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Windows application compatibility

Original Windows executables exercised through WIN16, with per-application test scope.

Entries distinguish tested functions from loader-only captures. Protected-mode and multimedia previews use the 286+ kernel; they are not standard-kernel compatibility results. Since release 1.0.20261109 that kernel and its own WIN16 disk are in the release zip, in the 1440K/286-PLUS and 1200K/286-PLUS folders.

Run your Windows programs How WIN16 works

01 / Writing and drawing

Writing and drawing

Notepad
Notepad on the os8088 desktop, with text typed into its document.

Windows 3.0

Notepad

NOTEPAD.EXE

Text editing, selection, scrolling, Word Wrap and save. The tested Windows 3.1 executable also exercises the common file dialog.

Write
Windows Write running in an os8088 window, with its File, Edit, Search, Character, Paragraph and Document menus.

Windows 3.0

Write

WRITE.EXE

Document entry, paragraph/character formatting and save through WIN16. Richer document structures are not established by this capture.

Paintbrush
Paintbrush on os8088, showing its drawing canvas, tools and colour palette.

Windows 3.0

Paintbrush

PBRUSH.EXE + PBRUSH.DLL

Brush/shape tools, colour selection, fills and BMP save exercised. Keep PBRUSH.DLL beside the executable.

Cardfile
Windows Cardfile running on the os8088 desktop, showing an index card.

Windows 3.0

Cardfile

CARDFILE.EXE

Card/list views, wrapped text, entry creation and save exercised.

Calendar
Windows Calendar on os8088, showing a day of appointment slots.

Windows 3.0

Calendar

CALENDAR.EXE

Day navigation, appointments and wrapped notes exercised; entries persist across day changes.

02 / Everyday utilities

Everyday utilities

Calculator
Windows Calculator running on the os8088 desktop.

Windows 3.0

Calculator

CALC.EXE

Standard/Scientific views and the software floating-point path exercised for the listed Windows 3.0/3.1 versions.

Clock
Windows Clock running on os8088, with an analog face and clock hands.

Windows 3.0

Clock

CLOCK.EXE

Analogue/digital views, timer delivery and the font chooser exercised.

Character Map
Windows Character Map running on os8088, with a font selector and a grid of characters.

Windows 3.1

Character Map

CHARMAP.EXE

Character grid and font selection exercised. Dialog geometry follows the adapter font.

Clipboard Viewer
The Windows Clipboard viewer in an os8088 window, with File, Edit, Display and Help menus.

Windows 3.0

Clipboard Viewer

CLIPBRD.EXE

Cross-application text display and Delete exercised. Bitmap/metafile clipboard formats are absent.

03 / Games

Games

Minesweeper
Windows Minesweeper running on os8088, with a minefield, counters and a smiley face.

Windows 3.1

Minesweeper

WINMINE.EXE

Board interaction, timer, counters, menus and speaker effects exercised. The tested Windows 3.1 executable requires V20/80186-or-later instructions; see WIN16's CPU results.

Solitaire
Windows Solitaire running on os8088, with cards dealt onto a green table.

Windows 3.0

Solitaire

SOL.EXE

Dealing and card interaction exercised for the listed Windows 3.0/3.1 versions. A captured game is not exhaustive rules validation.

Reversi
Windows Reversi running in an os8088 window, showing its board and coloured discs.

Windows 3.0

Reversi

REVERSI.EXE

Human/computer moves, menus and board repaint exercised on the 8088 path.

04 / Desktop and system tools

Desktop and system tools

File Manager
Windows File Manager on os8088, with a directory window inside its main frame.

Windows 3.0

File Manager

WINFILE.EXE

Drive child window and directory tree exercised through the MDI compatibility path.

On the 286+ kernel, a registered test also opens it, chooses Window > Tile and Window > Cascade, and checks that it keeps running.

Program Manager
Windows Program Manager running on os8088, with its File, Options, Window and Help menus above the group area.

Windows 3.0

Program Manager

PROGMAN.EXE

Groups, icons and application launch exercised.

Control Panel
Windows Control Panel on os8088, showing its settings icons.

Windows 3.0

Control Panel

CONTROL.EXE

Applet/settings dialogs exercised. These compatibility-layer values do not configure native os8088 hardware or desktop state.

Windows Help
Windows Help running on the os8088 desktop, with its menu and button bar.

Windows 3.0

Windows Help

WINHELP.EXE + .HLP files

Help window, button bar and bookmarks exercised. Application help requires WINHELP.EXE and the matching HLP resources.

Terminal
Windows Terminal running on the os8088 desktop, with its terminal area and menus.

Windows 3.0

Terminal

TERMINAL.EXE

Window and settings dialogs load. The serial selector reports no available ports; a serial session is unverified.

Recorder
Windows Recorder on os8088, with its macro list and File, Macro, Options and Help menus.

Windows 3.0

Recorder

RECORDER.EXE + RECORDER.DLL

Executable/companion-DLL loading and menus exercised. Macro recording/replay are unverified.

PIF Editor
Windows PIF Editor running on os8088, with fields for a program and its startup options.

Windows 3.0

PIF Editor

PIFEDIT.EXE

Standard/386 Enhanced settings, Advanced Options and Save As exercised. Output size matches the expected PIF layout; executing every saved setting is unverified.

Task List
The Windows Task List dialog on the os8088 desktop, with Switch To, End Task, Cancel and window arrangement buttons.

Windows 3.0

Task List

TASKMAN.EXE

Task List dialog opens and closes with Cancel. Native task control remains in os8088 Task Manager.

05 / Screen saver settings

Screen saver settings

Screen-saver setup dialogs only. The harness uses EXE aliases for the listed SCR files.

Starfield Simulation
Starfield Simulation Setup running on os8088, with warp speed and starfield density controls.

Windows 3.1 / Setup dialog

Starfield Simulation

SSSTARS.SCR

Setup dialog only: speed, density and password controls. Full-screen saver execution is unverified.

Marquee
Marquee Setup running on os8088, with position, speed, colour and text settings.

Windows 3.1 / Setup dialog

Marquee

SSMARQUE.SCR

Setup and Format Text dialogs exercised. Full-screen saver execution is unverified.

Mystify Your Mind
Mystify Setup running on os8088, with shape, line and colour options.

Windows 3.1 / Setup dialog

Mystify Your Mind

SSMYST.SCR

Setup dialog only. Full-screen animation is unverified.

Flying Windows
Flying Windows Setup running on os8088, with warp speed and density controls.

Windows 3.1 / Setup dialog

Flying Windows

SSFLYWIN.SCR

Setup dialog only. Full-screen animation is unverified.

06 / On the 286+ kernel

On the 286+ kernel

Registry Editor
Windows Registry Editor running in an os8088 window.

Windows 3.1

Registry Editor

REGEDIT.EXE

Protected-mode window loads on kern_mega. Broader registry operations are not established by this capture.

07 / Microsoft Arcade, on the 286+ kernel

Microsoft Arcade, on the 286+ kernel

The Arcade tests require kern_mega and the matching AMDSPIN.DLL, ARCADEVF.DLL, ARCCTL.DLL, WAVEMIX.DLL and ARCFONTS.FON files. Centipede also requires CPFONTS.FON; Missile Command requires MCFONTS.FON. These captures establish entry into gameplay, not complete game/audio compatibility.

Asteroids
Asteroids on os8088, a game in progress: the ship, the score and white outline rocks on a black field.

Windows 3.1 / Microsoft Arcade

Asteroids

ASTEROID.EXE

F2 enters one-player gameplay on kern_mega. Audio is unverified.

Battlezone
Battlezone on os8088, a game in progress: green wireframe mountains, an enemy tank in the gunsight and the radar in red.

Windows 3.1 / Microsoft Arcade

Battlezone

BZ.EXE

F2 enters the wireframe scene with radar and enemy tank on kern_mega. Audio is unverified.

Missile Command
Missile Command on os8088, a game in progress: red missile trails falling toward six cities on yellow ground.

Windows 3.1 / Microsoft Arcade

Missile Command

MC.EXE

F2 enters gameplay with incoming missiles and cities on kern_mega. Audio is unverified.

Centipede
Centipede on os8088, a game in progress: a green centipede winding through a field of red mushrooms.

Windows 3.1 / Microsoft Arcade

Centipede

CP.EXE

F2 enters gameplay on kern_mega; the field exercises a bitmap larger than one 64KB segment. Audio is unverified.

Tempest
Tempest on os8088, a game in progress: a blue wireframe tube with the player's claw on its rim and enemies climbing it.

Windows 3.1 / Microsoft Arcade

Tempest

TEMPEST.EXE

F2/Enter reaches the selected tube and active enemies on kern_mega. Audio is unverified.

08 / Multimedia previews

Multimedia previews

Loader/UI previews on the 286+ kernel; there is no validated Windows audio-driver path in these captures.

Sound Recorder
Windows Sound Recorder on os8088, reporting that it cannot record or play back because a sound driver is not installed.

Windows 3.1 / Preview

Sound Recorder

SOUNDREC.EXE

Loads on kern_mega and reports no Windows sound driver. Neither capture nor playback is verified.

Media Player
Windows Media Player running on os8088, showing its playback controls.

Windows 3.1 / Preview

Media Player

MPLAYER.EXE

Protected-mode window/device controls load on kern_mega. Media and CD-audio playback are unverified.

Requirements and limits

Microsoft executables, DLLs, fonts and help files are user-supplied. The distribution contains WIN16, not Windows.

Use the listed executable versions and CPU/kernel paths. Some later binaries require V20/80186 instructions; protected-mode previews require kern_mega.

Printing and OLE are unimplemented. Missing imports/calls are reported; compatibility must be assessed per executable and exercised operation.

These are original Windows executables. Native Note Pad, WORD, CWORD and Scribe are separate implementations.

QEMU captures from 4-5 November 2026. The WIN16 development record identifies the tested binaries and kernels. Microsoft and Windows are Microsoft trademarks.

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