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List of Windows Operating System Versions & History [In Order]

Vangie Beal
Last Updated November 30, 2023 12:34 am

The Windows operating system (Windows OS) refers to a family of operating systems developed by Microsoft Corporation. We look at the history of Windows OS from 1985 to present day.

The Windows operating system (Windows OS) for desktop PCs is more formally called Microsoft Windows and is actually a family of operating systems for personal computers. Windows has traditionally dominated the personal computer world, running, by some estimates, more than 75 percent of all personal computers. Beginning in the early 2000s, Windows dominance has lessened with the growth of the Linux and Mac operating systems.

Windows provides a graphical user interface (GUI), virtual memory management, multitasking, and support for many peripheral devices. In addition to Windows operating systems for personal computers, Microsoft also offers operating systems for servers and mobile devices.

Windows is also the foundation for the Microsoft Office productivity suite. Introduced in 1990 as a Windows-only family of applications for desktop computers, Office has grown to become the world’s most widely used productivity suite, with windowscentral.com reporting an estimated 1.2 billion + user worldwide as of 2016.

Microsoft Windows Operating Systems for PCs

The following details the history of MS-DOS and Windows operating systems designed for personal computers (PCs).

MS-DOS – Microsoft Disk Operating System

Release date: August 1981

Cost: $40 USD

Originally developed by Microsoft for IBM, MS-DOS was the standard operating system for IBM-compatible personal computers. The initial versions of DOS were very simple and resembled another operating system called CP/M. Subsequent versions have become increasingly sophisticated as they incorporated features of minicomputer operating systems.

Windows 1.0

Screenshot of Windows 1.0.

Source: GUIdebook Gallery

Initial release date: November 20, 1985

Cost: $99 USD

Introduced in 1985, Microsoft Windows 1.0 was named due to the computing boxes, or “windows” that represented a fundamental aspect of the operating system. Instead of typing MS-DOS commands, Windows 1.0 allowed users to point and click to access the windows.

Windows 2.0

Screenshot of Windows 2.0.

Source: GUIdebook Gallery

Initial release date: December 9, 1987

Cost: $100 USD

In 1987 Microsoft released Windows 2.0, which was designed for the designed for the Intel 286 processor. This version added desktop icons, keyboard shortcuts and improved graphics support.

Windows 3.0

Screenshot of Windows 3.0.

Source: GUIdebook Gallery

Initial release date: May 22, 1990

Cost: $149.95 USD new; $79.95 USD upgrade

Windows 3.0 was released in May, 1900 offering better icons, performance and advanced graphics with 16 colors designed for Intel 386 processors. This version was the first release that provided the standard “look and feel” of Microsoft Windows for many years to come. Windows 3.0 included Program Manager, File Manager, Print Manager and games like Hearts, Minesweeper, and Solitaire. Microsoft released Windows 3.1 in 1992.

Windows NT 3.1 – 4.0

Screenshot of Windows NT.

Source: GUIdebook Gallery

Initial release date: July 27, 1993

Cost: $495 USD new; $295 USD upgrade

Windows NT (New Technology) was a 32-bit operating system that supported preemptive multitasking. There are actually two versions of Windows NT: Windows NT Server, designed to act as a server in networks, and Windows NT Workstation for stand-alone or client workstations.

Windows 95

Screenshot of Windows 95.

Source: GUIdebook Gallery

Initial release date: August 24, 1995

Cost: $209.95 USD new; $109.95 USD upgrade

Windows 95 was a major upgrade to the Windows operating system. This OS was a significant advancement over its precursor, Windows 3.1. In addition to sporting a new user interface, Windows 95 also included a number of important internal improvements. Perhaps most important, it supported 32-bit applications, which meant that applications written specifically for this operating system would run much faster.

Although Windows 95 was able to run older Windows and DOS applications, it essentially removed DOS as the underlying platform. This resulted in the removal of many of the old DOS limitations, such as 640K of main memory and 8-character filenames. Other important features in this operating system were the ability to automatically detect and configure installed hardware (Plug-and-Play).

Windows 98

Screenshot of Windows 98.

Source: GUIdebook Gallery

Initial release date: June 25, 1998

Cost: $209.95 USD new; $109.95 USD upgrade

Windows 98 supported a number of new technologies, including FAT32, AGP, MMX, USB, DVD, and ACPI. Its most visible feature, though, was the Active Desktop, which integrated the Web browser (Internet Explorer) with the operating system. From the user’s point of view, there was no difference between accessing a document residing locally on the user’s hard disk or on a Web server halfway around the world.

Windows 2000

Screenshot of Windows 2000.

Source: GUIdebook Gallery

Initial release date: February 17, 2000

Cost: $319 USD new; $149 USD upgrade

Often abbreviated as “W2K,” Windows 2000 was an operating system for business desktop and laptop systems to run software applications, connect to Internet and intranet sites, and access files, printers, and network resources. Microsoft released four versions of Windows 2000: Professional (for business desktop and laptop systems); Server (both a Web server and an office server); Advanced Server (for line-of-business applications); and Datacenter Server (for high-traffic computer networks).

Windows Millennium Edition (ME)

Screenshot of Windows ME.

Source: GUIdebook Gallery

Initial release date: June 19, 2000

Cost: $209 USD new; $109 USD upgrade

The Windows Millennium Edition, called “Windows Me” was an update to the Windows 98 core and included some features that would be part of the Windows 2000 operating system. This version also removed the “Boot in DOS” option.

Windows XP

Screenshot of Windows XP.

Source: GUIdebook Gallery

Initial release date: October 25, 2001

Cost:

  • Home: $199 USD new; $99 USD upgrade
  • Professional: $299 USD new; $199 upgrade

Windows XP was released in 2001. Along with a redesigned look and feel to the user interface, the new operating system was built on the Windows 2000 kernel, giving the user a more stable and reliable environment than previous versions of Windows. Windows XP came in two versions, Home and Professional. Microsoft focused on mobility for both editions and including plug-and-play features for connecting to wireless networks. The operating system also utilized the 802.11x wireless security standard. Windows XP went on to become one of Microsoft’s best-selling products.

Windows Vista

Screenshot of Windows Vista.

Source: GUIdebook Gallery

Initial release date: November 30, 2006 (corporate); January 30, 2007 (public)

Cost:

  • Home Basic: $199 USD new; $99.95 USD upgrade
  • Home Premium: $239 USD new; $159 USD upgrade
  • Business: $299 USD new; $199 upgrade
  • Ultimate: $399 USD new; $259 USD upgrade

Windows Vista offered an advancement in reliability, security, ease of deployment, performance and manageability over Windows XP. New in this version were capabilities to detect hardware problems before they occurred, security features to protect against the latest generation of threats, a faster start-up time, and low power consumption when placed in the new sleep state. In many cases, Windows Vista was noticeably more responsive than Windows XP on identical hardware. Windows Vista simplified and centralized desktop configuration management, which reduced the cost of keeping systems updated.

Windows 7

Screenshot of Windows 7.

Source: Lifewire

Initial release date: October 22, 2009

Cost:

  • Home Premium: $199.99 USD new; $119.99 USD upgrade
  • Business: $299.99 USD new; $199.99 upgrade
  • Ultimate: $319.99 USD new; $219.99 USD upgrade

Windows 7 was released in conjunction with Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 7’s server counterpart. Enhancements and new features in Windows 7 included multi-touch support, Internet Explorer 8, improved performance, faster start-up time, Aero Snap, Aero Shake, support for virtual hard disks, a new and improved Windows Media Center, and improved security.

Windows 8

Screenshot of Windows 8.

Source: Ars Technica

Initial release date: October 26, 2012

Cost:

  • Windows 8: $119.99 USD
  • Windows 8 Pro: $199.99 USD

Windows 8 was a completely redesigned operating system that’s been developed from the ground up with touchscreen use in mind as well as near-instant-on capabilities that enable a Windows 8 PC to load and start up in a matter of seconds rather than in minutes.

Windows 8 replaced the more traditional Microsoft Windows OS look and feel with a new “Metro” design system interface that first debuted in the Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system. The Metro user interface primarily consisted of a “Start screen” made up of “Live Tiles,” which linked to applications and features that were dynamic and updated in real time. Windows 8 supported both x86 PCs and ARM processors.

Windows 10

Screenshot of Windows 10.

Source: Microsoft

Initial release date: July 29, 2015

Cost:

  • Windows 10 Home: $139 USD
  • Windows 10 Pro: $199.99 USD
  • Windows 10 Pro for Workstations: $309 USD

Windows 10 was the successor to Windows 8. Windows 10 debuted on July 29, 2015, following a “technical preview” beta release of the new operating system (Fall 2014) and a “consumer preview” beta (Early 2015). Windows 10 featured fast start-up and resume, built-in security, and the return of the Start Menu in an expanded form. This version of Windows also featured Microsoft Edge, Microsoft’s new browser. Any qualified device (such as tablets, PCs, smartphones and Xbox consoles) was able to upgrade to Windows 10, including those with pirated copies of Windows.

Windows 11

Screenshot of Windows 11.

Source: PCMag

Initial release date: October 5, 2021

Cost: Free (for Windows 10 users)

Though Microsoft claimed Windows 10 would be the last version of Windows ever, Windows 11 came with a new visual design, updated apps, touchscreen optimizations, and multitasking features. Microsoft also claims Windows 11 is the most secure release yet. Existing Windows 10 users will be able to upgrade to Windows 11 for free as long as their PC meets the system requirements.

Microsoft Operating Systems for Servers and Mobile Devices

Aside from operating systems designed for use on personal computers (PCs) and laptops, Microsoft has also developed operating systems for servers, handheld devices, and mobile phones.

Windows Server

Initial release date: May 28, 2003

Windows Server is a series of Microsoft server operating systems. Windows servers are more powerful versions of their desktop operating system counterparts and are designed to more efficiently handle corporate networking, internet/intranet hosting, databases, enterprise-scale messaging and similar functions. The Windows Server name made its debut with the release of Windows Server 2003 and continues with the current release, Windows Server 2022.

Windows CE (November 2006)

Initial release date: November 1, 2006

A version of the Windows operating system was designed for small devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) or Handheld PCs in the Microsoft vernacular). The Windows CE graphical user interface (GUI) was very similar to Windows 95 so devices running Windows CE were meant to be familiar to Windows 95 users.

Windows Home Server

Initial release date: November 4, 2007

Announced in January 2007, Windows Home Server (WHS) was a “consumer server” designed to use with multiple computers connected in the home. Home Server allowed users to share files such as digital photos and media files, and also automatically backed up home networked computers. Through Windows Media Connect, Windows Home Server shared any media located on your WHS with compatible devices.

Windows Mobile

Initial release date: April 19, 2000

The mobile operating system for smartphones and mobile devices from Microsoft was based on the Windows CE kernel and designed to look and operate similar to desktop versions of Microsoft Windows. Windows Mobile was largely been supplanted by Windows Phone 7, although Microsoft did release, in 2011, Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5, a mobile OS compatible with Windows Mobile 6.5 that was designed for enterprise mobile and handheld computing devices.

Windows Phone

Initial release date: October 21, 2010

Windows’ mobile operating system for smartphones and mobile devices served as the successor to Microsoft’s initial mobile OS platform system, Windows Mobile. Unlike Windows Mobile, Windows Phone 7 was targeted more to the consumer market than the enterprise market. “WinPhone7” replaced the more traditional Microsoft Windows OS look and feel with new “Metro” design system introduced in Windows 8.

Windows Phone 7 featured a multi-tab Internet Explorer Mobile Web browser that used a rendering engine based on Internet Explorer 9. It also included Microsoft Office Mobile, a version of Microsoft Office tailored for mobile devices. Its successors included Windows Phone 8 and Windows 10 Mobile. Microsoft announced the end of life for Windows Phone on January 14, 2020.

 

This article was last updated February 22, 2021 by Kaiti Norton.