Windows 3.0
Notepad
NOTEPAD.EXE
Open, edit and save plain text. Scrolling, selection and Word Wrap have been checked; the Windows 3.1 version also opens and saves through the common file dialog.
Spotlight › Windows applications
Windows applications on os8088
Original programs. Real screenshots.
A screenshot for each Windows 3.0 and 3.1 application tested on os8088, with tested features and current limits. Select any image to see it at full size.
Writing and drawing
Windows 3.0
Write
WRITE.EXE
Windows' word processor opens documents, accepts typing and saves them again. Its text and paragraph formatting run through WIN16.
Windows 3.0
Paintbrush
PBRUSH.EXE + PBRUSH.DLL
Draw with the brush and shape tools, choose colours, fill areas and save a BMP. Paintbrush's own DLL stays beside its executable.
Windows 3.0
Cardfile
CARDFILE.EXE
Type into a card, give it a name and add another. Card and list views, wrapped text and saving have been checked.
Windows 3.0
Calendar
CALENDAR.EXE
The day view, day navigation, appointment entry and wrapped notes have been checked. Appointments remain when moving between days.
Everyday utilities
Windows 3.0
Calculator
CALC.EXE
Standard and Scientific views run the program's own arithmetic. Both the Windows 3.0 and 3.1 versions have been tested, including the software floating-point path.
Windows 3.0
Clock
CLOCK.EXE
The analog and digital clock run from Windows timer messages. The font chooser opens and draws the selected face.
Windows 3.1
Character Map
CHARMAP.EXE
Browse the character grid and select a font. Its dialog is laid out to fit the display.
Windows 3.0
Clipboard Viewer
CLIPBRD.EXE
Displays text copied from another program. Delete clears both the viewer and the shared clipboard.
Text only; bitmap and metafile clipboard formats are not implemented.
Games
Windows 3.1
Minesweeper
WINMINE.EXE
The board, timer, mine counter, menus and PC speaker sounds run in an os8088 window. Duff Software's earlier WinMine versions have also been tested.
Windows 3.1's version needs a V20 or an 80186 or later processor.
Windows 3.0
Solitaire
SOL.EXE
Deal a game and play with the program's own cards. The Windows 3.0 and 3.1 versions have both been tested.
Windows 3.0
Reversi
REVERSI.EXE
Place a disc and let the computer reply. The board, game menus and drawing run on a stock 8088.
Desktop and system tools
Windows 3.0
File Manager
WINFILE.EXE
Opens its drive window and directory tree inside its main window. WIN16 supplies the Windows interface for windows inside a window.
Windows 3.0
Program Manager
PROGMAN.EXE
Opens program groups and their icons. Starting programs from Program Manager has also been checked.
Windows 3.0
Control Panel
CONTROL.EXE
The applet window and settings dialogs open, including Desktop and its system parameter values.
Windows settings do not change os8088's own hardware or desktop settings.
Windows 3.0
Windows Help
WINHELP.EXE + .HLP files
The Help window, button bar, logo and bookmarks open. A program's Help command can start Windows Help when its files are available.
Windows 3.0
Terminal
TERMINAL.EXE
The main terminal window and its settings dialogs open. The serial-port selector reports the ports available to WIN16.
The serial-port dialog currently lists no ports; a working serial connection has not been verified.
Windows 3.0
Recorder
RECORDER.EXE + RECORDER.DLL
The macro recorder loads with its companion DLL and opens its File, Macro, Options and Help menus.
Window and DLL loading have been checked; recording and replaying macros have not.
Windows 3.0
PIF Editor
PIFEDIT.EXE
Standard and 386 Enhanced modes, Advanced Options and Save As have been checked. Saving writes a Windows-sized .PIF file.
Windows 3.0
Task List
TASKMAN.EXE
The Windows Task List dialog opens and closes with Cancel. os8088's own Task Manager remains the place to manage native applications.
Screen saver settings
These captures show the Windows screen savers' setup dialogs. Running a full-screen saver has not been verified. The capture setup uses the .EXE aliases used by the WIN16 tests.
Windows 3.1 / Setup dialog
Starfield Simulation
SSSTARS.SCR
Its setup dialog opens with warp speed, star density and password controls.
Windows 3.1 / Setup dialog
Marquee
SSMARQUE.SCR
Its setup dialog opens with position, speed, background colour and text settings. The Format Text font dialog has also been checked.
Windows 3.1 / Setup dialog
Mystify Your Mind
SSMYST.SCR
Its setup dialog opens with shape, line count, colour and screen-clearing options.
Windows 3.1 / Setup dialog
Flying Windows
SSFLYWIN.SCR
Its setup dialog opens with warp speed, density and password settings.
On the development 286+ kernel
Windows 3.1
Registry Editor
REGEDIT.EXE
The original protected-mode Registry Editor opens its window. This uses os8088's development kernel for 286 and later machines.
Requires kern_mega, which is not on the release disks yet.
Multimedia previews
These two applications open on the development kernel. Sound playback and recording remain unverified, so these are previews rather than fully tested audio applications.
Windows 3.1 / Preview
Sound Recorder
SOUNDREC.EXE
Sound Recorder starts on the development kernel. In this capture it reports that a Windows sound driver is not installed.
Audio playback and recording have not been verified. Requires the development 286+ kernel.
Windows 3.1 / Preview
Media Player
MPLAYER.EXE
The protected-mode Media Player window and its device controls open on the development kernel.
Audio CD playback has not been verified. Requires the development 286+ kernel.
Requirements and limits
Bring your own Windows files; no Microsoft program comes with os8088. A working window is the starting point: the entries above distinguish tested features, settings dialogs and previews.
The Windows 3.0 Calculator, Clock and Reversi run on a stock 8088. Some later applications, including Windows 3.1's Minesweeper and Calculator, use 80186 instructions and need a V20 or a later processor. Programs marked for the development kernel need a 286 or later and are not available on the release disks yet.
Use the program versions listed here: another version can ask WIN16 for different functions. Printing and OLE document embedding are not implemented. An application that needs a missing function is closed with that function's name on screen.
These are screenshots of the original Windows applications running through WIN16. Native os8088 programs such as Note Pad and the Microsoft Word port have their own implementations and are covered elsewhere in Spotlight.
Checked against the WIN16 compatibility work and development notes. Screenshots captured in QEMU on November 4, 2026. Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.