History of Windows

1
History of Windows

• Why is it important to know the history of
  Windows?
• Some jobs require that you support multiple
  versions so it becomes important to know some of
  the differences in the versions.
• Kernel the core routines of the OS
• Recall the discussion of the memory, file,
  device, and processor manager subsystems in the
  IntroOS.rtf file. These subsystems are in the
  kernel.
• There are two tracks of Windows products based on
  different kernels.

2
MS Windows Evolution

• Two Tracks
• 1981 DOS
• 1990 3.x
• 1995 9x 1993
  NT
• 2000 Me 2000
  2000
• 
  2001 XP
• 
  2003 Server 2003

3
History of Windows

• Windows 3.1 and Windows NT were based on
  different kernels. The NT kernel is much more
  stable and had some security features built in.
• Windows 95 was written from scratch with its own
  kernel. That is it was not based on the
  DOS/Windows 3.1 kernel.
• Through marketing Microsoft tried to get everyone
  to convert to the NT track so they could drop the
  Windows 95 track of products for years but
  werent able to accomplish it until Windows 2000.

4
History of Windows

• For more on the history of windows see these web
  sites
• http//www.microsoft.com/windows/WinHistoryIntro.m
  spx
• http//www.levenez.com/windows/