&os2; has built-in support for programs that were written for Microsoft Windows 3.x. This support is called &winos2; and is an adapted version of Microsoft Windows 3.1 that runs on your &os2; system. This allows you to operate Windows programs as though they were &os2; programs. For example, you can run Windows programs on the &os2; Desktop or in a separate full-screen session and still share information between &os2; and Windows programs.

Note that the &winos2; support is equivalent to Windows 3.1, but not to Windows 95. &winos2; does not support 32-bit Windows applications. To run 32-bit Windows applications, you will need to install third-party add-ons.

In the &link_syssetupfdr;, you will find the "&winos2setup;" object that allows you to set global properties for the entire &winos2; subsystem. These settings are used unless you have created a program object that points to a &winos2; application to apply specific settings.

A &winos2; program can run windowed or in a full-screen session.

In addition, every &winos2; session (windowed or full-screen) can run in "standard" or "enhanced compatibility" mode. All Windows 3.0 and 3.1 standard mode programs will run in a &winos2; enhanced-compatibility mode session. The default setting for these sessions is thus enhanced compatibility. For more information, select from the following list: