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Timeline of Operating System: Windows

  • Interface Manager: The start of Windows

    Interface Manager: The start of Windows
    Windows Interface Manager was never released, this is only used by testing the system. The Windows project, code-named Interface Manager, began in 1982, during the early years of the Graphical User Interface. Based on photos of an early design published in the 1983-12 issue of BYTE magazine, the prototype describes what Interface Manager might have looked like. Development of the graphics engine, known as Interface Manager, began in 1983.
  • Windows 1.0

    Windows 1.0
    Microsoft developed Windows 1.0, a graphical operating system for personal computers. Windows 1.0 is the initial version of the Microsoft Windows operating system, which was launched on November 20, 1985. It runs as a graphical, 16-bit multi-tasking shell on top of an existing MS-DOS system, allowing users to use both MS-DOS and Windows-based graphical programs.
  • Windows 2.0

    Windows 2.0
    On December 9, 1987, Microsoft introduced Windows 2.0, which replaced Windows 1.0. Windows 2.1x was released in 1988, followed by Windows 2.11 in 1989, and finally Windows 3.0 in 1990. Microsoft officially supported Windows 2.0 until December 31, 2001. Minimization and maximizing were introduced for the first time in Windows.
  • Windows 3.0

    Windows 3.0
    Windows 3.0 was created on May 22, 1988, when a team of Microsoft developers decided to explore with developing a protected mode Windows. They hacked together a crude version and presented it to business management, who were sufficiently impressed to approve it as an authorized project.
  • Windows 3.1

    Windows 3.1
    Microsoft launched Windows 3.1, codenamed Janus, as a series of 16-bit GUI operating environments for MS-DOS for usage on personal computers. Windows 3.1, which was introduced on April 6, 1992 as a replacement to Windows 3.0, was the first in the series. Between 1992 and 1994, subsequent versions were published until the release of Windows 95, which succeeded it. On December 31, 2001, Microsoft's support for all 16-bit versions of Windows came to an end.
  • Windows NT 3.1

    Windows NT 3.1
    Windows NT 3.1x was launched to production on July 27, 1993, and is the first iteration of Microsoft's Windows NT range of server and company desktop operating systems. Because of the identical visual look of the user interface, the version number was selected to match that of Windows 3.1, Microsoft's most recent operating system at the time.
  • Windows Chicago

    Windows Chicago
    Microsoft introduced Windows 95 (codenamed Chicago) in 1995 as a consumer version of Windows. It was intended to succeed Windows 3.1 before being supplanted by Windows 98. This was a game-changing update for Windows, as well as Microsoft's first earnest effort to listen to customers. The average user never saw the MS-DOS prompt unless they wanted to, despite the fact that it was still built on the solid, albeit out-of-date, foundations of MS-DOS.
  • Windows NT 3.5

    Windows NT 3.5
    The second release of the Microsoft Windows NT operating system is Windows NT 3.5 (codenamed "Daytona"). On September 21, 1994, it was released. One of the key goals of Windows NT 3.5 production was to make the operating system faster; as a result, the development was codenamed "Daytona" after the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
  • Windows 95

    Windows 95
    Microsoft's Windows 95 operating system is a consumer-oriented software that is part of the Windows 9x family of operating systems. It was published to production on August 15, 1995, and to general retail on August 24, 1995, as the first operating system in the 9x family. It is the successor to Windows 3.1x.
  • Windows NT4

    Windows NT4
    Microsoft's Windows NT 4 is a huge update of the Windows NT operating system geared toward enterprises. On July 31, 1996, it was released to production, and on August 24, 1996, it was launched to consumers, exactly a year after its MS-DOS counterpart, Windows 95.
  • Windows 98

    Windows 98
    Microsoft's Windows 98 (codenamed Memphis, which was also the codename for Windows 97) is a graphical operating system. It is the operating system's second major release in the Windows 9x series. As the first entry in the 6th generation of operating systems, it was delivered to manufacture on May 15, 1998, and to retail on June 25, 1998. The successor to Windows 96 is Windows 98. It's a hybrid 16-bit/32-bit monolithic device with an MS-DOS-based boot stage, same like its predecessor.
  • Windows NT5

    Windows NT5
    Windows NT 5 is a Windows 98 superset: NT 5 will include all of the features found in Windows 98, including Digital TV integration, Internet Explorer 4.0, DirectX 5.0, and all of the other goodies you've heard about. However, All in noted that NT 5 will be the "ultimate commercial OS, an evident standard for corporations," while Windows 98 will be for consumers.
  • Windows 2000

    Windows 2000
    Windows 2000, also known as Windows NT 5.0, is a Microsoft operating system that is based on NT Technology and is designed for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. On December 15, 1999, Windows 2000 was launched to production, and on February 17, 2000, it was delivered to retail. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0 and the last Microsoft Windows product to bear the "Windows NT" label.
  • Windows Me

    Windows Me
    Windows Millennium Edition, also known as Windows Me (pronounced "M-E"), is a graphical operating system developed by Microsoft and released on September 14, 2000. It was the final operating system in the Windows 9x series. On July 11, 2006, Microsoft's support for Windows Me came to an end. Windows Me was the successor to Windows 98, and it was designed with home PC users in mind.
  • Windows Whistler

    Windows Whistler
    The pre-release codename for Windows XP, or NT 5.1, was Windows Whistler. It is Windows 2000's replacement. XP was the first edition of Windows that didn't compete with a DOS-based version, essentially consolidating the Windows series into a single pure 32-bit product.
  • Windows XP

    Windows XP
    Microsoft's Windows XP is a major update to the Windows NT operating system. It was published to production on August 24, 2001, with sales commencing on October 25, 2001. It was the direct successor to both Windows 2000 for professionals and Windows Me for home users. Until February 2007, it was Microsoft's operating system for use on computers including as personal and corporate desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PC.
  • Windows Server 2003

    Windows Server 2003
    The name of Microsoft's server operating systems is Windows Server 2003 (codenamed Whistler Server). It was released in April 2003 as the successor to Windows Server 2000 and is regarded as the cornerstone of Microsoft's Windows Server System range of business server products. Since 2015, Windows Server 2003 has been unsupported (indefinitely). Windows Server 2003 R2 has since taken its place.
  • Windows Server 2003 R2

    Windows Server 2003 R2
    Windows Server 2003 R2, available in both x64 and x86 versions, is the first R2 edition of the server operating system after Microsoft began a four-year development cycle in May 2004 that aimed for a major operating system update every four years, with a smaller "R2" release in between.
  • Windows Vista

    Windows Vista
    Windows Vista (codenamed Longhorn) was launched more than five years just after predecessor, Windows XP, marking the greatest period of time between successive Microsoft Windows pc operating system updates at the time. Vista attempts to improve communication between workstations on a local network by using community technology to make information and video sharing between computers and devices easier.
  • Windows Server 2008

    Windows Server 2008
    Windows Server 2008 is the fourth version of Microsoft's Windows Server operating system, which is based on Windows Vista and is part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. On February 4, 2008, it was issued to manufacture, and on February 27, 2008, it was published to the general public.
  • Windows 7

    Windows 7
    Microsoft's Windows 7 is a major update to the Windows NT operating system. On July 22, 2009, it was launched to manufacture, and on October 22, 2009, it was made commercially available. It is the follow-up to Windows Vista, which was introduced almost three years ago. It remained an operating system for personal computers, including home and desktops, laptops and tablet.
  • Windows Server 2008 R2

    Windows Server 2008 R2
    Windows Server 2008 R2 is the fifth edition of Microsoft's Windows Server operating system, which is part of the Windows NT operating system group. On July 22, 2009, it was launched to manufacture, and on October 22, 2009, it was made commercially available.
  • Windows Server 2012

    Windows Server 2012
    Windows Server 2012, often known as "Windows Server 8," is the sixth edition of Microsoft's Windows Server operating system, which is part of the Windows NT group.
  • Windows 8

    Windows 8
    Windows 8 is a Microsoft operating system designed for personal devices such as home and corporate PCs, laptops, and tablets. It is the successor to Windows 7 and precedes Windows 8.1 and Windows 10. It is part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. There are four primary editions of Windows 8: Windows 8, Windows 8 Professional, Windows 8 Enterprise, and Windows RT 8, Windows Phone 8.
  • Windows 8.1

    Windows 8.1
    Microsoft's Windows 8.1 is a substantial update to the Windows NT operating system. It was launched to manufacture on August 27, 2013, and it went on sale to the general public on October 17, 2013, a year after its predecessor.
  • Windows Server 2012 R2

    Windows Server 2012 R2
    Windows Server 2012 R2, often known as "Windows Server 8.1," is the seventh edition of Microsoft's Windows Server operating system, which is part of the Windows NT group. It was presented at TechEd North America on June 3, 2013, and launched on October 18, the same year. Windows Server 2012 R2 was succeeded by Windows Server 2016.
  • Windows 10

    Windows 10
    Microsoft's Windows 10 is a substantial update to the Windows NT operating system. It was set to release to production on July 15, 2015, and widely published for the general public on July 29, 2015. Instead of introducing a whole new and separate version of its desktop OS every few years, Microsoft followed Apple's lead and standardized on Windows 10, much as its Cupertino-based rival did with OS X. On June 24, 2021, Microsoft is expected to launch its successor, Windows 11.
  • Windows Server 2016

    Windows Server 2016
    Microsoft's Windows Server 2016 is a server operating system that was released simultaneously with Windows 10 as part of the Available for windows systems. Unlike prior Windows Server editions, which were launched simultaneously with the user operating system, Windows Server 2016 was announced at Microsoft's Ignite conference on July 18, 2016, and became generally available on August 2, 2016.
  • Windows Server 2019

    Windows Server 2019
    Windows Server 2019 is the ninth edition of Microsoft's Windows Server operating system, which is one of the Available For windows systems. It was released alongside Windows 10 version 1809 at the same time.