Diff: Microsoft Windows
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'''Microsoft Windows''' is a family of operating systems developed by [[Microsoft]]. It is used on personal computers, workstations, tablets, servers, embedded devices, and virtual machines. Windows is closely associated with the IBM-compatible PC market and has been one of the most important commercial operating-system families in computing history. |
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Windows provides a graphical desktop, file management, application support, networking, device drivers, security controls, and update services. Modern Windows versions are built on the Windows NT line, which replaced the older consumer Windows 9x line. |
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'''Microsoft Windows''' is a family of operating systems developed by [[Microsoft]]. It is best known as the main desktop operating system for IBM-compatible personal computers and later x86, x64 and ARM-based devices. |
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== Early Development == |
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Microsoft announced Windows as a graphical environment for MS-DOS-era PCs. Windows 1.0 appeared in 1985. It was not a complete replacement for DOS, but it introduced windows, menus, mouse-driven interaction, and graphical applications to Microsoft users. |
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Windows began as a graphical environment for MS-DOS and later became a full operating-system family. Modern desktop versions are based on the Windows NT line, which also underpins Windows Server. |
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Windows 2.x and Windows 3.x developed the idea further. Windows 3.0 and Windows 3.1 helped make the graphical PC desktop common in homes, offices, and schools. Windows 95 later introduced a more recognisable desktop model, including the Start menu, taskbar, long file names, and stronger consumer-market branding. |
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== Development == |
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Microsoft announced Windows in the 1980s as a graphical interface for personal computers. Early versions such as Windows 1.0 and Windows 2.0 were limited compared with later systems, but they introduced the basic idea of graphical applications, windows, menus and mouse-driven use on Microsoft-compatible PCs. |
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== Windows NT Line == |
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The Windows NT line was designed as a more robust system for professional and server use. It had a different technical foundation from Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Me. Over time, Microsoft moved both business and home users onto the NT family. |
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Windows 3.x made the platform more successful in the early 1990s. Windows 95 then became a major consumer release, introducing the Start menu, taskbar and stronger support for plug and play hardware. Later consumer releases included Windows 98 and Windows Me. |
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Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11 all belong to the NT family. This made Windows more consistent across home, business, and server environments. |
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The Windows NT line was built with a different architecture aimed at stability, security and business use. Windows XP brought the consumer and NT lines together in a way that became the foundation for later releases. |
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== Major Consumer Versions == |
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Important desktop releases include: |
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== Major Versions == |
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Important desktop versions include: |
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* Windows 95, which introduced the Start menu and became a landmark consumer release. |
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* Windows 98, which built on Windows 95 and improved hardware and internet support. |
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* Windows Me, the last consumer release from the Windows 9x line. |
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* [[Windows XP]], which unified home and professional users around the NT base. |
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* Windows Vista, which introduced major security and driver-model changes but had a mixed reception. |
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* [[Windows 7]], which refined Vista's direction and became widely used. |
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* Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, which emphasised touch interfaces and a redesigned Start experience. |
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* Windows 10, released in 2015, which restored a more familiar desktop model while moving Windows towards ongoing feature updates. |
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* Windows 11, released in 2021, which changed the visual design, hardware requirements, update model, and security baseline. |
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* Windows 1.0, released in 1985; |
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* Windows 3.x, which made Windows more widely used; |
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* Windows 95, which introduced the Start menu and taskbar; |
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* Windows XP, a long-lived consumer and business release; |
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* Windows Vista, which introduced major security and driver-model changes but had a poor reputation at launch; |
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* [[Windows_7|Windows 7]], a widely used successor to Vista; |
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* Windows 8 and 8.1, which pushed a touch-focused interface; |
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* Windows 10, which returned to a more familiar desktop model and used ongoing feature updates; |
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* Windows 11, the current main client line. |
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== Features == |
== Features == |
Windows combines a desktop interface with broad hardware and software support. Common features include: |
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Windows provides the basic software environment for running desktop applications, managing hardware, connecting to networks, storing files and administering users. Common features include the desktop shell, File Explorer, Windows Update, device drivers, networking tools, security controls, accessibility features and system administration utilities. |
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* A graphical desktop, taskbar, Start menu, windows, and File Explorer. |
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* Support for Win32, Universal Windows Platform, .NET, web, and other application models. |
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* Networking features for home, business, and domain-based environments. |
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* Device support through drivers, Plug and Play, printers, cameras, storage, audio, and other peripherals. |
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* Security features such as Windows Defender, firewall controls, BitLocker on supported editions, account controls, secure boot support, and update mechanisms. |
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* Administration tools for business use, including Group Policy, device management, PowerShell, event logs, and remote management. |
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Business versions add features such as domain join, Group Policy, BitLocker, Hyper-V, remote management and deployment tools. Windows Server is a related but separate product family for server workloads. |
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== Editions and Support == |
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Windows is sold and supported in different editions. Home editions are aimed at ordinary consumer devices. Pro editions add business and administration features. Enterprise and Education editions are used by large organisations, schools, and managed fleets. Windows Server is a related family for server workloads. |
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== Software and Compatibility == |
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Windows became successful partly because of the huge amount of software written for it. That compatibility is useful for users and businesses, but it also creates long-term maintenance problems. Old applications, drivers and workflows can make organisations slow to upgrade even when a version is close to the end of support. |
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Support depends on the product and version. Microsoft publishes lifecycle information for Windows releases, including start dates, end-of-support dates, and update periods. Unsupported Windows versions may still run, but they no longer receive normal security updates from Microsoft. |
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Microsoft maintains compatibility through application programming interfaces, compatibility layers and enterprise deployment tools. Even so, major Windows upgrades can still break old drivers, specialist hardware or unsupported software. |
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== Windows 11 == |
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Windows 11 is the current main consumer Windows family. Microsoft lists minimum requirements that include a compatible 64-bit processor, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of storage, UEFI Secure Boot capability, TPM 2.0, DirectX 12 compatible graphics, and a display larger than 9 inches with HD resolution. |
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== Security and Updates == |
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Modern Windows versions rely on regular security updates, malware protection, account controls, secure boot support, encryption features and enterprise management tools. Windows Update is important because unsupported systems become exposed to newly discovered vulnerabilities. |
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Windows 11 has an annual feature update cadence. Microsoft states that feature updates are released in the second half of the calendar year, with different support periods depending on edition. |
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Microsoft publishes lifecycle information for supported Windows versions. As of 2026, Windows 11 is the main supported client line for new PCs, while Windows 10 reached the end of general support on 14 October 2025, apart from specific extended or long-term servicing arrangements. |
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== Impact == |
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Windows shaped the software market by giving developers a large target platform and giving PC manufacturers a standard operating system to ship. It also shaped office work, home computing, PC gaming, school computing, and corporate IT management. |
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== Criticism == |
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Windows has been criticised for forced updates, telemetry, pre-installed apps, advertising in parts of the interface, hardware requirements, confusing settings pages and the gradual push towards Microsoft accounts and cloud services. Some users also object to how tightly Windows is connected to Edge, OneDrive, Bing and Microsoft 365. |
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Its influence has brought benefits and criticism. Windows made mainstream PC software more accessible, but Microsoft has also faced complaints about bundled services, update behaviour, security exposure, telemetry, product complexity, and the difficulty of leaving a dominant platform once an organisation depends on it. |
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At the same time, Windows remains important because it supports a large software ecosystem, many games, specialist business tools and a wide range of hardware. |
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== See Also == |
== See Also == |
* [[Microsoft]] |
* [[Microsoft]] |
* [[Windows XP]] |
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* [[Windows 7]] |
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* [[Cloud Computing]] |
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* [[Windows_7]] |
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* [[Command_Prompt]] |
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* [[PowerShell]] |
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== References == |
== References == |
* [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications Microsoft Windows 11 specifications] |
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* [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/windows11-release-information Microsoft Learn: Windows 11 release information] |
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* [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-10-home-and-pro Microsoft Lifecycle: Windows 10 Home and Pro] |
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* [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/ Microsoft Learn: Windows documentation] |
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* [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/resources/ Microsoft Learn: Windows client documentation] |
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* [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/supported-versions-windows-client Microsoft Learn: supported Windows client versions] |
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* [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/ Microsoft Lifecycle Policy] |
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* [https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows Microsoft Support: Windows help and learning] |
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[[Category:Operating Systems]] |
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[[Category:Computing]] |
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[[Category:Microsoft]] |
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[[Category:Technology]] |
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[[Category:Software]] |