Microsoft Windows 95 - Vista

Windows 95

This was a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1955 by Microsoft.

Features:

1. 32-bit – support for performance in Windows which supports long file names.

2. Long file names – support long file names that MS-DOS cannot recognize through the use of the VFAT file system.

3. User interface – GUI, graphical user interface. The first that uses “Start” button and taskbar to Microsoft’s GUI.

Editions:

1. Windows 95 Retail

   • version 4.00.950

   • released on 1995

   • doesn’t support USB, FAT32 and UDMA

1. Windows 95 Retail SP1

   • version 4.00.950a

   • released on December 31, 1995

   • doesn’t support USB, FAT32 and UDMA

1. OEM Service Release 1

   • version 4.00.950A

   • released on 1996

   • doesn’t support USB, FAT32 and UDMA

1. OEM Service Release 2

   • version 4.00.950B(4.00.1111)

   • released on 1996

   • doesn’t support USB

   • supports FAT32 and UDMA

1. OEM Service Release 2.1

   • version 4.00.950B(4.03.1212)

   • released on 1996

   • supports USB, FAT32 and UDMA

1. OEM Service Release 2.5

   • version 4.00.950C(4.03.1214)

   • released on 1997

   • supports USB, FAT32 and UDMA

System Requirements:

1. • Intel 80386 DX CPU of any speed

   • 4 MB of system RAM

   • 50 MB of hard drive space

Windows 98

This is formerly known as Windows 97 and codenamed Memphis. It is a graphical operating system released on June 25, 1998 by Microsoft and the successor to Windows 95. It is a hybrid 16-bit/32-bit monolithic product based on MS-DOS.

New and Updated Features:

1. Better AGP support

2. Functional USB drivers

3. Functional support for multiple monitors and WebTV

4. Support for the FAT32 file system which supports disk partitions larger than two gigabyte.

Editions:

1. Windows 98

1. • (see above)

1. Windows 98 Second Edition

1. • released on May 5, 1999

   • includes fixes for many minor issues in Windows 98

   • improved USB support

   • replacement of Internet Explorer 4.0 with Internet Explorer 5

   • includes Internet Connection Sharing

System Requirements:

1. • 486DX2, 66 MHz or higher processor

   • 16MB of RAM (24MB recommended)

   • at least 500 MB of space available on HDD

   • BGA or higher resolution monitor

   • CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive

   • Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device

Windows 2000

Windows 2000 (also referred to as Win2K) is a preemptible, interruptible, graphical and business-oriented operating system that was designed to work with either uniprocessor or symmetric multi-processor 32-bit Intel x86 computers.

Two Layers:

1. User Mode

1. • Refers to the mode in which user programs are run.

   • Made of subsystem capable of passing I/O requests to the appropriate kernel mode drivers by using I/O manager.

   • Made up of two subsystems:

1.1 Environmental subsystem

- was designed to run applications written for many different types of operating systems

- these applications, however, run at a lower priority than kernel mode processes

- three main environmental subsystems:

1. 1. 1. Win32 subsystem

- runs 32-bit Windows applications and also supports Virtual DOS Machines, which allows MS-DOS and 16-bit Windows 3.x applications to run on Windows

1. 1. 1. OS/2 environment subsystem

- supports 16-bit character-based OS/2 applications and emulates OS/2 1.3 and 1.x, but not 32-bit or graphical OS/2 applications as used on OS/2 2.x or later

1. 1. 1. POSIX

- supports applications that are strictly written to either the POSIX.1 standard or the related ISO/IEC standards

1.2 Integral subsystem

- looks after operating system specific functions on behalf of the environment subsystem

- consists of a security subsystem, workstation service and server service

1. Kernel Mode

1. • has unrestricted access to the system memory and external devices.

   • Stops user mode services and applications from accessing critical areas of the operating system that they should not have access to.

Windows 2000 has four editions:

1. Professional Edition

1. • designed as the desktop operating system for businesses and power users.

   • Offers greater security and stability than many of the previous Windows desktop operating systems.

   • Supports up to two processors, and can address up to 4GB of RAM.

   • System Requirements (Recommended System Requirements):

1. Pentium Processor @ 133 MHz or greater (Pentium II)

2. At least 64 MB of ram (128 MB of RAM)

3. 650 MB of had drive space (1 GB of hard drive space)

4. CD-ROM drive

1. Server Edition

1. • share the same user interface with Windows 2000 Professional, but contain additional components for running infrastructure and application software.

   • has a significant component of the server products is Active Directory, which is an enterprise-wide directory service based on LDAP.

   • Microsoft integrated Kerberos network authentication, replacing the often-criticized NTLM authentication system used in previous versions.

1. Advanced Server Edition

1. • a variant of Windows 2000 Server operating system designed for medium-to-large businesses.

   • Offers clustering infrastructure for high availability and scalability of applications and services, including main memory support of up to 8 gigabytes (GB) on Physical Address Extension(PAE) systems and the ability to do 8-way SMP.

   • It has support for TCP/IP load balancing and enhanced two-node server clusters based on the Microsoft Cluster Server (MSCS) in the Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition

1. Datacenter Server

1. • a variant of the Windows 2000 Server that is designed for large businesses that move large quantities of confidential or sensitive data frequently via a central server.

   • it supports clustering, failover and load balancing.

New Features:

1. Windows File Protection

1. • prevents programs (with the exception of Microsoft’s update programs) from replacing critical Windows system files and thus making the system inoperable.

Windows ME

Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me) is a hybrid 16-bit/32-bit graphical operating system released on September 14, 2000 by Microsoft. It was originally codenamed Millennium.

New and Updated Features:

1. System Restore

1. • meant to simplify troubleshooting and solving problems.

   • It was intended to work as a “safety net” so that if the installation of an application or a driver adversely affected the system. The user could undo the install and return the system to previously-working state.

1. System File Protection

1. • first introduced as Windows File Protection

   • expanding on the capabilities introduced with System File Checker in Windows 98

   • aimed to protect system files from modification and corruption silently and automatically.

1. New TCP/IP Stack

1. • support for networking over FireWire, wireless infrared and a new Home Networking wizard is also included.

1. Universal Plug and Play

1. • first introduce in this operating system.

   • Often shortened to UPnP

1. Windows Image Acquisition

1. • for standardized and officially supported method of allowing Windows applications to transparently and more easily communicate with image acquisition devices, such a digital cameras and scanners.

1. Automatic Updates

1. • automatically downloads and installs critical updates from the Windows Update Web site with little user interaction.

1. Compressed Folders

1. • user can create and access ZIP files.

   • User can also restrict access to files with a password using compressed folders.

1. Image Preview

1. • images can be viewed by using the Image Preview utility.

   • Makes it possible to rotate an image, print or zoom in/out an image.

1. Games

1. • offers several new games

1. On-Screen Keyboard

1. • makes it possible to input characters by using the mouse instead of the keyboard.

1. System Configuration Utility

1. • updated with three new tabs called “Static VxDs”, “Encironment” and “International”.

1. System Monitor

1. • updated with a Dial-Up Adapter section.

   • Users can now monitor items such as Connection Speeds, Bytes Received or Transmitted/Second.

1. New Help and Support

1. • replacing Windows Help in Windows 2000 and 98.

1. USB mass storage drivers

1. • the only Windows 9x series that includes generic drivers for USB mass storage devices.

System Requirements (Recommended System Requirements):

1. • 150 MHz Pentium or compatible processor (Pentium II 300 MHz)

   • 320 MB of free hard drive space

   • at least 32 MB of RAM (96 MB of RAM)

Windows XP

Windows experience (XP) is a line of proprietary operating systems developed by Microsoft for use on general-purpose computer systems, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, and media centers. This was first released on October 25, 2001.

Editions:

1. Windows XP Home Edition

1. • designed for home users

1. Windows XP Professional Edition

1. • designed for business and power users

   • includes these features that are unavailable in the Home Edition:

1. The ability to become part of a Windows Server domain

2. A sophisticated access control scheme that allows specific permissions on files to be granted to specific users under normal circumstances

3. Remote Desktop server, which allows a PC be operated by another Windows XP user over a local area network or the Internet.

4. Offline Files and Folders, which allow the PC to automatically store a copy of files from another networked computer and wok with while disconnected from the network.

5. Encrypted File System, which encrypts files stored on the computer’s had drive so they cannot be read by another user, even with physical access to the storage medium.

6. Centralized administration features, including Group Policies, Automatic Software Installation and maintenance, Roaming User Profiles, and Remote Installation Service (RIS).

7. Internet Information Services (IIS), Microsoft’s HTTP and FTP Server.

8. Support for two physical central processing units (CPU)

New and Updated Features:

1. Faster start-up and hibernation sequences

2. The ability to discard a newer device driver in favor of the previous one, should a driver upgrade not produce desirable results

3. A new, arguably more user-friendly interface, including the framework for developing themes for the desktop environment.

4. Fast User switching, which allows a user to save the current state and open applications of their desktop and allow another user to log on without losing that information.

5. The ClearType font rendering mechanism, which is designed to improved text readability on Liquid Crystal Display(LCD) and similar monitors.

6. Remote Desktop functionality, which allows users to connect to a computer running Windows XP from across a network or the Internet and access their applications, files, printers, and devices

7. Support for most DSL modems and wireless network connections, as well as networking over FireWire.

System Requirements(Recommended):

1. • 233MHz processor (300 MHz or higher)

   • 64 MB RAM (128 MB RAM or higher)

   • Super VGA (800 x 600) video adapter and monitor (Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher)

   • 1.5 GB of hard drive space (1.5 GB or higher)

   • CD-ROM drive

   • Keyboard and mouse

   • Sound card, speakers, and headphones

   • Additional 1.8 GB hard disk space for WinXP SP2 during installation

Windows XP service pack:

1. Service Pack 1

1. • released on September 9 , 2002.

   • Supports USB 2.0

   • Set Program Access and Defaults utility.

1. Service Pack 2

1. • codenamed “Spring board”

   • released on August 6, 2004

   • enhanced firewall

   • improved Wi-Fi support with a wizard utility

   • pop-up ad blocker for Internet Explorer

   • Bluetooth support

1. Service Pack 3

1. • currently in development

Windows Vista

Windows Vista is a line of graphical operating systems used on personal computers, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, Tablet PCs, and media centers. Development was completed on November 8, 2006.

New and Improved Features:

1. 1. Windows Aero

1. • new hardware-based graphical user interface

   • and acronym for Authentic, Energetic, Reflective, and Open

   • intended to be cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing than those previous Windows, including new transparencies, live thumbnails, live icons, animations and eye candy

1. 1. Windows Shell

1. • offers a new range of organization, navigation, and search capabilities.

1. 1. Instant Search

1. • significantly faster and in-depth(content-based) than that of the search features found in any of the previous versions of Windows.

1. 1. Windows Sidebar

1. • a transparent panel anchored to the side of the screen where a user can place Desktop Gadgets, which are small applets designed for specialized purpose

1. 1. Windows Internet Explorer 7

1. • new user interface, tabbed browsing, RSS, a search box, improved printing, page zoom, quick tabs, anti phishing filter, a number of new security protection features, internationalized domain name support, and improved web standards support.

1. 1. Windows Media Player 11

1. • a major revamp of Microsoft’s program for playing and organizing music and video.

1. 1. Backup and Restore Center

1. • includes a backup and restore application that gives user the ability to schedule periodic backups of files on their computer, as well as recovery from previous backups.

1. 1. Windows Mail

1. • a replacement for Outlook Express that includes a new mail store that improves stability and features integrated Instant Search.

1. 1. Windows Calendar

1. • a new calendar and task application

1. 1. Windows Photo Gallery

1. • A photo and movie library management application.

1. 1. Windows DVD Maker

1. • a companion program to Windows Movie Maker, whick provides the ability to create video DVDs based on a user’s content.

1. 1. Windows Media Center

1. • which was previously exclusively bundled as a separate version of Windows XP, known as Windows XP Media Center Edition, has been incorporated into the Home Premium and Ultimate editions of Windows Vista.

1. 1. Games and Games Explorer

1. • games included with Windows have been modified to showcase Vista’s graphics capabilities.

   • New games are Chess Titans, Mahjong Titans and Purble Place.

1. 1. Windows Mobility Center

1. • a control panel that centralizes the most relevant information related to mobile computing.

1. 1. Windows Meeting Space

1. • replaces NetMeeting

1. 1. Shadow Copy

1. • automatically creates daily backup copies of files and folders.

1. 1. Windows Update

1. • software and security updates have been simplified, now operating solely via a control panel instead of as a web application.

1. 1. Parental controls

1. • allows administrators to control which websites, programs, and games each standard user can use and install.

1. 1. Windows SideShow

1. • enables the auxiliary displays on newer laptops or on supported Windows Mobile devices.

1. 1. Speech recognition

1. • features a redesigned user interface and configurable command-and-control command.

1. 1. New Fonts

   2. Problem Reports and Solutions

1. • a vontrol panel which allows users to view previously sent problems and any solutions or additional information that is available.

1. 1. System Performance Assessment

   2. Windows Ultimate Extras

   3. Built-in hard drive partition management

   4. Performance Diagnostic Console

Editions:

1. Windows Vista Starter

2. Windows Vista Home Basic

3. Windows Vista Home Premium

4. Windows Vista Ultimate

5. Windows Vista Business

6. Windows Vista Enterprise

System Requirements:

1. 1. 800 MHz processor (1.0GHz)

   2. 512 MB RAM (1GB RAM)

   3. DirectX 9 capable graphics card

   4. 20 GB HDD capacity(40GB)

   5. 15 HDD free space

   6. DVD-ROM