Minimum hardware requirements (Was: Old, but not "Classic"

From: Russ Blakeman <rhblake_at_bigfoot.com>
Date: Thu Nov 12 22:00:03 1998

Computer Room Internet Cafe wrote:>3.0 can run with CGA.

> 3.x (.0 .1 &.11) can use EGA, CGA and even Hercules, I've done the EGA &
> CGA, not
> tried Hercules, but the drivers are on Microsofts Windows 3.x Driver library
> site.
>
> >3.10 SUPPOSEDLY can use the 3.0 CGA drivers, but they don't always work;
> Seems to be card dependent. But it does work on many.

Herc works great for Win3.x all the way to 3.11 and WorkGroups. CGA is 2 color
and looks like a Mac Classic with blocky graphics. The CGA driver is separate
from the install package, not included or recommended. Mono/MDA will not work on
any as MDA doesn't do graphics. Herc, EGA and VGA drivers come with all versions
of Windows 3.x

> >3.1 therefore needs EGA
> >I've never tried below VGA for Windoze95

3.1 does not need EGA but it is nice. Win95 refuses to work in EGA, not enough
colors or resolutuion. Been there, tried that many times. VGA monitors go for
$125 or less NEW anymore anyway.

>
> EGA is allegedly possible, but I've never tried it. I believe it involves
> using
> 3.x drivers or some other ugliness. But it is supposed to be possible.
>
> >I don't know what the mimimum RAM requirements are, but my 486 NEC laptop
> >can only handle "safe mode". (It has a hardware problem that prevents
> >upgrading the memory)

Win95 will not even start without a minimum of 4mb RAM. Although it recognizes
the drivers from 3.x (such as the internal speaker driver to hear the WAV files
without a sound card) it refuses to install on a system wi thout a VGA 640x480,
16 color display and card. Ths of course means a 512k VGA card in most cases, or
a mono VGA card.
Received on Thu Nov 12 1998 - 22:00:03 GMT