Windows 3.1 Operating Files

The Core Windows 3.x files are USER.EXE, GDI.EXE, and KERNEL.EXE

USER.EXE - Creates and maintains windows on the screen, controls user interaction with icons and interface components such as keyboard input, mouse actions

GDI.EXE - Controls the graphics device interface, images and printing

KRNL286.EXE or KRNL386.EXE - Kernal files manage memory, loads programs, and schedule tasks.  KRNL286.EXE  is specific to the 80286, and KRNL386.EXE applies to all later chips.

WIN.COM - Starts Windows 3.x determines if standard mode or 386 enhanced mode should start.

System Heaps - 64 k portions of memory for temporary data storage, the global heap is the entire amount of memory available at startup in Win 3.x.

Device Drivers - *.DRV or *.DLL

Font Files - *.FOT or *.TTF

Windows 3.1 Configuration - Initialization Files

SYSTEM.INI - Contains drivers and hardware settings for windows devices.  The [boot] portion of the SYSTEM.INI has the drivers that are loaded at startup.

WIN.INI - Windows settings, defines desktop environment.

CONTROL.INI - Contains desktop colors, patterns, printer and other control panel settings, located in the C:\WINDOWS directory.

PROGMAN.INI - program manager groups and propertites.

386SPART.PAR - Permanent swap file in Windows 3.x., located by default in the root directory of the C: drive.

WIN386.SWP - Temporary swap file in Windows 3.x.

The control panels in both Windows 3.x and Windows95 only configures system settings.

PIF is a Program Information File for dos programs.

Giving an application the Executive in Foreground option from the 386 control panel in Windows 3.x helps to speed up the application.

SYSEDIT - Used to edit AUTOEXEC.BAT, CONFIG.SYS, WIN.INI, and the SYSTEM.INI.

PIF (Program Information File) will first try to use the PIF included with the application program. If the program does not include a PIF, install a PIF with the WIndows Setup or create a new PIF with the PIF editor.

IO.SYS is the real mode operating system for Windows 95. Most of the old CONFIG.SYS commands are incorporated into the IO.SYS.

Some of the files included with the IO.SYS are: DOS=HIGH, HIMEM.SYS, IFSHLP.SYS, SETVER.EXE, FILES=, BUFFERS=, STACKS=, SHELL=COMMAND.COM, FCBS+

Real Mode (WIN /R): Win 3.0, designed to run on 8086, designed for DOS programs, eliminated in Win 3.1

Standard Mode (WIN /S): Does not use virtual memory, will not run DOS in a window, does not use a swap file.

386 Enhanced Mode (WIN /3): If the computer has more than 2mb of memory and a 386 CPU, Windows uses Enhanced mode by default.

Hardware Topics: Basic PC Overview
Preventative Maintenance and Safety -|- Basic Troubleshooting -|- PC Architecture Basics -|- PC I/O and Busses
Processors -|- Memory -|- Drives -|- Monitors and Video -|- Modems -|- Printers -|- Portable Systems -|- Networking

Operating System Topics:
DOS basics -|- Windows 3.1 -|- OS Memory Management -|- Installation of DOS and Windows 3.x
Installation of Windows 9X -|- Diagnosis and Troubleshooting -|- Windows 95 Overview -|- Windows 95 Networking
Windows 95 vs Windows NT

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Please Read -DISCLAIMER: Technology changes very rapidly. The information presented here was believed to be accurate at the time it was gathered. No claim is made that this information is up to date, or that it represents the current technology used today.

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