Windows History

Windows History

This article describes the Windows history. As information begins to emerge about Windows 9, and the venerable Windows XP finally approaches the end of its extended support lifetime, we examine the history of Microsoft's operating system.

Windows — originally codenamed 'Interface Manager' was announced by Bill Gates in 1983, but didn't ship until 20 November 1985. Its first incarnation was as a front end for Microsoft's command-line DOS (Disk Operating System). Windows 1.0 could only support tiled windows, but had desktop features such as MS-DOS Executive (DOS file manager), Calendar, Cardfile, Notepad, Terminal, Calculator and Clock. Utilities included RAMDrive (for managing memory cards designed to beat the PC's 640KB memory limit), Clipboard and Print Spooler. There was even a game, Reversi. In a 'special introductory offer', Windows 1.0 came with Windows Write and Windows Paint and cost $99. The minimum system requirements for Windows 1.0 were: MS-DOS version 2.0; two double-sided floppy disk drives or a hard disk; 256KB of memory or greater; and a graphics adapter card. Fast forward to 2014, and Windows is still very much with us, subjects of the moment being how organisations should handle the end of extended support for the 2001-vintage Windows XP, and Microsoft's developing plans for Windows 9, codenamed Threshold.

Windows, 1985-2014

There has been a plethora of Windows versions since 1985, many of which will have played memorable roles in Phoenix-Technologies Blog readers' computing experience, at work and at home. During this time it has progressed from a simple DOS shell to a mature OS running everything from smartphones to datacentres. Whether you're a fan of Microsoft's platform, an implacable opponent, or an agnostic user simply trying to get stuff done, there's a lot of computing history wrapped up in the evolution of Windows.

• 1985 Windows 1.0 20 Nov
• 1987 Windows 2.0 9 Dec
• 1988 Windows/286 2.1 And Windows/386 2.1 27 May
• 1990 Windows 3.0 22 May
• 1992 Windows 3.1 6 Apr Windows for Workgroups 3.1 27 Oct Windows for Pen Computing 1.0
• 1993 Windows NT 3.1 27 Jul Windows for Workgroups 3.11 8 Nov
• 1994 Windows NT 3.5 21 Sep
• 1995 Microsoft Bob 10 Mar Windows 95 24 Aug
• 1996 Windows NT 4.0 24 Aug
• 1998 Windows 98 25 Jun
• 1999 Windows 98 SE 5 May
• 2000 Windows 2000 Server, Advanced Server and Windows 2000 Professional 17 Feb Windows ME 14 Sep Windows 2000 Datacenter Server 26 Sep
• 2001 Windows XP 25 Oct Windows XP Embedded 28 Nov
• 2002 Windows XP Service Pack 1 9 Sep Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 7 Nov Windows XP Media Center Edition 31 Oct
• 2003 Windows XP 64-bit Edition Version 2003 28 Mar Windows Server 2003 24 Apr Windows Storage Server 2003 10 Sep Windows Small Business Server 2003 9 Oct
• 2004 Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 and Windows XP Service Pack 2 ,25 Aug
• 2005 Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition 25 Apr
• 2006 Windows Server 2003 R2 1 Feb , Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 9 Jun Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs 8 Jul Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 29 Jul Windows XP KN and K editions 24 Aug
• 2007 Windows Vista 30 Jan Windows Home Server 4 Nov
• 2008 Windows Server 2008 27 Feb Windows HPC Server 2008 22 Sep Windows Small Business Server 2008 & Essential Business Server 2008 12 Nov
• 2009 Windows Server 2008 Foundation 1 Apr Windows Storage Server 2008 6 May Windows 7 22 Oct Windows Server 2008 R2 22 Oct
• 2010 Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 24 Feb , Windows Embedded Standard 7 27 Apr, Windows HPC Server 2008 R2 20 Sep , Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 22 Sep,
• 2011 Windows MultiPoint Server 2011 21 Feb , Windows Small Business Server 2011 17 Mar , Windows Home Server 2011 6 Apr , Windows Thin PC 6 Jun , Windows Runtime (WinRT) 13 Sep
• 2012 Windows 8 Consumer Preview 29 Feb , Windows Server 8 Beta 1 Mar, Windows 8 Release Preview 31 May , Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate , Windows Server 2012 RTM Windows 8 RTM 1 Aug 2012 Metro name change 9 Aug , Windows Server 2012 4 Sep , Windows Storage Server 2012 14 Sep , Windows 8 25 Oct , Windows RT 26 Oct , Windows Phone 8 29 Oct , Microsoft HPC Pack 2012 14 Dec,
• 2013 Windows Embedded 8 Handheld 14 Jan, Windows Embedded 8 20 Mar , Windows Server 2012 R2 , Windows Embedded 8.1 , Windows 8.1 , Windows RT 8.1
• 2014 Microsoft Build 2014 announcements 3 Apr , Extended support for Windows XP ends 8 Apr

Microsoft is expected to reveal some details of the next-generation Windows, codenamed 'Threshold', at its Build 2014 developer conference. This may include a roadmap for an April 2015 release of 'Windows 9', covering desktop, console (Xbox One) and smartphone platforms with an increased number of common elements. A release date for Windows Phone 8.1 is also expected at Build 2014.

After April 8 2014, Microsoft will no longer deliver new security updates, non-security hotfixes, free or paid assisted support options and online technical content updates for Windows XP. " As of December 2013, Net Market Share estimated that XP still accounted for 29 percent of the desktop OS market."