Changes

'''Windows''' is a series of [[operating system]]s produced and maintained by the [[Microsoft Corporation]]. It was estimated that as of December 2007<ref>[http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_os.asp OS Statistics]. Refsnes Data. Retrieved 29 January, 2008.</ref> Microsoft Windows accounted for nearly 90% of operating system usage, with 3 out of 4 being [[Windows XP]]. Windows is used for desktop, and [[server]] computers,<ref>[http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/default.mspx Windows Server 2003 R2 Home]. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved 29 January, 2008.</ref> and more recently also for [[cellular phone]]s and tablet computers. It is intended for use with the [[Intel]] x86-64 family of processors.

'''Windows''' is a series of [[operating system]]s produced and maintained by the [[Microsoft Corporation]]. It was estimated that as of December 2007<ref>[http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_os.asp OS Statistics]. Refsnes Data. Retrieved 29 January 2008.</ref> Microsoft Windows accounted for nearly 90% of [[Operating system|operating system]] usage, with 3 out of 4 being [[Windows XP]]. Windows is used for desktop, and [[server]] computers,<ref>[https://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/default.mspx Windows Server 2003 R2 Home]. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved 29 January 2008.</ref> and more recently also for [[cellular phone]]s and tablet computers. It is intended for use with the [[Intel]] x86-64 family of processors.

Early versions of Windows (98 and earlier) were notoriously unreliable, despite (or maybe because of?) Microsoft's near-monopoly share of the operating system market. They crashed so often that the term "blue screen of death" entered the vocabulary. ''See also this satire: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yX8yrOAjfKM&feature=related  Matrix Runs on Windows XP]''

Early versions of Windows (98 and earlier) were notoriously unreliable, despite (or maybe because of?) Microsoft's near-monopoly share of the desktop operating system market. They crashed so often that the term "blue screen of death" entered the vocabulary.

Initially Windows was a text-based system (MS-DOS).  Then a [[graphical user interface]] extension was added onto this MS-DOS core<ref>[http://www.microsoft.com/windows/WinHistoryProGraphic.mspx Windows History: Windows Desktop Timeline]. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved 29 January, 2008.</ref> It became a full GUI operating system free of the MS-DOS core beginning with the release of Windows NT.

Initially Windows was a text-based system (MS-DOS).  Then a [[Graphical User Interface]] extension was added onto this MS-DOS core<ref>[https://www.microsoft.com/windows/WinHistoryProGraphic.mspx Windows History: Windows Desktop Timeline]. Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved 29 January 2008.</ref> It became a full GUI operating system free of the MS-DOS core beginning with the release of Windows NT.

==Windows Major Release Versions==

==Windows Major Release Versions==

! Name !! Version Number !! Public Release !! Notes !! Editions !! Minimum [[Random-access memory|RAM]] required !! Minimum [[Hard drive|drive]] space

! Name !! Version Number !! Public Release !! Notes !! Editions !! Minimum [[Random-access memory|RAM]] required !! Minimum [[Hard drive|drive]] space

|-

|-

| '''Windows 1.0''' || 1.0 || November 20, 1985<ref>http://www.networkworld.com/article/2193906/windows/windows-1-0-turning-25--first-experiences-recalled.html</ref> || Sold 500,000 copies <ref>[http://techland.time.com/2013/05/07/a-brief-history-of-windows-sales-figures-1985-present/ A brief history of Windowss sales figures 1985-present, Time, May 7, 2013]</ref> ||  || ||

| '''[[Windows 1.0]]''' || 1.0 || November 20, 1985<ref>http://www.networkworld.com/article/2193906/windows/windows-1-0-turning-25--first-experiences-recalled.html</ref> || Sold 500,000 copies <ref>[http://techland.time.com/2013/05/07/a-brief-history-of-windows-sales-figures-1985-present/ A brief history of Windowss sales figures 1985-present, Time, May 7, 2013]</ref> ||  || ||

|-

|-

| Windows 1.02 || 1.02 || May 1986 || Multilingual (international) release of 1.0 ||  || ||

| Windows 1.02 || 1.02 || May 1986 || Multilingual (international) release of 1.0 ||  || ||

|-

|-

| '''Windows 2.0''' || 2.11 || March 13, 1989 ||  

| '''Windows 2.0''' || 2.11 || March 13, 1989 ||  

*Last Windows version to run a [[Graphic User Interface|GUI]] as a shell over a base of MS-DOS<ref name="HowToGeek">http://www.howtogeek.com/132488/does-windows-still-rely-on-ms-dos</ref><br>  

*Last Windows version to run a [[Graphic User Interface|GUI]] as a shell over a base of MS-DOS<ref name="HowToGeek">http://www.howtogeek.com/132488/does-windows-still-rely-on-ms-dos</ref>

*Sold 1 million copies<br>

*Sold 1 million copies

  ||  || ||

  ||  || ||

|-

|-

| '''Windows 3.0''' || NT 3.0 ||  May 22, 1990  ||  

| '''Windows 3.0''' || NT 3.0 ||  May 22, 1990  ||  

*First Windows version to run without an [[MS-DOS]] base<ref name="HowToGeek">http://www.howtogeek.com/132488/does-windows-still-rely-on-ms-dos</ref>

*First Windows version to run without an [[MS-DOS]] base<ref name="HowToGeek">http://www.howtogeek.com/132488/does-windows-still-rely-on-ms-dos</ref>

*Sold 4 million copies<br>

*Sold 4 million copies

||  ||  ||

||  ||  ||

|-

|-

|-

|-

| Windows NT 3.51 || 3.51.1057 || May 30, 1995 ||  

| Windows NT 3.51 || 3.51.1057 || May 30, 1995 ||  

*An operating system design that led to the elimination of [[Novell Networks]] leading market share. <br>

*An operating system design that led to the elimination of [[Novell Networks]] leading market share.  

*This New Technologies (NT) kernel became the basis for all future Windows versions through Windows 10.<br>

*This New Technologies (NT) kernel became the basis for all future Windows versions through Windows 10.

   ||   

   ||   

* Workstation

* Workstation

||  ||

||  ||

|-

|-

| '''Windows 95''' || NT 4.0.950 || August 24, 1995  || Uses the same skin as [[Windows 98|98]], [[Windows 2000|2000]], and [[Windows ME|ME]]  ||  || 4MB<ref>https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/138349</ref> || 40.8-76.2MB<ref>https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/138349</ref> ||  

| '''[[Windows 95]]''' || NT 4.0.950 || August 24, 1995  || Uses the same skin as [[Windows 98|98]], [[Windows 2000|2000]], and [[Windows ME|ME]]  ||  || 4MB<ref>https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/138349</ref> || 40.8-76.2MB<ref>https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/138349</ref> ||  

|-

|-

| Windows NT 4.0 || NT 4.0  || July 29, 1996  || ||  

| Windows NT 4.0 || NT 4.0  || July 29, 1996  || ||  

|-

|-

| '''[[Windows 2000]]''' || NT 5.0.2195 ||  February 17, 2000  ||  

| '''[[Windows 2000]]''' || NT 5.0.2195 ||  February 17, 2000  ||  

*Uses the same skin as 95, 98, and ME<br>

*Uses the same skin as 95, 98, and ME

*Last dedicated operating system for business use

*Last dedicated operating system for business use

||   

||   

| Windows CE Cedar || CE 3.0 || April 2000  ||  Windows CE for Automotive  ||  ||  ||

| Windows CE Cedar || CE 3.0 || April 2000  ||  Windows CE for Automotive  ||  ||  ||

|-

|-

| '''Windows ME''' || NT 4.90.3000 || September 14, 2000 ||  

| '''[[Windows ME]]''' || NT 4.90.3000 || September 14, 2000 ||  

*Uses the same skin as 95, 98, and 2000<br>

*Uses the same skin as 95, 98, and 2000

*Last dedicated operating system for personal use

*Last dedicated operating system for personal use

||  ||  ||

||  ||  ||

|-

|-

| '''[[Windows XP]]''' || 5.1.2600 ||  October 25, 2001 ||  

| '''[[Windows XP]]''' || 5.1.2600 ||  October 25, 2001 ||  

*Last major version to use this layout, which was introduced with [[Windows 95]]<br>

*Last major version to use this layout, which was introduced with [[Windows 95]]

*XP was the beginning of one unified O/S for both personal and business use.<br>

*XP was the beginning of one unified O/S for both personal and business use.

*Only one version is still supported by Microsoft, XP Embedded until January 2019.

*Only one version is still supported by Microsoft, XP Embedded until January 2019.

*Sold 400 million copies

*Sold 400 million copies

||Home Basic: 512MB,<br /> All Others: 1GB<ref>http://www.techradar.com/news/computing-components/how-much-ram-do-i-need-721332</ref>|| 20GB

||Home Basic: 512MB,<br /> All Others: 1GB<ref>http://www.techradar.com/news/computing-components/how-much-ram-do-i-need-721332</ref>|| 20GB

|-

|-

| ''Windows Server 2008'' ||  || 2008 ||  ||  || 512 MB || Foundation: 10GB,<br /> other x32/86: 20GB,<br /> other x64: 32GB

| ''Windows Server 2008'' ||  || February 27, 2008 ||  ||  || 512 MB || Foundation: 10GB,<br /> other x32/86: 20GB,<br /> other x64: 32GB

|-

|-

| '''[[Windows 7]]''' || NT 6.1.7600 || October 22, 2009 ||  

| '''[[Windows 7]]''' || NT 6.1.7600 || October 22, 2009 ||  

|| [[32-bit Windows|x32]]/x86: 1GB, [[64-bit Windows|x64]]: 2GB<ref name="answers.microsoft.com">http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_xp-windows_install/how-much-ram-is-required-by-windows-xp-to-operate/6e341e7e-4656-4bcb-94e8-d7efc35d3b56?auth=1</ref>|| [[32-bit Windows|x32]]/x86: 16GB,<br /> [[64-bit Windows|x64]]: 20GB

|| [[32-bit Windows|x32]]/x86: 1GB, [[64-bit Windows|x64]]: 2GB<ref name="answers.microsoft.com">http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_xp-windows_install/how-much-ram-is-required-by-windows-xp-to-operate/6e341e7e-4656-4bcb-94e8-d7efc35d3b56?auth=1</ref>|| [[32-bit Windows|x32]]/x86: 16GB,<br /> [[64-bit Windows|x64]]: 20GB

|-

|-

| ''Windows Server 2008 R2'' ||  || 2010 ||  || || 512 MB || Foundation: 10GB, <br />others: 32GB

| ''Windows Server 2008 R2'' ||  || 2010 ||  ||

|| 512 MB || Foundation: 10GB, <br />others: 32GB

|-

|-

| ''Windows Embedded Compact 7 || CE 6.0 R3 || 2011 ||  

| ''Windows Embedded Compact 7 || CE 6.0 R3 || 2011 ||  

*Windows Embedded Automotive 7<br>

*Windows Embedded Automotive 7

*Windows Phone 7<br>

*Windows Phone 7

  ||  ||  ||

  ||  ||  ||

|-

|-

|-

|-

| '''[[Windows 8]]''' || NT 6.2  || October 26, 2012 ||  

| '''[[Windows 8]]''' || NT 6.2  || October 26, 2012 ||  

*Designed to serve as an [[Operating system|OS]] for all kinds of devices, including [[smartphone|smartphones]]

*Designed to serve as an [[Operating system|OS]] for all kinds of devices, including [[smartphone]]s

*Also did away with the Start menu  

*Also did away with the Start menu  

*Sold surprisingly poorly

*Sold surprisingly poorly

  ||

  ||

|-

|-

| '''[[Windows 10]]''' || NT 6.4<ref>http://windowsitpro.com/windows-10/windows-10s-inventoried-version-number</ref>  || July 29, 2015 ||  

| '''[[Windows 10]]''' || NT 6.4<ref>http://windowsitpro.com/windows-10/windows-10s-inventoried-version-number</ref>  

*Designed to collect personal information and customize itself based on preferences<br>

or "NT 10"  

*270 million copies of version 10 are in use as of March 2016. <ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/us-microsoft-nadella-idUSKCN0WW21Q Microsoft's Windows 10 reaches 270 million users, no mobile numbers, Reuters, March 30, 2016</ref>

|| July 29, 2015 ||  

*Designed to collect personal information and customize itself based on preferences

*270 million copies of version 10 are in use as of March 2016.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-microsoft-nadella-idUSKCN0WW21Q Microsoft's Windows 10 reaches 270 million users, no mobile numbers, Reuters, March 30, 2016]</ref>

*Extended support ends October 14, 2025

*Extended support ends October 14, 2025

   ||   

   ||   

* Home

* Home

  || x32/x86: 16GB,<br /> x64: 20GB<ref>https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/2257/windows-10-minimum-hardware-requirements-for-pc</ref><ref>https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/dn915086%28v=vs.85%29.aspx</ref>

  || x32/x86: 16GB,<br /> x64: 20GB<ref>https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/2257/windows-10-minimum-hardware-requirements-for-pc</ref><ref>https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/dn915086%28v=vs.85%29.aspx</ref>

|-

|-

| ''Windows Server 2016'' ||  || 2016  ||  || || ||

| Windows Server 2016 ||  || October 12, 2016<br /><small>(RTM: September 26, 2016)</small> || ||  

  || 4GB<ref name="win11 Microsoft Requirements">https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-system-requirements-86c11283-ea52-4782-9efd-7674389a7ba3</ref><ref name="windowscentral.com">https://www.windowscentral.com/windows-11-system-requirements</ref> || 64GB<ref name="win11 Microsoft Requirements">https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-system-requirements-86c11283-ea52-4782-9efd-7674389a7ba3</ref><ref name="windowscentral.com">https://www.windowscentral.com/windows-11-system-requirements</ref> ||

|-

|-

! Name !! Version Number !! Public Release !! Notes !! Editions !! Minimum [[Random-access memory|RAM]] required !! Minimum [[Hard drive|drive]] space

! Name !! Version Number !! Public Release !! Notes !! Editions !! Minimum [[Random-access memory|RAM]] required !! Minimum [[Hard drive|drive]] space

|}

|}

(Some popular NT releases are listed in '''bold''' and special server releases are listed in ''italic''.) <ref>http://www.nextofwindows.com/a-list-of-windows-operating-system-version-number</ref><ref>http://www.computerhope.com/whow.htm</ref><ref>http://www.carrona.org/winreldt.html#31</ref><ref>http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/history#T1=era0</ref>

(Some popular NT releases are listed in '''bold''' and special server releases are listed in ''italic''.) <ref>http://www.nextofwindows.com/a-list-of-windows-operating-system-version-number</ref><ref>http://www.computerhope.com/whow.htm</ref><ref>http://www.carrona.org/winreldt.html#31</ref><ref>http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/history#T1=era0</ref>

{{reflist|2}}

{{reflist|2}}

==External Links==

==External links==

*[http://www.microsoft.com/windows/default.mspx Microsoft Windows Home Page]

*[https://www.microsoft.com/windows/default.mspx Microsoft Windows Home Page]

[[Category: Operating Systems]]

[[Category:Operating Systems]]

[[Category:Microsoft]]

[[Category:Microsoft]]