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Windows for Workgroups 3.11 vs 3.11a

SomeGuySomeGuy
edited February 2017 in Software
IBMPC5150 pointed out that there was a minor "update" published to Windows for Workgroups 3.11, reportedly labeled as "3.11a".

According to this site https://expertreplies.com/wfwg-upgrade- ... h-1-44-mb/ , the only difference is the RASMAC.38_ (RASMAC.386) file, that supposedly *REMOVES* compression code from the Remote Access system.

Does anybody have any more information about this?

Comments

  • calvinbcalvinb
    Wouldn't this be around the time of the Stacker controversy? I'm not sure if the algorithm would be the same, but it could be a related case of patent infringement?
  • BigCJBigCJ
    ampharos wrote:
    Wouldn't this be around the time of the Stacker controversy? I'm not sure if the algorithm would be the same, but it could be a related case of patent infringement?
    Didn't find much about it on a quick Google search, but that may be it. The Stacker debacle happened in late 1993, right about the time WFW3.11 was released.
  • ibmpc5150ibmpc5150
    https://expertreplies.com/wfwg-upgrade- ... h-1-44-mb/

    The information of its site was from Microsoft's Support page.

    Windows for Workgroups 3.11 was released but RASMAC.38_ (RASMAC.386) includes
    compressed code on Disk 10 (5.25")

    RASMAC 38_ 24,132 11-01-93 3:11a

    I also have Retail disk with 3.5" media.
    RASMAC.38_ has no compressed code on Disk 8
    The version seems to be 3.11a but disk label says 3.11

    I think version 3.11a is called from Microsoft Support Page.

    I'll scan the each disk label of 5.25" OEM soon.
  • SomeGuySomeGuy
    Ok, a little more research, this was related to the Stacker fiasco. They pulled compression functionality from a number of unrelated products such as Excel, Powerpoint, Windows NT, Visual C++, and Fortran Powerstation:

    https://books.google.com/books?id=BTsEA ... hl=en&sa=X
  • ibmpc5150ibmpc5150
    Ver. 3.11(a) seemed to be dumped in 2009.

    I've got dumped image of its OEM but needed verification.
    Of course, I was sure dumped image is not fake or hacked / modified.
    I bought Ver. 3.11 of OEM disks as junk with a good price last year.
    I dumped them and compared it with Version 3.11(a).

    Disk 1 ~ 9 are identical, only Disk 10 is different from each other.
    I also compared each RASMAC.38_ files with 3.5" retail or upgrade versions.

    I also have the following.

    WOF 3.11 Retail/Full (3.5") --> Disk 8 includes Non compressed code of RASMAC.38_
    WOF 3.11(a) Retail/Upgrade (3.5") --> Disk 8 includes compressed code of RASMAC.38_
    WOF 3.11 OEM (3.5") --> Disk 8 includes Non compressed code of RASMAC.38_
    WOF 3.11(a) OEM (3.5") --> Disk 8 includes compressed code of RASMAC.38_
  • calvinbcalvinb
    Oh, and appending a letter to the version when something was ripped out due to legal reasons is something that happened later - remember XP SP1a ripping out the MS JVM?
  • ibmpc5150ibmpc5150
    @ampharos

    Indeed, Microsoft released XP with SP1 (Not with SP1a as Title.)
    So it is very hard to distinguish the version by media or package.
    Also Microsoft didn't show the version info. as SP1a.

    Version : 5.1.2600.1106 (with Service Pack 1)

    Another way to distinguish between SP1 and SP1a is as follows.

    1. Volume Name (XRM****_** <-- SP1, X1A****_** <-- SP1A)
    2. Time/Date/Year Stamp (08/29/2002 <-- SP1, 03/31/2003 <-- SP1A)
    3. GMT Code (E4 : <-- SP1, E0 : <-- SP1A)
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