STEVEN

THOMAS

1421

Overview Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational

corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington,

that develops, manufactures, licenses, supports and

sells computer software, consumer

electronics and personal computers and services.

Its best known software products are the Microsoft

Windows line of operating systems, Microsoft Office

suite, and Internet Explorer web browser.

It is the world's largest software maker measured by

revenues.

It is also one of the world's most valuable companies.

Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen on

April 4, 1975

What is Operating System?

An operating system is a software, consisting of

programs and data, that runs on computers and

manages the computer hardware and provides

common services for efficient execution of various

application software

Why Windows?

Before Coming Windows

PC users relied on the MS-DOS® method of

typing commands at the C prompt (C:\).

With Windows

Users moved a mouse to point and click their

way through tasks, such as starting

applications.

In addition, Windows users could switch

among several concurrently running

applications

HistoryMicrosoft Windows operating system was

developed by Microsoft to overcome the

limitation of its own MS-DOS Operating

System.

First successful version were Windows

3.0, in 1990.

Subsequently released version were

Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows

XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 &

Windows 8.

In 1983, Microsoft announced the development of

Windows, a graphical user interface (GUI) for its own

operating system (MS-DOS), which had shipped for IBM

PC and compatible computers since 1981. .

The 3.x and 4.x family includes Windows 3.11, Windows

95, Windows 98, and Windows Me. Windows for

Workgroups 3.11 achieved the breakthrough from 16- to

32-bit networking and 32-bit disk access.

Windows 95 completed the migration to 32-bit code and

started an entirely new user interface, most of which is still

used today.

Windows NT family started with NT 3.1 in 1993. Modern

Windows operating system versions are based on the

newer Windows NT kernel that was originally intended for

OS/2.

Windows runs on IA-32, x86-64, and Itanium processors.

Earlier versions also ran on the i860, Alpha, MIPS,

Fairchild Clipper, and PowerPC architectures. Some work

was done to port it to the SPARC architecture.

With NT4.0 in 1996 the shell changed from Program

Manager to Explorer. CPU support included PowerPC,

MIPS, and DEC Alpha for earlier versions of NT, but

focuses on Itanium, 386, 486, and x64 today.

Microsoft is also working to bring Windows NT onto ARM

in the next release of Windows.

Common Operating Systems MS-DOS

Windows 95

Windows 98

Windows ME (Windows Millennium)

Windows NT

Windows 2000

Windows XP

Windows VISTA

Windows 7

Windows 8

Windows 8.1

Microsoft disk operating

system(MS-DOS)

Non-graphical command line operating system

created for IBM compatible computers

First introduced in August 1981.

Single-user Os from Microsoft for the Pc

Still the underlying control program for windows 3.1

Windows 95/98 and Windows NT build in their own

version of DOS to support existing DOS

application.

Unlike Microsoft Windows, which most users are

familiar with today, MS-DOS requires the user to type

commands instead of using a mouse.

Requires two floppy disk drives and requires

256 KB of RAM.

Offers limited multitasking of existing MS-DOS

programs

Does not allow windows overlapping

Poor response from critics.

Features of DOS

Single user system

Machine independence

Program control

Peripheral management

Managing files

Processing commands

Managing input and output

Managing memory

Operating with Assembler

Program Execution

Providing Interfaces

Error Handling

Handling Input / Output Operations

Memory management

Process management

Common Features of Windows

OS

1985: Windows 1.0The first version of Windows provided a new

software environment for developing

Running applications that use bitmap displays

and mouse pointing devices.

With Windows, users moved a mouse to point

and click their way through tasks, such as starting

applications.

The product included a set of desktop

applications which helped users manage day-to-

day activities are-

- MS-DOS file management program

- Calendar

- Card file, notepad

16-bit multi-tasking shell on top of an existing MS-DOS

installation.

• Described as front-end of MS-DOS Operating system

• Introduced device drivers for better graphics

- Calculator

- Clock

- Telecommunications programs

Windows 2.0

• Windows 2.0 is a 16-bit Microsoft Windows GUI-based

operating environment.

• Allows windows overlapping.

• Keyboard shortcuts were introduced.

• Terminology of minimize , maximize and control panel

were introduced.

• Does not require hard disk.

• VGA graphics introduced with 16 colors only.

• The first Windows versions of Microsoft Word and

Microsoft Excel ran on Windows 2.0.

December

19,1987

Windows 2.1 Windows 2.1 is one of the family of Microsoft

Windows graphical user interface-based operating

environments.

Windows/286 2.10 and Windows/386 2.10, less than a

year after the release of Windows 2.0.These versions

can take advantage of the specific features of

the Intel 80286 and Intel 80386 processors.

A hard disk was required for the first time to install

Windows.

May 27, 1988

Windows 3.0 Windows 3.0, a graphical environment, is the third major

release of Microsoft Windows offered improved performance, advanced graphics with 16 colors, and full support of the more powerful Intel 386 processor.

It became the first widely successful version of Windows and a

rival to Apple Macintosh and the Commodore Amiga on the

GUI front.

A "multimedia" version, Windows 3.0 with Multimedia

Extensions, was released in 1991 to support sound cards as

well as CD-ROM drives, which were then becoming

increasingly available.

Technical improvements were made to make better use of the memory management capabilities of Intel's 80286 and 80386 processors.

May 22, 1990

IT offered a wide range of useful features and

capabilities, including:

• Program Manager, File Manager, and Print Manager.

• A completely rewritten application development

environment.

• An improved set of Windows icons.

Windows 3.0 was the only version of Windows

that could be run in three different memory

modes:

Real mode, intended for older computers with a

CPU below Intel 80286.

Standard mode, intended for computers with an

80286 processor.

386 Enhanced mode, intended for newer

computers with an Intel 80386 processor or

above.

1993: Windows NT 3.1 JULY 27,1993

When Microsoft Windows NT® was released to

manufacturing on July 27, 1993, Microsoft met an

important milestone: the completion of a project begun in

the late 1980s to build an advanced new operating

system from scratch.

Chairman Bill Gates said at its release “ Microsoft

Windows NT represents nothing less than a fundamental

change in the way that companies can address their

business computing requirements,

Achieves Backward compatibility.

Advanced 32-bit "flat" virtual OS.

Works with Intel x86 and Alpha CPUs

Multimedia PC version has a ability to play video files and

has video integration with CD ROM support.

Drag and Drop operation was the major change.

Introduced Registry, a centralized database that can

store configuration information and settings for

various operating systems components and

applications.

First version of Windows that could also launch

Windows programs via Command Prompt while

running Windows 3.1

Disadvantage

Windows 3.1 uses a cooperative multitasking

system, which means that your computer

attempts to give equal memory to all programs

at once.

The more programs you open, the more divided

the memory.

Enough programs open (more than 3) and the

operating system has a tendency to crash.

Three goals:

1. Portability

2. Reliability

3. Personality

Windows N.T 3.5

It includes integrated Winsock and TCP/IP support.

It can share files through FTP and printers through LPR. It

can act as a Gopher, Web or WAIS server.

It includes remote Access Service for remote dial-up

modem access to LAN services, and it includes the first

implementation of Microsoft DNS.

It has ability to use names of up to 255 characters for

computer files.

September 21, 1994

DISADVANTAGES

Windows NT 3.5 has no drivers for PCMCIA adapter

cards; thus it was unfit for use on laptops.

Refuses to install on a processor newer than the original

Pentium.[16] Windows NT 3.51 fixed this. However,

modifying files on the installation CD allows it to install.

Windows 95

Windows 95 integrated Microsoft's formerly separate MS-

DOS and Windows products.

32-bit,self contained operating system

It was referred to as Windows 4.0.

It was a major success in the marketplace at launch and

shortly became the most popular desktop operating

system.

Aug 24, 1995

It includes a built-in and enhanced version of DOS

Introduced 'Start' button, taskbar

It is formed by a large number of virtual device

drivers (VxDs) responsible for handling physical devices

(such as video and network cards), emulating virtual

devices used by the virtual machines, or providing various

system services.

Memory limitations were expanded

It is shipped with Microsoft's own dial-up online service

called The Microsoft Network.

1995: Windows 95

Computer: 100% IBM Compatible

Processor: 386 DX or higher

Memory: 4MB RAM 35MB Hard disk drive

Drives: CD-ROM or Floppy

Sound: Sound Blaster compatible Sound

Card.

Video: VGA or higher-resolution

Controls: Microsoft keyboard / Mouse

operating system: DOS 5.0 and Higher

Price: $70.00 - $90.00

Windows N.T 4.0

It is a 32-bit Windows system available in both workstation

and server editions with a graphical environment similar to

that of Windows 95.

Introduced 3D Pinball game, font smoothing, full window

drag, high color icons and stretching the wallpaper to fit the

screen.

Windows NT 4.0 was the first release of Microsoft Windows

to include DirectX

July 29,

1996

The Recovery Console is usually used to

recover unbootable systems.

The nature of attacks on Windows servers

changed: more attacks came from remote

sources via the Internet. This has led to an

overwhelming number of malicious

programs. Much of the stability was gained by the use of protected

memory. Direct hardware access was disallowed and

"misbehaving" applications were terminated without

needing the computer to be restarted

Numerous stability issues did occur as graphics and printer

vendors had to change their drivers to be compatible.

Included a new Windows Task Manager application

Poorly written drivers became a frequent source of "stop

errors“

less user-friendly than Windows 95 when it comes to

certain maintenance and management tasks.

The maximum amount of supported physical RAM in

Windows NT 4.0 is 4 GB.

Microsoft window 98 June 25,

1998

It is a hybrid 16-bit/32-bit monolithic product with an MS-

DOS based boot stage.

Windows 98 includes Internet Explorer 4.01.

Besides Internet Explorer, many other Internet companion

applications are included such as

- Outlook Express,

- Windows Address Book,

- FrontPage Express,

- Microsoft Chat,

- Personal Web Server

- Web Publishing Wizard,

- NetMeeting and NetShow Player.

June 25,1998

Computer:100% IBM Compatible

Processor: 486DX/66 MHz or Higher processor

Memory: 16 MB of RAM

Drives: Approximately 195MB; can take up to 295MB

CD-ROM or Floppy

Sound: Standard Sound card for sound capability.

Video: VGA or higher-resolution

Controls: 100% compatible Microsoft keyboard /

Mouse

operating system: Windows 3.x, 3.1x or Windows 95

to upgrade

DirectX: Includes DirectX 5.0

Price: $80.00 - $100.00

FEATURES- Quick Launch toolbar

- Desk bands

- Active Desktop

- Channels

- Ability to minimize foreground windows by clicking their button on the taskbar

- Single click launching

- Back and Forward navigation buttons

- Favorites

- Address bar in Windows Explorer

- Image thumbnails

- Web view in folders

- Folder customization through HTML-based templates.

OTHERS FEATURES

Graphical user interface

Type of icons: I ) Applications icons

ii ) Document icons

iii ) Program icons

Start Button

Taskbar

Windows Explorer

Right Mouse Button

Long File Names

Multitasking

Shortcuts

Easy Internet Access ,Help

2000: Windows Millennium

Edition (Windows Me) sep

14, 2000

Designed for home computer users,

Windows Me offered consumers numerous

music, video, and home networking

enhancements and reliability improvements.

For example, to help consumers

troubleshoot their systems, the System

Restore feature let users roll back their PC

software configuration to a date or time

before a problem occurred.

Windows Me Sep 14, 2000

It was the last operating system released in the Windows

9x series for home PC users.

It included Internet Explorer 5.5, Windows Media Player 7,

and the new Windows Movie Maker software

Faster boot times

Improved power management and suspend/resume

operations.

Includes drivers for USB mass storage devices and USB

printers

Windows Me had a short shelf-life of just over a year; it

was often criticized for being buggy and unstable.

• Mostly used on Personal Computers,

Business desktops and Laptops

• Designed for home use

• Windows File protection Introduce

•System File Checker facility

•Used for both client and server systems

Windows 2000 Feb 17,

2000

Four editions of Windows 2000 were released:

- Professional

- Server

- Advanced Server, and

- Datacenter Server.

Microsoft marketed Windows 2000 as the most secure

Windows version ever at the time.

A new capability designed to protect critical system

files called Windows File Protection was introduced.

This protects critical Windows system files by

preventing programs other than Microsoft's operating

system update mechanisms such as the Package

Installer.

Servers that needed to be constantly running and so

provided a system setting that would allow the server

to automatically reboot when a stop error occurred.

Feb 17, 2000

Windows XP Released in August, 2001

“XP” is the short form of

experience.

First consumer orientated & Mostly

populated product of MS-DOS

Anti-aliased 2D graphics, textures

Taskbar buttons for running

applications and Quick Launch

Windows XP was a major advance from the MS-DOS

based versions of Windows in security, stability and

efficiency.

Introduced updated user account interface and

graphical login screen.

From April 8, 2014,There will be no more security

updates or technical support for the Windows XP

operating system.

Oct 25,2001

The "XP" in Windows XP stands for

"experience," symbolizing the innovative

experiences that Windows can offer to personal

computer users.

With Windows XP, home users can work with

and enjoy music, movies, messaging, and photos

with their computer

Windows XP Professional

Detect any type of error

complete digital media support

Premier mobile support for the ability

to work offline

Greater security, encrypt files and

folders

Built-in high performance

multiprocessor

WINDOW SERVER April

24,2003

Windows Server 2003 (sometimes referred to as

Win2K3) is a server operating system.

Windows Vista, as shipped, was developed based

solely on Windows Server 2003 source code.

Windows Server 2003 was the first Microsoft Windows

version which was thoroughly subjected to semi-

automated testing for bugs with a software system

called PRE fast developed by shri Amitabh vasthava.

Apr 24, 2003

Amitabh Srivastava's PRE-fast found 12% of Windows

Server 2003's bugs, the remaining 88% being found by

human computer programmers.

Windows Server 2003's default installation has none of the

server components enabled, to reduce the attack surface of

new machines.

Microsoft employs more than 4,700 programmers who work

on Windows, 60% of which are software testers[8] whose

job is to find bugs in Windows source code.

Microsoft Windows Vista

Windows Vista

Released January 30, 2007

Vista Premium-Ready PCs

Computer: 100% IBM Compatible

Processor: 1GHz Intel-compatible

Memory: 1GB RAM

Drives: 40GB disk space

DVD Drive

Sound: Standard Sound card for sound capability.

DirectX 9.0 compatible video card.

64,128,256 MB of Video RAM

New features of Windows Vista include an updated

graphical user interface and visual style dubbed Aero,

a new search component called Windows Search,

redesigned networking, audio, print and display sub-

systems, and new multimedia tools including

Windows DVD Maker

By the time of Windows Vista, improved security into

every aspect of software development at the

company.

Criticized due to more system requirements and

backward compatibility issue.

ships in six editions: Starter (only available in developing countries)

Home Basic

Home Premium

Business

Enterprise (only available to large businesses and

enterprises)

Ultimate (combines both Home Premium and Enterprise)

All editions (except Starter edition) are currently available

in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

The biggest advantage of the 64-bit version is breaking

the 4 gigabyte memory barrier, which 32-bit computers

cannot fully access.

Controls: 100% compatible Microsoft Keyboard /

Mouse.

Operating System: Windows 2000 / XP to upgrade.

Jan 30,2007

Microsoft Windows 7 0ct 22,2009

Windows 7 is a personal computer operating system

developed by Microsoft as part of Windows NT

family of operating systems.

It is a version of Microsoft Windows, a series of

operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on

personal computers, including home and business

desktops, laptops, net books, tablet PCs, and media

center PCs.

Development of 7 occurred as early as 2006 under

the code name "Blackcomb.

Windows 7 was released to manufacturing on July 22,

2009, and reached general retail availability on October 22,

2009, less than three years after the release of its

predecessor, Windows Vista.

Windows 7's server counterpart, Windows Server 2008

R2, was released at the same time.

Oct 22, 2009

• Improved Boot Performance• Redesigned Taskbar• Aero Snap• Support for SSD• Enhanced Stability• Network Virtualization

Windows 7

•Jump Lists

•Moveable taskbar icons

•Customize UAC

•Control over System Tray icons

•Media Player Lightweight mode

Microsoft Windows 8

Windows 8 is a personal computer operating system

developed by Microsoft as part of Windows NT family of

operating systems.

The operating system was released to manufacturing on

August 1, 2012, and was released for general availability

on October 26, 2012

Windows 8 introduced major changes to the operating

system's platform and user interface to improve its user

experience on tablets, where Windows was now competing

with mobile operating systems

Windows 8 Start Menu

Windows 8 was developed on the basis to provide

user interface not only in PC but also tablets and

mobiles.

On its releases Microsoft started competing with

mobile operating systems, including Android and

iOS.• The new user interface of the operating system

was widely criticized for being potentially

confusing and difficult to learn.

• 60 million Windows 8 licenses have been sold

through January 2013.

• You need a 1GHz or faster CPU , 1GB of RAM (or

2GB for 64-bit systems), 20GB of hard drive space

and a DirectX 9 graphics card with WDDM driver

Features Tile-based Interface

Simpler Shutdown

Narrator (Reads everything you touch,

Sounds to confirm, Helps blind)

Snap Apps

File History

Search Function

Two Touch Keyboards

Sync Settings

Microsoft Windows 8.1 Windows 8.1 is a version of Windows NT family of

operating systems and an upgrade for Windows 8

Windows 8.1 is available free of charge for retail copies

of Windows 8 and Windows RT users via Windows

Store.

Windows 8.1 Start Screen

New Features Start Menu

Cortana

Project Spartan Browser

Improved Multitasking

Windowed Apps

Action Center

Continuum

The Start Screen When click on the Start button

at the bottom left of the screen,

you get two panels side by side,

with the left column showing

pinned, recently added and

most-used apps.

• The right column features a selection of live tiles that you can

customize, resize and reorganize.

• We can have the Start Menu expand to full screen whenever we want.

Hi! I’m Cortana

Cortana , similar to as Google Now is a

feature which helps you find anything by

your voice. You just need to say , “Hey

Cortana!”.

Other than voice we can search

anything like cricket score , weather ,

nearby places and many. It does as it

says, "ask me anything”.

Action Settings

Windows 10 will provide a new way to look at all your notifications in one place.

It collects alerts from your device from all your apps, similar to

the notifications drawers like in our smartphones.

Continuum

With the rise of hybrid laptop-tablet devices, Microsoft wants to make it easier to switch between either mode.

If you remove the keyboard/mouse, a notification will pop up

from the task bar at the bottom, asking if you want to activate

Tablet mode.

Place your tablet into the keyboard again, and you’ll receive the

same prompt, this time asking if you want to exit Tablet mode.

Source - http://www.cnet.com/news/windows-10-

what-you-need-to-know ;

http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2014/09

/30/announcing-windows-10/

Everything runs in a window: Apps from the Windows

Store now open in the same format that desktop apps do

and can be resized and moved around, and have title

bars at the top allowing for maximize, minimize, and close

with a click

Source - http://www.cnet.com/news/windows-10-

what-you-need-to-know ;

http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2014/

09/30/announcing-windows-10/

New task view button: There’s a new task-view button

on the taskbar for quick switching between open files

and quick access to any desktops you create.

Source - http://www.cnet.com/news/windows-10-what-

you-need-to-know ;

http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2014/09/3

0/announcing-windows-10/

Snap enhancements: You can now have four apps

snapped on the same screen with a new quadrant layout.

Windows will also show other apps and programs running

for additional snapping and even make smart suggestions

on filling available screen space with other open apps.

Source - http://www.cnet.com/news/windows-10-what-you-

need-to-know ;

http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2014/09/30/anno

uncing-windows-10/

Multiple desktops: Create desktops for different

purposes and projects and switch between these

desktops easily and pick up where you left off on each

desktop.