Computer Operating System_windows

Overview Windows : While referring to an (OS) Operating System, Windows or win is an operating environment created by Microsoft that provides an interface, known as a Graphical User Interface (GUI), for computers. Windows eliminates the need to memorize commands for the command line (MS-DOS) by using a mouse to navigate through menus, dialog boxes, buttons, tabs, and icons. If you are using a PC (IBM) computer you are most likely using a version of Windows.

Microsoft Windows was first introduced with version 1.0 on November 10, 1983. Since its release, there have been over a dozen versions of Windows. The most current version of Windows for end users is Windows 10.

Series :

Windows 3.1x : Windows 3.1x is a series of 16-bit operating environments produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers. The series began with Windows 3.1, which was first sold during April 1992 as a successor to Windows 3.0. Windows 3.1 was originally released on April 6, 1992; official support for Windows 3.1 ended on December 31, 2001, and OEM licensing for Windows for Work groups 3.11 on embedded systems continued to be available until November 1, 2008. Windows 3.x was the predecessor of Windows 2.x; unlike MS-DOS, it had multitasking (non-preemptive) capabilities, which means that it could run multiple programs concurrently, as well as run more than one instance of the same program simultaneously. Windows 3.0 was launched in 1990; it was then followed by Windows 3.1, Windows 3.11 (Windows for Work groups) and Windows 3.2 (basically the Chinese version of 3.1).

Windows 95: Windows 95  is a consumer-oriented operating system developed by Microsoft. It was released on August 24, 1995,and was a significant improvement over the company’s previous MS-DOS–based Windows products. Windows 95 merged Microsoft’s formerly separate MS-DOS and Windows products. It featured significant improvements over its predecessor, Windows 3.1, most notably in the graphical user interface (GUI) and in its simplified “plug-and-play” features. There were also major changes made to the core components of the operating system, such as moving from a mainly co-operatively multitasked 16-bit architecture to a 32-bit preemptive multitasking architecture.

Windows 98 : Windows 98 is released by Microsoft in June 25, 1998. It is a mixed 16 bit/32 bit Windows operating system. The version number is 4.1 and the code name is Menphis. Windows98  has integrated the Internet standard comprehensively. It simplifys
desktop with Internet technology and allows the users to find and
browse the information on the computer or on the internet more
simply and faster.

This new system is edited on the base of Windows95. It improves the hardware standard, such as MMX, and AGP. It has other features like supporting FAT32 file system, multi-display, Web TV and the Internet Explorer integrated to the Windows GUI. That is called Active Desktop.

Windows ME : Windows Millennium Edition, or Windows ME  is a graphical operating system from Microsoft released to manufacturing in June 2000, and launched in September 2000. It was the last operating system released in the Windows 9x series.

It included Internet Explorer 5.5, Windows Media Player 7, and the new Windows Movie Maker software, which provided basic video editing and was designed to be easy to use for home users.

Windows ME is a continuation of the Windows 9x model, but with restricted access to real mode MS-DOS in order to decrease system boot time. Windows ME introduced the “System Restore” logging and reversion system, which was meant to simplify troubleshooting and solve problems. It was intended to work as a rollback and recovery feature so that if the installation of an application or a driver adversely affected the system, the user could undo the installation and return the system to a previously working state. It does this by monitoring changes to Windows system files and the registry.

Windows NT : Windows NT is a family of operating systems produced by Microsoft, the first version of which was released in July 1993. It is a processor-independent, multiprocessing, multi-user operating system.

The first version of Windows NT was Windows NT 3.1 and was produced for workstations and server computers. “NT” formerly expanded to “New Technology” but no longer carries any specific meaning. Starting with Windows 2000,”NT” was removed from the product name and is only included in the product version string.
NT was the first purely 32-bit version of Windows, whereas its consumer-oriented counterparts, Windows 3.1x and Windows 9x, were 16-bit/32-bit hybrids. It is a multi-architecture operating system.

Windows 2000 : Windows 2000 is an operating system for use on both client and server computers. It was produced by Microsoft and released to manufacturing on December 15, 1999, and launched to retail on February 17, 2000.

Four editions of Windows 2000 were released: Professional, Server, Advanced Server, and Data center Server; the latter was both released to manufacturing and launched months after the other editions.
Windows 2000 introduces NTFS 3.0 Encrypting File System, as well as basic and dynamic disk storage.Support for people with disabilities was improved over Windows NT 4.0 with a number of new technologies,and Microsoft increased support for different languages and locale information.

Windows XP : Windows XP is a personal computer operating system that was produced by Microsoft as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. It was released to manufacturing on August 24, 2001, and broadly released for retail sale on October 25, 2001.

Windows XP’s interface was overhauled with a new visual appearance, with an increased use of alpha compositing effects, drop shadows, and “visual styles”, which completely change the appearance of the operating system.
The Start menu received its first major overhaul on XP, switching to a two-column layout with the ability to list, pin, and display frequently used applications, recently opened documents, and the traditional cascading “All Programs” menu. The taskbar can now group windows opened by a single application into one taskbar button, with a popup menu listing the individual windows. A “common tasks” list was added, and Windows Explorer’s sidebar was updated to use a new task-based design with lists of common actions; the tasks displayed are contextually relevant to the type of content in a folder (i.e. a folder with music displays offers to play all the files in the folder, or burn them to a CD).

Windows Vista : Windows Vista is an operating system by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs and media center PCs. Development was completed on 8 November 2006,and over the following three months, it was released in stages to computer hardware and software manufacturers, business customers and retail channels. On 30 January 2007, it was released worldwide and was made available for purchase and download from the Windows Marketplace.
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 such as Windows DVD Maker.

Windows 7 : Windows 7 is a personal computer operating system developed by Microsoft. It is a part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. Windows 7 was released to manufacturing on July 22, 2009, and became generally available 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.

Windows 7 was primarily intended to be an incremental upgrade to the operating system intending to address Windows Vista’s poor critical reception while maintaining hardware and software compatibility.
Windows 7 Ultimate is the, well, ultimate version of Windows 7, containing all the features available in Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Home Premium, plus BitLocker technology. Windows 7 Ultimate also has the largest language support.
Windows 7 Professional, often referred to as Windows 7 Pro, contains all the features available in Windows 7 Home Premium, plus Windows XP Mode, network backup features, and domain access, making this the right Windows 7 choice for medium and small business owners.
Windows 7 Enterprise is designed for large organizations. Windows 7 Starter is only available for preinstallation by computer makers, usually on netbooks and other small form-factor or lower-end computers. Windows 7 Home Basic is only available in some developing countries.

Windows 8 and 8.1 : Windows 8 : Windows 8 is PC operating system designed by Microsoft and is part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. Windows 8 was officially released on August 1, 2012. Its platform are IA-32, x64, ARMv7 and its Kernel type is Hybrid. It is now competing with two other popular mobile operating systems such as iOS and Android.

Windows 8 introduced many alterations to operating system’s platform and user interface to enhance its user experience on tablets. It also added supports for USB 3.0, advanced format hard drives, communications and cloud computing system.
Microsoft has also removed the various features of the Windows 7 in Windows 8 as well. First of all the traditional Start Menu of Microsoft Windows in no more the part of Windows 8. Then comes the Windows Media Center and DVD-Video in Windows Media Player that are also no more the part of Windows 8. Among a lot of new features and improvement in the existing one, the Windows App Store is being said to the most advanced feature of Windows that enable the users to directly access or purchase the Windows applications from this store. For the first time, Microsoft has introduced two-factor authentication systems that are based in the PINs and picture password system.
Windows Defenders has also got the extra antivirus capabilities.

Windows 8.1 : Windows 8.1 is the upgraded version of Windows 8 and is released by Microsoft. It is regarded as the professional version of Windows 8 and Windows 8 is itself is supposed to be home version. Windows 8.1 was released on August 27, 2013.

Windows 8.1 has resolved many complaints that were being faced by users in Windows 8. The main improvements include enhancement in start screen feature, extra snap views, extra packed apps, advanced OneDrive integration, Internet Explorer 11, search engine of Bing, revival of Start Button on taskbar and the ability to restore the previous behavior of opening the user’s desktop on login instead of the Start screen
There are two methods of installing the Windows 8.1; a free one and paid one. If you have already installed the Windows 8 then you can enjoy the free copy of Windows 8.1 by getting the update of Windows 8.1 from the Windows Store. However, if you want to directly install the Windows 8.1 then you will be required to purchase the copy of Windows 8.1. In a case of installing the Windows 8.1 updates on the Windows 8, the users will be able to keep all of their Windows settings, personal files, and almost all installed apps.

Windows 10 : Windows 10 is a personal computer operating system developed and released by Microsoft as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. It was first released on July 29, 2015.Windows 10 as a “service” that receives ongoing “feature updates”. Devices in enterprise environments can receive these updates at a slower pace, or use long-term support milestones that only receive critical updates, such as security patches, over their five-year lifespan of mainstream support.

Windows 10 introduces what Microsoft described as “universal apps”; expanding on Metro-style apps, these apps can be designed to run across multiple Microsoft product families with nearly identical code‍ including PCs, tablets, smartphones, embedded systems, Xbox One, Surface Hub and Mixed Reality.

PROS :
Consistent across devices.
A more natural, customization experience.
Free to upgrade.

CONS :
If your only using one device, many features will be lost on you.

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