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Windows 2.0 and Windows 2.1x
Much of the popularity for Windows 2.0 came by way of its inclusion as a "run-time version" with Microsoft's new graphical applications, Excel and Word for Windows. They could be run from MS-DOS, executing Windows for the duration of their activity, and closing down Windows upon exit.Versions 2.0x used the real-mode memory model, which confined it to a maximum of 1 megabyte of memory.In such a configuration,it could run under another multitasker like DESQview, which used the 286 protected mode. -
Windows 1.0
The first independent version of Microsoft Windows, version 1.0, released on November 20, 1985, achieved little popularity.
Windows 1.0 was not a complete operating system, but rather an "operating environment" that extended MS-DOS, and shared the latter's inherent flaws and errors. -
Windows 3.0
It also allowed users to better multitask older MS-DOS based software compared to Windows/386, thanks to the introduction of virtual memory.Windows 3.0's user interface finally resembled a serious competitor to the user interface of the Macintosh computer. PCs had improved graphics by this time, due to VGA video cards, and the protected/enhanced mode allowed Windows applications to use more memory in a more painless manner than their DOS counterparts could. -
Windows 3.1x
In response to the impending release of OS/2 2.0, Microsoft developed Windows 3.1,which included several improvements to Windows 3.0, such as display of TrueType scalable fonts (developed jointly with Apple), improved disk performance in 386 Enhanced Mode, multimedia support, and bugfixes. It also removed Real Mode, and only ran on an 80286 or better processor. -
Windows 95
Microsoft had a double gain from its release: first, it made it impossible for consumers to run Windows 95 on a cheaper, non-Microsoft DOS; secondly, although traces of DOS were never completely removed from the system and MS DOS 7 would be loaded briefly as a part of the booting process, Windows 95 applications ran solely in 386 enhanced mode, with a flat 32-bit address space and virtual memory. -
Windows NT 4.0
Major new features included the new Explorer shell from Windows 95, scalability and feature improvements to the core architecture, kernel, USER32, COM and MSRPC.[18]
Windows NT 4.0 came in four versions:
Windows NT 4.0 Workstation
Windows NT 4.0 Server
Windows NT 4.0 Server, Enterprise Edition (includes support for 8-way SMP and clustering)
Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server -
Windows 98
It included new hardware drivers and the FAT32 file system which supports disk partitions that are larger than 2 GB.USB support in Windows 98 is marketed as a vast improvement over Windows 95. The release continued the controversial inclusion of the Internet Explorer browser with the operating system that started with Windows 95 OEM Service Release 1. -
Windows NT, Windows NT 3.1, Windows NT 3.5, and Windows NT 3.51
Meanwhile, Microsoft continued to develop Windows NT.The main architect of the system was Dave Cutler, one of the chief architects of VMS at Digital Equipment Corporation.Cutler had been developing a follow-on to VMS at DEC called Mica,and when DEC dropped the project he brought the expertise and around 20 engineers with him to Microsoft,DEC also believed he brought Mica's code to Microsoft and sued.[15] Microsoft eventually paid $150 million and agreed to support DEC's Alpha CPU chip in NT. -
Windows 2000
It has the version number Windows NT 5.0. Windows 2000 has had four official service packs. . Amongst Windows 2000's most significant new features was Active Directory, a near-complete replacement of the NT 4.0 Windows Server domain model, which built on industry-standard technologies like DNS, LDAP, and Kerberos to connect machines to one another. Terminal Services, previously only available as a separate edition of NT 4, was expanded to all server versions. -
Windows XP and Features new to Windows XP
. The merging of the Windows NT/2000 and Windows 95/98/Me lines was finally achieved with Windows XP.Windows XP uses the Windows NT 5.1 kernel,marking the entrance of the Windows NT core to the consumer market to replace the aging 16/32-bit branch. The initial release met with considerable criticism, particularly in the area of security, leading to the release of three major Service Packs. Windows XP SP1 was released in September 2002, SP2 came out in August 2004 and SP3 came out in April 2008. -
Windows Server 2003
On April 25, 2003 Microsoft launched Windows Server 2003, a notable update to Windows 2000 Server encompassing many new security features, a new "Manage Your Server" wizard that simplifies configuring a machine for specific roles. most noticeable are the "Windows Audio" and "Themes" services; users have to enable them manually to get sound or the "Luna" look as per Windows XP. -
Windows Home Server
Windows Home Server (codenamed Q, Quattro) is a server product based on Windows Server 2003, designed for consumer use. Windows Home Server can be configured and monitored using a console program that can be installed on a client PC. Such features as Media Sharing, local and remote drive backup and file duplication are all listed as features. The release of Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 added support for Windows 7 to Windows Home Server. -
Windows Server 2008
Windows Server 2008, released on February 27, 2008, was originally known as Windows Server Codename "Longhorn". Windows Server 2008 builds on the technological and security advances first introduced with Windows Vista, and is significantly more modular than its predecessor, Windows Server 2003. -
Windows 7
Windows 7 was released to manufacturing on July 22, 2009, and reached general retail availability on October 22, 2009.[29][30] It was previously known by the codenames Blackcomb and Vienna. Windows 7 has the version number NT 6.1. Since its release, Windows 7 has had one service pack.
Some features of Windows 7 are faster booting, Device Stage, Windows PowerShell, less obtrusive User Account Control, multi-touch, and improved window management. -
Windows 8
One edition, Windows RT, runs on some system-on-a-chip devices with mobile 32-bit ARM processors. Windows 8 features a redesigned user interface, designed to make it easier for touchscreen users to use Windows. The interface introduced an updated Start menu known as the Start screen, and a new full-screen application platform. The desktop interface is also present for running windowed applications, although Windows RT will not run any desktop applications not included in the system. -
Windows Server 2016
Windows Server 2016 is a release of the Microsoft Windows Server operating system that was unveiled on September 30, 2014. Windows Server 2016 was officially released at Microsoft's Ignite Conference, September 26–30, 2016 -
Windows 10
It was distributed without charge to Windows 7 and 8.1 users for one year after release. A number of new features like Cortana, the Microsoft Edge web browser, the ability to view Windows Store apps as a window instead of fullscreen, virtual desktops, revamped core apps, Continuum, and a unified Settings app were all features debuted in Windows 10. Microsoft has announced that Windows 10 will be the last major version of its series of operating systems to be released.