OS/2 FAQ List: User's Edition (4 Apr 94)

(0.4) Special Report on OS/2 for Windows

On November 9, IBM announced widespread, on-the-shelf availability in the 
United States of its latest software product, OS/2 for Windows.

OS/2 for Windows is the newest member of the OS/2 family, joining OS/2 2.1 
and OS/2 2.1 Upgrade Edition in satisfying the growing demands of PC users 
for a more powerful yet easy to use environment.  This newest member is 
specifically targeted at current Windows users who are becoming frustrated 
with the limitations of their aging 16-bit operating environment.  It 
offers a smooth, low cost way of upgrading today to take advantage of the 
future technologies that all pundits acknowledge will matter tomorrow.

OS/2 for Windows is no stripped down sibling; it contains all the features 
found in its bigger brothers.  Those features include true preemptive 
multitasking, multithreading, advanced memory management, Adobe Type 
Manager, the drag-and-drop ease of the object-oriented Workplace Shell (or 
the familiar Windows Program Manager, if desired), state-of-the-art 
multimedia (including the best software motion video technology for the 
PC), support for long filenames through the High Performance File System 
(HPFS), and superb compatibility with DOS, Windows, and OS/2 software.  In 
fact, OS/2 for Windows shares the same base OS/2 2.1 code as its brothers.

However, IBM has designed OS/2 for Windows to be a true Windows upgrade. 
 That means that the Windows compatibility code, Win-OS/2, found in OS/2 
2.1 has been removed.  The installation program has been modified so that 
OS/2 for Windows will install over a system which already has Microsoft 
Windows 3.1 installed (including OEM and national language versions).

How does OS/2 for Windows manage to work this magic?

The installation program in OS/2 for Windows modifies certain Windows 
files just enough so that Windows 3.1 is compatible with the new OS/2 
environment.  However, OS/2 for Windows preserves the existing DOS/Windows 
setup through DualBoot.  In other words, the modified version of Windows 
3.1 will still execute under regular DOS just as it always did, and OS/2 
for Windows will let you switch back and forth at will, much as you do now 
when switching between Windows and DOS.  Yet you still use Microsoft's 
Windows code to run your Windows applications regardless of whether you do 
so under DOS or under OS/2 for Windows.  It's like giving your copy of 
Windows an upgrade without getting rid of the old version (should you need 
it).

Why is IBM producing a special Windows upgrade?

IBM is producing OS/2 for Windows for several reasons.  First, since OS/2 
for Windows uses your existing copy of Microsoft Windows 3.1 for Windows 
compatibility, IBM does not have to pay royalties to Microsoft for use of 
the code.  That means that IBM can ship OS/2 for Windows at a lower price 
(with fewer diskettes) than regular OS/2 2.1 -- you do not have to pay 
twice for the same code.

Moreover, IBM believes there is a large market among Windows users who are 
frustrated with their current environment.  Most of those users do not 
believe that Microsoft's NT (with tremendous hardware requirements and a 
price tag of $300 and up) is a viable upgrade, and many of those users are 
not willing to wait until Microsoft attempts to offer equivalent 
functionality some time in the future.

What media sizes are available, and how much will OS/2 for Windows cost?

OS/2 for Windows is available in four packages: 3.5 inch diskettes (IBM 
Part No. 71G5391), 5.25 inch diskettes (71G5392), CD-ROM (71G5395), and 
without media (additional license certificate, 71G5397).  Street prices in 
the United States are $49 to $59 for either of the diskette packages, $39 
to $49 for the CD-ROM package, and $29 to $39 for an additional license. 
 (You would pay more for a Windows desktop replacement or accessory!) 
 {{ These promotional prices have officially expired, but many dealers 
still have copies of OS/2 for Windows available in this price range. }}

At those prices, what about toll free technical support?

IBM will provide exactly the same toll free technical support to OS/2 for 
Windows customers as it does its regular OS/2 customers, that is, 60 days 
of toll free technical support per copy purchased starting from the first 
call.  (Outside the United States, support policies may differ.)  In 
addition, all the other support vehicles are available indefinitely (such 
as BBSes, CompuServe, etc).

Will OS/2 for Windows support "seamless" mode?  Enhanced mode?  VxDs? 
 Win32s?

While operating under OS/2 for Windows, both "seamless" and enhanced modes 
are supported.  (Seamless Windows is the ability to execute Windows 
applications on the OS/2 Workplace Shell desktop.  Enhanced mode is the 
default Windows mode on 386 or higher processors and is required by 
certain Windows applications.)  VxDs, or Windows virtual drivers, are not 
supported while executing under OS/2 for Windows and, by implication, 
neither is Win32s.  Only a tiny number (four at last count) of 
applications require one or both of these features.  (Microsoft NT, in 
fact, does not support VxDs at all.)  Again, OS/2 for Windows preserves an 
existing Windows 3.1 setup, so such applications, if absolutely necessary, 
can be run under DOS/Windows.  On the other hand, OS/2 for Windows allows 
Windows users to run any of the thousands of OS/2 applications available 
(none of which are available to users running DOS with Windows, NT, or any 
other environment except OS/2).

Should VxD and/or Win32s support become important in the future, IBM has 
stated that it will support these technologies.

Will OS/2 for Windows work with Windows for Workgroups or Windows 3.11?

{{ No.  OS/2 for Windows is not designed to work with Windows for 
Workgroups.  It will work with Windows 3.11 provided you obtain a patch 
diskette.  This diskette (available by calling Microsoft Product Support 
Services) is free of charge. }}

If I do not have a copy of Microsoft Windows 3.1, can I install OS/2 for 
Windows and use it to run DOS and OS/2 applications?

Yes!  While OS/2 for Windows is designed primarily for people upgrading 
from Windows, it will install if you have DOS alone on your hard disk. 
 You will not be able to run Windows applications within OS/2 for Windows, 
however.  When used as a DOS upgrade, you might think of OS/2 for Windows 
as "OS/2 WOW": OS/2 WithOut Windows.

If I install OS/2 for Windows on a DOS-only system, and I later decide I 
need support for Windows applications, can I install Windows 3.1?

Yes!  When you install OS/2 for Windows on a DOS-only system, the DualBoot 
facility (for switching between native DOS and OS/2 for Windows) is 
provided by default.  To add Windows 3.1 to a system with OS/2 for Windows 
already installed, simply DualBoot into native DOS, install Windows 3.1, 
DualBoot back into OS/2 for Windows, then use Selective Install to 
"migrate" Windows 3.1.  (Precise instructions should be available in the 
OS/2 for Windows package.)

If I have to install OS/2 for Windows over a DOS/Windows system, how do I 
use HPFS?

OS/2 for Windows itself may be installed on a High Performance File System 
(HPFS) formatted volume, but Windows 3.1 must reside on a DOS File 
Allocation Table (FAT) volume (since DOS cannot read and write to HPFS). 
Since DOS (and Windows when it is installed and running under DOS) 
requires a FAT (File Allocation Table) file system, and since OS/2 for 
Windows needs the existing Windows code on your hard disk to provide 
Windows application compatibility, the part of your hard disk which holds 
Windows 3.1 must be FAT.  Other parts of your hard disk (including the 
section holding OS/2 for Windows itself) may be formatted to HPFS if you 
wish.  If you have no intention of ever running Windows 3.1 under native 
DOS, you can back up any FAT volumes (using OS/2 backup software), 
repartition/reformat for HPFS, then restore.  (This procedure is 
recommended only for those users who are reasonably familiar with OS/2.)

Can I still use OS/2's Boot Manager?

Yes, Boot Manager may be used provided there is unpartitioned space 
available on the hard disk.  Repartitioning may be required (using the 
FDISK utility supplied with OS/2 for Windows) if this is not the case.

Can I still use MS-DOS's DoubleSpace?

IBM recommends that DoubleSpace users either (a) move files off 
DoubleSpace drives completely and get rid of DoubleSpace, or (b) purchase 
Stacker for OS/2 along with OS/2 for Windows, to provide on-the-fly disk 
compression under both environments (and allow conversion of DoubleSpace 
volumes).  Users may keep DoubleSpace compressed files, but such files 
will not be accessible while inside OS/2 for Windows.

{{ Microsoft has announced that, at least for now, all copies of MS-DOS 
(now Version 6.21) and other Microsoft products will not include 
DoubleSpace as a result of the company's loss in a patent infringement 
case brought by Stac Electronics.  IBM's PC-DOS can read and write 
DoubleSpace-compressed drives, without any conversion step.  However, if 
you are considering OS/2 for Windows, you may wish to convert to Stacker 
or decompress your DoubleSpace drives at this point in time. }}

Are there any extra drivers included with OS/2 for Windows?

Yes.  With OS/2 2.1, users of S3-based video cards have to download a 
driver disk for support.  The S3 driver diskette is included inside the 
OS/2 for Windows box.

Will OS/2 for Windows require separate Service Paks?

{{ Yes.  OS/2 for Windows will not use the same Service Paks as OS/2 2.1 
full version or Upgrade Edition. }}  See (4.6) Corrective Service 
Diskettes for more information.

I already have OS/2 2.1.  What does OS/2 for Windows do for me?

There are minimal functional differences.  OS/2 for Windows brings the 
power of OS/2 in a lower cost package to a key audience.  Windows users 
are now even more inclined to experience OS/2 technology for themselves. 
 The most substantial difference is that the "About" dialog boxes in 
Windows, even when running under OS/2 for Windows, still say Microsoft 
(and do not betray IBM influence as those in Win-OS/2 do).  So, if you 
have regular OS/2 2.1 or OS/2 2.1 Upgrade Edition, relax and watch as a 
new wave of new users join you in the OS/2 world.  For future purchases, 
you may wish to consider OS/2 for Windows (as either a DOS or Windows 
upgrade).

Will there be an upgrade to OS/2 for Windows from regular OS/2 2.1 or OS/2 
2.1 Upgrade Edition?

No.  OS/2 for Windows is another member of the OS/2 family and is designed 
primarily as an upgrade for Windows users (and for DOS users who are not 
concerned about Windows compatibility).  It is not an upgrade (nor for 
that matter a downgrade) for OS/2 2.1 users.

What will happen to regular OS/2 2.1 and OS/2 2.1 Upgrade Edition?

Both regular OS/2 2.1 and OS/2 2.1 Upgrade Edition will continue to be 
sold alongside OS/2 for Windows (possibly in even greater numbers than 
before).  Regular OS/2 2.1 is designed as IBM's premier operating system 
for new PCs -- PCs purchased without any operating system whatsoever. 
 OS/2 2.1 Upgrade Edition is intended for those PC users who do not have a 
copy of Microsoft Windows 3.1 but who run DOS or for those who are running 
a previous version of OS/2.  Both regular OS/2 2.1 and OS/2 2.1 Upgrade 
Edition include built-in Windows application support (Win-OS/2).  (OS/2 
2.1 is also slightly more convenient for those users who wish to run with 
only HPFS, or for those users at larger sites who perform such tasks as 
OS/2 remote installation and maintenance.)

How do I order OS/2 for Windows?

IBM will sell OS/2 for Windows directly through its toll free telephone 
number (800-3-IBM-OS2), but you really ought to ask your local software 
vendor (Egghead, Software Etc., Babbages, or wherever) for a copy.  Prices 
from dealers should be lower than those offered by IBM directly. 
 Availability will vary by country, so consult your local IBM dealer if 
you happen to live outside the United States.

Related information:

(4.6) Corrective Service Diskettes

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