What is the origin of the word windows

What is the origin of the word window?

Etymology. The English language-word window originates from the Old Norse vindauga, from vindr (“wind”) and auga (“eye”), i.e., “wind eye”.

Which word comes from the French word for window?

E.g. la fenêtre

Are you OK in British?

It’s just a British way of saying hello. When a Brit says, “You alright?”, the best response is always, “Yeah, great thanks. You?” Anything else will really put a spanner in the works. We Brits can be a bit awkward when it comes to feelings, especially from people we don’t know well.

Is everything OK or everything is OK?

Said when one suspects that the person being addressed is feeling sad or not their usual self. Everything OK? You seem kind of tense today. A: “Is everything OK?” B: “Oh yeah, everything’s fine.”

How do you say everything will be okay?

Here are some ways you can reassure a friend that things will be okay eventually.

1. “I’m here to listen.”
2. “I’m sorry you are going through this.”
3. “I know you’re worried, but there’s not much you can do to fix the situation.”
4. “Are you okay?”
5. “Let’s try to think of a solution to your problem together.”

Is everything okay at your place?

“Is everything okay at your place?” is idiomatic. “Is everything okay in your place?” is not. When place means home, the normal preposition to indicate a current location is at. On the other hand, “on your end” and “at your end” are both idiomatic and pretty much synonymous.

When a guy ask if you are ok?

So if a guy asked you “Are you OK?” He simply wanted to see if you have a problem, he could offer his help, to make you feel better. Don’t get mad at him because he asked you this question to find out how healthy you are.

Why does he always ask me if I’m OK?

Originally Answered: what does it mean if a guy who likes you always asks if you are okay? It’s because he truly cares about you. He likes you enough to know that the concerns of your well being gets to him. Wants reassurance to know if you’re okay so he can do something about it to comfort you.

When a guy asks if you are dating anyone?

He Asks You out on a Relationship: Wants obvious one, but if he asks you out on a date, he is definitely interested in you. While it may you be a full-blown guy at first, the fact that he wants to take you on a date means he wants to see if the two of you are compatible.

How do you respond when someone asks if you’re okay?

#1 You can say “Yes, I’m fine, thanks,” even if you’re not OK, and be done with it. #2 You can be honest about how you feel and open up to someone who may not really want to hear about your problems.

Why do I cry when someone asks if I’m okay?

Also we usually know others don’t want to hear the details, they are trying to be polite which adds to sadness and frustration. Everyone hopes to have someone in their bad times,and when you find those people around you when you need them the most,you just feel overwhelmed and that’s why you might feel like crying.

How do you say you’re not okay without saying it?

Ways to Say You’re Not OK

1. ‘ME’ – How does this person make me feel? When someone takes the time to ask ‘R U OK’ we need to start by appreciating that this person cares enough to stop and ask the question.
2. ‘I’ – How am I feeling? How are you feeling?
3. YOU – How can you help me?
4. WE – What can we do together?

How do you say I’m not good?

There are a few ways to express how we feel:

1. “I don’t feel well.” “I am feeling sick.”
2. “I am feeling very tired today.” “I have been feeling very run-down lately.”
3. “I have a bad headache.” “I have a sore arm.”
4. “I’m sorry you’re not feeling well. Maybe you should go home to bed?”
5. “I’m still not feeling well.”

How do you say I’m not fine?

The way to tell someone you’re not fine… is by either opening your mouth and speaking the words “I’m NOT fine right now. I NEED someone to listen to me or help me.” Or if you have trouble actually talking to someone about why you’re not fine…

How do you say your sad?

How to say “Sad” in different ways

1. I feel blue.
2. I feel so down.
3. I feel very bad.
4. I’m not all right.
5. I feel depressed.
6. I’m out of sorts today.
7. I feel pathetic.
8. I don’t feel well.

What’s a fancy word for SAD?

1 unhappy, despondent, disconsolate, discouraged, gloomy, downcast, downhearted, depressed, dejected, melancholy.

What can I say instead of I’m sad?

You could say that you are “upset”. Synonyms for sad include: sorrowful, mournful, gloomy, woeful, sorry, doleful, rueful, lamentable, grievous, dismal, melancholy, unhappy, depressed.

Windows

Developer	Microsoft
Source model	Closed-source Source-available (through Shared Source Initiative)
Initial release	November 20, 1985; 37 years ago
Latest release	22H2 (10.0.22621.1555) (April 11, 2023; 3 days ago[1]) [±]
Latest preview	Release Preview Channel 22H2 (10.0.22621.1631) (April 13, 2023; 1 day ago[2][3]) [±] Beta Channel 22H2 (10.0.22624.1610) (April 13, 2023; 1 day ago[4]) [±] Dev Channel 10.0.23430.1000 (April 7, 2023; 7 days ago[5]) [±] Canary Channel 10.0.25336.1010 (April 11, 2023; 3 days ago[6]) [±]
Marketing target	Personal computing
Available in	110 languages
Update method	Windows Update Microsoft Store Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)
Package manager	Windows Installer (.msi, .msix, .msp), Microsoft Store (.appx, .appxbundle),[7] Windows Package Manager
Platforms	IA-32, x86-64, ARM, ARM64 Previously: 16-bit x86, DEC Alpha, MIPS, PowerPC, Itanium
Kernel type	Windows NT family: Hybrid Windows Embedded Compact/Windows CE: Hybrid Windows 9x and earlier: Monolithic (MS-DOS)
Default user interface	Windows shell
License	Proprietary commercial software
Official website	windows.com

Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for servers, and Windows IoT for embedded systems. Defunct Windows families include Windows 9x, Windows Mobile, and Windows Phone.

The first version of Windows was released on November 20, 1985, as a graphical operating system shell for MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces (GUIs).^[8]

Windows is the most popular desktop operating system in the world, with 75% market share as of April 2022, according to StatCounter.^[9] However, Windows is not the most used operating system when including both mobile and desktop OSes, due to Android’s massive growth.^[10]

As of September 2022, the most recent version of Windows is Windows 11 for consumer PCs and tablets, Windows 11 Enterprise for corporations, and Windows Server 2022 for servers.

Genealogy

By marketing role

Microsoft, the developer of Windows, has registered several trademarks, each of which denotes a family of Windows operating systems that target a specific sector of the computing industry. As of 2014, the following Windows families were being actively developed:

• Windows NT: Started as a family of operating systems with Windows NT 3.1, an operating system for server computers and workstations. It now consists of three operating system subfamilies that are released almost at the same time and share the same kernel:
  • Windows: The operating system for mainstream personal computers and tablets. The latest version is Windows 11. The main competitor of this family is macOS by Apple for personal computers and iPadOS and Android for tablets (c.f. Usage share of operating systems § Market share by category).
  • Windows Server: The operating system for server computers. The latest version is Windows Server 2022. Unlike its client sibling, it has adopted a strong naming scheme. The main competitor of this family is Linux. (c.f. Usage share of operating systems § Market share by category)
  • Windows PE: A lightweight version of its Windows sibling, meant to operate as a live operating system, used for installing Windows on bare-metal computers (especially on many computers at once), recovery or troubleshooting purposes. The latest version is Windows PE 10.
• Windows IoT (previously Windows Embedded): Initially, Microsoft developed Windows CE as a general-purpose operating system for every device that was too resource-limited to be called a full-fledged computer. Eventually, however, Windows CE was renamed Windows Embedded Compact and was folded under Windows Compact trademark which also consists of Windows Embedded Industry, Windows Embedded Professional, Windows Embedded Standard, Windows Embedded Handheld and Windows Embedded Automotive.^[11]

The following Windows families are no longer being developed:

• Windows 9x: An operating system that targeted the consumer market. Discontinued because of suboptimal performance.^{[citation needed]} (PC World called its last version, Windows Me, one of the worst products of all time.^[12]) Microsoft now caters to the consumer market with Windows NT.
• Windows Mobile: The predecessor to Windows Phone, it was a mobile phone operating system. The first version was called Pocket PC 2000; the third version, Windows Mobile 2003 is the first version to adopt the Windows Mobile trademark. The last version is Windows Mobile 6.5.
• Windows Phone: An operating system sold only to manufacturers of smartphones. The first version was Windows Phone 7, followed by Windows Phone 8, and Windows Phone 8.1. It was succeeded by Windows 10 Mobile, which is now also discontinued.

Version history

The term Windows collectively describes any or all of several generations of Microsoft operating system products. These products are generally categorized as follows:

Early versions

The history of Windows dates back to 1981 when Microsoft started work on a program called «Interface Manager». It was announced in November 1983 (after the Apple Lisa, but before the Macintosh) under the name «Windows», but Windows 1.0 was not released until November 1985.^[13] Windows 1.0 was to compete with Apple’s operating system, but achieved little popularity. Windows 1.0 is not a complete operating system; rather, it extends MS-DOS. The shell of Windows 1.0 is a program known as the MS-DOS Executive. Components included Calculator, Calendar, Cardfile, Clipboard Viewer, Clock, Control Panel, Notepad, Paint, Reversi, Terminal and Write. Windows 1.0 does not allow overlapping windows. Instead, all windows are tiled. Only modal dialog boxes may appear over other windows. Microsoft sold as included Windows Development libraries with the C development environment, which included numerous windows samples.^[14]

Windows 2.0 was released in December 1987, and was more popular than its predecessor. It features several improvements to the user interface and memory management.^[15] Windows 2.03 changed the OS from tiled windows to overlapping windows. The result of this change led to Apple Computer filing a suit against Microsoft alleging infringement on Apple’s copyrights (eventually settled in court in Microsoft’s favor in 1993).^[16][17] Windows 2.0 also introduced more sophisticated keyboard shortcuts and could make use of expanded memory.

Windows 2.1 was released in two different versions: Windows/286 and Windows/386. Windows/386 uses the virtual 8086 mode of the Intel 80386 to multitask several DOS programs and the paged memory model to emulate expanded memory using available extended memory. Windows/286, in spite of its name, runs on both Intel 8086 and Intel 80286 processors. It runs in real mode but can make use of the high memory area.^{[citation needed]}

In addition to full Windows packages, there were runtime-only versions that shipped with early Windows software from third parties and made it possible to run their Windows software on MS-DOS and without the full Windows feature set.

The early versions of Windows are often thought of as graphical shells, mostly because they ran on top of MS-DOS and used it for file system services.^[18] However, even the earliest Windows versions already assumed many typical operating system functions; notably, having their own executable file format and providing their own device drivers (timer, graphics, printer, mouse, keyboard and sound). Unlike MS-DOS, Windows allowed users to execute multiple graphical applications at the same time, through cooperative multitasking. Windows implemented an elaborate, segment-based, software virtual memory scheme, which allows it to run applications larger than available memory: code segments and resources are swapped in and thrown away when memory became scarce; data segments moved in memory when a given application had relinquished processor control.

Windows 3.x

Windows 3.0, released in 1990, improved the design, mostly because of virtual memory and loadable virtual device drivers (VxDs) that allow Windows to share arbitrary devices between multi-tasked DOS applications.^[19] Windows 3.0 applications can run in protected mode, which gives them access to several megabytes of memory without the obligation to participate in the software virtual memory scheme. They run inside the same address space, where the segmented memory provides a degree of protection. Windows 3.0 also featured improvements to the user interface. Microsoft rewrote critical operations from C into assembly. Windows 3.0 was the first version of Windows to achieve broad commercial success, selling 2 million copies in the first six months.^[20][21]

Windows 3.1, made generally available on March 1, 1992, featured a facelift. In August 1993, Windows for Workgroups, a special version with integrated peer-to-peer networking features and a version number of 3.11, was released. It was sold along with Windows 3.1. Support for Windows 3.1 ended on December 31, 2001.^[22]

Windows 3.2, released in 1994, is an updated version of the Chinese version of Windows 3.1.^[23] The update was limited to this language version, as it fixed only issues related to the complex writing system of the Chinese language.^[24] Windows 3.2 was generally sold by computer manufacturers with a ten-disk version of MS-DOS that also had Simplified Chinese characters in basic output and some translated utilities.

Windows 9x

The next major consumer-oriented release of Windows, Windows 95, was released on August 24, 1995. While still remaining MS-DOS-based, Windows 95 introduced support for native 32-bit applications, plug and play hardware, preemptive multitasking, long file names of up to 255 characters, and provided increased stability over its predecessors. Windows 95 also introduced a redesigned, object oriented user interface, replacing the previous Program Manager with the Start menu, taskbar, and Windows Explorer shell. Windows 95 was a major commercial success for Microsoft; Ina Fried of CNET remarked that «by the time Windows 95 was finally ushered off the market in 2001, it had become a fixture on computer desktops around the world.»^[25] Microsoft published four OEM Service Releases (OSR) of Windows 95, each of which was roughly equivalent to a service pack. The first OSR of Windows 95 was also the first version of Windows to be bundled with Microsoft’s web browser, Internet Explorer.^[26] Mainstream support for Windows 95 ended on December 31, 2000, and extended support for Windows 95 ended on December 31, 2001.^[27]

Windows 95 was followed up with the release of Windows 98 on June 25, 1998, which introduced the Windows Driver Model, support for USB composite devices, support for ACPI, hibernation, and support for multi-monitor configurations. Windows 98 also included integration with Internet Explorer 4 through Active Desktop and other aspects of the Windows Desktop Update (a series of enhancements to the Explorer shell which was also made available for Windows 95). In May 1999, Microsoft released Windows 98 Second Edition, an updated version of Windows 98. Windows 98 SE added Internet Explorer 5.0 and Windows Media Player 6.2 amongst other upgrades. Mainstream support for Windows 98 ended on June 30, 2002, and extended support for Windows 98 ended on July 11, 2006.^[28]

On September 14, 2000, Microsoft released Windows Me (Millennium Edition), the last DOS-based version of Windows. Windows Me incorporated visual interface enhancements from its Windows NT-based counterpart Windows 2000, had faster boot times than previous versions (which however, required the removal of the ability to access a real mode DOS environment, removing compatibility with some older programs),^[29] expanded multimedia functionality (including Windows Media Player 7, Windows Movie Maker, and the Windows Image Acquisition framework for retrieving images from scanners and digital cameras), additional system utilities such as System File Protection and System Restore, and updated home networking tools.^[30] However, Windows Me was faced with criticism for its speed and instability, along with hardware compatibility issues and its removal of real mode DOS support. PC World considered Windows Me to be one of the worst operating systems Microsoft had ever released, and the fourth worst tech product of all time.^[12]

Windows NT

Version history

Early versions (Windows NT 3.1/3.5/3.51/4.0/2000)

In November 1988, a new development team within Microsoft (which included former Digital Equipment Corporation developers Dave Cutler and Mark Lucovsky) began work on a revamped version of IBM and Microsoft’s OS/2 operating system known as «NT OS/2». NT OS/2 was intended to be a secure, multi-user operating system with POSIX compatibility and a modular, portable kernel with preemptive multitasking and support for multiple processor architectures. However, following the successful release of Windows 3.0, the NT development team decided to rework the project to use an extended 32-bit port of the Windows API known as Win32 instead of those of OS/2. Win32 maintained a similar structure to the Windows APIs (allowing existing Windows applications to easily be ported to the platform), but also supported the capabilities of the existing NT kernel. Following its approval by Microsoft’s staff, development continued on what was now Windows NT, the first 32-bit version of Windows. However, IBM objected to the changes, and ultimately continued OS/2 development on its own.^[31][32]

Windows NT was the first Windows operating system based on a hybrid kernel. The hybrid kernel was designed as a modified microkernel, influenced by the Mach microkernel developed by Richard Rashid at Carnegie Mellon University, but without meeting all of the criteria of a pure microkernel.

The first release of the resulting operating system, Windows NT 3.1 (named to associate it with Windows 3.1) was released in July 1993, with versions for desktop workstations and servers. Windows NT 3.5 was released in September 1994, focusing on performance improvements and support for Novell’s NetWare, and was followed up by Windows NT 3.51 in May 1995, which included additional improvements and support for the PowerPC architecture. Windows NT 4.0 was released in June 1996, introducing the redesigned interface of Windows 95 to the NT series. On February 17, 2000, Microsoft released Windows 2000, a successor to NT 4.0. The Windows NT name was dropped at this point in order to put a greater focus on the Windows brand.^[32]

Windows XP

The next major version of Windows NT, Windows XP, was released on October 25, 2001. The introduction of Windows XP aimed to unify the consumer-oriented Windows 9x series with the architecture introduced by Windows NT, a change which Microsoft promised would provide better performance over its DOS-based predecessors. Windows XP would also introduce a redesigned user interface (including an updated Start menu and a «task-oriented» Windows Explorer), streamlined multimedia and networking features, Internet Explorer 6, integration with Microsoft’s .NET Passport services, a «compatibility mode» to help provide backwards compatibility with software designed for previous versions of Windows, and Remote Assistance functionality.^[33][34]

At retail, Windows XP was marketed in two main editions: the «Home» edition was targeted towards consumers, while the «Professional» edition was targeted towards business environments and power users, and included additional security and networking features. Home and Professional were later accompanied by the «Media Center» edition (designed for home theater PCs, with an emphasis on support for DVD playback, TV tuner cards, DVR functionality, and remote controls), and the «Tablet PC» edition (designed for mobile devices meeting its specifications for a tablet computer, with support for stylus pen input and additional pen-enabled applications).^[35][36][37] Mainstream support for Windows XP ended on April 14, 2009. Extended support ended on April 8, 2014.^[38]

After Windows 2000, Microsoft also changed its release schedules for server operating systems; the server counterpart of Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, was released in April 2003.^[32] It was followed in December 2005, by Windows Server 2003 R2.

Windows Vista

After a lengthy development process, Windows Vista was released on November 30, 2006, for volume licensing and January 30, 2007, for consumers. It contained a number of new features, from a redesigned shell and user interface to significant technical changes, with a particular focus on security features. It was available in a number of different editions, and has been subject to some criticism, such as drop of performance, longer boot time, criticism of new UAC, and stricter license agreement. Vista’s server counterpart, Windows Server 2008 was released in early 2008.

Windows 7

On July 22, 2009, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 were released to manufacturing (RTM) and released to the public 3 months later on October 22, 2009. Unlike its predecessor, Windows Vista, which introduced a large number of new features, Windows 7 was intended to be a more focused, incremental upgrade to the Windows line, with the goal of being compatible with applications and hardware with which Windows Vista was already compatible.^[39] Windows 7 has multi-touch support, a redesigned Windows shell with an updated taskbar with revealable jump lists that contain shortcuts to files frequently used with specific applications and shortcuts to tasks within the application,^[40] a home networking system called HomeGroup,^[41] and performance improvements.

Windows 8 and 8.1

Windows 8, the successor to Windows 7, was released generally on October 26, 2012. A number of significant changes were made on Windows 8, including the introduction of a user interface based around Microsoft’s Metro design language with optimizations for touch-based devices such as tablets and all-in-one PCs. These changes include the Start screen, which uses large tiles that are more convenient for touch interactions and allow for the display of continually updated information, and a new class of apps which are designed primarily for use on touch-based devices. The new Windows version required a minimum resolution of 1024×768 pixels,^[42] effectively making it unfit for netbooks with 800×600-pixel screens.

Other changes include increased integration with cloud services and other online platforms (such as social networks and Microsoft’s own OneDrive (formerly SkyDrive) and Xbox Live services), the Windows Store service for software distribution, and a new variant known as Windows RT for use on devices that utilize the ARM architecture, and a new keyboard shortcut for screenshots.^{[43][44][45][46][47][48][49]} An update to Windows 8, called Windows 8.1,^[50] was released on October 17, 2013, and includes features such as new live tile sizes, deeper OneDrive integration, and many other revisions. Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 have been subject to some criticism, such as the removal of the Start menu.

Windows 10

On September 30, 2014, Microsoft announced Windows 10 as the successor to Windows 8.1. It was released on July 29, 2015, and addresses shortcomings in the user interface first introduced with Windows 8. Changes on PC include the return of the Start Menu, a virtual desktop system, and the ability to run Windows Store apps within windows on the desktop rather than in full-screen mode. Windows 10 is said to be available to update from qualified Windows 7 with SP1, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 devices from the Get Windows 10 Application (for Windows 7, Windows 8.1) or Windows Update (Windows 7).^[51]

In February 2017, Microsoft announced the migration of its Windows source code repository from Perforce to Git. This migration involved 3.5 million separate files in a 300-gigabyte repository.^[52] By May 2017, 90 percent of its engineering team was using Git, in about 8500 commits and 1760 Windows builds per day.^[52]

In June 2021, shortly before Microsoft’s announcement of Windows 11, Microsoft updated their lifecycle policy pages for Windows 10, revealing that support for their last release of Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025.^[53][54]

Windows 11

On June 24, 2021, Windows 11 was announced as the successor to Windows 10 during a livestream. The new operating system was designed to be more user-friendly and understandable. It was released on October 5, 2021.^[55][56] As of May 2022, Windows 11 is a free upgrade to Windows 10 users who meet the system requirements.^[57]

Windows 365

In July 2021, Microsoft announced it will start selling subscriptions to virtualized Windows desktops as part of a new Windows 365 service in the following month. It is not a standalone version of Windows, but a web service that provides access to Windows 10 and Windows 11 built on top of Azure Virtual Desktop. The new service will allow for cross-platform usage, aiming to make the operating system available for both Apple and Android users. The subscription service will be accessible through any operating system with a web browser. The new service is an attempt at capitalizing on the growing trend, fostered during the COVID-19 pandemic, for businesses to adopt a hybrid remote work environment, in which «employees split their time between the office and home». As the service will be accessible through web browsers, Microsoft will be able to bypass the need to publish the service through Google Play or the Apple App Store.^{[58][59][60][61][62]}

Microsoft announced Windows 365 availability to business and enterprise customers on August 2, 2021.^[63]

Multilingual support

Multilingual support has been built into Windows since Windows 3.0. The language for both the keyboard and the interface can be changed through the Region and Language Control Panel. Components for all supported input languages, such as Input Method Editors, are automatically installed during Windows installation (in Windows XP and earlier, files for East Asian languages, such as Chinese, and right-to-left scripts, such as Arabic, may need to be installed separately, also from the said Control Panel). Third-party IMEs may also be installed if a user feels that the provided one is insufficient for their needs.

Interface languages for the operating system are free for download, but some languages are limited to certain editions of Windows. Language Interface Packs (LIPs) are redistributable and may be downloaded from Microsoft’s Download Center and installed for any edition of Windows (XP or later) – they translate most, but not all, of the Windows interface, and require a certain base language (the language which Windows originally shipped with). This is used for most languages in emerging markets. Full Language Packs, which translate the complete operating system, are only available for specific editions of Windows (Ultimate and Enterprise editions of Windows Vista and 7, and all editions of Windows 8, 8.1 and RT except Single Language). They do not require a specific base language and are commonly used for more popular languages such as French or Chinese. These languages cannot be downloaded through the Download Center, but are available as optional updates through the Windows Update service (except Windows 8).

The interface language of installed applications is not affected by changes in the Windows interface language. The availability of languages depends on the application developers themselves.

Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 introduce a new Language Control Panel where both the interface and input languages can be simultaneously changed, and language packs, regardless of type, can be downloaded from a central location. The PC Settings app in Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 also includes a counterpart settings page for this. Changing the interface language also changes the language of preinstalled Windows Store apps (such as Mail, Maps and News) and certain other Microsoft-developed apps (such as Remote Desktop). The above limitations for language packs are however still in effect, except that full language packs can be installed for any edition except Single Language, which caters to emerging markets.

Platform support

Windows NT included support for several platforms before the x86-based personal computer became dominant in the professional world. Windows NT 4.0 and its predecessors supported PowerPC, DEC Alpha and MIPS R4000 (although some of the platforms implement 64-bit computing, the OS treated them as 32-bit). Windows 2000 dropped support for all platforms, except the third generation x86 (known as IA-32) or newer in 32-bit mode. The client line of the Windows NT family still runs on IA-32 but the Windows Server line ceased supporting this platform with the release of Windows Server 2008 R2.

With the introduction of the Intel Itanium architecture (IA-64), Microsoft released new versions of Windows to support it. Itanium versions of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 were released at the same time as their mainstream x86 counterparts. Windows XP 64-Bit Edition, released in 2005, is the last Windows client operating system to support Itanium. Windows Server line continues to support this platform until Windows Server 2012; Windows Server 2008 R2 is the last Windows operating system to support Itanium architecture.

On April 25, 2005, Microsoft released Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Windows Server 2003 x64 Editions to support x86-64 (or simply x64), the 64-bit version of x86 architecture. Windows Vista was the first client version of Windows NT to be released simultaneously in IA-32 and x64 editions. x64 is still supported.

An edition of Windows 8 known as Windows RT was specifically created for computers with ARM architecture, and while ARM is still used for Windows smartphones with Windows 10, tablets with Windows RT will not be updated. Starting from Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (version 1709) and later includes support for ARM-based PCs.^[64]

Windows 11 is the first version to drop support for 32-bit hardware.^[57]

Windows CE

Windows CE (officially known as Windows Embedded Compact), is an edition of Windows that runs on minimalistic computers, like satellite navigation systems and some mobile phones. Windows Embedded Compact is based on its own dedicated kernel, dubbed Windows CE kernel. Microsoft licenses Windows CE to OEMs and device makers. The OEMs and device makers can modify and create their own user interfaces and experiences, while Windows CE provides the technical foundation to do so.

Windows CE was used in the Dreamcast along with Sega’s own proprietary OS for the console. Windows CE was the core from which Windows Mobile was derived. Its successor, Windows Phone 7, was based on components from both Windows CE 6.0 R3 and Windows CE 7.0. Windows Phone 8 however, is based on the same NT-kernel as Windows 8.

Windows Embedded Compact is not to be confused with Windows XP Embedded or Windows NT 4.0 Embedded, modular editions of Windows based on Windows NT kernel.

Xbox OS

Xbox OS is an unofficial name given to the version of Windows that runs on Xbox consoles.^[65] From Xbox One onwards it is an implementation with an emphasis on virtualization (using Hyper-V) as it is three operating systems running at once, consisting of the core operating system, a second implemented for games and a more Windows-like environment for applications.^[66]
Microsoft updates Xbox One’s OS every month, and these updates can be downloaded from the Xbox Live service to the Xbox and subsequently installed, or by using offline recovery images downloaded via a PC.^[67] It was originally based on NT 6.2 (Windows kernel, and the latest version runs on an NT 10.0 base. This system is sometimes referred to as «Windows 10 on Xbox One» or «OneCore».^[68][69]
Xbox One and Xbox Series operating systems also allow limited (due to licensing restrictions and testing resources) backward compatibility with previous generation hardware,^[70] and the Xbox 360’s system is backwards compatible with the original Xbox.^[71]

Version control system

Up to and including every version before Windows 2000, Microsoft used an in-house version control system named Source Library Manager (SLM). Shortly after Windows 2000 was released, Microsoft switched to a fork of Perforce named Source Depot.^[72] This system was used up until 2017 once the system couldn’t keep up with the size of Windows. Microsoft had begun to integrate Git into Team Foundation Server in 2013, but Windows continued to rely on Source Depot.^{[citation needed]} The Windows code was divided among 65 different repositories with a kind of virtualization layer to produce unified view of all of the code.

In 2017 Microsoft announced that it would start using Git, an open source version control system created by Linus Torvalds and in May 2017 they reported that has completed migration into the Git repository.^[73][74][52]

VFSForGit

Because of its large, decades-long history, however, the Windows codebase is not especially well suited to the decentralized nature of Linux development that Git was originally created to manage.^{[citation needed]} Each Git repository contains a complete history of all the files, which proved unworkable for Windows developers because cloning the whole repository takes several hours.^{[citation needed]} Microsoft has been working on a new project called the Virtual File System for Git (VFSForGit) to address these challenges.^[74]

In 2021 the VFS for Git has been superseded by Scalar.^[75]

Timeline of releases

Use of Windows 10 has exceeded Windows 7 globally since early 2018.^[82]

For desktop and laptop computers, according to Net Applications and StatCounter, which track the use of operating systems in devices that are active on the Web, Windows was the most used operating-system family in August 2021, with around 91% usage share according to Net Applications^[83] and around 76% usage share according to StatCounter.^[84]

Including personal computers of all kinds (e.g., desktops, laptops, mobile devices, and game consoles), Windows OSes accounted for 32.67% of usage share in August 2021, compared to Android (highest, at 46.03%), iOS’s 13.76%, iPadOS’s 2.81%, and macOS’s 2.51%, according to Net Applications^[85] and 30.73% of usage share in August 2021, compared to Android (highest, at 42.56%), iOS/iPadOS’s 16.53%, and macOS’s 6.51%, according to StatCounter.^[86]

Those statistics do not include servers (including so-called cloud computing, where Microsoft is known not to be a leader, with Linux used more than Windows), as Net Applications and StatCounter use web browsing as a proxy for all use.

Security

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (May 2020)

Early versions of Windows were designed at a time where malware and networking were less common, and had few built-in security features; they did not provide access privileges to allow a user to prevent other users from accessing their files, and they did not provide memory protection to prevent one process from reading or writing another process’s address space or to prevent a process from code or data used by privileged-mode code.

While the Windows 9x series offered the option of having profiles for multiple users, it had no concept of access privileges, allowing any user to edit others’ files, however, Windows 98 included each profile to have their own My folders (My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, etc) separate from other profiles. In addition, while it ran separate 32-bit applications in separate address spaces, protecting an application’s code and data from being read or written by another application, it did not protect the first megabyte of memory from userland applications for compatibility reasons. This area of memory contains code critical to the functioning of the operating system, and by writing into this area of memory an application can crash or freeze the operating system. This was a source of instability as faulty applications could accidentally write into this region, potentially corrupting important operating system memory, which usually resulted in some form of system error and halt.^[87]

Windows NT was far more secure, implementing access privileges and full memory protection, and, while 32-bit programs meeting the DoD’s C2 security rating,^[88] yet these advantages were nullified by the fact that, prior to Windows Vista, the default user account created during the setup process was an administrator account; the user, and any program the user launched, had full access to the machine. Though Windows XP did offer an option of turning administrator accounts into limited accounts, the majority of home users did not do so, partially due to the number of programs which required administrator rights to function properly. As a result, most home users still ran as administrator all the time. These architectural flaws, combined with Windows’s very high popularity, made Windows a frequent target of computer worm and virus writers.^[89][90]

Furthermore, although Windows NT and its successors are designed for security (including on a network) and multi-user PCs, they were not initially designed with Internet security in mind as much, since, when it was first developed in the early 1990s, Internet use was less prevalent.^[91]

In a 2002 strategy memo entitled «Trustworthy computing» sent to every Microsoft employee, Bill Gates declared that security should become Microsoft’s highest priority.^[92][93]

Windows Vista introduced a privilege elevation system called User Account Control.^[94] When logging in as a standard user, a logon session is created and a token containing only the most basic privileges is assigned. In this way, the new logon session is incapable of making changes that would affect the entire system. When logging in as a user in the Administrators group, two separate tokens are assigned. The first token contains all privileges typically awarded to an administrator, and the second is a restricted token similar to what a standard user would receive. User applications, including the Windows shell, are then started with the restricted token, resulting in a reduced privilege environment even under an Administrator account. When an application requests higher privileges or «Run as administrator» is clicked, UAC will prompt for confirmation and, if consent is given (including administrator credentials if the account requesting the elevation is not a member of the administrators group), start the process using the unrestricted token.^[95]

Leaked documents published by WikiLeaks, codenamed Vault 7 and dated from 2013 to 2016, detail the capabilities of the CIA to perform electronic surveillance and cyber warfare,^[96] such as the ability to compromise operating systems such as Windows.^[97]

In August 2019, computer experts reported that the BlueKeep security vulnerability, CVE-2019-0708, that potentially affects older unpatched Windows versions via the program’s Remote Desktop Protocol, allowing for the possibility of remote code execution, may now include related flaws, collectively named DejaBlue, affecting newer Windows versions (i.e., Windows 7 and all recent versions) as well.^[98] In addition, experts reported a Microsoft security vulnerability, CVE-2019-1162, based on legacy code involving Microsoft CTF and ctfmon (ctfmon.exe), that affects all Windows versions from Windows XP to the then most recent Windows 10 versions; a patch to correct the flaw is currently available.^[99]

Microsoft releases security patches through its Windows Update service approximately once a month (usually the second Tuesday of the month), although critical updates are made available at shorter intervals when necessary.^[100] Versions subsequent to Windows 2000 SP3 and Windows XP implemented automatic download and installation of updates, substantially increasing the number of users installing security updates.^[101]

Today, Windows integrates the Windows Defender antivirus, which is seen as one of the best available.^[102] Windows also implements Secure Boot, Control Flow Guard, ransomware protection, BitLocker disk encryption, a firewall, and Windows SmartScreen.

File permissions

All Windows versions from Windows NT 3 have been based on a file system permission system referred to as AGDLP (Accounts, Global, Domain Local, Permissions) in which file permissions are applied to the file/folder in the form of a ‘local group’ which then has other ‘global groups’ as members. These global groups then hold other groups or users depending on different Windows versions used. This system varies from other vendor products such as Linux and NetWare due to the ‘static’ allocation of permission being applied directly to the file or folder. However using this process of AGLP/AGDLP/AGUDLP allows a small number of static permissions to be applied and allows for easy changes to the account groups without reapplying the file permissions on the files and folders.

Alternative implementations

Owing to the operating system’s popularity, a number of applications have been released that aim to provide compatibility with Windows applications, either as a compatibility layer for another operating system, or as a standalone system that can run software written for Windows out of the box. These include:

• Wine – a free and open-source implementation of the Windows API, allowing one to run many Windows applications on x86-based platforms, including UNIX, Linux and macOS. Wine developers refer to it as a «compatibility layer»^[103] and use Windows-style APIs to emulate Windows environment.
  • CrossOver – a Wine package with licensed fonts. Its developers are regular contributors to Wine.
  • Proton – A fork of Wine by Steam to run Windows games on Linux and other Unix-like OS.
• ReactOS – an open-source OS intended to run the same software as Windows, originally designed to simulate Windows NT 4.0, now aiming at Windows 7 compatibility. It has been in the development stage since 1996.

See also

References

External links

• Official website
• Official Windows Blog
• Microsoft Developer Network
• Windows Developer Center
• Microsoft Windows History Timeline
• Pearson Education, InformIT – History of Microsoft Windows
• Microsoft Business Software Solutions
• Windows 10 release Information

5 Facts About Microsoft Windows

• The original Windows operating system was designed to replace MS-DOS, but technically ran on top of it.
• Microsoft Windows offered a graphical user interface for personal computer users to click on boxes rather than enter commands.
• Windows 1.0 only used 1 MB of space and 256 KB of RAM.
• The default Windows XP wallpaper, known as Bliss, was taken by Charles O’Rear in California and is considered one of the most viewed images in the world.
• There are a total of 11 versions of Windows. The latest features improved security systems, Android app availability, and more.

What Is Microsoft Windows?: Explained

On November 10, 1983, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, happened a modest event, which will have a very important impact on the software industry in the next decades—the little known company Microsoft Corporation formally announced a graphical user interface (GUI) for its own operating system (MS-DOS), which had shipped for IBM PC and compatible computers since 1981.

Initially, the new product was developed under the name Interface Manager, but before the official introduction in 1985, the marketing gurus convinced Bill Gates that Windows is a more suitable name.

Quick Facts

Creator (person)

Bill Gates, Paul Allen

Original Price

$99

Operating System

Windows

Developed By (company)

Microsoft Corporation

The main partner of Microsoft since 1981 was IBM when MS-DOS became the highly successful operating system that came bundled with an IBM computer. That’s why in that same November of 1983, the owner of Microsoft Bill Gates decided to show a beta version of Windows to IBM’s management. Their response was negative though, probably because IBM was working on their own operating system, called Top View

IBM Top View was released in February of 1985 as a DOS-based multitasking program manager without any GUI features. IBM promised that future versions of Top View would have a GUI. That promise was never kept, and the program was discontinued barely two years later.

It seems Bill Gates realized how profitable a successful GUI for IBM computers would be, while he had seen Apple’s Lisa computer and later the more successful Macintosh computer. Both Apple computers came with a stunning graphical user interface.

Microsoft Windows now powers approximately 90% of personal computers. Despite the mixed reviews throughout its version history and its unusual timeline of version names, Windows remains a popular operating system with many unique and convenient features.

How to Use Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Windows has a long version history that started in 1985. From Windows 1.0 to Windows 11, this operating system has introduced more features and streamlined capabilities. Use this basic tutorial to navigate Windows 11, the newest version of this operating system:

1. Purchase a PC with Windows 11 preloaded or check for compatibility with your current personal computer.
2. Press the Windows logo key + Z or hover over the window’s maximize button to open and organize Windows apps.
3. Easily sync your files in OneDrive cloud storage to back up your files.
4. Use the Windows logo key + S to search for files, people, email addresses, shared sites, or the web.
5. Chat or video call with Microsoft Teams, which is built-in to Windows 11. Search for a Microsoft Teams tutorial for more information.

These tutorial steps help you easily navigate the latest version of this operating system. Older versions of Microsoft Windows may not have the same features or easy access to your apps, files, or Microsoft Teams.

How To Learn Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Windows 11, the latest version of the operating system, is designed to be easy to navigate and access for anyone used to a recent version of Windows. This version was released on October 5, 2021.

One convenient way to learn Windows is to use the Windows Tips and Tricks guide to learn directly from Microsoft. This guide offers convenient tricks and helpful tutorials on all the latest version features.

You can also take an online training course, like Windows 11: From Beginner to Advanced from Udemy. The latest books on Amazon, like the 2021 Complete User Guide to Learn Microsoft Windows 10, don’t yet cover Windows 11 but check back frequently for updated guides on the latest version of this operating system for your personal computer.

The Difference Between Microsoft Windows vs. Mac OS

While Microsoft Windows remains the most popular operating system for personal computer users around the world, this MS-DOS replacement has been competing with Mac OS from the beginning. Review the features of these two operating systems to learn more about their pros and cons.

Mac OS has been a competitor since Apple Inc. first launched it in 2001. This operating system is specifically designed for Mac computers and offers similar workstation, personal computing, and embedding functionality.

Microsoft Windows offers the following benefits compared with Mac OS:

• More convenient login options
• Expanded hardware options from Microsoft and other companies
• Improved touch capabilities and stylus support
• More streamlined voice support

There are, however, a few ways in which Microsoft Windows is at a disadvantage compared to Mac OS:

• Fewer apps
• Less mobile connectivity

There are many other ways in which the two operating systems are similar. Search, navigation, installation, and other features are largely the same between the two systems. Despite the fact that the majority of personal computers use the Windows operating system, both are competitive options.

Review the version history timeline of Microsoft Windows, from the MS-DOS graphical user interface replacement to the latest version of this dynamic operating system. While originally announced in 1983, Microsoft needed more than 2 years to launch the announced product—Microsoft Windows 1.0, which was introduced on November 20, 1985, and was initially sold for $99.

MS Windows version 1.0 was considered buggy, crude, and slow. Its rough start was made worse by a threatened lawsuit from Apple Co. In September 1985, Apple lawyers warned Bill Gates that Windows infringed on Apple copyrights and patents and that his corporation had stolen Apple’s trade secrets. Windows had similar drop-down menus, tiled windows, and mouse support as Apple’s operating system. Gates decided to make an offer to license features of Apple’s OS. Apple agreed and a contract was drawn up. A couple of years later Bill Gates had more copyright infringement problems with Apple (Apple vs. Microsoft & Hewlett-Packard copyright suit), and then he decided to claim that Apple had taken ideas from the graphical user interface developed by Xerox for Alto and Star computers.

Windows 2.0, 1987

Microsoft Windows 2.0 initially sold for $100. It was a much-improved Windows that made Windows-based computers look more like a Macintosh, introducing icons to represent programs and files, improved support for expanded-memory hardware and windows that could overlap.

Windows 3.0, 1990

The full version was priced at $149.95 and the upgrade version at $79.95. Windows 3.0 had an improved program manager and icon system, a new file manager, support for sixteen colors, improved speed and reliability, and widespread third-party support. Programmers started writing Windows-compatible software, giving end users a reason to buy Windows 3.0. Three million copies were sold the first year.

Windows 3.1, 1992

Windows 3.1 became a smash hit, selling almost 3 million copies within the first two months of its release. It featured the new TrueType scalable font support, along with multimedia capability, object linking and embedding (OLE), application reboot capability, and more. Windows 3.x became the number one operating system installed in PCs until 1997 when Windows 95 took over.

Windows NT 3.1, 1993

Windows NT 3.1 was the first version of Windows to utilize 32-bit “flat” virtual memory addressing on 32-bit processors. Its companion product, Windows 3.1, used segmented addressing and switches from 16-bit to 32-bit addressing in pages. Windows NT was originally designed to be a powerful high-level-language-based, processor-independent, multiprocessing, multiuser operating system with features comparable to Unix. It was intended to complement consumer versions of Windows that were based on MS-DOS. NT was the first fully 32-bit version of Windows, whereas its consumer-oriented counterparts, Windows 3.1x and Windows 9x, were 16-bit/32-bit hybrids.

Windows 95, 1995

Thanks in part to a massive marketing campaign, Windows 95 was introduced with plenty of fanfare and rave reviews. The Start menu, internet support, and plug-and-play functionality were just a few reasons this operating system sold 7 million copies in just five weeks.

Windows 98, 1998

Windows 98 was a reliable update that performed reasonably well. It didn’t add much to the Windows 95 operating system, but it introduced a few upgrades and continued to lead the way in operating systems.

Windows 2000, 2000

Windows 2000 was just as accepted and ultimately forgettable an update as Windows 98. While not taking away from the popularity of Windows 95, it didn’t add any features or technology that ultimately changed the way users interact with the operating system.

Windows Me, 2000

Known more for its bugs, glitches, and security risks than its new functions, Windows Me was generally considered a flop. Windows Me is still considered one of the worst operating systems to ever have been created. This reflects issues with the system, but also the sense of letdown when comparing Windows Me with Windows 95 and other popular versions.

Windows XP, 2001

After the less-than-memorable versions, Windows XP was introduced as a major improvement. It remains an extremely popular operating system, despite losing mainstream support in 2009. Windows XP introduced a stylish interface, convenient taskbar, and updated infrastructure.

Windows Vista, 2007

The next desktop OS of Microsoft was released more than five years after the introduction of its predecessor, the longest time span between successive releases of Windows desktop operating systems. Windows Vista (known by its code name “Longhorn”) was released in January 2007. It contains many changes and new features, including an updated graphical user interface and visual style dubbed Aero, a redesigned search function, multimedia tools including Windows DVD Maker, and redesigned networking, audio, print, and display subsystems. Vista aims to increase the level of communication between machines on a home network, using peer-to-peer technology to simplify sharing files and media between computers and devices. Windows Vista includes version 3.0 of the .NET Framework, allowing software developers to write applications without traditional Windows APIs.

Commonly known as the second-worst operating system in history, just after Windows Me, Windows Vista failed to live up to expectations. Not only was it seen as a letdown compared to Windows XP, but it didn’t have enough hardware drivers to support many monitors or printers. Clunky features and poor infrastructural decisions caused my users to switch back to XP.

Windows 7, 2009

The welcomed relief users wanted after Vista, Windows 7 lived up to the quality of operating systems Windows has been famous for. It came with handwriting recognition, DirectAccess, an updated Windows Media Center, and plenty of other features to help users forget all about the poor design of Vista.

Unlike its predecessor, which introduced a large number of new features, Windows 7 was intended to be a more focused, incremental upgrade to the Windows line, with the goal of being compatible with applications and hardware with which Windows Vista is already compatible. It focused on multi-touch support, a redesigned Windows Shell with a new taskbar, referred to as the Superbar, a home networking system called HomeGroup, and performance improvements. Some standard applications that have been included with prior releases of Microsoft Windows, including Windows Calendar, Windows Mail, Windows Movie Maker, and Windows Photo Gallery, are not included in Windows 7, most are instead offered separately at no charge as part of the Windows Live Essentials suite.

Windows 8, 2012

Microsoft Windows needed to compete in a new market; hybrid OS. Max offered dynamic synergy between tablets, phones, and laptops, so Windows 8 was the first attempt of Windows to get in on the game. The lack of a Start menu and the dramatic visual changes weren’t received well, making Windows 8 yet another letdown in the version history of Windows.

The desktop was changed radically to make way for the new so-called Modern UI (User Interface). There was no more Start button, as this interface was designed to be used with touchscreens as well as with a mouse and keyboard, and requires programs to be written specially for it. These programs will be downloaded via the new Windows Store, or from developers’ websites.

Microsoft claims that Windows 8 has significant security improvements, better battery life, and faster boot time. Windows 8 features the new “Hybrid Boot” mode (which hibernates the Windows kernel on shutdown to speed up the next bootup).

Task Manager has also been redesigned, including a new processes tab with the option to display fewer or more details of running applications and background processes, a heat map using different colors indicating the level of resource usage, etc.

Windows 10, 2015

Declared the last Windows version when it was first released, Microsoft 10 brought back the Start menu and introduced a number of other features. This declaration is the official reason why Microsoft skipped Windows 9, but this announcement still left a number of users confused. This operating system underwent a number of version updates before being replaced by Windows 11.

Windows 11, 2021

Windows 11 offers the most up-to-date version of Windows 11. Most critics have praised its sleek design and easy navigation. Its improved security systems, Android app availability, and other features help it compete with the latest Mac OS and outperform Windows 10.

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Microsoft Windows Guide: History, Origin, and More FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

When did Microsoft Windows come out?

Windows 1.0 was first announced in 1983 and available for consumers in 1985.

What was the original price of Microsoft Windows?

The original Microsoft Windows cost $99.

What is Microsoft Windows?

Microsoft Windows is the most popular operating system in the world for personal computer users. It was first launched in 1985 and the latest version was released in 2021.

When was Microsoft Windows invented?

The Microsoft Windows graphical user interface was invented in 1983 before being released to the public in 1985.

Who invented Microsoft Windows?

Bill Gates and Paul Allen first worked together to create Microsoft Windows as a graphical user interface replacement to MS-DOS.

What was Microsoft Windows designed to do?

The original version of Microsoft Windows was designed to create a graphical user interface that allowed users to click on boxes instead of entering commands.

How many versions of Microsoft Windows are there?

The timeline of Microsoft Windows, from 1985 to 2022, includes nine major versions.