Windows Memory Utilization
Windows overcomes the 1- MB memory restriction of MS-DOS by implementing new modes of memory utilization. The MS-DOS operating system was designed for 8088 processors. As more powerful CPUs became available, the limits of the 8-bit operating environment hindered the development of programs and devices that could make use of more powerful computers. With the release of 80286 processors, the CPU was able to address more than 1 MB of RAM, thus breaking the MS-DOS barrier. However, the market was still dominated by MS-DOS-based programs that worked within this limit. The release of Windows solved this problem by allowing a CPU to operate in several modes.