I ran across an old thread here wondering why people still use win 3.11, here is what I had written and will post it here to continue the theme of the thread:

So, someone asked, WHY does anyone still use Win 3.11 ?????

Wow, great topic, and I use win 3.11 for all the same reasons others have stated, and more. I've got 3 older machines (486dx4/100,p-75/p120) with only dos6.22/win 3.11 with the calmira shell/gui and they are rock solid. One of my hobbies is fixing up older computers for friends and the computer phobic or those who can't afford a first computer. My most recent project was a 386 DX40 with 4 megs RAM someone gave me. I put on DOS 6.22 and the 'magic menu' systema and fixed him up with a ton of classic games, and the arachne browser for his email and general web surfing, and telnet, which it does fine. Then I installed win 3.1 and Calmira, it looks/feels/acts just like a win9.x box, I yanked the SHIVA PPP dialer out of the old IE 3.03 for an internet connection and then set him up with a couple of the Opera browsers for win 3.11, they work fine, and you can turn the graphics off and the pages load just as fast as any bloatware box around. Also is set up for mIRC chat, telnet, and email. It's stable, and I don't have to worry about klez worms, malware, corruptive active X scripts and adware spyware and all the other win9.x/me/xp problems. Won't need any 'service packs'. It's functional and works fine.

It will be a great first computer for my buddy, then I'm sure he'll buy the latest and greatest and will find out the hard way about winXP headaches, bloatware, and all the constant upgrading.

DOS INTERNET - Close the Windows and keep the internet OPEN

Yeah! Someone who really knows the value of Win3x! I agree 100%. Using the DOS/Win3x platform on one of my machines, I never worry about viruses, spyware, hackers, and other problems that seem to plague 9x users. Another great thing about Win3x is that you don't need any flashy hardware to run it. Throw the OS on a 386 or 486 with about 8MB of RAM and you're good to go. I also set up older computers mainly for folks who simply can't afford to go out and buy the latest and greatest. I'll tell you, of all the service calls I get, about 75% of those deal with a virus, trojan, or some other security problem. Win9x is in my opinion the shakiest OS product Microsoft has developed.

but know matter what kind of system u pour win 3.x on ... u will never be able to play todays high tech games will u? can win 3.x only work in 16 colcor?

I have the same question as kerodude3058. I like to play Counter-Strike on Steam. Is that at all possible in Win3.x? If it (and Starcraft/Broodwar, and OpenGL graphics) is possible, then I'd be back to MS-DOS 6.22 / Windows 3.11 really fast.

MSI K7N2 Delta-ILSR
AMD Athlon 2700+
1024MB Dual Channel DDR400 PQI Turbo
128MB Radeon 9200SE

I am using win 3.1/ calmira onh a 386sx-16/3.5 mb. RAM, fixin' uf for my cousins to play JezzBall Also, had win 3.1 on a 486dx-50/20Mb. RAM (HDD Controller went out, compaq EISA)and WFW 3.11 on a 486sx- 33/ 12Mb. Ram networked to XP home, woulda had ICS if it wern't fer stupid AOheLl. (Faros 3 uninstaller crashed it, used HDD to fix grandparents pentium 133) (Compaq Prolinea Net1/33s) I also have a Tandy 100 EX (8088/256k RAM)with printer, I play hearts and Monoply on it all the time. LONG LIVE WIN (4 WORKGOUPS) 3.1(1)!!!!!!!!

cool! I'm NOT alone!

I still use the 3.11 box from my tech study days, can't seem to get up the nerve to get rid of her. She's seen alot of work. Even tried the Calmira once on her.

The old knowlege of basic hardware and mobo resources is still needed in the new 9x/NT/XP world, dispite the "plug-n-Pray" advancments in tech. There hasn't been a day gone by that I havn't needed that ol-school stuff at work. Not too many PC Techs today have had to deal with that, didn't feel the need to study it I guess.

Thanx for the memories guys!

Hiya Guys,

I am 16 years old i have had many laptops/Desktops with Windows 3.0, 3.1,3.11,3.11 WFW.

It may be old but if you have a good emaganation its kool. I rarly use my pc that has win Me on as i am using my laptop 486 16 ram 1.6 gbn hdd with 3.11 WFW on! Long Live Windows 3.11!

Thanks Guys!

Merry Christmas And Happy New Year!!!

yeah, did not know that many still using dos6.22 and win3.11. I have problem to setup my 486 for network connection (the only advise i get from people around is thorw that, buy a new one).

Found in this forum that i may need wfw311.exe and the files (of 8 floppies) for win3.11 workgroup installation....

Can anyone please help ? appreciate if someone can send to my email account if u have a copy ?
btw,my network card is ALN-101-TB/P, if you happen to have the driver ? please..

Thanks you very much.

Martyn.S, we have 2 things in common that I can see: we are the same age, and love windows 3.11, cool.

Oh? not so sure :)

"but know matter what kind of system u pour win 3.x on ... u will never be able to play todays high tech games will u? can win 3.x only work in 16 colcor?"

Well I have an AMD k6 machine with a cirrus card, and the drivers to run win 3x with true colour. If you want to play games that is fine. yes get a really flashy P.C. or a games console. but I like writing low level software on either linux or Dos platforms, win 3x is ideal as a GUI for DOS.

It depends on what you want from a computer.
while you are at it, ask what the professional games writers use. (They wont say win 3x..but..), you may get answers involving an operating systems, development tools and disciplines that are very nuts and bolts.

Without all the low level coding and hardware aware coders out there. None of the modern stuff you get now would ever really have happened.

I think you will find windows 3x/dos to be popular with techies, along with other stuff like linux and so on.

I really cannot use windows XP for doing half the things I need to. It does depend on what you want to use a computer for.

Sophie.

I First experienced windows 3.1 and msdos when i found an compaq 476/33m with 1gb hard drive and 32 megs of memory. I then fell in love with it and use it more than my win 98 (and i use win 98 alot!). A problem is that my montor shows up my pics all stingy fuzzy like and i dont know if it is the monitor or the monitor card.
g2g as i need to play on my dos comp as im addicted 2 it!!!!!!!!!!

If you have anything dos related email me and i'll do something bout it

im on a 486 dx4 with the 133mhz Evergreen Upgrade processor 32mb Ram 503 mb and 233 mhz hd's Windows 98 (First Version)Internet Explore 6.0 and all the updates,Running On A 3Com Etherlink III ISA Card with Comcast Broadband Connection Networked with 3 other Computers (2.6ghz,500mhz,233mhz)I would have My 1992 Toshiba T6600c Portable Linked But I Cant Get It To Hook Up through the network it will only hook straight through to the cable modem (any Suggestions?)

I know That was off topic but long live the slow machines and operating systems i hate XP (All my other machines use Winme)

Happy New Year Fellers !

Compman99