Evolution of Windows Operating System

The Windows Operating System, developed by Microsoft, is one of the most widely used operating systems in the world, powering millions of computers in homes, offices, schools, and organizations. It has evolved from a basic graphical interface running on top of MS-DOS into a modern, feature-rich operating system that supports everything from simple file management to complex enterprise-level tasks. In this blog post, we will explore the history, versions, key commands, shortcuts, and some useful tips to boost the performance of the Windows System.

Table of Contents:

• What is the Windows Operating System?
• History of Windows Operating System
• Versions of the Windows Operating System
  1. Windows 1
  2. Windows 2
  3. Windows 3
  4. Windows 95
  5. Windows 98
  6. Windows ME
  7. Windows XP
  8. Windows Vista
  9. Windows 7
  10. Windows 8
  11. Windows 10
  12. Windows 11
• Important Commands for Windows
• Important Shortcuts for Windows
• Tips to Increase Windows Performance
• Conclusion

What is the Windows Operating System?

The Windows operating system is a type of operating system developed by Microsoft to manage computer hardware and software resources. It provides basic services for computer programs and is the most widely used desktop OS in the world. It allows users to click on icons, open files, and run applications instead of using text-based commands.

History of Windows Operating System

The development of the Windows Operating System began in 1981 by Microsoft, led by co-founder Bill Gates. He started working on a graphical user interface initially named Interface Manager. This project was publicly announced on November 10, 1983, and later renamed to Windows. The first version of the Windows Operating System, Windows 1.0, was officially released on November 20, 1985, which provided a basic GUI over MS-DOS.

Versions of the Windows Operating System

The different versions of the Windows Operating System are as follows:

1. Windows 1

Windows 1.0 was the first attempt by Microsoft for a graphical operating system. Instead of MS-DOS having text-based commands, it had a graphical user interface, which made it easy for users. It also supported both color and monochrome displays (the display with only a single color). Windows 1.0 included some simple applications like Notepad, Paint, Calendar, and Calculator, and supported running one program at a time. It made it easier for non-technical users to interact with computers.

Release Date: November 20, 1985

System Requirements:

• At least 256 KB of memory
• Two floppy drives
• A graphics card.

2. Windows 2

Windows 2.0 was Microsoft’s second graphical OS and was an improved version of Windows 1.0 with better performance and more user-friendly features. One of the biggest changes in this Windows version was that it supported the overlapping of windows, making multitasking easier. It also introduced the use of shortcuts like Alt + Tab to switch between apps. It gained popularity because of its applications like Microsoft Word and Excel.

Release Date: December 9, 1987

System Requirements:

• MS-DOS 3.0+
• 512 KB RAM (minimum)
• Supported Intel 286 and 386 processors.

3. Windows 3

Windows 3 was the first Windows version to achieve massive commercial success over the world, with about 10 million copies of Windows 3 being sold. It provided a good GUI, with new functionalities like Program Manager, Control Panel, and File Manager to give users a better way to launch programs and manage the files on the computer.

Release Date: May 22, 1990

System Requirements:

• MS-DOS 3.1+
• At least 640 KB of RAM and around 7 MB of disk space
• Run on Intel 8086/8088 processors

4. Windows 95

It consisted of the best parts of Windows 3 with a completely different GUI. It was the first OS to combine MS-DOS with a 32-bit Windows environment, with a Start Menu, Taskbar, and right-click features that are the core of the Windows OS today. In this version, the program Manager was updated with Windows Explorer for better file browsing and more intuitive for general users. It supported both 16 and 32-bit applications with a built-in TCP/IP configuration for networking features.

Release Date: August 24, 1995

System Requirements:

• CPU of 386DX processor+
• RAM of about 4 MB (minimum)
• Disk space of 50–55 MB

5. Windows 98

Windows 98 had a familiar look to Windows 95, but with improvements in internet integration and multimedia. It improved the Start Menu and Windows Explorer with a modern user experience, and also introduced a Quick Launch toolbar for better desktop customization. Internet Explorer was embedded into this OS to access the web directly from the start menu.

Release Date: June 25, 1998

System Requirements:

• CPU of 486DX 66 MHz+
• RAM of about 16 MB (minimum)
• Disk space of 195 MB
• VGA or higher display.

6. Windows ME

Windows Millennium Edition, or Windows ME, is an upgraded version of Windows 98 and also the last version of the Windows 9X line, i.e., the OS which were still dependent on MS-DOS. Windows ME introduced many features like System Restore, which allows customers to restore the system earlier working state. It also included features to improve multimedia performance, like Windows Movie Maker, and supported USB devices more smoothly than Windows 98. Although Windows ME was visually modern, but also consisted of bugs and lacked MS-DOS support, due to which it was quickly replaced by Windows XP in 2001.

Release Date: September 14, 2000

System Requirements:

• CPU of 150 MHz +
• RAM of about 32MB (minimum)
• Disk space of 320MB to 2GB
• VGA or higher display.

7. Windows XP

 Windows XP was built on the Windows NT kernel. It replaced the Windows 9x line with a user-friendly interface and a colorful design called the Luna theme. It also has improved multimedia handling and a Start Menu with advantages like enhanced networking. It also supported new technologies like wi-fi, USB 2.0, and modern hardware of the early 2000s. Windows XP became one of the most successful operating systems ever by Microsoft, known for its speed and ease of use. Its popularity lasted more than a decade.

Release Date: October 25, 2001

System Requirements:

• CPU of 233 MHz +
• RAM of about 64 MB (minimum)
• Disk space of 1.5 GB+
• Super VGA or higher display.

8. Windows Vista

Windows Vista was Microsoft’s follow-up to Windows XP, with a good visual interface and improved security to strengthen protection against malware. Vista’s biggest feature was the Aero Glass, which added animation effects to the window. It also contained tools like widgets and revamped Windows Explorer to make the search efficient. Although Windows Vista had strong features, it was criticized for being slow and using more resources.

Release Date: January 30, 2007

System Requirements:

• CPU of 800 MHz +
• RAM of about 512 MB (minimum)
• Disk space of 15 GB
• DirectX 9 with WDDM driver
• 128 MB GPU for Aero Display

9. Windows 7

Windows 7 was mainly focused on its lighter, faster, and more stable OS. It retained Vista’s core functionality but refined everything, focusing on performance and better hardware support. The Taskbar was redesigned to allow pinning of the programs. Windows 7 was one of the best OS of Microsoft to date, offering great performance and a clean interface. It remained dominant for over a decade and was heavily used tills its support ended in 2020.

Release Date: October 22, 2009

System Requirements:

• CPU of 1 GHZ
• RAM of about 1 GB (minimum)
• Disk space of 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
• DirectX 9 with WDDM 1.0 or higher for graphics

10. Windows 8

Windows 8 came up with the touchscreen for both devices and tablets, along with traditional PCs. It introduced a new interface called the Start Screen and the Windows Store to download applications. But with the removal of the traditional Start Menu, it confused many users, leading to negative reviews.

Release Date: October 26, 2012

System Requirements:

• CPU of 1 GHZ
• RAM of about 1 GB(minimum)
• Disk space of 16 or 20 GB for graphics
• DirectX 9 with WDDM 1.0 or higher for graphics

8.1: Due to some issues in Windows 8, the better updated version, Windows 8.1, was released. It was provided as a free update for existing Windows 8 installations and fixed many UI and usability issues.

11. Windows 10

Windows 10 was Microsoft’s most successful OS with a familiar UI with a Start Menu and offers modern features like virtual desktops and Edge Browser. The Start Menu was made combining both legacy and modern styles, and a voice-based assistant was introduced. For security purposes, it included Windows Hello for biometric authentication, and it also included a Game Mode for people to play games. Windows 10 was praised by users for being a balanced OS with regular updates. It could compress file sizes if they were too large, to save storage space

Release Date: July 29, 2015

System Requirements:

• CPU of 1 GHZ+
• RAM of about 1 GB(32-bit) or 2GB (64-bit)
• Disk space of 16 or 20 GB
• DirectX 9 or later with a WDDM 1.0 driver for graphics
• Minimum display of 800×600

12. Windows 11

Windows 11 is the present version of Microsoft’s newest OS. It is a refined version of Windows with a clean, modern user interface and integration with modern tools like Microsoft Teams. It brings a centered Start Menu, attractive system icons, and rounded window corners. It also has a good multitasking system, allowing the user to do multiple tasks at once.

For Gamers, Windows 11 includes Auto HDR for better visuals and DirectStorage for faster game load times. This OS gives better performance and battery life with modern hardware than Windows 10, especially on modern processors. Further, to improve security features, Windows 11 has strict requirements like TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and a modern processor, which makes it a preferred choice over other versions.

Release Date: October 5, 2021

System Requirements:

• CPU of 1 GHZ+, 2 cores+ and 64-bit processor
• RAM of about 4 GB
• Disk space of 64GB+
• DirectX 12 is compatible with a WDDM 2.0 driver for graphics
• Display greater than 9″ (inches) with HD resolution (720p)

Important Commands for Windows

Some of the important commands of Windows OS are as follows:

Important Shortcuts for Windows

Some of the important shortcuts of Windows OS are as follows:

Tips to Increase Windows Performance

Whether you are using Windows 10 or 11, the following steps will help you speed up your system performance.

1. Disable Startup Programs: Many applications automatically start with Windows, due to which the boot time of the system becomes slow. You can disable the startup program by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, going to the Startup tab, and then right-clicking on it and selecting disable.

2. Uninstall Unnecessary Software: The unused programs in the program consume disk space and background resources. To uninstall them, open the installed apps from Settings, and then select the unwanted applications.

3. Clean Up Disk Space: The temporary files, caches, and junk files slow down your system; hence, you should delete them by going to Settings > System > Storage > Temporary Files.

4. Update Windows and Drivers: Regularly update your system to boost performance, improve security, and fix bugs. To update your system, go to Settings and Windows Updates, and if the update is present, install it.

Conclusion

From the above article, we learned that Windows OS is the most widely used OS in the world. It has a simple and user-friendly interface. Microsoft has continually improved Windows by introducing better user interfaces, enhanced performance, strong security features, and broad compatibility with hardware and software. Each version of Windows, from Windows 1.0 to Windows 11, has brought innovations that made computing more accessible, powerful, and user-friendly. It has many shortcuts and simple commands that help students learn the technology. Some tips to increase the performance of Windows OS can help improve your experience.

Windows operating system – FAQs