This is the history of Windows 1 to Windows 10

Want to know the history of Windows right??. The Microsoft Windows operating system was first introduced in 1985. More than 29 years later a lot has changed, but what things have remained the same?

Microsoft Windows has seen nine major versions since its first release in 1985. Over 29 years later, Windows has gone through changes, starting with increased computing power and most recently the change from keyboard and mouse to touch screens.

Here's a glimpse of the history of Windows, starting from its birth in the hands of Bill Gates with Windows 1 to its latest arrival under the leadership of Microsoft's new executive, namely Satya Nadella.

Windows 1

Well this is where it all starts for Windows. The original Windows 1 was released in November 1985 and was Microsoft's first real attempt at a graphical user interface in 16-bit.

Development was spearheaded by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and ran on top of MS-DOS, which relied on command-line input.

That's important because it relied heavily on the use of the mouse before the mouse was a common computer input device. Now to help users get used to this odd input system, Microsoft included a game, Reversi (can be seen in the screenshot above) so Reversi relies on mouse control, not keyboard, so people get used to moving the mouse around and clicking on screen elements. Here is the history of Windows 1

Windows 2

So two years after the release of Windows 1, Microsoft Windows 2 replaced it in December 1987. The big innovation for Windows 2 was that windows could overlap each other, and also introduced the ability to minimize or maximize Windows rather than “iconization” or “zooming”.

In its control panel, there is a place where various system settings and configuration options are gathered together in one place, it was introduced in Windows 2 and has survived to this day.

Microsoft Word and Excel also made their first appearance running on Windows 2. Here is the history of Windows 2

Windows 3

The first Windows to require a hard drive was launched in 1990. This Windows 3 was the first version to see wider success and was considered a challenger to the Apple Macintosh and the Commodore Amiga graphical user interface, which was preinstalled on computers from compatible PC manufacturers. Including Zenith Data System.

Windows 3 introduced the ability to run MS-DOS programs on windows, which brought multitasking to legacy programs, and support for 256 colors brought a more modern and colorful look to the interface.

More importantly – at least for the total amount of human time wasted – it introduces Solitaire's card-shifting (and mouse-use-training) timeink. Here is the history of Windows 3

Windows 3.1

Windows 1 and 2 both had point release updates, but Windows 3.1 released in 1992 was significant because introducing TrueType fonts made Windows a viable publishing platform for the first time.

In Windows 3.1 the Windows provided game Minesweeper is now making its first appearance. Windows 3.1 required 1MB of RAM to run and allowed supported MS-DOS programs to be controlled with the mouse for the first time. Windows 3.1 was also the first Windows to be distributed on a CD-ROM, yes even if it was installed on a hard drive it only took 10 to 15MB (a CD can usually store up to 700mb). Here is the history of Windows 3.1

Windows 95

This Windows 95 arrived in August 1995 and with it brought the first Start button and Start menu (launched with a giant advertising campaign using Start Me Up from the Rolling Stones, and a few months later Friends stars Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry.

Windows 95 also introduced a 32-bit environment, a taskbar and a focus on multitasking. MS-DOS still played an important role for Windows 95, which required it to run several programs and elements.

Internet Explorer also debuted on Windows 95, but it is not installed by default which requires Windows 95 Plus! Sir. Revisions of Windows 95 later included IE by default, as was the popular Netscape Navigator and NCSA Mosaic at the time.

Windows 98

Windows 98 was released in June 1998, Windows 98 was built on Windows 95 and brought IE 4, Outlook Express, Windows Address Book, Microsoft Chat and NetShow Player, which was replaced by Windows Media Player 6.2 in Windows 98 Second Edition in 1999.

Windows 98 introduced back and forward navigation buttons and the address bar in Windows Explorer, among other things. One of the biggest changes was the introduction of the Windows Driver Model for computer components and accessories – one driver to support all future versions of Windows.

In Windows 98 USB support was much improved and led to widespread adoption, including USB hubs and USB mice.

Windows ME

Considered a low point in the Windows series by many – at least, until they saw Windows Vista – Windows Millennium Edition was the last Windows to be based on MS-DOS, and the last in the Windows 9x line.

Released in September 2000, it is a consumer-directed operating system paired with Windows 2000 aimed at the enterprise market. It introduces consumers to several important concepts, including a more automated system recovery tool.

IE 5.5, Windows Media Player 7 and Windows Movie Maker are all making their appearances for the first time. Autocomplete also appears in Windows Explorer, but the operating system is notoriously buggy, fails to install properly and is generally bad.

Windows 2000

ME's sister company, Windows 2000 was released in February 2000 and was based on Microsoft's business-oriented Windows NT system and later became the basis for Windows XP.

Microsoft automatic updates played an important role in Windows 2000 and became the first Windows to support hibernation.

Windows XP

Arguably one of the best versions of Windows, Windows XP was released in October 2001 and brought Microsoft's enterprise line and consumer line of operating systems under one roof.

It was based on Windows NT like Windows 2000, but brought the consumer-friendly elements of Windows ME. The Start menu and taskbar are getting a visual overhaul, bringing in a green Start button, blue taskbar and vista wallpaper, along with various shadows and other visual effects.

ClearType, which was designed to make text easier to read on LCD screens, was introduced, as were the built-in CD burning, automatic playback of CDs and other media, plus various automatic update and recovery tools, which unlike Windows ME actually worked.

Windows XP is Microsoft's longest running operating system, saw three major updates and was supported until April 2014 – 13 years from its original release date. Windows XP was still in use on an estimated 430m PC when it was discontinued.

The biggest issue is security: even though it has a built-in firewall, it's turned off by default. The immense popularity of Windows XP turned out to be a boon to hackers and criminals, who exploited its vulnerabilities, especially in Internet Explorer, mercilessly – leading Bill Gates to initiate the “Trusted Computing” initiative and the subsequent publication of XP-hardened Service Pack updates. against attack substantially.

Windows Vista

Windows XP lasted nearly six years before being replaced by Windows Vista in January 2007. Vista updated the look and feel of Windows with a greater focus on transparency, search, and security elements. Its development, codenamed “Longhorn”, was problematic, with ambitious elements abandoned to make it into production.

It was buggy, burdening users with hundreds of requests for app permissions under “User Account Control” – the result of a Trustworthy Computing initiative that now means that users must approve or deny attempts by programs to make various changes. The problem with UAC is that it causes complacency, with people clicking “yes” to almost anything – bringing security back to its pre-UAC state. It also ran slowly on older computers even though they were considered “Vista Ready” – a label that sued because not all versions of Vista could run on PCs with that label.

PC gamers saw a boost from the inclusion of Microsoft's Vista DirectX 10 technology.

Windows Media Player 11 and IE 7 debuted, along with Windows Defender an anti-spyware program. Vista also included voice recognition, Windows DVD Maker and Photo Gallery, as well as being the first Windows to be distributed on DVD. Later versions of Windows Vista without Windows Media Player were created in response to an anti-trust investigation.

Windows 7

Considered by many to be what Windows Vista should look like, Windows 7 was first released in October 2009. It was meant to fix all the problems and criticisms faced by Vista, with minor changes to its appearance and a concentration on user-friendly features and lacking “overload dialog boxes. ”
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It was faster, more stable and easier to use, being the operating system that most users and businesses would upgrade to from Windows XP, completely abandoning Vista.

Handwriting recognition debuted in 7, as did the ability to “flick” windows to the top or side of the screen, allowing for more automatic window resizing.

Windows 7 saw Microsoft become a hit in Europe with an antitrust investigation over IE pre-installs, which led to a browser sound screen being shown to new users allowing them to choose, which browser to install on first boot.

Windows 8

Released in October 2012, Windows 8 was Microsoft's most radical overhaul of the Windows interface, ditching the Start button and Start menu in favor of a more touch-friendly Start screen.

The new tiled interface sees program icons and live tiles, which display information at a glance usually associated with “widgets”, replacing the list of programs and icons. A desktop is still included, which resembles Windows 7.

Windows 8 is faster than previous versions of Windows and includes support for new, much faster USB 3.0 devices. The Windows Store, which offers universal Windows apps that run in full-screen mode only, is introduced. Programs can still be installed from third parties like other iterations of Windows, but they can only access the traditional Windows desktop interface.

The radical overhaul was not welcomed by many. Microsoft is trying to tread a fine line between touchscreen support and desktop users, but ultimately desktop users who want to control Windows with a traditional mouse and keyboard instead of a touchscreen feel Windows 8 is a step back.

There's also a touch screen that's too little used, or offered, to make its touch-oriented interface useful or even necessary – despite parallel tablets like the iPad, and smartphones, which had begun to outpace PC sales in late 2010.

Windows RT, which runs on the ARM-based processors traditionally found in non-PC smartphones and tablets, was introduced alongside Windows 8 with the Microsoft Surface tablet. It looks and feels like Windows 8, but it can't run traditional Windows apps, instead relying on the Windows Store for third-party apps.

Windows 8.1

The free points release for Windows 8 introduced in October 2013, Windows 8.1 marks a change to Microsoft's annual software update and includes the first steps in the Microsoft U-turn around a new visual interface.

Windows 8.1 reintroduced the Start button, which brings up the Start screen from the Windows 8.1 desktop view. Users can also choose to boot directly to the Windows 8.1 desktop, which is better suited for those using a desktop computer with a mouse and keyboard rather than the touch-focused Start screen.

Windows 10

Announced on September 30, 2014, Windows 10 was only released as a trial version for interested users to try. The “technical preview” is still a lot of work in progress.

Windows 10 is another step in the Microsoft-turn, bringing back the Start menu and more balance for users of traditional desktop computers.

Some of the interesting features include the ability to switch between keyboard and mouse mode and tablet mode, for computers like the Surface Pro 3 with a detachable keyboard.

Windows 10 – although the ninth version of Windows – is designed to unify all Windows platforms across multiple devices, including Windows Phones and tablets, with universal apps that can be downloaded from the Windows Store and run on all Windows devices.

It won't be available until 2015, likely after Microsoft's developer conference in April, so for now Windows 8.1 is the latest version of Windows. Here is the history of Windows 10

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