Windos is a series of operating systems developed by Microsoft.

Each version of Windows includes agraphical user interface, with a desktop that allows users to view files and folders in windows. For the past two decades, Windows has been the most widely used operating system for personal computers PCs. Microsoft Windows is designed for both home computing and professional purposes. Past versions of Windows home editions include Windows .! "#$$!%, Windows .# "#$$&%, Windows $' "#$$'%, Windows $( "#$$(%, Windows Me "&!!!%, Windows )P "&!!#%, and Windows *ista "&!!+%. ,he current version, Windows -, was released in &!!$. ,he first business.oriented version of Windows, called Windows /, .#, was in #$$ . ,his was followed by Windows .', 0.!, and Windows &!!!. When Microsoft released Windows )P in &!!#, the company simply created different editions of the operating system for personal and business purposes. Windows *ista and Windows - have followed the same release strategy. Windows is designed to run on standard 1(+ hardware, such as 2ntel and 3M4 processors. ,herefore, it can be installed on multiple brands of hardware, such as 4ell, 5P, and 6ony computers, as well as home.built PCs. Windows - also includes several touchscreen features, that allow the operating system to run on certain tablets and computers with touchscreen displays. Microsoft7s mobile operating system, Windows Phone, is designed

specifically for smartphonesand runs on several brands of phones, including 5,C, /okia, and 6amsung.

Definition of:Windows
The most widely used operating system for desktop and laptop computers. Developed by Microsoft, Windows primarily runs on x8 !based computers "the ubi#uitous $%&, although versions have run on 'ntel(s 'tanium %$)s. Windows provides a graphical user interface and desktop environment in which applications are displayed in resi*able, movable windows on screen. Windows comes in both client and server versions, all of which support networking, the difference being that the server architecture is designed for dedicated server hardware. +lthough they can easily share their data with other users on the network, the client versions of Windows are geared to running user applications. While Windows is the dominant desktop ,-, .inux is the leading server ,-. -ee 8inu1,operating system, smartphone operating system and embedded 96.

Thin Windows Clients

'n many organi*ations, Windows runs in a thin client environment, whereby the user(s $% functions like a terminal to a central server. /or more details, see :emote 4esktop 6ervices.

Windows Versions
-tarting with Windows 0.1 in 0283, the ,- evolved into numerous incarnations. 't originally was a graphical extension to the D,- operating system but was integrated with D,- as of Windows 23. /or version history, see Windows versions. -ee Microsoft ;ob.

Windows How to's

+ll the Windows 4how to(s4 in this encyclopedia have a 4Win4 prefix in front of their name in order to group them together5 for example, Win

Change Windows appearance and Win 4esktop search. /or fundamentals on how to work with Windows, see Win abc7s and Win( abc7s.

Windows is a personal computer operating system from Microsoft that, together with some commonly used business applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel, has become a de facto "standard" for individual users in most corporations as well as in most homes. The original 1985 version of Windows introduced to home and business PC users many of the graphical user interface (GUI) ideas that were developed at an experimental lab at Xerox and introduced commercially by Apple's Lisa and Macintoshcomputers.

Some of the well-known versions of Windows have included:

Windows 286 Windows 386 Windows 3.0 and 3.11 Windows 95 Windows 98 Windows NT

Windows 2000 Windows CE for use in small mobile computers Windows Me Windows XP Windows Vista

Microsoft Windows
Definition
Operating system designed and produced by Microsoft Corpo ration. Similar to other operating systems, Windows makes a computer system user-friendly by providing a graphical display and organi ing information so that it can be easily accessed. !he operating system utili es iconsand tools that simplify the comple" operations performed by computers. #stimates suggest that $%& of personal computers use the Windows operating system. Microsoft introduced the operating system in '$() and it has continued to be widely used despite competition from *pple+s Macintosh operating system.
,ead more- http-..www.businessdictionary.com.definition.MicrosoftWindows.html/i" 01y20O3yc

Microsoft Windows
Main article: Microsoft Windows

Custom Start Screen shown. Running on Windows 8.1

The USB flash drive

Microsoft Windows is a family of ro rietary o erating systems designed !y Microsoft Cor oration and rimarily targeted to "ntel architecture !ased com uters# with an estimated 88.$ ercent total usage share on We! connected com uters.%8&%1'&%1(&%1)& The newest version is Windows 8 for wor*stations and Windows Server +,1+ for servers. Windows - recently overtoo* Windows ./ as most used 0S.%11&%1-&%18& Microsoft Windows originated in 1$8) as an o erating environment running on to of MS230S# which was the standard o erating system shi ed on most "ntel architecture ersonal com uters at the time. "n 1$$)# Windows

$) was released which only used MS230S as a !ootstra . 4or !ac*wards com ati!ility# Win$5 could run real2mode MS230S%1$&%+,& and 11 !its Windows '.5%+1& drivers. Windows M6# released in +,,,# was the last version in the Win$5 family. 7ater versions have all !een !ased on the Windows 8T *ernel. Current versions of Windows run on "92 '+ and 58121( micro rocessors# although Windows 8 will su ort 9RM architecture.%++& "n the ast# Windows 8T su orted non2"ntel architectures. Server editions of Windows are widely used. "n recent years# Microsoft has e5 ended significant ca ital in an effort to romote the use of Windows as a server o erating system. :owever# Windows; usage on servers is not as wides read as on ersonal com uters# as Windows com etes against 7inu5 and BS3 for server mar*et share.%+'&%+(&

The term Windows collectively descri!es any or all of several generations of Microsoft o erating system roducts. These roducts are generally categori<ed as follows=

Early versions
Main articles: Windows 1.0, Windows 2.0, and Windows 2.1x

Windows 1.,# the first version# released in 1$8)

The history of Windows dates !ac* to Se tem!er 1$81# when Chase Bisho # a com uter scientist# designed the first model of an electronic device and ro>ect ?"nterface Manager? was started. "t was announced in 8ovem!er 1$8' @after the 9 le 7isa# !ut !efore the MacintoshA under the name ?Windows?# !ut Windows 1., was not released until 8ovem!er 1$8). %1& Windows 1., achieved little o ularity and was to com ete with 9 le;s own o erating system. Windows 1., is not a com lete o erating systemB rather# it e5tendsMS230S. The shell of Windows 1., is a rogram *nown as the MS230S 65ecutive. Com onents included Calculator# Calendar# Cardfile# Cli !oard viewer# Cloc*# Control /anel# 8ote ad# /aint# Reversi# Terminal and Write. Windows 1., does not allow overla ing windows. "nstead all windows aretiled. 0nly modal dialog !o5es may a ear over other windows. Windows +., was released in 3ecem!er 1$8- and was more o ular than its redecessor. "t features several im rovements to the user interface and memory management.%citation needed& Windows +.,' changed the 0S from tiled windows to overla ing windows. The result of this change led to 9 le Com uter filing a suit against Microsoft alleging infringement on 9 le;s

co yrights.%-&%8& Windows +., also introduced more so histicated *ey!oard shortcuts and could ma*e use of e5 anded memory. Windows +.1 was released in two different versions= WindowsC+81 and WindowsC'81. WindowsC'81 uses the virtual 8,81 mode of "ntel 8,'81 to multitas* several 30S rograms and the aged memory model to emulate e5 anded memory using availa!le e5tended memory. WindowsC+81# in s ite of its name# runs on !oth "ntel 8,81 and "ntel 8,+81. "t runs in real mode !ut can ma*e use of the high memory area. "n addition to full Windows2 ac*ages# there were runtime2only versions that shi ed with early Windows software from third arties and made it ossi!le to run their Windows software on MS230S and without the full Windows feature set. The early versions of Windows are often thought of as gra hical shells# mostly !ecause they ran on to of MS230S and use it for file system services.%$& :owever# even the earliest Windows versions already assumed many ty ical o erating system functionsB nota!ly# having their own e5ecuta!le file format and roviding their own device drivers @timer# gra hics# rinter# mouse# *ey!oard and soundA. Unli*e MS230S# Windows allowed users to e5ecute multi le gra hical a lications at the same time# through coo erative multitas*ing. Windows im lemented an ela!orate# segment2!ased# software virtual memory scheme# which allows it to run a lications larger than availa!le memory= code segments and resources are swa ed in and thrown away when memory !ecame scarceB data segments moved in memory when a given a lication had relinDuished rocessor control.

Windows 3.0 and 3.1

Main articles: Windows 3.0 and Windows 3.1x

Windows '.,# released in 1$$,

Windows '.,# released in 1$$,# im roved the design# mostly !ecause of virtual memoryand loada!le virtual device drivers @E53sA that allow Windows to share ar!itrary devices !etween multi2tas*ed 30S a lications.%citation needed& Windows '., a lications can run in rotected mode# which gives them access to several mega!ytes of memory without the o!ligation to artici ate in the software virtual memory scheme. They run inside the same address s ace# where the segmented memory rovides a degree of rotection. Windows '., also featured im rovements to the user interface. Microsoft rewrote critical o erations from C into assem!ly. Windows '., is the first Microsoft Windows version to achieve !road commercial success# selling + million co ies in the first si5 months.%1,&%11& Windows '.1# made generally availa!le on March 1# 1$$+# featured a facelift. "n 9ugust 1$$'# Windows for Wor*grou s# a s ecial version with integrated eer2to2 eer networ*ing features and a version num!er of '.11# was released. "t was sold along Windows '.1. Su ort for Windows '.1 ended on 3ecem!er '1# +,,1.%1+&

Windows !
Main articles: Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows ME

Windows $)# released in 9ugust 1$$)# introduced the tas*!ar and Start menu to the o erating system.

The ne5t ma>or consumer2oriented release of Windows# Windows $)# was released on 9ugust +(# 1$$). While still remaining MS230S2!ased# Windows $) introduced su ort for native '+2!it a lications# lug and lay hardware# reem tive multitas*ing# long file namesof u to +)) characters# and rovided increased sta!ility over its redecessors. Windows $) also introduced a redesigned# o!>ect oriented user interface# re lacing the revious /rogram Manager with the Start menu# tas*!ar# and Windows 65 lorer shell. Windows $) was a ma>or commercial success for MicrosoftB "na 4ried of C86T remar*ed that ?!y the time Windows $) was finally ushered off the mar*et in +,,1# it had !ecome a fi5ture on com uter des*to s around the world.?%1'& Microsoft u!lished four 06M Service Releases @0SRA of Windows $)# each of which was roughly eDuivalent to a service ac*. The first 0SR of Windows $) was also the first version of Windows to !e !undled with Microsoft;s we! !rowser# "nternet 65 lorer.%1(& Mainstream su ort for Windows $) ended on 3ecem!er '1# +,,, and e5tended su ort for Windows $) ended on 3ecem!er '1# +,,1.%1)& Windows $) was followed u with the release of Windows $8 on Fune +)# 1$$8# which introduced the Windows 3river Model# su ort forUSB com osite devices# su ort for 9C/"# hi!ernation# and su ort for multi2 monitor configurations. Windows $8 also included integration with "nternet 65 lorer ( through 9ctive 3es*to and other as ects of the Windows 3es*to U date @a series of enhancements to the 65 lorer shell which were also made availa!le for Windows $)A. "n May 1$$$# Microsoft

released Windows $8 Second 6dition# an u dated version of Windows $8. Windows $8 S6 added "nternet 65 lorer )., and Windows Media /layer 1.+ amongst other u grades. Mainstream su ort for Windows $8 ended on Fune ',# +,,+ and e5tended su ort for Windows $8 ended on Fuly 11# +,,1.%11& 0n Se tem!er 1(# +,,,# Microsoft released Windows M6 @Millennium 6ditionA# the last 30S2!ased version of Windows. Windows M6 incor orated visual interface enhancements from its Windows 8T2!ased counter art Windows +,,,# had faster !oot times than revious versions @which however# reDuired the removal of the a!ility to access a real mode 30S environment# removing com ati!ility with some older rogramsA#%1-& e5 anded multimedia functionality @including Windows Media /layer -# Windows Movie Ma*er# and the Windows "mage 9cDuisition framewor* for retrieving images from scanners and digital camerasA# additional system utilities such as System 4ile /rotection and System Restore# and u dated home networ*ing tools. %18& :owever# Windows M6 was faced with criticism for its s eed and insta!ility# along with hardware com ati!ility issues and its removal of real mode 30S su ort. /C World considered Windows M6 to !e one of the worst o erating systems Microsoft had ever released# and the (th worst tech roduct of all time.%1$&

Windows "T fa#ily

Windows logo @1$$+G+,,1A# introduced inWindows '.1

Windows logo @+,,1G+,,1A# introduced inWindows ./

Windows logo @+,,1G+,1+A# introduced inWindows Eista

Windows logo used since +,1+# introduced inWindows Server +,1+ andWindows 8

Main article: Windows NT "n 8ovem!er 1$88# a new develo ment team within Microsoft @which included former 3igital 6Dui ment Cor oration develo ers 3ave Cutler and Mar* 7ucovs*yA !egan wor* on a revam ed version of "BM and Microsoft;s 0SC+ o erating system *nown as ?8T 0SC+?. 8T 0SC+ was intended to !e a secure# multi2user o erating system with /0S". com ati!ility and a modular# orta!le *ernel with reem tive multitas*ing and su ort for multi le rocessor architectures. :owever# following the successful release ofWindows '.,# the 8T develo ment team decided to rewor* the ro>ect to use an e5tended '+2!it ort of the Windows 9/" *nown as Win'+ instead of those of 0SC+. Win'+ maintained a similar structure to the Windows 9/"s @allowing e5isting Windows a lications to easily !e orted to the latformA# !ut also su orted the ca a!ilities of the e5isting 8T *ernel. 4ollowing its a roval !y Microsoft;s staff# develo ment continued on what was now Windows

8T# the first '+2!it version of Windows. :owever# "BM o!>ected to the changes# and ultimately continued 0SC+ develo ment on its own.%+,&%+1& The first release of the resulting o erating system# Windows 8T '.1 @named to associate it with Windows '.1A was released in Fuly 1$$' with versions for des*to wor*stations and servers. Windows 8T '.) was released in Se tem!er 1$$(# focusing on erformance im rovements and su ort for 8ovell;s 8etWare# and was followed u !y Windows 8T '.)1 in May 1$$)# which included additional im rovements and su ort for the /ower/C architecture. Windows 8T (., was released in Fune 1$$1# introducing the redesigned interface of Windows $) to the 8T series. 0n 4e!ruary 1-# +,,,# Microsoft released Windows +,,,# a successor to 8T (.,. The Windows 8T name was dro ed at this oint in order to ut a greater focus on the Windows !rand.%+1&

Windows $%
The ne5t ma>or version of Windows# Windows ./# was released on 0cto!er +)# +,,1. The introduction of Windows ./ aimed to unify the consumer2oriented Windows $5 series with the architecture introduced !y Windows 8T# a change which Microsoft romised would rovide !etter erformance over its 30S2!ased redecessors. Windows ./ would also introduce a redesigned user interface @including an u dated Start menu and a ?tas*2oriented? Windows 65 lorerA# streamlined multimedia and networ*ing features# "nternet 65 lorer 1# integration with Microsoft;s .86T /ass ort services# modes to hel rovide com ati!ility with software designed for revious versions of Windows# and Remote 9ssistance functionality.%++& 9t retail# Windows ./ was now mar*eted in two main editions= the ?:ome? edition was targeted towards consumers# while the ?/rofessional? edition was targeted towards !usiness environments and ower users# and included additional security and networ*ing features. :ome and /rofessional were later accom anied !y the ?Media Center? edition @designed for home theater /Cs# with an em hasis on su ort for 3E3 lay!ac*# TE tuner cards# 3ER functionality# and remote controlsA#

and the ?Ta!let /C? edition @designed for mo!ile devices meeting its s ecifications for a ta!let com uter# with su ort for stylus en in ut and additional en2ena!led a licationsA.%+'&%+(&%+)& Mainstream su ort for Windows ./ ended on 9 ril 1(# +,,$. 65tended su ort will continue until 9 ril 8# +,1(.%+1& 9fter Windows +,,,# Microsoft also changed its release schedules for server o erating systemsB the server counter art of Windows ./# Windows Server +,,'# was released in 9 ril +,,'.%+1& "t was followed in 3ecem!er +,,) !y Windows Server +,,' R+.

Windows Vista& ' and (

9fter a lengthy develo ment rocess# Windows Eista was released on 8ovem!er ',# +,,1 for volume licensing and Fanuary ',# +,,- for consumers. "t contained a num!er of new features# from a redesigned shell and user interface to significant technical changes# with a articular focus on security features. "t was availa!le in a num!er of different editions# and has !een su!>ect to some criticism. Eista;s server counter art# Windows Server +,,8 was released in early +,,8. 0n Fuly ++# +,,$# Windows - and Windows Server +,,8 R+ were released as RTM @release to manufacturingA while the former was released to the u!lic ' months later on 0cto!er ++# +,,$. Unli*e its redecessor# Windows Eista# which introduced a large num!er of new features# %which & Windows - was intended to !e a more focused# incremental u grade to the Windows line# with the goal of !eing com ati!le with a lications and hardware with which Windows Eista was already com ati!le. %+-& Windows - has multi2touch su ort# a redesigned Windows shell with an u dated tas*!ar# a home networ*ing system called :omeHrou #%+8& and erformance im rovements. Windows 8# the successor to Windows -# was released generally on 0cto!er +8# +,1+. 9 num!er of significant changes were made on Windows 8# including the introduction of a user interface !ased around Microsoft;s Metro design language with o timi<ations for touch2 !ased devices such as ta!lets and all2in2one /Cs. These changes include

the Start screen# which uses large tiles that are more convenient for touch interactions and allow for the dis lay of continually u dated information# and a new class of a s which are designed rimarily for use on touch2 !ased devices. 0ther changes include increased integration with cloud services and other online latforms @such as social networ*s and Microsoft;s own S*y3rive and .!o5 7ive servicesA# the Windows Store service for software distri!ution# and a new variant *nown as Windows RT for use on devices that utili<e the 9RM architecture.%+$&%',&%'1& %'+&%''&%'(& 9n u date to Windows 8# called Windows 8.1# was released on 0cto!er 1-# +,1'# and includes features such as new live tile si<es# dee er S*y3rive integration# the return of the traditional Start Button# and many other revisions.%')&

MS-DOS (Microsoft disk operating system)

0riginally develo ed !y Microsoft for "BM# MS230S was the standard o erating system for "BM2com ati!le ersonal com uters. The initial versions of 30S were very sim le and resem!led another o erating system called C/CM. Su!seDuent versions have !ecome increasingly so histicated as they incor orated features of minicom uter o erating systems.

Windows 1.0 2.0 (1985-1992)

"ntroduced in 1$8)# Microsoft Windows 1., was named due to the com uting !o5es# or ?windows? that re resented a fundamental as ect of the o erating system. "nstead of ty ing MS230S commands# windows 1., allowed users to oint and clic* to access the windows. "n 1$8- Microsoft released Windows +.,# which was designed for the designed for the "ntel +81 rocessor. This version added des*to icons# *ey!oard shortcuts and im roved gra hics su ort.

Windows 3.0 3.1 (19901994)

Microsoft released Windows '., in May# 1$,, offering !etter icons# erformance and advanced gra hics with 11 colors designed for "ntel '81 rocessors. This version is the first release that rovides the standard ?loo* and feel? of Microsoft Windows for many years to come. Windows '., included /rogram Manager# 4ile

Manager and /rint Manager and games @:earts# Mineswee er and SolitaireA. Microsoft released Windows '.1 in 1$$+.

Windows 95 (August 1995)

9 ma>or release of the Microsoft Windows o erating system released in 1$$). Windows $) re resents a significant advance over its recursor# Windows '.1. "n addition to s orting a new user interface# Windows $) also includes a num!er of im ortant internal im rovements. /erha s most im ortant# it su orts '+2!it a lications# which means that a lications written s ecifically for this o erating system should run much faster. 9lthough Windows $) can run older Windows and 30S a lications# it has essentially removed 30S as the underlying latform. This has meant removal of many of the old 30S limitations# such as 1(,I of main memory and 82character filenames. 0ther im ortant features in this o erating system are the a!ility to automatically detect and configure installed hardware @ lug and layA.

Windows 9 (!une 199 )

Windows $8 offers su ort for a num!er of new technologies# including 49T'+# 9H/# MM.# USB# 3E3# and 9C/". "ts most visi!le feature# though# is the 9ctive 3es*to # which integrates the We! !rowser @"nternet 65 lorerA with the o erating system. 4rom the user;s oint of view# there is no difference !etween accessing a document residing locally on the user;s hard dis* or on a We! server halfway around the world.

Windows M" - Mi##ennium "dition (Septem$er %&&&) Windows '( )1* - +*& (199)-199,)

The Windows Millennium 6dition# called ?Windows Me? was an u date to the Windows $8 core and included some features of the Windows +,,, o erating system. This version also removed the ?!oot in 30S? o tion. 9 version of the Windows o erating system. Windows 8T @8ew TechnologyA is a '+2!it o erating system that su orts reem tive multitas*ing. There are actually two versions of Windows 8T= Windows 8T Server# designed to act as a server in networ*s# and Windows 8T Wor*station for stand2alone or client wor*stations.

Windows %&&& (-e$ruary %&&&)

0ften a!!reviated as ?W+I#? Windows +,,, is an o erating system for !usiness des*to and la to systems to run software a lications# connect to "nternet and intranet sites# and access files# rinters# and networ* resources. Microsoft released four versions of Windows +,,,= /rofessional @for !usiness des*to and la to systemsA# Server @!oth a We! server and an office serverA# 9dvanced Server @for line2of2!usiness a licationsA and 3atacenter Server @for high2traffic com uter networ*sA.

Windows ./ (Octo$er %&&1)

Windows ./ was first introduced in +,,1. 9long with a redesigned loo* and feel to the user interface# the new o erating system is !uilt on the Windows +,,, *ernel# giving the user a more sta!le and relia!le environment than revious

versions of Windows. Windows ./ comes in two versions# :ome and /rofessional. Microsoft focused on mo!ility for !oth editions# including lug and lay features for connecting to wireless networ*s. The o erating system also utili<es the 8,+.115 wireless security standard. Windows ./ is one of Microsoft;s !est2selling roducts.

Windows 0ista ('o1em$er %&&,)

Windows Eista offered an advancement in relia!ility# security# ease of de loyment# erformance and managea!ility over Windows ./. 8ew in this version was ca a!ilities to detect hardware ro!lems !efore they occur# security features to rotect against the latest generation of threats# faster start2u time and low ower consum tion of the new slee state. "n many cases# Windows Eista is noticea!ly more res onsive than Windows ./ on identical hardware. Windows Eista sim lifies and centrali<es des*to configuration management# reducing the cost of *ee ing systems u dated.

Windows 2 (Octo$er3 %&&9)

Windows - made its official de!ut to the u!lic on 0cto!er ++# +,,$ as the latest in the +)2year2old line of Microsoft Windows o erating systems and as the successor to Windows Eista @which itself had followed Windows ./A. Windows was released in con>unction with Windows Server +,,8 R+# Windows -;s server counter art. 6nhancements and new features in Windows - include multi2touch su ort# "nternet 65 lorer 8# im roved erformance and start2u time# 9ero Sna # 9ero Sha*e# su ort for virtual hard dis*s# a new and im roved Windows Media Center# and im roved security.

Windows %&1%)

(4odename3 "5pected 6e#ease

Windows 8 is a com letely redesigned o erating system that;s !een develo ed from the ground u with touchscreen use in mind as well as near2instant2on ca a!ilities that ena!le a Windows 8 /C to load and start u in a matter of seconds rather than in minutes. Windows 8 will re lace the more traditional Microsoft Windows 0S loo* and feel with a new ?Metro? design system interface that first de!uted in the Windows /hone - mo!ile o erating system. The Metro user interface rimarily consists of a ?Start screen? made u of ?7ive Tiles#? which are lin*s to a lications and features that are dynamic and u date in real time. Windows 8 su orts !oth 581 /Cs and 9RM rocessors. 0nline media sites indicate that this version will !e availa!le in +,1+# with 0cto!er and 4all !eing the most often Duoted time frame.