I've come into possession of something that I never heard of before. Namely 4 3½" floppies containing "Windows mini-version". These are ©1985-1987, but it does not say anywhere more exactly what this mini-version actually contains. I take it that it is a slightly stripped down version of Windows 1.0, considering the date on the floppies, but I've been unable to actually find out anything else about this. They seem to have shipped with a computer, as they came in a plastic sleeve that also had a ripped sticker saying that "by opening this you agree to the terms of service of the software licence agreement" in 10 different languages.

So could anyone fill me in on more exactly what this thing is? Also, if the floppies still work, is it worth anything?

The last version of Windows 1 (1.04) from 1987 consisted of seven 5.25 disks. Included were Windows itself plus some Windows applications like MS-Write and MS-Paint. My guess is that this additional software is missing in your version.

5.25 inch installation disks:
Disk01 - Setup Disk
Disk02 - Build Disk
Disk03 - Utilities Disk
Disk04 - Font Disk
Disk05 - Desktop Applications Disk
Disk06 - Write Program Disk
Disk07 - Printer Disk

The basic release of Windows 1 came with only 4 disks:
Disk01 - Setup Disk
Disk02 - Build Disk
Disk03 - Utilities Disk
Disk04 - Desktop Applications Disk

Are your 3½" floppies SD, DD or HD? Any labels other than Windows mini-version? What's their digital label in the file system?

If they're SD or DD they may still work flawlessly, as long as they were kept away from Light, magnetic fields and extreme temperatures as well as humidity. HD disks tend to be a bit more frail, so you might run into disk errors.
I doubt, that they've got a lot of value, as they're for a later version (and using a newer floppy format). Collectors might pay more for an initial release (e.g. Windows 1.0 Premiere Edition on 5.25 inch disks) and unopened boxes with all the paperwork. Nevertheless, even if they're still working today, the disks will be defect in a couple of years, so it's not overly attractive to collect them. Still, there's demand and there are some dedicated shops on ebay selling vintage computer hard- and software. Check their prices and most of all finished auctions.

I don't know what kind of floppies they are on. Is there a simple way of telling? HD floppies were released in 86, so I would find it at least likely that these are HD.

And the value of Windows 1.0 seem to be all over the place. Highest one I could find a reference to was nearly 500€, and lowest were about 10€. None was for this version though

Along with Windows 1 I also have Aldus Pagemaker 1, on similar floppies (labels are in a similar style, and the plastic sleeve is identical). Version 3 seem to be worth about 20-30€, but I can find no listings for version 1 (this one also says that it is for windows on the floppies).

I sadly don't have a floppy-drive anymore. I plan to get a USB-one at some point, but it's not at the top of my priority list.

The labels on the floppies only says:
Windows mini-version
For use with Microsoft Windows compatible computers.
Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1985-1987
ISBN 0-941719-77-4
They also have the Aldus logo on the front, so they probably shipped with a computer.

Actually, come to think of it, this might be a very early version of Windows 2. It was released at the very end of 1987. Though then it would probably say Windows 2, and not just "mini version". If it is the first Windows 2 version, I might have struck gold, as these seem to go for at least 200€. Though I could find no reference to any mini-version.

Anyway, I've attached a picture of the whole set.

I do also not know the history behind this set. I found it among some old computer parts that my parents were throwing out. I don't know why they had this though, as they did not own a computer until 1997.

These are DD disks with 720kB each, no HD yet, more I can't help, sorry

This is no retail version from Microsoft, but only shipped with Aldus Pagemaker. It was mandatory to have it installed to run Pagemaker. Windows wasn't a full OS at that time, but just a graphical operating environment for DOS and Pagemaker used it as a platform.

The ISBN on the disks is pointing to Aldus Corporation (Seattle, Wash.) as publisher. So the disks clearly came with Pagemaker. That's why you hardly find any detailed information about this version. Unfortunately, being no official release, makes them probably worth less, but you can try selling the complete Aldus Pagemaker product, including the Windows disks which came with it. Check if you can find the corresponding paperwork to increase its value, but according to the disks' labels this might be the Swedish version and there are probably not so many collectors for this if the manual is also in Swedish.

Wow... blast from the past.

Sadly none of the paperwork has survived. I still don't know how or why my parents had this thing, but at least I prevented it from being throw away.

I suspect this to be a multi-lingual release. Swedish is a very small language, and it's quite rare for software to be purely in Swedish. And it's not at all unlikely that it is all in English, with no Swedish version at all included. It's not uncommon to find software with Swedish text on the box & discs, which have not been localized.

Actually changing my research angle a bit, it would seem like this is not actually windows 1.0, but rather Windows 2.03, released in December 87, as Aldus Pagemaker was not released for Windows 1, but was one of the "killer apps" for Windows 2. So I suspect that this thing was originally owned by some publishing company, considering that that's the kind of business that Pagemaker was aimed at.
I do by the way find it quite interesting that instead of a piece of software being bundled with the OS, here you have an OS bundled with a piece of software. I've never heard of something like that before.

All the Aldus pagemaker floppies have different information on them, making it a bit hard to figure out exactly what they are. There are two version numbers, 2.0 & 3.0, with 3.0 being more prevalent & copyrights from multiple different companies (Microsoft, Ranked Hyphenator system, Hughton Miffin & Aldus), with some of the floppies having a copyright of 1988, and some 1987. If it is version 3.0, then it should be Windows 2 on the floppies ( "PageMaker 3.0 for the PC was shipped in May 1988[10] and required Windows 2.0,[11] which was bundled as a run-time version"). If not, it is Windows 1.

I really wish I had a floppy drive right now. I suspect that we are not going to be able to get much further than this though, not unless we find an expert.

Anyway, I'm going to ask around to see if anyone I know has a USB floppy drive. If you want me to, I can keep you updated.

And thanks for all the help, this has been a real learning experience.

Great run to the past ;-) I think you're right, without looking into the disks, it's just speculation and we're pretty far anyway.
Keep us posted, it'll be fun to see what it eventually is.

If you're not averse to spending a bit, a quick search on Prisjakt says Dustin has the cheapest USB floppy drive at 220 kr (and you'll likely have it on friday, even with tomorrow being a holiday). Though I usually head to Kjell & Co. for computing accessories, them taking almost 400 kr for a USB floppy drive is quite ridiculous, even with the barely existing market for the device.

Actually, getting one from Amazon might be cheaper than that Dustin one, even with shipping to Sweden.