Microsoft Windows is the name of several families of computer software operating systems by Microsoft. Microsoft first introduced an operating environment named Windows in November 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces (GUI).
General information
Basic general information about Windows.
[edit]DOS-based (MS-DOS/9x-based)
Name | Release date | RTM Build | Current version | Status support | Source model/ License Type | Codename | MS-DOS version | Kernel type | Architecture | Editions | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 1.0 | 1985-11-20 | ? | 1.04 (1987-04-08) | Unsupported (2001-12-31) | Closed source/ Microsoft EULA | ? | ? | 16-bit | Desktop | First version of Windows | ||
| Windows 2.0 | 1987-12-09 | ? | 2.03 (1987-12-09) | Unsupported (2001-12-31) | Closed source/ Microsoft EULA | ? | ? | 16-bit | Desktop | |||
| Windows 2.1x | 1988-05-27 | ? | 2.11 (1989-03-13) | Unsupported (2001-12-31) | Closed source/ Microsoft EULA | ? | ? | 16-bit | Desktop | |||
| Windows 3.0 | 1990-05-22 | ? | 3.0a Multimedia Extensions (1991-10-20) | Unsupported (2001-12-31) | Closed source/ Microsoft EULA | DOS 3.1 or higher (not included) | ? | 16-bit | Windows 3.0, Windows 3.0a, Windows 3.0a with Multimedia Extensions | Desktop | ||
| Windows 3.1x | 1992-04-06 | 040 | 3.11 (1993-12-31) | Unsupported (2001-12-31) | Closed source/ Microsoft EULA | 3.1: Janus; for Workgroups: Kato, Sparta; 3.11: Snowball (LB) | DOS 3.3 or higher (not included) | ? | 16-bit (partial 32-bit compatibility with Win32s) | Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups 3.1, Windows 3.11, Windows for Workgroups 3.11, Windows 3.2 (simplified Chinese only) | Desktop | Version number: 3.1.040 |
| Windows 95 | 1995-08-24 | 950 | 4.00.950C OSR2.5 (1997-11-26) | Unsupported (2001-12-31) | Closed source/ Microsoft EULA | Chicago | MS-DOS 7.0, MS-DOS 7.1 (OSR2.x) | Monolithic kernel | Hybrid 16/32-bit | Retail, OSR1, OSR2, OSR2.1, OSR2.5 | Desktop | Version number: 4.00.950 |
| Windows 98 | 1998-06-25 | 1998 | 4.10.2222A (1999-04-23) | Unsupported (2006-07-11) | Closed source/ Microsoft EULA | Memphis | MS-DOS 7.1 | Monolithic kernel | Hybrid 16/32-bit | First edition, Second Edition | Desktop | Version number: 4.10.1998 (Security Version 4.10.1998A) |
| Windows Me | 2000-06-19 | 3000 | 4.90.3000 (2000-09-14) | Unsupported (2006-07-11) | Closed source/ Microsoft EULA | "Millennium" | MS-DOS 8.0 | Monolithic kernel | Hybrid 16/32-bit | Desktop | Version number: 4.90.3000 (Security Version 4.90.3000A) |
[edit]NT Kernel-based
| Name | Release date | RTM Build | Current version | Status support | License/Source model | Codename, working name | Based on (kernel) | Supported architectures | Editions | OS type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows NT 3.1 | 1993-07-27 | 528 | 3.10.528 SP3 (1994-11-10) | Unsupported (2001-12-31) | Closed source/ Microsoft EULA | ? | NT 3.1 | x86-32, DEC Alpha, MIPS | Workstation, Advanced Server | Workstation, Server |
| Windows NT 3.5 | 1994-09-21 | 807 | 3.50.807 SP3 (1995-06-21) | Unsupported (2001-12-31) | Closed source/ Microsoft EULA | Daytona | NT 3.5 | x86-32, DEC Alpha, MIPS | Workstation, Server | Workstation, Server |
| Windows NT 3.51 | 1995-05-30 | 1057 | 3.51.1057 SP5 (1996-09-19) | Unsupported (2001-12-31) | Closed source/ Microsoft EULA | ? | NT 3.51 | x86-32, DEC Alpha, MIPS,PowerPC | Workstation, Server | Workstation, Server |
| Windows NT 4.0 | 1996-08-24 | 1381 | 4.00.1381 SP6a (1999-11-30) | Unsupported (2004-12-31) | Closed source/ Microsoft EULA | Cairo Hydra (Terminal Server) | NT 4.0 | x86-32, DEC Alpha, MIPS,PowerPC | Workstation, Server, Server Enterprise Edition, Terminal Server, Embedded | Workstation, Server, Embedded |
| Windows 2000 | 2000-02-17 | 2195 | 5.0 SP4 Rollup 1 v2 (2005-09-13) | Unsupported (2010-07-13) | Shared source/ Microsoft EULA | Memphis NT, Whistler 2000 | NT 5.0 | x86-32, IA-64 | Professional, Server, Advanced Server, Datacenter Server | Desktop, Workstation, Server |
| Windows XP | 2001-10-25 | 2600 | 5.1.2600 SP3 (2008-04-21) | Extended Support Period (2014-04-08) | Shared source/ Microsoft EULA | Whistler | NT 5.1; NT 5.2 (64-bit 2003 and x64) | x86-32, IA-64, x86-64 | Starter Edition, Home, Professional, Media Center, Tablet PC, Starter, Embedded, Home N, Home K, Home KN, Professional N, Professional K, Professional KN, Professional x64 | Desktop, Workstation, Embedded |
| Windows Server 2003 | 2003-04-24 | 3790 | 5.2.3790 SP2 (2007-03-13) | Supported | Shared source/ Microsoft EULA | Whistler Server, Windows .NET Server | NT 5.2 | x86-32, IA-64, x86-64 | Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, Web, Storage, Small Business Server, Compute Cluster | Server, Network Appliance, Embedded, HPC |
| Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs | 2006-07-08 | 2600 | RTM (2006-07-08) | Supported | Shared source/ Microsoft EULA | Eiger, Monch | NT 5.1 | x86-32 | Fundamentals for Legacy PCs | Desktop |
| Windows Vista | 2006-11-08 | 6000 (SP2: 6002) | 6.0 SP2 (2008-02-04) | Supported | Closed source, Shared source/ Microsoft EULA | Longhorn | NT 6.0 | x86-32, x86-64 | Starter, Home Basic,Home Basic N, Home Basic K, Home Basic KN, Home Premium, Home Premium K, Home Premium KN, Business, Business N, Business K, Business KN, Enterprise, Enterprise K, Enterprise KN, Ultimate, Ultimate K, Ultimate KN | Desktop, Workstation |
| Windows Server 2008 | 2008-02-27 | 6001 | 6.0 SP2 (2008-02-27) | Supported | Closed source, Shared source/ Microsoft EULA | Longhorn Server | NT 6.0 | x86-32, IA-64, x86-64 | Web, Standard, Enterprise, Small Business Server, Datacenter, Web Core, Standard Core, Enterprise Core, Datacenter Core, Standard without HyperV, Enterprise without HyperV, Datacenter without HyperV, Standard Core without HyperV, Enterprise Core without HyperV, Datacenter Core without HyperV, HPC, HyperV Core, Foundation, Storage | Server |
| Windows Home Server | 2007-06-16 | 3790 | 5.2 | Supported | Closed source/ Microsoft EULA | Q, Quattro | NT 5.2 | x86-32, x86-64 | Home Server | Server |
| Windows 7 | 2009-10-22[2] | 7600 (SP1: 7601) | 6.1 | Supported | Closed source, Shared source/ Microsoft EULA | "7", Vienna | NT 6.1 | x86-32, x86-64 | Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, Enterprise, Starter N, Home Basic N, Home Premium N, Professional N, Ultimate N, Enterprise N, Starter K, Home Basic K, Home Premium K, Professional K, Ultimate K, Enterprise K, Starter KN, Home Basic KN, Home Premium KN, Professional KN, Ultimate KN, Enterprise KN, Starter E, Home Basic E, Home Premium E, Professional E, Ultimate E, Enterprise E | Desktop, Workstation, Multi-Touch |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 | 2009-10-22 | 7600 | 6.1 | Supported | Closed source, Shared source/ Microsoft EULA | "7" Server | NT 6.1 | IA-64, x86-64 | Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, Web, Standard Core, Enterprise Core, Datacenter Core, Web Core | Server |
[edit]CE-based
Windows CE (sometimes abbreviated WinCE) is a variation of Microsoft's Windows operating system for minimalistic computers and embedded systems. Windows CE is a distinctly different kernel, rather than a trimmed-down version of desktop Windows. It is supported on Intel x86 and compatibles, MIPS, ARM, and Hitachi SuperH processors.
| Release date | RTM Build | Current version | Status support | License/Source model | Codename | Based on (kernel) | Kernel type | Operating environments | Editions | Purpose | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows CE 1.0 | November 1996 | Pegasus, Alder | CE 1.0 | Embedded | first release of Microsoft's Windows CE line for minimalistic computers and embedded systems | |||||||
| Windows CE 2.0 | November 1997 | Mercury, Apollo | CE 2.0 | 2.1, 2.11 | Embedded | |||||||
| Windows CE 3.0 | April 2000 | Unsupported (10/9/2007) | Shared source/ Microsoft EULA | Cedar, Galileo, Rapier, Merlin, Stinger | CE 3.0 | Embedded kernel | Embedded | |||||
| Pocket PC 2002 | CE 3.0 | |||||||||||
| Windows CE 4.0 | 7 January 2002 | Talisker | CE 4.0 | 4.1, 4.2 | Embedded | |||||||
| Windows Mobile 2003 | 23 June 2003 | Ozone | CE 4.20 | |||||||||
| Windows CE 5.0 | 9 July 2004 | 5.0 (9 July 2004) | Supported | Shared source/ Microsoft EULA | Macallan | CE 5.0 | Embedded kernel | Embedded | ||||
| Windows Mobile 5.0 | 9-12 May 2005 | Magneto | CE 5.0 | |||||||||
| Windows Embedded CE 6.0 | 1 November 2006 | Shared source/ Microsoft EULA | Yamazaki | CE 6.0 | Hybrid kernel | |||||||
| Windows Mobile 6.0 | 12 February 2007 | Crossbow | CE 5.2 | |||||||||
| Windows Mobile 6.1 | 1 April 2008 | various performance enhancements, a redesigned Home screen, threaded SMS, full page zooming in IE and Domain Enroll | ||||||||||
| Windows Mobile 6.5 | May 18 2009 | minor upgrade to the existing Windows Mobile platform | ||||||||||
| Windows Phone 7 | November 8, 2010 | Photon | CE 6.0 | major update to the platform, merging Smartphone and Pocket PC. |
[edit]Technical information
[edit]DOS-based (MS-DOS/9x-based)
| Name | Kernel | Kernel type | Architecture | Integrated firewall | SMP support | Multiple architecture support | USB Support | UDMA Support | Long Filename Support | Update management | APIs | Safe Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 1.0 | ? | ? | 16-bit | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Win16 | No |
| Windows 2.0 | ? | ? | 16-bit | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Win16 | No |
| Windows 3.0 | ? | ? | 16-bit | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Win16 | No |
| Windows 3.1x | ? (OS or shell?) | ? | 16-bit (partial 32-bit compatibility through Win32s) | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Win16,Win32s | No |
| Windows 95 | MS-DOS 7.0, MS-DOS 7.1 (Win95B) | Monolithic kernel | Hybrid 16/32-bit | No | No | No | Only OEM Service Release 2.1 or higher | Only OEM Service Release 2 or higher | Yes | Windows Update (If Internet Explorer 5 is installed) | Win16,Win32c | Yes |
| Windows 98 | MS-DOS 7.1 | Monolithic kernel | Hybrid 16/32-bit | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Windows Update | Win16,Win32 | Yes |
| Windows Me | MS-DOS 8.0 | Monolithic kernel | Hybrid 16/32-bit | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Windows Update | Win16,Win32 | Yes |
[edit]NT Kernel-based
The NT kernel powers all recent Windows operating systems. It runs on x86, x86-64 and Itanium processors.
| Name | Kernel | Architecture | Integrated firewall | SMP support | Multiple architecture support | USB Support | UDMA Support | Long File Name Support | Package management | Update management | APIs | Safe Mode | Data Execution Prevention |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows NT 3.1 | NT 3.1 | 32-bit | No | Yes | Yes | No | ? | Yes (NTFS and HPFS Volumes only) | Win32, OS/2, POSIX | No | No | ||
| Windows NT 3.5 | NT 3.5 | 32-bit | No | Yes | Yes | No | ? | Yes (Except on CDFS volumes) | Win32, OS/2, POSIX | No | No | ||
| Windows NT 3.51 | NT 3.51 | 32-bit | No | Yes | Yes | No | ? | Yes (Except on CDFS volumes) | Win32, OS/2, POSIX | No | No | ||
| Windows NT 4.0 | NT 4.0 | 32-bit | No | Yes | Yes | Yes (if the Ion USB update is installed) | Yes | Yes | Windows Update (if Internet Explorer 5 or later is installed) | Win32, OS/2, POSIX | No | No | |
| Windows 2000 | NT 5.0 | 32/64-bit | Yes | Yes | Yes (IA-64/Itanium in Advanced Server and Datacenter Server) | Yes (USB 2.0 with update or SP4)[3] | Yes | Yes | Windows Update | Win32, OS/2, POSIX | Yes | No | |
| Windows XP | NT 5.1.2600; NT 5.2.3790 | 32/64-bit | Yes | Yes (Professional Edition only) | Yes (IA-64/Itanium, x86, x86-64) | Yes (USB 2.0 with update or SP1+)[4] | Yes | Yes | MSI, custom installers | Windows Update | Win32, .NET | Yes | Yes (in SP2) |
| Windows Server 2003 | NT 5.2.3790 | 32/64-bit | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (USB 2.0)[5] | Yes | Yes | MSI, custom installers | Windows Update | Win32 | Yes | Yes (in SP1) |
| Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs | NT 5.1.2600 | 32-bit | Yes | ? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | MSI, custom installers | Windows Update | Win32 | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Vista | NT 6.0.6000 ; NT 6.0.6001 (SP1) ; NT 6.0.6002 (SP2) | 32/64-bit | Yes | Yes | Yes (x86, x86-64) | Yes (USB 2.0) | Yes | Yes | MSI, custom installers | Windows Update Application | Win32, .NET, POSIX (only Enterprise and Ultimate) | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Server 2008 | NT 6.0.6001 ; NT 6.0.6002 (SP2) | 32/64-bit | Yes | Yes | Yes (IA-64/Itanium, x86, x86-64) | Yes (USB 2.0) | Yes | Yes | Windows Update Application | Win32 | Yes | Yes | |
| Windows Home Server | NT 5.2 | 32-bit | ? | ? | ? | Yes (USB 2.0) | ? | Yes | Win32 | ? | ? | ||
| Windows 7 | NT 6.1 | 32/64-bit | Yes | Yes | Yes (x86, x86-64) | Yes (USB 2.0) | Yes | Yes | Windows Update Application | Win32, .NET | Yes | Yes | |
| Windows Server 2008 R2 | NT 6.1 | 64-bit | Yes | Yes | Yes (IA-64/Itanium, x86-64) | Yes (USB 2.0) | Yes | Yes | Windows Update Application | Win32, .NET | Yes | Yes |
[edit]Supported file systems
Various versions of Windows support various file systems, including: FAT16, FAT32, HPFS, ISO 9660, NTFS, or UDF, along with network file systems shared from other computers, and the ISO 9660 and UDF filesystems used for CDs, DVDs, and other optical discs such as Blu-ray. Each file system is usually limited in application to certain media, for example CDs must use ISO 9660 or UDF, and as of Windows Vista, NTFS is the only file system which the operating system can be installed on.Windows Embedded CE 6.0, Windows Vista Service Pack 1, and Windows Server 2008 onwards support ExFAT, a file system more suitable for flash drives.
[edit]DOS-based (MS-DOS/9x-based)
| FAT16 | FAT32 | HPFS | ISO9660 | NTFS | UDF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 95 | Yes | Yes (OSR2 or above) | Network Drive | Yes | Network Drive | No |
| Windows 98 | Yes | Yes | Network Drive | Yes | Network Drive | Yes (1.5, read) |
| Windows Me | Yes | Yes | Network Drive | Yes | Network Drive | Yes (1.5, read) |
[edit]
| 400 MB |
]NT Kernel-based
| CPU | RAM | Free disk space | Video adapter and monitor | Drives | Devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows NT Workstation 3.51 | 386, 25 MHz | 8 MB | 90 MB | |||
| Windows NT 4.0 Workstation | 486, 33 MHz | 12 MB | 110 MB | |||
| Windows 2000 Professional | Pentium, 133 MHz | 32 MB | 650 MB | |||
| Windows XP | Pentium MMX, 233 MHz | 64 MB | 1.5 GB | Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher resolution | CD-ROM or DVD-ROM | Keyboard and mouse |
| Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs | Pentium, 233 MHz | 64 MB | 500 MB | |||
| Windows Vista | Pentium III, 800 MHz | 512 MB/1 GB or higher recommended | 15 GB (may be installed with as few as 7GB) | Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher resolution | DVD-ROM | |
| Windows Server 2008 | 1 GHz (x86) or 1.4 GHz (x64) | 512 MB RAM (may limit performance and some features) | 10 GB | Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher resolution | DVD-ROM | Keyboard and mouse |
| Windows 7 | 1 GHz (x86/64) | 1 GB or higher recommended (2 GB or Higher for x64) | 16 GB (installs in 7 GB) | 128MB (Aero) | DVD-ROM |
Physical memory limits
Maximum limits on physical memory (RAM) that Windows can address vary depending on the both the Windows version and between 32-bit (x86-32) and 64-bit (x86-64) versions.[6][7]
| Version | Limit in 32-bit Windows | Limit in 64-bit Windows |
|---|---|---|
| Windows XP Starter Edition | 512 MB | N/A |
| Windows XP Home | 4 GB | N/A |
| Windows XP Professional | 4 GB | 128 GB |
| Windows Server 2003 Small Business Edition | 4 GB | 128 GB |
| Windows Server 2003 Standard SP1 | 4 GB | 32 GB |
| Windows Server 2003 Standard R2 | 4 GB | 32 GB |
| Windows Server 2003 Enterprise SP2 | 64 GB | 1 TB |
| Windows Server 2003 Enterprise R2 | 64 GB | 1 TB |
| Windows Server 2003 Datacenter SP2 | 128 GB | 1 TB |
| Windows Server 2003 Datacenter R2 | 128 GB | 1 TB |
| Windows Vista Starter | 1 GB | N/A |
| Windows Vista Home Basic | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Windows Vista Home Premium | 4 GB | 16 GB |
| Windows Vista Enterprise | 4 GB | 128 GB |
| Windows Vista Ultimate | 4 GB | 128 GB |
| Windows 7 Starter | 2 GB | N/A |
| Windows 7 Home Basic | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Windows 7 Home Premium | 4 GB | 16 GB |
| Windows 7 Professional | 4 GB | 192 GB |
| Windows 7 Enterprise | 4 GB | 192 GB |
| Windows 7 Ultimate | 4 GB | 192 GB |
| Windows Server 2008 Web Server | 4 GB | 32 GB |
| Windows Server 2008 Web Server R2 | N/A | 32 GB |
| Windows Server 2008 Standard | 4 GB | 32 GB |
| Windows Server 2008 Standard R2 | N/A | 32 GB |
| Windows Server 2008 Enterprise | 64 GB | 2 TB |
| Windows Server 2008 Enterprise R2 | N/A | 2 TB |
| Windows Server 2008 Datacenter | 64 GB | 2 TB |
| Windows Server 2008 Datacenter R2 | N/A | 2 TB |
Security features
NT Kernel-based
| Resource access control | Subsystem isolation mechanisms | Integrated firewall | Encrypted file systems |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 2000 | ACLs | TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec | Yes (NTFS Only) | |
| Windows XP | ACLs | Win32 WindowStation, Desktop, Job objects | Windows Firewall (From SP2), TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec | Yes (NTFS Only) |
| Windows Server 2003 | ACLs, Privileges, RBAC | Win32 WindowStation, Desktop, Job objects | Windows Firewall, TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec | Yes |
| Windows Vista | ACLs, Privileges, RBAC | Win32 WindowStation, Desktop, Job objects | Windows Firewall, TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec | Yes |
| Windows Server 2008 | ACLs, Privileges, RBAC | Win32 WindowStation, Desktop, Job objects | Windows Firewall, TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec | Yes |
| Windows 7 | ACLs, Privileges, RBAC | Win32 WindowStation, Desktop, Job objects | Windows Firewall, TCP/IP Filtering, IPSec | Yes |
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