Microsoft Windows History

Microsoft Windows History looks at the major Windows releases of the past, beginning with the first GUI-based operating system called Microsoft Windows 1.0 in 1985. Check out past Microsoft Windows logos, hardware requirements and adverts.

Windows OS Trivia
Q: What are the hardware requirements to run Microsoft Windows 1.0?
A: An 8MHz CPU, 256KB of memory and 2 floppy disks!

Don't forget to also check out the Bill Gates section that outlines his achievements and Gates' personal net worth, including a Bill Gates photo gallery.

Historical Timeline of Windows OS

Windows based on 9x Kernel		Windows based on NT Kernel
Nov 1983	Announces Windows OS
Nov 1985	Windows 1.0
Apr 1987	Windows 2.0
May 1990	Windows 3.0
Apr 1992	Windows 3.1
		Aug 1993	Windows NT 3.1
Feb 1994	Windows 3.11	Sep 1994	Windows NT 3.5
Aug 1995	Windows 95	Jun 1995	Windows NT 3.51
		Aug 1996	Windows NT 4.0
Jun 1998	Windows 98
May 1999	Windows 98SE
Sep 2000	Windows ME	Feb 2000	Windows 2000
		Aug 2000	Windows 2000 Datacenter
		Oct 2001	Windows XP
		Mar 2003	Windows Server 2003
		Jan 2007	Windows Vista

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