INFO: Win32 Platform Differences

ID: Q227123

This article discusses a Beta release of a Microsoft product. The information in this article is provided as-is and is subject to change without notice.

No formal product support is available from Microsoft for this Beta product. For information about obtaining support for a Beta release, please see the documentation included with the Beta product files, or check the Web location from which you downloaded the release.

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Win32 Application Programming Interface (API), included with:
- Microsoft Windows 2000

SUMMARY

The Win32 Platform Differences topic in the Platform SDK lists a variety of Win32 API and operating system features and indicates how each platform supports them. This topic contains a version of the table updated to include Windows 2000 and Windows 98.

MORE INFORMATION

Following is a list of the operating system differences between Windows NT and Windows 2000; Windows 95 and Windows 98; and Windows 3.1 with Win32s. The bold text indicates an operating system feature rather than an API feature.

Feature Windows NT/Windows 2000 Windows 95/Windows 98 Windows 3.1 with Win32s

32-bit Coordinate System Yes No No

32-bit Flat Memory model Yes Yes Yes

3-D look Yes Yes Yes

Asynchronous file I/O Yes No No

Asynchronous input model Yes Yes No

COMM Yes Yes Through Universal Thunks

Common Controls Yes Yes Yes

Property sheet tabs Yes Yes Yes

Drag list boxes Yes Yes Yes

Toolbar Yes Yes Yes

Status bar Yes Yes Yes

Column heading Yes Yes Yes

Spin buttons Yes Yes Yes

Slider Yes Yes Yes

Scrolling button indicator Yes Yes Yes

Rich Edit Control Yes Yes Yes

Progress indicator Yes Yes Yes

Tree View Yes Yes Yes

List View Yes Yes Yes

Common Dialogs Yes Yes Yes

Console Support Yes Except code page No

Context menu on mouse button 2 Yes Yes Yes

Enhanced metafiles Yes Yes No

Event logging Yes No No

File mapping Yes Yes Yes

File merge/reconciliation Yes Yes No

File Viewers Yes Yes Not used

Image Color Matching (ICM) Not yet Yes No

Long Filenames (LFN) Yes Yes Won't appear

Multimedia API Yes Yes Windows 3.1 level

Multiprocessor Machines Yes No No

Named pipes Yes Client-side Client-side

National Language Support (NLS) Yes Yes Yes

Network DDE Yes Through thunk No

Non-Intel machines Yes No No

Paths/Beziers Yes Limited No

Plug and Play event aware Won't get events Yes Won't get events

Preemptive multitasking Yes Yes No

Print spooler Yes Except forms No

Remote Access Services (RAS) Yes Yes No

Remote Procedure Calls Yes Yes Through Universal Thunks

Security Yes No No

Security (C2 certifiable) Yes No No

Separate address space Yes Yes No

Service control manager Yes No No

Simple MAPI Yes Yes Through Universal Thunks

Structured exception handling (SEH) Yes Yes Yes

TAPI Yes Yes Yes (Through TAPI SDK)

Threads Yes Yes No

Unicode Yes No No

Universal Naming Convention (UNC) Yes Yes Yes

User and GDI system resources Virtually Unlimited Expanded Win 3.1 Limits

Windows 4.0 Help Yes Yes Context menu help won't appear

Windows Network (WNet) Yes Yes Through Universal Thunks

Windows Sockets Yes Yes Yes

World transforms Yes Scaling only No

Feature	Windows NT/Windows 2000	Windows 95/Windows 98	Windows 3.1 with Win32s
32-bit Coordinate System	Yes	No	No
32-bit Flat Memory model	Yes	Yes	Yes
3-D look	Yes	Yes	Yes
Asynchronous file I/O	Yes	No	No
Asynchronous input model	Yes	Yes	No
COMM	Yes	Yes	Through Universal Thunks
Common Controls	Yes	Yes	Yes
Property sheet tabs	Yes	Yes	Yes
Drag list boxes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Toolbar	Yes	Yes	Yes
Status bar	Yes	Yes	Yes
Column heading	Yes	Yes	Yes
Spin buttons	Yes	Yes	Yes
Slider	Yes	Yes	Yes
Scrolling button indicator	Yes	Yes	Yes
Rich Edit Control	Yes	Yes	Yes
Progress indicator	Yes	Yes	Yes
Tree View	Yes	Yes	Yes
List View	Yes	Yes	Yes
Common Dialogs	Yes	Yes	Yes
Console Support	Yes	Except code page	No
Context menu on mouse button 2	Yes	Yes	Yes
Enhanced metafiles	Yes	Yes	No
Event logging	Yes	No	No
File mapping	Yes	Yes	Yes
File merge/reconciliation	Yes	Yes	No
File Viewers	Yes	Yes	Not used
Image Color Matching (ICM)	Not yet	Yes	No
Long Filenames (LFN)	Yes	Yes	Won't appear
Multimedia API	Yes	Yes	Windows 3.1 level
Multiprocessor Machines	Yes	No	No
Named pipes	Yes	Client-side	Client-side
National Language Support (NLS)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Network DDE	Yes	Through thunk	No
Non-Intel machines	Yes	No	No
Paths/Beziers	Yes	Limited	No
Plug and Play event aware	Won't get events	Yes	Won't get events
Preemptive multitasking	Yes	Yes	No
Print spooler	Yes	Except forms	No
Remote Access Services (RAS)	Yes	Yes	No
Remote Procedure Calls	Yes	Yes	Through Universal Thunks
Security	Yes	No	No
Security (C2 certifiable)	Yes	No	No
Separate address space	Yes	Yes	No
Service control manager	Yes	No	No
Simple MAPI	Yes	Yes	Through Universal Thunks
Structured exception handling (SEH)	Yes	Yes	Yes
TAPI	Yes	Yes	Yes (Through TAPI SDK)
Threads	Yes	Yes	No
Unicode	Yes	No	No
Universal Naming Convention (UNC)	Yes	Yes	Yes
User and GDI system resources	Virtually Unlimited	Expanded	Win 3.1 Limits
Windows 4.0 Help	Yes	Yes	Context menu help won't appear
Windows Network (WNet)	Yes	Yes	Through Universal Thunks
Windows Sockets	Yes	Yes	Yes
World transforms	Yes	Scaling only	No

Additional query words: compatguidediff


Keywords          : kbWinOS2000 kbGrpKernBase 
Version           : winnt:
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: June 23, 1999