Comparison of Microsoft Windows versions
Encyclopedia
| Desktop market share for October 2011 |
|---|
| Total Windows - 90.13% |
| Windows 7 - 40.5% |
| Windows XP Windows XP Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base... - 38.45% |
| Windows Vista Windows Vista Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs... - 11.18% |
| Non-Windows - 9.87% |
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
is the name of several families of computer software operating systems by Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
. Microsoft first introduced an operating environment named Windows in November 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces (GUI).
DOSDOSDOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
-based (MS-DOSMS-DOSMS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
/9xWindows 9xWindows 9x is a generic term referring to a series of Microsoft Windows computer operating systems produced since 1995, which were based on the original and later modified Windows 95 kernel...
-based)
| Name | Release date | RTM Build | Current version | Status support | Source model/ License Type | Codename | MS-DOS version | Kernel type | Architecture | Editions | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 1.0 Windows 1.0 Windows 1.0 is a 16-bit graphical operating environment, developed by Microsoft and released on 20 November 1985. It was Microsoft's first attempt to implement a multi-tasking graphical user interface-based operating environment on the PC platform. Windows 1.0 was the first version of Windows... |
1985-11-20 | 1.04 (1987-04-08) | Unsupported (2001-12-31) |
Closed source/ Microsoft EULA |
16-bit | Desktop | First version of Windows | |||||
| Windows 2.0 Windows 2.0 Windows 2.0 is a 16-bit Microsoft Windows GUI-based operating environment that was released on December 9, 1987 and is the successor to Windows 1.0. With Windows 2.1x in 1988, Windows 2.0 was supplemented by Windows/286 and Windows/386... |
1987-12-09 | 2.03 (1987-12-09) | Unsupported (2001-12-31) |
Closed source/ Microsoft EULA |
16-bit | Desktop | ||||||
| Windows 2.1x Windows 2.1x Windows 2.1x is a family of Microsoft Windows graphical user interface-based operating environments.Windows/286 2.10 and Windows/386 2.10 were released on May 27, 1988, less than a year after the release of Windows 2.0... |
1988-05-27 | 2.11 (1989-03-13) | Unsupported (2001-12-31) |
Closed source/ Microsoft EULA |
16-bit | Desktop | ||||||
| Windows 3.0 Windows 3.0 Windows 3.0, a graphical environment, is the third major release of Microsoft Windows, and was released on 22 May 1990. It became the first widely successful version of Windows and a rival to Apple Macintosh and the Commodore Amiga on the GUI front... |
1990-05-22 | 3.0a Multimedia Extensions (1991-10-20) |
Unsupported (2001-12-31) |
Closed source/ Microsoft EULA |
DOS 3.1 or higher (not included) | 16-bit | Windows 3.0, Windows 3.0a, Windows 3.0a with Multimedia Extensions | Desktop | ||||
| Windows 3.1x Windows 3.1x Windows 3.1x is a series of 16-bit operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers. The series began with Windows 3.1, which was first sold during March 1992 as a successor to Windows 3.0... |
1992-04-06 | 040 | 3.11 (1993-12-31) | Unsupported (2001-12-31) |
Closed source/ Microsoft EULA |
3.1: Janus; for Workgroups: Kato, Sparta; 3.11: Snowball (LB) | DOS 3.3 or higher (not included) | 16-bit (partial 32-bit compatibility with Win32s Win32s Win32s is a 32-bit application runtime environment for the Microsoft Windows 3.1 and 3.11 operating systems. It allowed some 32-bit applications to run on the 16-bit operating system using call thunks.- Concept and Characteristics :... ) |
Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups 3.1, Windows 3.11, Windows for Workgroups 3.11, Windows 3.2 (simplified Chinese only) | Desktop | Version number: 3.1.040 | |
| Windows 95 Windows 95 Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products... |
1995-08-24 | 950 | 4.00.950C OSR2.5 (1997-11-26) | Unsupported (2001-12-31) |
Closed source/ Microsoft EULA |
Chicago | MS-DOS 7.0, MS-DOS 7.1 (OSR2.x) | Monolithic kernel Monolithic kernel A monolithic kernel is an operating system architecture where the entire operating system is working in the kernel space and alone as supervisor mode... |
Hybrid 16/32-bit | Retail, OSR1, OSR2, OSR2.1, OSR2.5 | Desktop | Version number: 4.00.950 |
| Windows 98 Windows 98 Windows 98 is a graphical operating system by Microsoft. It is the second major release in the Windows 9x line of operating systems. It was released to manufacturing on 15 May 1998 and to retail on 25 June 1998. Windows 98 is the successor to Windows 95. Like its predecessor, it is a hybrid... |
1998-06-25 | 1998 | 4.10.2222A (1999-04-23) | Unsupported (2006-07-11) |
Closed source/ Microsoft EULA |
Memphis | MS-DOS 7.1 | Monolithic kernel Monolithic kernel A monolithic kernel is an operating system architecture where the entire operating system is working in the kernel space and alone as supervisor mode... |
Hybrid 16/32-bit | First edition, Second Edition | Desktop | Version number: 4.10.1998 (Security Version 4.10.1998A) |
| Windows Me Windows Me Windows Millennium Edition, or Windows Me , is a graphical operating system released on September 14, 2000 by Microsoft, and was the last operating system released in the Windows 9x series. Support for Windows Me ended on July 11, 2006.... |
2000-06-19 | 3000 | 4.90.3000 (2000-09-14) | Unsupported (2006-07-11) |
Closed source/ Microsoft EULA |
"Millennium" | MS-DOS 8.0 | Monolithic kernel Monolithic kernel A monolithic kernel is an operating system architecture where the entire operating system is working in the kernel space and alone as supervisor mode... |
Hybrid 16/32-bit | Desktop | Version number: 4.90.3000 (Security Version 4.90.3000A) |
NTWindows NTWindows NT is a family of operating systems produced by Microsoft, the first version of which was released in July 1993. It was a powerful high-level-language-based, processor-independent, multiprocessing, multiuser operating system with features comparable to Unix. It was intended to complement...
Kernel-based
| Name | Release date | RTM Build | Current version | Status support | License/Source model | Codename, working name | Based on (kernel) | Supported architectures | Editions | OS type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows NT 3.1 Windows NT 3.1 Windows NT 3.1 is the first release of Microsoft's Windows NT line of server and business desktop operating systems, and was released to manufacturing on 27 July 1993. The version number was chosen to match the one of Windows 3.1, the then-latest operating environment from Microsoft, on account of... |
1993-07-27 | 528 | 3.10.528 SP3 (1994-11-10) |
Unsupported (2001-12-31) |
Closed source/ Microsoft EULA |
NT 3.1 | x86-32, DEC Alpha DEC Alpha Alpha, originally known as Alpha AXP, is a 64-bit reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by Digital Equipment Corporation , designed to replace the 32-bit VAX complex instruction set computer ISA and its implementations. Alpha was implemented in microprocessors... , MIPS MIPS architecture MIPS is a reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by MIPS Technologies . The early MIPS architectures were 32-bit, and later versions were 64-bit... |
Workstation, Advanced Server |
Workstation, Server |
|
| Windows NT 3.5 Windows NT 3.5 Windows NT 3.5 is the second release of the Microsoft Windows NT operating system. It was released on 21 September 1994.One of the primary goals during Windows NT 3.5's development was to increase the speed of the operating system; as a result, the project was given the codename "Daytona" in... |
1994-09-21 | 807 | 3.50.807 SP3 (1995-06-21) |
Unsupported (2001-12-31) |
Closed source/ Microsoft EULA |
Daytona | NT 3.5 | x86-32, DEC Alpha DEC Alpha Alpha, originally known as Alpha AXP, is a 64-bit reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by Digital Equipment Corporation , designed to replace the 32-bit VAX complex instruction set computer ISA and its implementations. Alpha was implemented in microprocessors... , MIPS MIPS architecture MIPS is a reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by MIPS Technologies . The early MIPS architectures were 32-bit, and later versions were 64-bit... |
Workstation, Server |
Workstation, Server |
| Windows NT 3.51 Windows NT 3.51 Windows NT 3.51 is the third release of Microsoft's Windows NT line of operating systems. It was released on 30 May 1995, nine months after Windows NT 3.5. The release provided two notable feature improvements; firstly NT 3.51 was the first of a short-lived outing of Microsoft Windows on the... |
1995-05-30 | 1057 | 3.51.1057 SP5 (1996-09-19) |
Unsupported (2001-12-31) |
Closed source/ Microsoft EULA |
NT 3.51 | x86-32, DEC Alpha DEC Alpha Alpha, originally known as Alpha AXP, is a 64-bit reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by Digital Equipment Corporation , designed to replace the 32-bit VAX complex instruction set computer ISA and its implementations. Alpha was implemented in microprocessors... , MIPS MIPS architecture MIPS is a reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by MIPS Technologies . The early MIPS architectures were 32-bit, and later versions were 64-bit... , PowerPC PowerPC PowerPC is a RISC architecture created by the 1991 Apple–IBM–Motorola alliance, known as AIM... |
Workstation Workstation A workstation is a high-end microcomputer designed for technical or scientific applications. Intended primarily to be used by one person at a time, they are commonly connected to a local area network and run multi-user operating systems... , Server |
Workstation, Server |
|
| Windows NT 4.0 Windows NT 4.0 Windows NT 4.0 is a preemptive, graphical and business-oriented operating system designed to work with either uniprocessor or symmetric multi-processor computers. It was the next release of Microsoft's Windows NT line of operating systems and was released to manufacturing on 31 July 1996... |
1996-08-24 | 1381 | 4.00.1381 SP6a (1999-11-30) |
Unsupported (2004-12-31) |
Closed source/ Microsoft EULA |
Cairo Hydra (Terminal Server) |
NT 4.0 | x86-32, DEC Alpha DEC Alpha Alpha, originally known as Alpha AXP, is a 64-bit reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by Digital Equipment Corporation , designed to replace the 32-bit VAX complex instruction set computer ISA and its implementations. Alpha was implemented in microprocessors... , MIPS MIPS architecture MIPS is a reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by MIPS Technologies . The early MIPS architectures were 32-bit, and later versions were 64-bit... , PowerPC PowerPC PowerPC is a RISC architecture created by the 1991 Apple–IBM–Motorola alliance, known as AIM... |
Workstation, Server, Server Enterprise Edition, Terminal Server, Embedded |
Workstation, Server, Embedded |
| Windows 2000 Windows 2000 Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the... |
2000-02-17 | 2195 | 5.0 SP4 Rollup 1 v2 (2005-09-13) |
Unsupported (2010-07-13) |
Shared source Shared source Shared source is an umbrella term covering some of Microsoft's legal mechanisms for software source code distribution. Microsoft's Shared Source Initiative, launched in May 2001, includes a spectrum of technologies and licenses... / Microsoft EULA |
Memphis NT, Whistler 2000 | NT 5.0 | x86-32, IA-64 | Professional, Server, Advanced Server, Datacenter Server |
Desktop, Workstation, Server |
| Windows XP Windows XP Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base... |
2001-10-25 | 2600 | 5.1.2600 SP3 (2008-04-21) |
Extended Support Period (2014-04-08) |
Shared source Shared source Shared source is an umbrella term covering some of Microsoft's legal mechanisms for software source code distribution. Microsoft's Shared Source Initiative, launched in May 2001, includes a spectrum of technologies and licenses... / Microsoft EULA |
Whistler | NT 5.1; NT 5.2 (64-bit 2003 and x64) |
x86-32, IA-64, x86-64 X86-64 x86-64 is an extension of the x86 instruction set. It supports vastly larger virtual and physical address spaces than are possible on x86, thereby allowing programmers to conveniently work with much larger data sets. x86-64 also provides 64-bit general purpose registers and numerous other... |
Starter Edition, Home, Professional, Media Center, Tablet PC, Starter, Embedded, Home N, Home K, Home KN, Professional N, Professional K, Professional KN, Professional x64 |
Desktop, Workstation, Embedded |
| Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2003 is a server operating system produced by Microsoft, introduced on 24 April 2003. An updated version, Windows Server 2003 R2, was released to manufacturing on 6 December 2005... |
2003-04-24 | 3790 | 5.2.3790 SP2 (2007-03-13) |
Supported | Shared source Shared source Shared source is an umbrella term covering some of Microsoft's legal mechanisms for software source code distribution. Microsoft's Shared Source Initiative, launched in May 2001, includes a spectrum of technologies and licenses... / Microsoft EULA |
Whistler Server, Windows .NET Server | NT 5.2 | x86-32, IA-64, x86-64 X86-64 x86-64 is an extension of the x86 instruction set. It supports vastly larger virtual and physical address spaces than are possible on x86, thereby allowing programmers to conveniently work with much larger data sets. x86-64 also provides 64-bit general purpose registers and numerous other... |
Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, Web, Storage, Small Business Server, Compute Cluster |
Server, Network Appliance, Embedded, HPC |
| Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs is a thin client operating system from Microsoft, based on Windows XP Embedded, but optimized for older, less powerful hardware. It was released on 8 July 2006... |
2006-07-08 | 2600 | RTM (2006-07-08) |
Supported | Shared source Shared source Shared source is an umbrella term covering some of Microsoft's legal mechanisms for software source code distribution. Microsoft's Shared Source Initiative, launched in May 2001, includes a spectrum of technologies and licenses... / Microsoft EULA |
Eiger, Monch | NT 5.1 | x86-32 | Fundamentals for Legacy PCs | Desktop |
| Windows Vista Windows Vista Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs... |
2006-11-08 | 6000 (SP2: 6002) | 6.0 SP2 (2008-02-04) |
Supported | Closed source, Shared source Shared source Shared source is an umbrella term covering some of Microsoft's legal mechanisms for software source code distribution. Microsoft's Shared Source Initiative, launched in May 2001, includes a spectrum of technologies and licenses... / Microsoft EULA |
Longhorn | NT 6.0 | x86-32, x86-64 X86-64 x86-64 is an extension of the x86 instruction set. It supports vastly larger virtual and physical address spaces than are possible on x86, thereby allowing programmers to conveniently work with much larger data sets. x86-64 also provides 64-bit general purpose registers and numerous other... |
Starter, Home Basic,Home Basic N, Home Basic K, Home Basic KN, Home Premium, Home Premium K, Home Premium KN, Business, Business N, Business K, Business KN, Enterprise, Enterprise K, Enterprise KN, Ultimate, Ultimate K, Ultimate KN |
Desktop, Workstation |
| Windows Server 2008 | 2008-02-27 | 6001 (SP2: 6002) | 6.0 SP2 (2008-02-27) |
Supported | Closed source, Shared source Shared source Shared source is an umbrella term covering some of Microsoft's legal mechanisms for software source code distribution. Microsoft's Shared Source Initiative, launched in May 2001, includes a spectrum of technologies and licenses... / Microsoft EULA |
Longhorn Server | NT 6.0 | x86-32, IA-64, x86-64 X86-64 x86-64 is an extension of the x86 instruction set. It supports vastly larger virtual and physical address spaces than are possible on x86, thereby allowing programmers to conveniently work with much larger data sets. x86-64 also provides 64-bit general purpose registers and numerous other... |
Web, Standard, Enterprise, Small Business Server, Datacenter, Web Core, Standard Core, Enterprise Core, Datacenter Core, Standard without HyperV, Enterprise without HyperV, Datacenter without HyperV, Standard Core without HyperV, Enterprise Core without HyperV, Datacenter Core without HyperV, HPC, HyperV Core, Foundation, Storage |
Server |
| Windows Home Server Windows Home Server Windows Home Server, code-named Quattro, is a home server operating system from Microsoft. Announced on 7 January 2007, at the Consumer Electronics Show by Bill Gates, Windows Home Server is intended to be a solution for homes with multiple connected PCs to offer file sharing, automated backups,... |
2007-06-16 | 3790 | 5.2 | Supported | Closed source/ Microsoft EULA |
Q, Quattro | NT 5.2 | x86-32, x86-64 X86-64 x86-64 is an extension of the x86 instruction set. It supports vastly larger virtual and physical address spaces than are possible on x86, thereby allowing programmers to conveniently work with much larger data sets. x86-64 also provides 64-bit general purpose registers and numerous other... |
Home Server | Server |
| Windows 7 |
2009-10-22 | 7600 (SP1: 7601) | 6.1 | Supported | Closed source, Shared source Shared source Shared source is an umbrella term covering some of Microsoft's legal mechanisms for software source code distribution. Microsoft's Shared Source Initiative, launched in May 2001, includes a spectrum of technologies and licenses... / Microsoft EULA |
"7", Vienna | NT 6.1 | x86-32, x86-64 X86-64 x86-64 is an extension of the x86 instruction set. It supports vastly larger virtual and physical address spaces than are possible on x86, thereby allowing programmers to conveniently work with much larger data sets. x86-64 also provides 64-bit general purpose registers and numerous other... |
Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, Enterprise, Starter N, Home Basic N, Home Premium N, Professional N, Ultimate N, Enterprise N, Starter K, Home Basic K, Home Premium K, Professional K, Ultimate K, Enterprise K, Starter KN, Home Basic KN, Home Premium KN, Professional KN, Ultimate KN, Enterprise KN, Starter E, Home Basic E, Home Premium E, Professional E, Ultimate E, Enterprise E |
Desktop, Workstation, Multi-Touch |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2008 R2 is a server operating system produced by Microsoft. It was released to manufacturing on July 22, 2009 and launched on October 22, 2009. According to the Windows Server Team blog, the retail availability was September 14, 2009. It is built on Windows NT 6.1, the same core... |
2009-10-22 | 7600 (SP1: 7601) | 6.1 | Supported | Closed source, Shared source Shared source Shared source is an umbrella term covering some of Microsoft's legal mechanisms for software source code distribution. Microsoft's Shared Source Initiative, launched in May 2001, includes a spectrum of technologies and licenses... / Microsoft EULA |
"7" Server | NT 6.1 | IA-64, x86-64 X86-64 x86-64 is an extension of the x86 instruction set. It supports vastly larger virtual and physical address spaces than are possible on x86, thereby allowing programmers to conveniently work with much larger data sets. x86-64 also provides 64-bit general purpose registers and numerous other... |
Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, Web, Standard Core, Enterprise Core, Datacenter Core, Web Core |
Server |
| Windows Home Server 2011 | 2011-04-05 | 8400 | 6.1 | Supported | Closed source/ Microsoft EULA |
Vail | NT 6.1 | x86-64 X86-64 x86-64 is an extension of the x86 instruction set. It supports vastly larger virtual and physical address spaces than are possible on x86, thereby allowing programmers to conveniently work with much larger data sets. x86-64 also provides 64-bit general purpose registers and numerous other... |
Home Server | Server |
CEWindows CEMicrosoft Windows CE is an operating system developed by Microsoft for embedded systems. Windows CE is a distinct operating system and kernel, rather than a trimmed-down version of desktop Windows...
-based
Windows CE (sometimes abbreviated WinCE) is a variation of Microsoft's Windows operating system for minimalistic computers and embedded systems. Windows CE is a distinctly different kernel, rather than a trimmed-down version of desktop Windows. It is supported on Intel x86 and compatibles, MIPS, ARM, and Hitachi SuperH processors.| Release date | RTM Build | Current version | Status support | License/Source model | Codename | Based on (kernel) | Kernel type | Operating environments | Editions | Purpose | Short description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows CE 1.0 | November 1996 | Pegasus, Alder | CE 1.0 | Embedded | first release of Microsoft's Windows CE line for minimalistic computers and embedded systems | |||||||
| Windows CE 2.0 | November 1997 | Mercury, Apollo | CE 2.0 | 2.1, 2.11 | Embedded | |||||||
| Windows CE 3.0 Windows CE 3.0 Microsoft Windows CE 3.0 is an operating system designed for embedded systems including PDAs and mobile phones, working within the constraints of the slow processors and reduced amount of memory available on these devices... |
April 2000 | Unsupported (10/9/2007) |
Shared source Shared source Shared source is an umbrella term covering some of Microsoft's legal mechanisms for software source code distribution. Microsoft's Shared Source Initiative, launched in May 2001, includes a spectrum of technologies and licenses... / Microsoft EULA |
Cedar, Galileo, Rapier, Merlin, Stinger | CE 3.0 | Embedded kernel Embedded system An embedded system is a computer system designed for specific control functions within a larger system. often with real-time computing constraints. It is embedded as part of a complete device often including hardware and mechanical parts. By contrast, a general-purpose computer, such as a personal... |
Embedded | |||||
| Pocket PC 2002 | CE 3.0 | |||||||||||
| Windows CE 4.0 | 7 January 2002 | Talisker | CE 4.0 | 4.1, 4.2 | Embedded | |||||||
| Windows Mobile 2003 | 23 June 2003 | Ozone | CE 4.20 | |||||||||
| Windows CE 5.0 Windows CE 5.0 Windows CE 5.0 is a successor to Windows CE 4.2, the third release in the Windows CE .NET family.It was first released on July 09, 2004. Like its predecessors, Windows CE 5.0 is marketed towards the embedded device market and independent device vendors... |
9 July 2004 | 5.0 (9 July 2004) | Supported | Shared source Shared source Shared source is an umbrella term covering some of Microsoft's legal mechanisms for software source code distribution. Microsoft's Shared Source Initiative, launched in May 2001, includes a spectrum of technologies and licenses... / Microsoft EULA |
Macallan | CE 5.0 | Embedded kernel Embedded system An embedded system is a computer system designed for specific control functions within a larger system. often with real-time computing constraints. It is embedded as part of a complete device often including hardware and mechanical parts. By contrast, a general-purpose computer, such as a personal... |
Embedded | ||||
| Windows Mobile 5.0 | 9-12 May 2005 | Magneto | CE 5.0 | |||||||||
| Windows Embedded CE 6.0 | 1 November 2006 | Shared source Shared source Shared source is an umbrella term covering some of Microsoft's legal mechanisms for software source code distribution. Microsoft's Shared Source Initiative, launched in May 2001, includes a spectrum of technologies and licenses... / Microsoft EULA |
Yamazaki | CE 6.0 | Hybrid kernel Hybrid kernel A hybrid kernel is a kernel architecture based on combining aspects of microkernel and monolithic kernel architectures used in computer operating systems. The category is controversial due to the similarity to monolithic kernel; the term has been dismissed by Linus Torvalds as simple marketing... |
|||||||
| Windows Mobile 6.0 | 12 February 2007 | Crossbow | CE 5.2 | |||||||||
| Windows Mobile 6.1 | 1 April 2008 | various performance enhancements, a redesigned Home screen, threaded SMS, full page zooming in IE and Domain Enroll | ||||||||||
| Windows Mobile 6.5 | May 18 2009 | minor upgrade to the existing Windows Mobile platform | ||||||||||
| Windows Phone 7 Windows Phone 7 Windows Phone is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft, and is the successor to its Windows Mobile platform, although incompatible with it. Unlike its predecessor, it is primarily aimed at the consumer market rather than the enterprise market... |
November 8, 2010 | Photon | CE 6.0 | major update to the platform, merging Smartphone and Pocket PC. |
DOSDOSDOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
-based (MS-DOSMS-DOSMS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
/9xWindows 9xWindows 9x is a generic term referring to a series of Microsoft Windows computer operating systems produced since 1995, which were based on the original and later modified Windows 95 kernel...
-based)
| Name | Kernel | Kernel type | Architecture | Integrated firewall | SMP support | Multiple architecture support | USB Support | UDMA Support | Long Filename Support | Update management | APIs | Safe Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 1.0 Windows 1.0 Windows 1.0 is a 16-bit graphical operating environment, developed by Microsoft and released on 20 November 1985. It was Microsoft's first attempt to implement a multi-tasking graphical user interface-based operating environment on the PC platform. Windows 1.0 was the first version of Windows... |
16-bit | Win16 Windows API The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on... |
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| Windows 2.0 Windows 2.0 Windows 2.0 is a 16-bit Microsoft Windows GUI-based operating environment that was released on December 9, 1987 and is the successor to Windows 1.0. With Windows 2.1x in 1988, Windows 2.0 was supplemented by Windows/286 and Windows/386... |
16-bit | Win16 Windows API The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on... |
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| Windows 3.0 Windows 3.0 Windows 3.0, a graphical environment, is the third major release of Microsoft Windows, and was released on 22 May 1990. It became the first widely successful version of Windows and a rival to Apple Macintosh and the Commodore Amiga on the GUI front... |
16-bit | Win16 Windows API The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on... |
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| Windows 3.1x Windows 3.1x Windows 3.1x is a series of 16-bit operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers. The series began with Windows 3.1, which was first sold during March 1992 as a successor to Windows 3.0... |
(OS or shell?) | 16-bit (partial 32-bit compatibility through Win32s Win32s Win32s is a 32-bit application runtime environment for the Microsoft Windows 3.1 and 3.11 operating systems. It allowed some 32-bit applications to run on the 16-bit operating system using call thunks.- Concept and Characteristics :... ) |
Win16 Windows API The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on... , Win32s Win32s Win32s is a 32-bit application runtime environment for the Microsoft Windows 3.1 and 3.11 operating systems. It allowed some 32-bit applications to run on the 16-bit operating system using call thunks.- Concept and Characteristics :... |
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| Windows 95 Windows 95 Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products... |
MS-DOS 7.0, MS-DOS 7.1 (Win95B) | Monolithic kernel Monolithic kernel A monolithic kernel is an operating system architecture where the entire operating system is working in the kernel space and alone as supervisor mode... |
Hybrid 16/32-bit | Only OEM Service Release 2.1 or higher | Only OEM Service Release 2 or higher | Windows Update Windows Update Windows Update is a service provided by Microsoft that provides updates for the Microsoft Windows operating system and its installed components, including Internet Explorer... (If Internet Explorer 5 is installed) |
Win16 Windows API The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on... , Win32c Windows API The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on... |
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| Windows 98 Windows 98 Windows 98 is a graphical operating system by Microsoft. It is the second major release in the Windows 9x line of operating systems. It was released to manufacturing on 15 May 1998 and to retail on 25 June 1998. Windows 98 is the successor to Windows 95. Like its predecessor, it is a hybrid... |
MS-DOS 7.1 | Monolithic kernel Monolithic kernel A monolithic kernel is an operating system architecture where the entire operating system is working in the kernel space and alone as supervisor mode... |
Hybrid 16/32-bit | Win16 Windows API The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on... , Win32 Windows API The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on... |
||||||||
| Windows Me Windows Me Windows Millennium Edition, or Windows Me , is a graphical operating system released on September 14, 2000 by Microsoft, and was the last operating system released in the Windows 9x series. Support for Windows Me ended on July 11, 2006.... |
MS-DOS 8.0 | Monolithic kernel Monolithic kernel A monolithic kernel is an operating system architecture where the entire operating system is working in the kernel space and alone as supervisor mode... |
Hybrid 16/32-bit | Win16 Windows API The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on... , Win32 Windows API The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on... |
NTWindows NTWindows NT is a family of operating systems produced by Microsoft, the first version of which was released in July 1993. It was a powerful high-level-language-based, processor-independent, multiprocessing, multiuser operating system with features comparable to Unix. It was intended to complement...
Kernel-based
The NT kernel powers all recent Windows operating systems. It runs on x86, x86-64X86-64
x86-64 is an extension of the x86 instruction set. It supports vastly larger virtual and physical address spaces than are possible on x86, thereby allowing programmers to conveniently work with much larger data sets. x86-64 also provides 64-bit general purpose registers and numerous other...
and Itanium
Itanium
Itanium is a family of 64-bit Intel microprocessors that implement the Intel Itanium architecture . Intel markets the processors for enterprise servers and high-performance computing systems...
processors.
| Name | Kernel | Architecture | Integrated firewall | SMP support | Multiple architecture support | USB Support | UDMA Support | Long File Name Support | Package management | Update management | APIs | Safe Mode | Data Execution Prevention Data Execution Prevention Data Execution Prevention is a security feature included in modern operating systems.It is known to be available in Linux, Mac OS X, and Microsoft Windows operating systems and is intended to prevent an application or service from executing code from a non-executable memory region. This helps... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows NT 3.1 Windows NT 3.1 Windows NT 3.1 is the first release of Microsoft's Windows NT line of server and business desktop operating systems, and was released to manufacturing on 27 July 1993. The version number was chosen to match the one of Windows 3.1, the then-latest operating environment from Microsoft, on account of... |
NT 3.1 | 32-bit | (NTFS and HPFS Volumes only) | Win32 Windows API The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on... , OS/2 OS/2 OS/2 is a computer operating system, initially created by Microsoft and IBM, then later developed by IBM exclusively. The name stands for "Operating System/2," because it was introduced as part of the same generation change release as IBM's "Personal System/2 " line of second-generation personal... , POSIX POSIX POSIX , an acronym for "Portable Operating System Interface", is a family of standards specified by the IEEE for maintaining compatibility between operating systems... |
|||||||||
| Windows NT 3.5 Windows NT 3.5 Windows NT 3.5 is the second release of the Microsoft Windows NT operating system. It was released on 21 September 1994.One of the primary goals during Windows NT 3.5's development was to increase the speed of the operating system; as a result, the project was given the codename "Daytona" in... |
NT 3.5 | 32-bit | (Except on CDFS volumes) | Win32 Windows API The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on... , OS/2 OS/2 OS/2 is a computer operating system, initially created by Microsoft and IBM, then later developed by IBM exclusively. The name stands for "Operating System/2," because it was introduced as part of the same generation change release as IBM's "Personal System/2 " line of second-generation personal... , POSIX POSIX POSIX , an acronym for "Portable Operating System Interface", is a family of standards specified by the IEEE for maintaining compatibility between operating systems... |
|||||||||
| Windows NT 3.51 Windows NT 3.51 Windows NT 3.51 is the third release of Microsoft's Windows NT line of operating systems. It was released on 30 May 1995, nine months after Windows NT 3.5. The release provided two notable feature improvements; firstly NT 3.51 was the first of a short-lived outing of Microsoft Windows on the... |
NT 3.51 | 32-bit | (Except on CDFS volumes) | Win32 Windows API The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on... , OS/2 OS/2 OS/2 is a computer operating system, initially created by Microsoft and IBM, then later developed by IBM exclusively. The name stands for "Operating System/2," because it was introduced as part of the same generation change release as IBM's "Personal System/2 " line of second-generation personal... , POSIX POSIX POSIX , an acronym for "Portable Operating System Interface", is a family of standards specified by the IEEE for maintaining compatibility between operating systems... |
|||||||||
| Windows NT 4.0 Windows NT 4.0 Windows NT 4.0 is a preemptive, graphical and business-oriented operating system designed to work with either uniprocessor or symmetric multi-processor computers. It was the next release of Microsoft's Windows NT line of operating systems and was released to manufacturing on 31 July 1996... |
NT 4.0 | 32-bit | (if the Ion USB update is installed) | Windows Update Windows Update Windows Update is a service provided by Microsoft that provides updates for the Microsoft Windows operating system and its installed components, including Internet Explorer... (if Internet Explorer 5 or later is installed) |
Win32 Windows API The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on... , OS/2 OS/2 OS/2 is a computer operating system, initially created by Microsoft and IBM, then later developed by IBM exclusively. The name stands for "Operating System/2," because it was introduced as part of the same generation change release as IBM's "Personal System/2 " line of second-generation personal... , POSIX POSIX POSIX , an acronym for "Portable Operating System Interface", is a family of standards specified by the IEEE for maintaining compatibility between operating systems... |
||||||||
| Windows 2000 Windows 2000 Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the... |
NT 5.0 | 32/64-bit | (IA-64/Itanium in Advanced Server and Datacenter Server) | (USB 2.0 with update or SP4) | MSI, custom installers | Windows Update Windows Update Windows Update is a service provided by Microsoft that provides updates for the Microsoft Windows operating system and its installed components, including Internet Explorer... |
Win32 Windows API The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on... , OS/2 OS/2 OS/2 is a computer operating system, initially created by Microsoft and IBM, then later developed by IBM exclusively. The name stands for "Operating System/2," because it was introduced as part of the same generation change release as IBM's "Personal System/2 " line of second-generation personal... , POSIX POSIX POSIX , an acronym for "Portable Operating System Interface", is a family of standards specified by the IEEE for maintaining compatibility between operating systems... |
||||||
| Windows XP Windows XP Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base... |
NT 5.1.2600; NT 5.2.3790 | 32/64-bit | (Professional Edition only) | (IA-64/Itanium, x86, x86-64) | (USB 2.0 with update or SP1+) | MSI, custom installers | Windows Update Windows Update Windows Update is a service provided by Microsoft that provides updates for the Microsoft Windows operating system and its installed components, including Internet Explorer... |
Win32 Windows API The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on... , .NET .NET Framework The .NET Framework is a software framework that runs primarily on Microsoft Windows. It includes a large library and supports several programming languages which allows language interoperability... |
(in SP2) | ||||
| Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2003 is a server operating system produced by Microsoft, introduced on 24 April 2003. An updated version, Windows Server 2003 R2, was released to manufacturing on 6 December 2005... |
NT 5.2.3790 | 32/64-bit | (USB 2.0) | MSI, custom installers | Windows Update Windows Update Windows Update is a service provided by Microsoft that provides updates for the Microsoft Windows operating system and its installed components, including Internet Explorer... |
Win32 Windows API The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on... |
(in SP1) | ||||||
| Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs is a thin client operating system from Microsoft, based on Windows XP Embedded, but optimized for older, less powerful hardware. It was released on 8 July 2006... |
NT 5.1.2600 | 32-bit | MSI, custom installers | Windows Update Windows Update Windows Update is a service provided by Microsoft that provides updates for the Microsoft Windows operating system and its installed components, including Internet Explorer... |
Win32 Windows API The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on... |
||||||||
| Windows Vista Windows Vista Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs... |
NT 6.0.6000 ; NT 6.0.6001 (SP1) ; NT 6.0.6002 (SP2) | 32/64-bit | (x86, x86-64) | (USB 2.0) | MSI, custom installers | Windows Update Windows Update Windows Update is a service provided by Microsoft that provides updates for the Microsoft Windows operating system and its installed components, including Internet Explorer... Application |
Win32 Windows API The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on... , .NET .NET Framework The .NET Framework is a software framework that runs primarily on Microsoft Windows. It includes a large library and supports several programming languages which allows language interoperability... , POSIX POSIX POSIX , an acronym for "Portable Operating System Interface", is a family of standards specified by the IEEE for maintaining compatibility between operating systems... (only Enterprise and Ultimate) |
||||||
| Windows Server 2008 | NT 6.0.6001 ; NT 6.0.6002 (SP2) | 32/64-bit | (IA-64/Itanium, x86, x86-64) | (USB 2.0) | Windows Update Windows Update Windows Update is a service provided by Microsoft that provides updates for the Microsoft Windows operating system and its installed components, including Internet Explorer... Application |
Win32 Windows API The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on... |
|||||||
| Windows Home Server Windows Home Server Windows Home Server, code-named Quattro, is a home server operating system from Microsoft. Announced on 7 January 2007, at the Consumer Electronics Show by Bill Gates, Windows Home Server is intended to be a solution for homes with multiple connected PCs to offer file sharing, automated backups,... |
NT 5.2 | 32-bit | (USB 2.0) | Win32 Windows API The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on... |
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| Windows 7 | NT 6.1 | 32/64-bit | (x86, x86-64) | (USB 2.0) | Windows Update Windows Update Windows Update is a service provided by Microsoft that provides updates for the Microsoft Windows operating system and its installed components, including Internet Explorer... Application |
Win32 Windows API The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on... , .NET .NET Framework The .NET Framework is a software framework that runs primarily on Microsoft Windows. It includes a large library and supports several programming languages which allows language interoperability... |
|||||||
| Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2008 R2 is a server operating system produced by Microsoft. It was released to manufacturing on July 22, 2009 and launched on October 22, 2009. According to the Windows Server Team blog, the retail availability was September 14, 2009. It is built on Windows NT 6.1, the same core... |
NT 6.1 | 64-bit | (IA-64/Itanium, x86-64) | (USB 2.0) | Windows Update Windows Update Windows Update is a service provided by Microsoft that provides updates for the Microsoft Windows operating system and its installed components, including Internet Explorer... Application |
Win32 Windows API The Windows API, informally WinAPI, is Microsoft's core set of application programming interfaces available in the Microsoft Windows operating systems. It was formerly called the Win32 API; however, the name "Windows API" more accurately reflects its roots in 16-bit Windows and its support on... , .NET .NET Framework The .NET Framework is a software framework that runs primarily on Microsoft Windows. It includes a large library and supports several programming languages which allows language interoperability... |
Supported file systems
Various versions of Windows support various file systems, including: FAT16, FAT32File Allocation Table
File Allocation Table is a computer file system architecture now widely used on many computer systems and most memory cards, such as those used with digital cameras. FAT file systems are commonly found on floppy disks, flash memory cards, digital cameras, and many other portable devices because of...
, HPFS, or NTFS
NTFS
NTFS is the standard file system of Windows NT, including its later versions Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, and Windows 7....
, along with network file system
Network File System
Network File System is a network file system protocol originally developed by Sun Microsystems in 1984, allowing a user on a client computer to access files over a network in a manner similar to how local storage is accessed. NFS, like many other protocols, builds on the Open Network Computing...
s shared from other computers, and the ISO 9660
ISO 9660
ISO 9660, also referred to as CDFS by some hardware and software providers, is a file system standard published by the International Organization for Standardization for optical disc media....
and UDF
Universal Disk Format
Universal Disk Format is an implementation of the specification known as ISO/IEC 13346 and ECMA-167 and is an open vendor-neutral file system for computer data storage for a broad range of media. In practice, it has been most widely used for DVDs and newer optical disc formats, supplanting ISO 9660...
file systems used for CDs, DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
s, and other optical discs such as Blu-ray. Each file system is usually limited in application to certain media, for example CDs must use ISO 9660 or UDF, and as of Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
, NTFS is the only file system which the operating system can be installed on. Windows Embedded CE 6.0, Windows Vista Service Pack 1, and Windows Server 2008 onwards support ExFAT
ExFAT
exFAT is a proprietary, patent-pending file system designed especially for USB flash drives. Developed by Microsoft, it is supported in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 with update KB955704, Windows Embedded CE 6.0, Windows Vista with Service Pack 1, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows...
, a file system more suitable for flash drive
Solid-state drive
A solid-state drive , sometimes called a solid-state disk or electronic disk, is a data storage device that uses solid-state memory to store persistent data with the intention of providing access in the same manner of a traditional block i/o hard disk drive...
s.
DOSDOSDOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
-based (MS-DOSMS-DOSMS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
/9xWindows 9xWindows 9x is a generic term referring to a series of Microsoft Windows computer operating systems produced since 1995, which were based on the original and later modified Windows 95 kernel...
-based)
| FAT16 | FAT32 | HPFS | ISO9660 | NTFS | UDF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 95 Windows 95 Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products... |
(OSR2 or above) | |||||
| Windows 98 Windows 98 Windows 98 is a graphical operating system by Microsoft. It is the second major release in the Windows 9x line of operating systems. It was released to manufacturing on 15 May 1998 and to retail on 25 June 1998. Windows 98 is the successor to Windows 95. Like its predecessor, it is a hybrid... |
(1.5, read) | |||||
| Windows Me Windows Me Windows Millennium Edition, or Windows Me , is a graphical operating system released on September 14, 2000 by Microsoft, and was the last operating system released in the Windows 9x series. Support for Windows Me ended on July 11, 2006.... |
(1.5, read) |
NTWindows NTWindows NT is a family of operating systems produced by Microsoft, the first version of which was released in July 1993. It was a powerful high-level-language-based, processor-independent, multiprocessing, multiuser operating system with features comparable to Unix. It was intended to complement...
Kernel-based
| FAT16 | FAT32 | HPFS | ISO9660 | NTFS | UDF (More Info) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows NT 3.1 Windows NT 3.1 Windows NT 3.1 is the first release of Microsoft's Windows NT line of server and business desktop operating systems, and was released to manufacturing on 27 July 1993. The version number was chosen to match the one of Windows 3.1, the then-latest operating environment from Microsoft, on account of... , 3.5 Windows NT 3.5 Windows NT 3.5 is the second release of the Microsoft Windows NT operating system. It was released on 21 September 1994.One of the primary goals during Windows NT 3.5's development was to increase the speed of the operating system; as a result, the project was given the codename "Daytona" in... , 3.51 Windows NT 3.51 Windows NT 3.51 is the third release of Microsoft's Windows NT line of operating systems. It was released on 30 May 1995, nine months after Windows NT 3.5. The release provided two notable feature improvements; firstly NT 3.51 was the first of a short-lived outing of Microsoft Windows on the... |
v1.0/v1.1 | |||||
| Windows NT 4.0 Windows NT 4.0 Windows NT 4.0 is a preemptive, graphical and business-oriented operating system designed to work with either uniprocessor or symmetric multi-processor computers. It was the next release of Microsoft's Windows NT line of operating systems and was released to manufacturing on 31 July 1996... |
v1.2 | |||||
| Windows 2000 Windows 2000 Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the... |
v3.0 | |||||
| Windows XP Windows XP Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base... |
v3.1 | (2.01) | ||||
| Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2003 is a server operating system produced by Microsoft, introduced on 24 April 2003. An updated version, Windows Server 2003 R2, was released to manufacturing on 6 December 2005... |
v3.1 | |||||
| Windows Vista Windows Vista Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs... |
v5 | (2.6) | ||||
| Windows Server 2008 | v5 | |||||
| Windows 7 | v5 | (2.6) | ||||
| Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2008 R2 is a server operating system produced by Microsoft. It was released to manufacturing on July 22, 2009 and launched on October 22, 2009. According to the Windows Server Team blog, the retail availability was September 14, 2009. It is built on Windows NT 6.1, the same core... |
v5 | (2.6) |
9xWindows 9xWindows 9x is a generic term referring to a series of Microsoft Windows computer operating systems produced since 1995, which were based on the original and later modified Windows 95 kernel...
Kernel-based
| CPU | RAM | Free disk space | Video adapter and monitor | Drives | Devices | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 95 Windows 95 Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products... |
386 | 4 MB | 120 MB | |||
| Windows 98 Windows 98 Windows 98 is a graphical operating system by Microsoft. It is the second major release in the Windows 9x line of operating systems. It was released to manufacturing on 15 May 1998 and to retail on 25 June 1998. Windows 98 is the successor to Windows 95. Like its predecessor, it is a hybrid... |
486 DX2 66 MHz | 16 MB | 300 MB | |||
| Windows Me Windows Me Windows Millennium Edition, or Windows Me , is a graphical operating system released on September 14, 2000 by Microsoft, and was the last operating system released in the Windows 9x series. Support for Windows Me ended on July 11, 2006.... (Millennium Edition) |
Pentium 150 MHz | 32 MB | 400 MB |
NTWindows NTWindows NT is a family of operating systems produced by Microsoft, the first version of which was released in July 1993. It was a powerful high-level-language-based, processor-independent, multiprocessing, multiuser operating system with features comparable to Unix. It was intended to complement...
Kernel-based
| CPU | RAM | Free disk space | Video adapter and monitor | Drives | Devices | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows NT Workstation 3.51 Windows NT 3.51 Windows NT 3.51 is the third release of Microsoft's Windows NT line of operating systems. It was released on 30 May 1995, nine months after Windows NT 3.5. The release provided two notable feature improvements; firstly NT 3.51 was the first of a short-lived outing of Microsoft Windows on the... |
386, 25 MHz | 8 MB | 90 MB | |||
| Windows NT 4.0 Workstation Windows NT 4.0 Windows NT 4.0 is a preemptive, graphical and business-oriented operating system designed to work with either uniprocessor or symmetric multi-processor computers. It was the next release of Microsoft's Windows NT line of operating systems and was released to manufacturing on 31 July 1996... |
486, 33 MHz | 12 MB | 110 MB | |||
| Windows 2000 Professional Windows 2000 Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the... |
Pentium, 133 MHz | 32 MB | 650 MB | VGA (640 x 480) or higher resolution | CD-ROM | Keyboard Computer keyboard In computing, a keyboard is a typewriter-style keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches... and mouse Mouse (computing) In computing, a mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more buttons... |
| Windows XP Windows XP Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base... |
Pentium MMX, 233 MHz | 64 MB | 1.5 GB | Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher resolution | CD-ROM or DVD-ROM | Keyboard Computer keyboard In computing, a keyboard is a typewriter-style keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches... and mouse Mouse (computing) In computing, a mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more buttons... |
| Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs is a thin client operating system from Microsoft, based on Windows XP Embedded, but optimized for older, less powerful hardware. It was released on 8 July 2006... |
Pentium, 233 MHz | 64 MB | 500 MB | |||
| Windows Vista Windows Vista Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs... |
Pentium III, 800 MHz | 512 MB/1 GB or higher recommended | 15 GB (may be installed with as few as 7GB) | Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher resolution | DVD-ROM | |
| Windows Server 2008 | 1 GHz Hertz The hertz is the SI unit of frequency defined as the number of cycles per second of a periodic phenomenon. One of its most common uses is the description of the sine wave, particularly those used in radio and audio applications.... (x86 X86 architecture The term x86 refers to a family of instruction set architectures based on the Intel 8086 CPU. The 8086 was launched in 1978 as a fully 16-bit extension of Intel's 8-bit based 8080 microprocessor and also introduced segmentation to overcome the 16-bit addressing barrier of such designs... ) or 1.4 GHz (x64 X86-64 x86-64 is an extension of the x86 instruction set. It supports vastly larger virtual and physical address spaces than are possible on x86, thereby allowing programmers to conveniently work with much larger data sets. x86-64 also provides 64-bit general purpose registers and numerous other... ) |
512 MB Megabyte The megabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information storage or transmission with two different values depending on context: bytes generally for computer memory; and one million bytes generally for computer storage. The IEEE Standards Board has decided that "Mega will mean 1 000... RAM (may limit performance and some features) |
10 GB Gigabyte The gigabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information storage. The prefix giga means 109 in the International System of Units , therefore 1 gigabyte is... |
Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher resolution | DVD-ROM | Keyboard Computer keyboard In computing, a keyboard is a typewriter-style keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches... and mouse Mouse (computing) In computing, a mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more buttons... |
| Windows 7 | 1 GHz (x86/64) | 1 GB or higher recommended (2 GB or Higher for x64) | 16 GB (installs in 7 GB) | 128MB (Aero) | DVD-ROM | Keyboard Computer keyboard In computing, a keyboard is a typewriter-style keyboard, which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys, to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches... and mouse Mouse (computing) In computing, a mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more buttons... or touchscreen Touchscreen A touchscreen is an electronic visual display that can detect the presence and location of a touch within the display area. The term generally refers to touching the display of the device with a finger or hand. Touchscreens can also sense other passive objects, such as a stylus... |
Physical memory limits
Maximum limits on physical memory (RAMRandom-access memory
Random access memory is a form of computer data storage. Today, it takes the form of integrated circuits that allow stored data to be accessed in any order with a worst case performance of constant time. Strictly speaking, modern types of DRAM are therefore not random access, as data is read in...
) that Windows can address vary depending on the both the Windows version and between 32-bit (x86-32) and 64-bit (x86-64
X86-64
x86-64 is an extension of the x86 instruction set. It supports vastly larger virtual and physical address spaces than are possible on x86, thereby allowing programmers to conveniently work with much larger data sets. x86-64 also provides 64-bit general purpose registers and numerous other...
) versions.
9xWindows 9xWindows 9x is a generic term referring to a series of Microsoft Windows computer operating systems produced since 1995, which were based on the original and later modified Windows 95 kernel...
Kernel-based
| Version | Limit in 32-bit Windows | Limit in 64-bit Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 95 | 1 GB | N/A |
| Windows 98 | 1 GB | N/A |
| Windows Me | 1.5 GB | N/A |
NTWindows NTWindows NT is a family of operating systems produced by Microsoft, the first version of which was released in July 1993. It was a powerful high-level-language-based, processor-independent, multiprocessing, multiuser operating system with features comparable to Unix. It was intended to complement...
Kernel-based
| Version | Limit in 32-bit Windows | Limit in 64-bit Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Windows NT 4.0 | 4 GB | N/A |
| Windows XP Starter Edition | 512 MB | N/A |
| Windows XP Home | 4 GB | N/A |
| Windows XP Professional | 4 GB | 128 GB |
| Windows 2000 Professional | 4 GB | N/A |
| Windows 2000 Server | 4 GB | N/A |
| Windows 2000 Advanced Server | 8 GB | N/A |
| Windows 2000 Datacenter Server | 32 GB | N/A |
| Windows Server 2003 Small Business Edition | 4 GB | 128 GB |
| Windows Server 2003 Standard SP1 | 4 GB | 32 GB |
| Windows Server 2003 Standard R2 | 4 GB | 32 GB |
| Windows Server 2003 Enterprise SP2 | 64 GB | 1 TB |
| Windows Server 2003 Enterprise R2 | 64 GB | 1 TB |
| Windows Server 2003 Datacenter SP2 | 128 GB | 1 TB |
| Windows Server 2003 Datacenter R2 | 128 GB | 1 TB |
| Windows Vista Starter | 1 GB | N/A |
| Windows Vista Home Basic | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Windows Vista Home Premium | 4 GB | 16 GB |
| Windows Vista Enterprise | 4 GB | 128 GB |
| Windows Vista Ultimate | 4 GB | 128 GB |
| Windows 7 Starter | 2 GB | N/A |
| Windows 7 Home Basic | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Windows 7 Home Premium | 4 GB | 16 GB |
| Windows 7 Professional | 4 GB | 192 GB |
| Windows 7 Enterprise | 4 GB | 192 GB |
| Windows 7 Ultimate | 4 GB | 192 GB |
| Windows Server 2008 Web Server | 4 GB | 32 GB |
| Windows Server 2008 Web Server R2 | N/A | 32 GB |
| Windows Server 2008 Standard | 4 GB | 32 GB |
| Windows Server 2008 Standard R2 | N/A | 32 GB |
| Windows Server 2008 Enterprise | 64 GB | 2 TB |
| Windows Server 2008 Enterprise R2 | N/A | 2 TB |
| Windows Server 2008 Datacenter | 64 GB | 2 TB |
| Windows Server 2008 Datacenter R2 | N/A | 2 TB |
NTWindows NTWindows NT is a family of operating systems produced by Microsoft, the first version of which was released in July 1993. It was a powerful high-level-language-based, processor-independent, multiprocessing, multiuser operating system with features comparable to Unix. It was intended to complement...
Kernel-based
| Resource access control | Subsystem isolation mechanisms | Integrated firewall | Encrypted file systems | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 2000 Windows 2000 Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the... |
ACLs Access control list An access control list , with respect to a computer file system, is a list of permissions attached to an object. An ACL specifies which users or system processes are granted access to objects, as well as what operations are allowed on given objects. Each entry in a typical ACL specifies a subject... |
TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec | (NTFS Only) | |
| Windows XP Windows XP Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base... |
ACLs Access control list An access control list , with respect to a computer file system, is a list of permissions attached to an object. An ACL specifies which users or system processes are granted access to objects, as well as what operations are allowed on given objects. Each entry in a typical ACL specifies a subject... |
Win32 WindowStation, Desktop, Job objects | Windows Firewall (From SP2), TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec | (NTFS Only) |
| Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2003 is a server operating system produced by Microsoft, introduced on 24 April 2003. An updated version, Windows Server 2003 R2, was released to manufacturing on 6 December 2005... |
ACLs Access control list An access control list , with respect to a computer file system, is a list of permissions attached to an object. An ACL specifies which users or system processes are granted access to objects, as well as what operations are allowed on given objects. Each entry in a typical ACL specifies a subject... , Privileges Privilege (Computing) In computing, privilege is defined as the delegation of authority over a computer system. A privilege is a permission to perform an action. Examples of various privileges include the ability to create a file in a directory, or to read or delete a file, access a device, or have read or write... , RBAC |
Win32 WindowStation, Desktop, Job objects | Windows Firewall, TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec | |
| Windows Vista Windows Vista Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs... |
ACLs Access control list An access control list , with respect to a computer file system, is a list of permissions attached to an object. An ACL specifies which users or system processes are granted access to objects, as well as what operations are allowed on given objects. Each entry in a typical ACL specifies a subject... , Privileges Privilege (Computing) In computing, privilege is defined as the delegation of authority over a computer system. A privilege is a permission to perform an action. Examples of various privileges include the ability to create a file in a directory, or to read or delete a file, access a device, or have read or write... , RBAC |
Win32 WindowStation, Desktop, Job objects | Windows Firewall, TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec | |
| Windows Server 2008 | ACLs Access control list An access control list , with respect to a computer file system, is a list of permissions attached to an object. An ACL specifies which users or system processes are granted access to objects, as well as what operations are allowed on given objects. Each entry in a typical ACL specifies a subject... , Privileges Privilege (Computing) In computing, privilege is defined as the delegation of authority over a computer system. A privilege is a permission to perform an action. Examples of various privileges include the ability to create a file in a directory, or to read or delete a file, access a device, or have read or write... , RBAC |
Win32 WindowStation, Desktop, Job objects | Windows Firewall, TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec | |
| Windows 7 | ACLs Access control list An access control list , with respect to a computer file system, is a list of permissions attached to an object. An ACL specifies which users or system processes are granted access to objects, as well as what operations are allowed on given objects. Each entry in a typical ACL specifies a subject... , Privileges Privilege (Computing) In computing, privilege is defined as the delegation of authority over a computer system. A privilege is a permission to perform an action. Examples of various privileges include the ability to create a file in a directory, or to read or delete a file, access a device, or have read or write... , RBAC |
Win32 WindowStation, Desktop, Job objects | Windows Firewall, TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec |
Features
| Version | Shell | Theme | Internet Explorer Internet Explorer Windows Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year... |
Web server | Windows Media Player Windows Media Player Windows Media Player is a media player and media library application developed by Microsoft that is used for playing audio, video and viewing images on personal computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system, as well as on Pocket PC and Windows Mobile-based devices... |
Command-line interpreter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 1.0 Windows 1.0 Windows 1.0 is a 16-bit graphical operating environment, developed by Microsoft and released on 20 November 1985. It was Microsoft's first attempt to implement a multi-tasking graphical user interface-based operating environment on the PC platform. Windows 1.0 was the first version of Windows... |
MS-DOS executive | |||||
| Windows 2.0 Windows 2.0 Windows 2.0 is a 16-bit Microsoft Windows GUI-based operating environment that was released on December 9, 1987 and is the successor to Windows 1.0. With Windows 2.1x in 1988, Windows 2.0 was supplemented by Windows/286 and Windows/386... |
MS-DOS executive | |||||
| Windows 3.0 Windows 3.0 Windows 3.0, a graphical environment, is the third major release of Microsoft Windows, and was released on 22 May 1990. It became the first widely successful version of Windows and a rival to Apple Macintosh and the Commodore Amiga on the GUI front... |
Program Manager | |||||
| Windows 3.1x Windows 3.1x Windows 3.1x is a series of 16-bit operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers. The series began with Windows 3.1, which was first sold during March 1992 as a successor to Windows 3.0... |
Program Manager | |||||
| Windows 95 Windows 95 Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products... |
Windows Explorer | COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM is the filename of the default operating system shell for DOS operating systems and the default command line interpreter on Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me... |
||||
| Windows NT 4.0 Windows NT 4.0 Windows NT 4.0 is a preemptive, graphical and business-oriented operating system designed to work with either uniprocessor or symmetric multi-processor computers. It was the next release of Microsoft's Windows NT line of operating systems and was released to manufacturing on 31 July 1996... |
Windows Explorer | COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM is the filename of the default operating system shell for DOS operating systems and the default command line interpreter on Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me... , cmd.exe Cmd.exe Command Prompt is the Microsoft-supplied command-line interpreter on OS/2, Windows CE and on Windows NT-based operating systems... |
||||
| Windows 98 Windows 98 Windows 98 is a graphical operating system by Microsoft. It is the second major release in the Windows 9x line of operating systems. It was released to manufacturing on 15 May 1998 and to retail on 25 June 1998. Windows 98 is the successor to Windows 95. Like its predecessor, it is a hybrid... |
Windows Explorer | PWS | COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM is the filename of the default operating system shell for DOS operating systems and the default command line interpreter on Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me... |
|||
| Windows 98 Windows 98 Windows 98 is a graphical operating system by Microsoft. It is the second major release in the Windows 9x line of operating systems. It was released to manufacturing on 15 May 1998 and to retail on 25 June 1998. Windows 98 is the successor to Windows 95. Like its predecessor, it is a hybrid... SE |
Windows Explorer | PWS | 6.0 | COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM is the filename of the default operating system shell for DOS operating systems and the default command line interpreter on Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me... |
||
| Windows 2000 Windows 2000 Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the... |
Windows Explorer | IIS 5.0 | 6.4 | COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM is the filename of the default operating system shell for DOS operating systems and the default command line interpreter on Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me... , cmd.exe Cmd.exe Command Prompt is the Microsoft-supplied command-line interpreter on OS/2, Windows CE and on Windows NT-based operating systems... |
||
| Windows Me Windows Me Windows Millennium Edition, or Windows Me , is a graphical operating system released on September 14, 2000 by Microsoft, and was the last operating system released in the Windows 9x series. Support for Windows Me ended on July 11, 2006.... |
Windows Explorer | 7.0 | COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM is the filename of the default operating system shell for DOS operating systems and the default command line interpreter on Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me... |
|||
| Windows XP Windows XP Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base... |
Windows Explorer | Luna (Blue standard) | IIS 5.1 | 8 (9 in SP2) | COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM is the filename of the default operating system shell for DOS operating systems and the default command line interpreter on Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me... , cmd.exe Cmd.exe Command Prompt is the Microsoft-supplied command-line interpreter on OS/2, Windows CE and on Windows NT-based operating systems... , Windows PowerShell Windows PowerShell Windows PowerShell is Microsoft's task automation framework, consisting of a command-line shell and associated scripting language built on top of, and integrated with the .NET Framework... (optional) |
|
| Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2003 is a server operating system produced by Microsoft, introduced on 24 April 2003. An updated version, Windows Server 2003 R2, was released to manufacturing on 6 December 2005... |
Windows Explorer | Classic (Luna can be enabled with Theme Service) | IIS 6.0 | 9 (10 in SP1) | COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM is the filename of the default operating system shell for DOS operating systems and the default command line interpreter on Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me... , cmd.exe Cmd.exe Command Prompt is the Microsoft-supplied command-line interpreter on OS/2, Windows CE and on Windows NT-based operating systems... , Windows PowerShell Windows PowerShell Windows PowerShell is Microsoft's task automation framework, consisting of a command-line shell and associated scripting language built on top of, and integrated with the .NET Framework... (optional) |
|
| Windows Vista Windows Vista Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs... |
Windows Explorer | Aero | IIS 7 | 11 | COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM is the filename of the default operating system shell for DOS operating systems and the default command line interpreter on Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me... , cmd.exe Cmd.exe Command Prompt is the Microsoft-supplied command-line interpreter on OS/2, Windows CE and on Windows NT-based operating systems... , Windows PowerShell Windows PowerShell Windows PowerShell is Microsoft's task automation framework, consisting of a command-line shell and associated scripting language built on top of, and integrated with the .NET Framework... (optional) |
|
| Windows Server 2008 | Windows Explorer | Classic (Aero can be enabled by installing "Desktop Experience") | IIS 7 | 11 (enabled by installing "Desktop Experience") | COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM is the filename of the default operating system shell for DOS operating systems and the default command line interpreter on Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me... , cmd.exe Cmd.exe Command Prompt is the Microsoft-supplied command-line interpreter on OS/2, Windows CE and on Windows NT-based operating systems... , Windows PowerShell Windows PowerShell Windows PowerShell is Microsoft's task automation framework, consisting of a command-line shell and associated scripting language built on top of, and integrated with the .NET Framework... (optional) |
|
| Windows 7 | Windows Explorer | Aero | IIS 7.5 | 12 | COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM is the filename of the default operating system shell for DOS operating systems and the default command line interpreter on Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me... , cmd.exe Cmd.exe Command Prompt is the Microsoft-supplied command-line interpreter on OS/2, Windows CE and on Windows NT-based operating systems... , Windows PowerShell Windows PowerShell Windows PowerShell is Microsoft's task automation framework, consisting of a command-line shell and associated scripting language built on top of, and integrated with the .NET Framework... V2 |
|
| Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2008 R2 is a server operating system produced by Microsoft. It was released to manufacturing on July 22, 2009 and launched on October 22, 2009. According to the Windows Server Team blog, the retail availability was September 14, 2009. It is built on Windows NT 6.1, the same core... |
Windows Explorer | Classic (Aero can be enabled by installing "Desktop Experience") | IIS 7.5 | 12 (enabled by installing "Desktop Experience") | COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM COMMAND.COM is the filename of the default operating system shell for DOS operating systems and the default command line interpreter on Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me... , cmd.exe Cmd.exe Command Prompt is the Microsoft-supplied command-line interpreter on OS/2, Windows CE and on Windows NT-based operating systems... , Windows PowerShell Windows PowerShell Windows PowerShell is Microsoft's task automation framework, consisting of a command-line shell and associated scripting language built on top of, and integrated with the .NET Framework... V2 |
See also
- List of Microsoft Windows versions
- List of operating systems
- Comparison of operating systemsComparison of operating systemsThese tables compare general and technical information for a number of widely used and currently available operating systems.Because of the large number and variety of available Linux distributions, they are all grouped under a single entry; see comparison of Linux distributions for a detailed...
- Comparison of kernelsComparison of kernelsA kernel is the core component of every computer operating system. While kernels are highly technical in nature, and may be hidden from the user under many layers of software and applications, they do have distinguishing or characteristic features, such as computer architecture, design goals, as...
- Comparison of Windows Vista and Windows XPComparison of Windows Vista and Windows XPThis page is a comparison of Windows Vista and Windows XP. Windows XP is currently the dominant operating system in the desktop and personal computer markets, with an estimated market share of 62.21% as of May 2009...
- History of Microsoft WindowsHistory of Microsoft WindowsIn 1983, Microsoft announced the development of Windows, a graphical user interface for its own operating system , which had shipped for IBM PC and compatible computers since 1981...
- Comparison of MS-DOS and DOS-compatible operating systems
Other Microsoft operating systems
- XenixXenixXenix is a version of the Unix operating system, licensed to Microsoft from AT&T in the late 1970s. The Santa Cruz Operation later acquired exclusive rights to the software, and eventually superseded it with SCO UNIX ....
- licensed version of Unix; sold to SCO in the '90s - OS/2OS/2OS/2 is a computer operating system, initially created by Microsoft and IBM, then later developed by IBM exclusively. The name stands for "Operating System/2," because it was introduced as part of the same generation change release as IBM's "Personal System/2 " line of second-generation personal...
- developed jointly with IBM - DOS
- MS-DOSMS-DOSMS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
- developed jointly with IBM, versions 1.0–6.22 - MSX-DOSMSX-DOSMSX-DOS is a Disk operating system developed by Microsoft for the 8-bit home computer standard MSX, and is a cross between MS-DOS rev 1.0 and CP/M.-MSX-DOS:...
- developed by MS Japan for the MSX 8-bit computer
- MS-DOS
- Cairo (operating system)Cairo (operating system)Cairo was the code name for a project at Microsoft from 1991 to 1996. Its charter was to build technologies for a next generation operating system that would fulfill Bill Gates' vision of "information at your fingertips." Cairo never shipped, although portions of its technologies have since...
- a cancelled "true object-oriented OS" planned after Windows NT - SingularitySingularity (operating system)Singularity is an experimental operating system being built by Microsoft Research since 2003. It is intended as a highly-dependable OS in which the kernel, device drivers, and applications are all written in managed code.- Workings :...
- Microsoft Research project started in 2003 to build a highly-dependable operating system in which the kernel, device driver, and applications are all written in managed code - WinPE - lightweight version of Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 or Windows Vista that is used for the deployment of workstations and servers by large corporations.
- Windows To GoWindows To GoWindows To Go is a feature in Windows 8 that allows the entire system to run from USB mass storage devices such as flash drives and external hard drives....
: Windows 8Windows 8Windows 8 is the codename for the next version of the Microsoft Windows computer operating system following Windows 7. It has many changes from previous versions. In particular it adds support for ARM microprocessors in addition to the previously supported x86 microprocessors from Intel and AMD...
feature that runs the entire system from a USB device
Windows clones, emulators, etc.
- Freedows OSFreedows OSFreedows OS was an open source attempt at creating a MS-Windows clone for x86 platforms, intended to be released under the GNU General Public License, started in 1996 by Reece K. Sellin,...
- Windows clone - TinyKRNL - open source kernel based on Windows's NT design
- ReactOSReactOSReactOS is an open source computer operating system intended to be binary compatible with application software and device drivers made for Microsoft Windows NT versions 5.x and up...
- project to develop an operating system that is binary-compatible with application software and device drivers for Microsoft Windows NT version 5.x - E/OSE/OSE/OS is a virtual machine emulation system.E/OS is primarily based on the Linux kernel, QEMU, XFree86, and Wine, and is intended to be a replacement for operating systems such as Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, BeOS, OS/2, DOS, and Linux...
- Linux distribution which allow to execute programs that were originally written for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, BeOS, OS/2, DOS, and Linux - Wine (software)Wine (software)Wine is a free software application that aims to allow computer programs written for Microsoft Windows to run on Unix-like operating systems. Wine also provides a software library, known as Winelib, against which developers can compile Windows applications to help port them to Unix-like...
- compatibility layer which allows to execute programs that were originally written for Microsoft Windows
Further reading
- Architecture of the Windows NT operating system lineArchitecture of the Windows NT operating system lineThe architecture of Windows NT, a line of operating systems produced and sold by Microsoft, is a layered design that consists of two main components, user mode and kernel mode. It is a preemptive, reentrant operating system, which has been designed to work with uniprocessor and symmetrical multi...
- Microsoft codenames