The History of Microsoft Windows

The History of Microsoft Windows

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The story of Microsoft Windows begins in 19831, when Microsoft announces the development of Windows, a graphical user interface (GUI) for its MS-DOS operating system. The product has evolved from a single interface to two operating system families, each with its codebase and file system.

The family of 3.x and 9x versions include Windows 3.0, Windows 3.1x, Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Me. Windows for Workgroups 3.11 has added 32-bit network management. Windows 95 added better support for 32-bit processors (nonetheless, MS-DOS, part of the kernel, and some utilities like Disk Defragmenter remained 16-bit). Windows 95 also added a new oriented interface, which is still partly used today.

The Windows NT family started with Windows NT 3.1 in 1993. Modern versions of Windows are based on the Windows NT kernel (which was originally designed for OS / 2). Windows runs on IA-32, x86-64, and ARM 32-bit (ARMv7) architectures. Older versions work on i860, Alpha, MIPS, Fairchild Clipper, PowerPC, and Itanium.

Windows Explorer, the graphical file manager, replaced the program manager at the exit of Windows 95 and remains up to Windows 10.


Summary
1 Windows 1.0x
2 Windows 2.x
3 Windows 3.0, success
4 A new beginning: OS / 2
5 Windows 3.1x
6 Windows NT 3.x
7 Windows 95
8 Windows NT 4.0
9 Windows 98
10 Windows 2000
11 Windows ME
12 Windows XP
13 Windows Vista
14 Windows 7
15 Windows 8
16 Windows 10
17 References
18 External links
Windows 1.0x
Main article: Windows 1.0.
The first version of Microsoft Windows, Windows 1.0, released November 20, 1985, was quite little used. Originally called "Interface Manager", but Rowland Hanson, Marketing Director, convinced the rest of the company that the name "Windows" would be more commercial.

Windows 1.0 was not a complete operating system, but rather a graphical environment for MS-DOS. As a result, Windows shared all the weaknesses and problems of this one.

In this first version of Windows were included simple programs such as Microsoft Paint, Windows Write, a calendar, a clock, a control panel and a terminal. There was also a game called Reversi.

Microsoft had previously worked with Apple Computer to develop applications on their new Macintosh, which had a graphical interface. During the contract negotiation, Microsoft obtained a license on certain aspects of the Macintosh interface. In order not to infringe on Apple's patents, Microsoft will voluntarily limit the interface of Windows 1.0. Windows could not, for example, be superimposed on each other.

Windows 1.0 is released in the following five versions:

Windows 1.01;
Windows 1.02;
Windows 1.03;
Windows 1.03 for Intel 80286;
Windows 1.04.
Windows 2.x
Main articles: Windows 2.0 and Windows 2.1x.
Microsoft Windows 2.0 was released on December 9, 1987 and was a little more popular than its predecessor. This popularity can be explained by the integration of Windows 2.0 with Microsoft Office Excel and Word for Windows applications. These could be run from MS-DOS and were able to launch Windows themselves.

The 2.0x versions ran in real mode, limiting memory to a maximum of 1 megabyte.

A later version, Windows / 386 2.1 was operating in protected mode. All Windows and DOS applications that were running at the same time were in real mode over the kernel that was operating in protected mode, thanks to the 8086 virtual mode, made possible by the new 80386 processors.

The versions of this Windows are listed below:

Windows 2.01 for Intel 80386;
Windows 2.03;
Windows 2.03 for Intel 80386;
Windows 2.10 for Intel 80286 or 80386;
Windows 2.11 for Intel 80286 or 80386.
Windows 3.0, success
Main article: Windows 3.0.
Windows 3.0, released in May 1990 was the first big commercial success for Windows. Windows 3.0 greatly enhances the capabilities of native applications and makes it easier to run multiple MS-DOS applications in parallel with the virtual memory system.

The interface of Windows 3.0 is also quite successful to become a serious competitor to the Macintosh. Coupled with the evolution of the PC graphics cards of the time, this one finally allows the