Windows Operating Systems
by John Anthony
Windows is the most popular PC operating system in the
world, and is the primary focus of the software area on
this web site.
In this section the last five Operating Systems that
Windows released: XP, ME, 2000, 98 and 95 are covered. The
versions released prior to Windows 95 are included but only
briefly touched on.
Windows XP
Released in October 2001, this OS was to designed to
replace all previous versions of Windows.
Minimum requirements
- Pentium III processor, 233 Mhz (300 Mhz recommended)
- 64 Mbytes of memory (128 Mbytes recommended)
- 1.5 Gbytes of free disk space
- A monitor with SVGA resolution (800x600)
- CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive
- Pointing device (mouse)
- Sound card and speakers
It is offered in two versions: Home and Professional
- The Home Edition is $99 as an upgrade and $199 for the
full version.
- The Professional Edition is $199 for an upgrade and
$299 for the full version.
- Both Home and Professional can be upgraded from Windows
98, Windows 98SE, and Windows ME. Windows NT 4.0, Windows
2000 and Windows XP Home can all be upgraded to Windows XP
Professional. Windows 95 and earlier versions of Windows
are up gradable to either version.
Features
- Less crashes than Windows 98 - virtually gone is the
infamous 'blue screen of death' that signaled a crashed
system.
- Error messages are less impersonal and end with 'We are
sorry for the inconvenience.'
- Installation of peripheral hardware such as printers,
scanner and digital cameras is virtually automatic.
- Many users can share the same PC. Each can have their
own password and individualized desktop, my documents
folder and web favorites for example.
With 'Fast User Switching' a user can turn the PC over to
another user without logging off. The first user's program
continue running and can be resumed when the second user is
done.
- New look to the desktop with bold greens and blues in
places, beige in others. The classic Windows 98 style can
be restored without functional loss.
- Home networks are automatically recognized and
configured. Broadband access can be setup with a few simple
steps.
- Folders are smarter and have related Task Panes that
contains tasks that match the type of files found it . For
example, a folder with photos would have a Task Pane
containing an instant viewing capability such as a
thumbnail viewer.
- Files can be dragged and dropped on a CD-RW drive icon.
Once you have placed all the files you want on the icon,
you tell it burn them an it does it. No special CD writing
software is required.
- A smarter Start menu lets you keep your favorite
programs permanently near the top. A second column contains
access to key features like the control Panel and Search.
What to watch out for
- Within 60 days of the installation you must 'activate'
it over the Internet or phone. If you don't, it stops
working. During activation Microsoft creates a profile of
your PC and links it to serial number of your install
software. MS will prevent you from installing it on a
second machine.
- When you start XP you will be asked to sign up for the
MS instant-messaging feature, Messenger. To use it you must
up for Passport. It cannot be un installed and sits at the
right end of the taskbar.
You can prevent Messenger loading on Start up. Go to Tools
> Options >Preferences, then uncheck the box that says 'run
this program when Windows starts'. You can download other
instant-messaging software from AOL, Yahoo or others.
- Built in features that steer you toward Microsoft and
MS partners products and services. Other competitive
products may require downloaded patches from their web
sites in order to work with XP.
- Internet Explorer home page is set to Microsoft's MSN
page. You can change this to another home page.First open
the web page you want then go to Tools > Internet Options
and click Current. Your browser will open to this web page
every time you start it.
- There is a DOS emulator, but you cannot start your PC
in 'Real Mode' as in older versions of Windows.
- The Media Player can play MP3 files but can't create
them. It is geared toward Windows proprietary WMA file
format. Other media players such as MusicMatch Jukebox can
be downloaded and used to create MP3 files.
- Microsoft can install Automatic Upgrades to your PC
with or without your intervention. You may or may not like
this feature. You can turn it off by going to the Control
Panel > Automatic Updates tab, then select the option that
turns it off.
Windows ME
The successor to Window 98 appeared late in 2000. Very
similar in look and feel to Windows 98 with a few added
features.
Minimum requirements
- Pentium processor, 150Mhz
- 32 Mbytes of memory
- 480-645 Mbytes of free disk space (depending on the
options installed)
- A monitor with VGA (640x480 ) or higher resolution
- CD-ROM
- 3 1/2 inch Floppy Drive
- Sound card and speakers
Features
- A more reliable streamlined process that reduces the
start up time for the PC.
- Automatic restoration of backup version of a file in
the event of file corruption.
- Protection of files from modification from other
software programs.
- Windows Media Player 7 was included.
Windows 2000
Windows 2000 arrived early in 2000. It is based on the NT
operating kernel and targeted toward business users. It is
sometimes referred to as Windows NT 5.0 and contains over
29 million lines of code.
Minimum requirements
- Pentium processor, 133 Mhz
- 64 Mbytes of memory
- 2 Gbyte Hard drive with a minimum of 650 Mbytes free
- It is offered in four versions: Professional, Server,
Advanced Server and Datacenter Server
New features of Professional
- Support for FAT16, FAT32 and NTFS file systems. Each
file is encrypted with a randomly generated key.
- A better application installation tracker.
- Memory protection for individual applications and
processes so that a single application can not lock up the
system.
- A file encryption system and secure VPN allows a
private LAN over the Internet.
- Native support is provided for ATM and cable modems.
Windows 98
Released in 1998 it retained and refined the desktop look
of Windows 95. A second edition called Windows 98SE was
released in 1999 and offered some fixes and improvements to
the first edition.
Minimum requirements
- 486DX, 66 MHz processor
- 16 Mbytes of memory (24 Mbytes recommended)
- 480-645 Mbytes for a FAT16 drive; 140-255 Mbytes for a
FAT32 drive
- A monitor with minimum resolution of VGA (800x600)
- Floppy Disk Drive
Features
- The biggest advance was the introduction of Internet
Explorer, which is a web browser allowing you to view and
download web pages from remote servers across the Internet.
- An improved File System, FAT32 (File Allocation Table)
was introduced. It enabled hard drives bigger than 2G bytes
to be used with the OS. By default Windows 98 uses FAT16,
which is the file system used on all previous Windows
versions and DOS.
- In Windows 98 you have the option of using FAT32 when
first setting up a hard drive.
- Windows 98 is backward compatible with Windows 3.1,
Windows 95, and the MS-DOSŪ operating systems.
Windows 95
Released in 1995 it had the first desktop appearance that
has pretty much been retained in all versions of Windows since.
Minimum requirements
- 386DX processor
- 4 Mbytes of memory (8 Mbytes recommended)
- 50-60 Mbytes of free hard drive space
- A monitor with minimum resolution of VGA (800x600)
- Floppy Disk Drive
Features
- The desktop with icons on it first debuted.
- A taskbar was added to the bottom of the desktop.
Program Manager was replaced with a 'Start' button on the
taskbar. It is used to start programs, open documents,
customize the system and get help. Toolbars such as quick
launch, desktop, address and links can be placed on the
taskbar.
Running applications that have been minimized also appear
on the taskbar.
- Windows Explorer replaced File Manager as the tool to
manage folders and files.
- Long Filenames (up to 256 characters) were supported
which was a tremendous improvement over 8 characters in all
earlier versions of Windows as well as DOS.
- Plug and Play compatibility was added which meant you
could plug in new hardware (expansion cards) which Windows
would recognize and set it up for you. This feature wasn't quite there
but was a start in the right direction.
Prior to this when you installed new hardware you had to
manually insure there were no Interrupts (IRQ) or I/O address
conflicts with existing hardware. Failure to do so could produce very
strange results or even worse yet, no operation at all.
- The Registry appeared, combining what had been multiple
configuration files, into two files.
- The right mouse click arrived allowing rapid access and
text manipulation.
Windows NT
Released in 1994 this was the first Windows OS to support
32 bit programming model of the 386, 486 and Pentium
processors. Support for long filenames also appeared for
the fist time.
- It provided advanced security features, advanced
network support and user administration which made it a
first choice for many in the business environment.
Windows 3.1.1
In 1993 Microsoft released 3.1.1. It was dubbed 'Windows
for Workgroups' and provided network support so that
multiple PCs could share files and printers.
Windows 3.1
In 1992 V3.1 brought True Type fonts, multimedia support,
OLE and common dialog boxes. It ran only in protected mode
and required a 80286 or better processor.
Windows 3.0
Released in 1990 this OS became widespread in both home and
office PCs. It supported the protected mode of the 80x86
processors available at the time. A menu bar ran across the
top much like the menu bar in all Windows based
applications programs.
- Program Manager provided access to program icons which
were kept inside a number of different 'group windows'. A
simple mouse click on any icon would start the program it
represented.
- File Manager allowed easy access and control to all the
files on one's hard drive.
- Print Manager and the Control Panel appeared.
Windows 2.0
Released in April 1987, it had improved windows that could
overlap one another. It also included enhancements to the
keyboard and mouse interface.
- The release of the 80386 processor enabled multitasking
of many DOS programs. Windows 2.0 competed with IBM presentation
manager of the OS/2 operating system.
Windows 1.0
Released November 1985. It ran on DOS and used fixed tiled
windows.
Windows
The first Microsoft offering was released in the November
1983. It sold for about $100.
Computer Help A to Z
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Windows Operating System