BetaWiki:Featured article/2019-12
Windows 95 (codenamed Chicago) is a consumer version of Windows released by Microsoft. It was designed to be the successor of Windows 3.1 and would be replaced by Windows 98. Microsoft ended support for Windows 95 on 2001-12-31.
It improved upon 16-bit Windows by introducing a hybrid 16/32-bit kernel and eliminating the need for an existing installation of MS-DOS, making it a standalone operating system (running alongside MS-DOS). Microsoft focused on improving the usability of Windows with technologies such as Plug-and-Play, long file names (VFAT), the Start Menu, an updated Desktop, Internet Explorer and Mail, built-in networking, and virtual device drivers.