Windows - a timeline of Microsoft's OS

[echrada]

Twenty-four years after the launch of Windows 1.0, and with Windows 7 about to arrive, Web User takes a look at the history of Microsoft's operating system.


1985 - Windows 1.0
Windows 1.0 used the MS-DOS Executive as its primary interface - you'd boot programs from the command line which would launch in the main window while MS-DOS Executive minimised itself, reappearing when the program was terminated.

Microsoft Windows history - a timeline of the operating system | In-depth technology , web news | Web User

 

[H2SO4]

I'd argue that the OS we know as "Windows 7" had its roots in NT 3.1 back in 1993. The Windows-on-DOS stuff, including Win 1.0, 2.0, 3.x, WfW, and Win9X was all a separate OS line. They just looked similar to NT. Sometimes.

I eagerly await ChuckR's contribution

 

[Dinesh]

Nice find Leslie.

 

[Barman58]

Thanks Lesley,

Always good to wander down memory lane, Problem is for someone my age it's about as long as the M1

 

[TeenerTim]

1985 - Windows 1.0
Windows 1.0 used the MS-DOS Executive as its primary interface - you'd boot programs from the command line, which would launch in the main window while MS-DOS Executive minimised itself, reappearing when the program was terminated.

1987 - Windows 2.0
The first Windows operating system that allowed you to 'tile' open windows, rather than having windows either minimised or maximised, like in Windows 1.0.

These aren't entirely true. I actually used Windows 1.3 and you could tile and move any Windows application such as Paint, Notepad, and Calc. It was only the DOS apps that were maximized. You also didn't have to launch DOS apps from a command line. Does anyone remember the .PIF files.(I know it's redundant) You could launch apps from File Manager. The only reason to use Windows back then was to copy and paste between apps and to switch between apps. It was a real productivity boost just for that.

 

[Barman58]

Program Information Files - I created a few of those back in the day

 

[echrada]

A trip down memory lane (no pun intended).

 

[thefabe]

Nice post. I only got involed with comps after i got injured in 99, I did get hooked and started going to swap meets and buying up everything I could find. I think the earliest OS I encountered was 3.1 we have come a long way since then.

 

[Night Hawk]

Windows History

Windows Overview & History

Published: June 30, 2003 | Updated: May 21, 2008

Overview

Over the past two decades, Microsoft Windows products have evolved from a single, one-size-fits-all desktop operating system into a diverse family of operating systems and mobile technologies. Today, Windows products help people worldwide achieve their potential at work, home, and just about any place in between.

Plenty more at: Windows History: Windows Overview & History

Actually there are several sites with a history of Windows while going into the MS pages there you get more then just info on desktop versions but server products and other items developed for Windows over the years.

 

[chuckr]

I'd argue that the OS we know as "Windows 7" had its roots in NT 3.1 back in 1993. The Windows-on-DOS stuff, including Win 1.0, 2.0, 3.x, WfW, and Win9X was all a separate OS line. They just looked similar to NT. Sometimes.

I eagerly await ChuckR's contribution

Windows back then was a GUI, as far as I ever knew, until NT arrived.
Everything prior to NT, was the GUI stuff over DOS.
So you hit it, right on the head, aFAIK.

I installed 3.0, but never actually used it for anything.
Just a Solitaire game or 2, (or 10) after I got my 'real work' done with DOS, OS/2, or Linux...

Windows as a real 'operating system', started with David Cutler and NT, after MS kissed off their OS/2 responsibilities...
Then IBM made OS/2 work right. But... didn't want to advertise it, sell it, or promote it in any way.
(Sort of: it was there, if you wanted it for some reason...)

Like today, all computers were pre-loaded with Windows and there were no other options. Period.
If you used something different, that "voided your warranty"....

Here, let someone else give you their opinion:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIq0ukqUJSk"]YouTube - Bill Bates promoting IBM OS/2[/ame]


Going back a few more years:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iwIN8E94VQ"]YouTube - Birth of the Microsoft DOS[/ame]

 

[Jacee]

I posted this here earlier http://www.sevenforums.com/chillout-room/31137-23-years-windows-launch-oddities.html

 

[Night Hawk]

Windows back then was a GUI, as far as I ever knew, until NT arrived.
Everything prior to NT, was the GUI stuff over DOS.
So you hit it, right on the head, aFAIK.

I installed 3.0, but never actually used it for anything.
Just a Solitaire game or 2, (or 10) after I got my 'real work' done with DOS, OS/2, or Linux...

Windows as a real 'operating system', started with David Cutler and NT, after MS kissed off their OS/2 responsibilities...
Then IBM made OS/2 work right. But... didn't want to advertise it, sell it, or promote it in any way.
(Sort of: it was there, if you wanted it for some reason...)

Like today, all computers were pre-loaded with Windows and there were no other options. Period.
If you used something different, that "voided your warranty"....

The 1.0, 2.0, 3.1, 3.11, 95, 98 even ME was an application run from dos while any past 3.1 saw an automatic batch file to load the main gui when the system was first started. ME saw the removal there of the shutdown to dos option simply running dos apps through a dos window.

For pre 95 version you manually typed the command(win for Windows 3.1, 3.11) in at the dos prompt to then see the gui load into the early Windows there. NT 3.1 instead of dos saw the Network Technology File System first there simply being an apllication loaded into memory from a different file system.