OS/2 2.0

OS/2 2.0 is a version of OS/2 that was released in April 1992. It was designed to have hybrid support for 16-bit and 32-bit computer architecture, included MS-DOS 5.0 with multitasking, and it could also run Windows 3.0 applications almost natively, due to the similarities in the way DOS worked. While Microsoft was involved with most of the development of OS/2 2.0, they discontinued their development on OS/2 before release, leaving OS/2 2.0 as the first major version to be sold and distributed solely by IBM.

New features and changes

This version sees major changes to the operating system and its user interface as it is now a 32-bit protected mode operating system. It uses the full capabilities of the x86 architecture (including using Virtual 8086 Mode to power the MVDM, or Multiple Virtual DOS Machine) and no longer relies on the 286-based infrastructure of its predecessor, though it still allows to run 16-bit OS/2 1.x apps, even using selector tiling to ensure that every linear address could be mapped to a pair of an LDT selector and an offset (though this did reduce the address space to 512MB).

The Desktop Manager from the previous version was replaced by the Workplace Shell, which now allows to place items onto the desktop in a similar manner to Mac OS. Both Program Selector and Task Manager are also no longer included. Instead, most commands are accessible with a right-click on the desktop. Window commands are also refined, though they still share similarities with those from Windows 3.x and OS/2 1.x.

This version also introduces a proper boot screen (though it is still text-based), showing the OS/2 logo with animation in the center along with copyright notes at the bottom of the screen.

OS/2 2.0 comes with a modified version of Windows designed for OS/2, called WIN-OS/2. It is essentially a Windows 3.0 environment optimized for OS/2 shipped with Adobe Type Manager. WIN-OS/2 was updated with OS/2 2.1 to version 3.1. Many programs and add-ons designed for Windows 3.1 (including Win32s based ones) do work with it, but drivers won't however, as they can brick WIN-OS/2 or render it unusable.

Setup was also overhauled, featuring a new UI and enhanced driver support, but it is still temperamental in terms of hardware.

OS/2 2.x is available in a CD release, which includes the installation CD-ROM, boot floppies, as well as a floppy release. Two variants of OS/2 2.x exist: the "Blue Spine" variant with WIN-OS/2 included, and the "Red Spine" variant (or "OS/2 for Windows") without WIN-OS/2. As its alternate name states, it needs an existing version of Windows 3.x for WIN-OS/2.

An updated version, 2.00.1, was released in October 1992 and was only packaged with IBM hardware.

List of known builds

OS/2 2.0

Beta

2.00 6.43

2.00 6.64

2.00 6.78

2.00 6.123February 1991 Beta

2.00 6.138

2.00 6.140

2.00 6.141

2.00 6.149

2.00 6.602

2.00 6.605

2.00 6.175

Limited Availability

2.00 6.177

2.00 6H.177

Pre-RTM

2.00 6.304

RTM

2.00 6F.167

2.00 6.307

ServicePak

2.00 6.307 (CSD XR06055)

2.00 6.307 (CSD XR06100)

OS/2 2.00.1

2.00.1 6.423 (PaulDev private, 92/08/19)

2.00.1 6.427

2.00.1 6.436