Windows 3.0 - System Requirements

System Requirements

The official system requirements for Windows 3.0:

• 8086/8088 processor or better
• 384K of free conventional memory (real mode, protected modes require more)
• Hard disk with 6-7MB of free space
• CGA/EGA/VGA/Hercules/8514/A graphics and an appropriate and compatible monitor
• MS-DOS version 3.1 or higher

Also, a Microsoft-compatible mouse is recommended.

Windows 3.0 cannot run in full color on 8086 machines because the EGA and VGA color drivers require a 286. Microsoft dropped support for the Tandy 1000 line by 1990, so a Tandy graphics driver was not provided for Windows 3.0, however, the Windows 2.x Tandy driver could be copied into the target system and used.