows Phone
Cancelled
CairoNashvilleNeptuneOdysseyWindows 10X
Related
MetroMidoriOS/2Windows AeroWindows SetupWindows XP themesMicrosoft Plus!
Advertisement