Windows 95: Difference between revisions
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'''Windows 95''' (codenamed ''Chicago'') is a consumer version of [[Microsoft Windows]] released by Microsoft in 1995. It is the first major release in the [[Windows 9x]] operating system line. It was designed to be the successor of [[Windows 3.1x|Windows 3.1]] and would be replaced by [[Windows 98]]. Microsoft ended support for Windows 95 on 31 December 2001. 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, Mail, built-in networking, and virtual device drivers. Many of the paradigms introduced with Windows 95 remain in use today. | '''Windows 95''' (codenamed ''Chicago'') is a consumer version of [[Microsoft Windows]] released by Microsoft in 1995. It is the first major release in the [[Windows 9x]] operating system line. It was designed to be the successor of [[Windows 3.1x|Windows 3.1]] and would be replaced by [[Windows 98]]. Microsoft ended support for Windows 95 on 31 December 2001. 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, Mail, built-in networking, and virtual device drivers. Many of the paradigms introduced with Windows 95 remain in use today. | ||
It was a revolutionary update for Windows, and also the first concerted effort by Microsoft to listen to consumers. Although it was still built upon the solid, if | It was a revolutionary update for Windows, and also the first concerted effort by Microsoft to listen to consumers. Although it was still built upon the solid, if outdated, foundations of MS-DOS, the average user never saw the MS-DOS prompt unless they wanted to. Windows NT was too intensive for most computers of the time, and it was not until after the release of Windows 95 that Win32 applications were widely used and supported. | ||
== Development == | == Development == | ||
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The first two builds known to exist are the [[Windows 95 Usability Testing Builds|Usability Testing Builds]] from December 1992 or January 1993, seen in a Microsoft video.<ref>http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/Windows-95-Usability-Testing-1993</ref> The earliest available build is [[Windows 95 build 58s|58s]], known as PDK/M4 from August 1993, followed by [[Windows 95 build 73f|builds 73f]] and [[Windows 95 build 73g|73g]] (PDK2/M5 from November and December 1993), [[Windows 95 build 81|build 81]] (January 1994), [[Windows 95 build 89e|builds 89e]] and [[Windows 95 build 90c|90c]] (March 1994), [[Windows 95 build 99|build 99]] (May 1994), [[Windows 95 build 116|builds 116]] and [[Windows 95 build 122|122]] (June 1994), [[Windows 95 build 180|builds 180]] and [[Windows 95 build 189|189]] (September 1994, build 189 is the first build to introduce the Windows 95 name), beta 2 [[Windows 95 build 216|builds 216]] and [[Windows 95 build 224|224]] (October 1994), beta 3 builds (November 1994 to March 1995), and release candidate builds (mid-1995). The final build of Windows 95, [[Windows 95 build 950 r-6|build 950 r-6]], would be released to manufacturing on 14 July 1995, and would later be available to the general public on 24 August 1995. | The first two builds known to exist are the [[Windows 95 Usability Testing Builds|Usability Testing Builds]] from December 1992 or January 1993, seen in a Microsoft video.<ref>http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/Windows-95-Usability-Testing-1993</ref> The earliest available build is [[Windows 95 build 58s|58s]], known as PDK/M4 from August 1993, followed by [[Windows 95 build 73f|builds 73f]] and [[Windows 95 build 73g|73g]] (PDK2/M5 from November and December 1993), [[Windows 95 build 81|build 81]] (January 1994), [[Windows 95 build 89e|builds 89e]] and [[Windows 95 build 90c|90c]] (March 1994), [[Windows 95 build 99|build 99]] (May 1994), [[Windows 95 build 116|builds 116]] and [[Windows 95 build 122|122]] (June 1994), [[Windows 95 build 180|builds 180]] and [[Windows 95 build 189|189]] (September 1994, build 189 is the first build to introduce the Windows 95 name), beta 2 [[Windows 95 build 216|builds 216]] and [[Windows 95 build 224|224]] (October 1994), beta 3 builds (November 1994 to March 1995), and release candidate builds (mid-1995). The final build of Windows 95, [[Windows 95 build 950 r-6|build 950 r-6]], would be released to manufacturing on 14 July 1995, and would later be available to the general public on 24 August 1995. | ||
In early 1996, Microsoft released the first OEM Service Release of Windows 95, which was also released to the public as a Service Pack for the RTM build. This is the first version of Windows to include [[Internet Explorer]] in its version [[Internet Explorer 2|2]], although some OEMs already shipped [[Internet Explorer 1]] with the RTM build. It also introduces infrared support and fixes for bugs which affected the RTM build. | In early 1996, Microsoft released the first OEM Service Release of Windows 95, which was also released to the public as a Service Pack for the RTM build. This is the first version of Windows to include [[Internet Explorer]] in its version [[Internet Explorer 2|2]] form, although some OEMs already shipped [[Internet Explorer 1]] with the RTM build. It also introduces infrared support and fixes for bugs which affected the RTM build. | ||
In mid-1996, Microsoft released the second OEM Service Release of Windows 95 (codenamed ''Detroit''), which includes various new features such as FAT32 support, [[Internet Explorer 3]], a newer version of MSN, as well as features that were previously exclusive for [[Microsoft Plus! 95]] such as DriveSpace 3 or Scheduled Tasks (formerly System Agent). An update to it, known as the OEM Service Release 2.1, was released in | In mid-1996, Microsoft released the second OEM Service Release of Windows 95 (codenamed ''Detroit''), which includes various new features such as FAT32 support, [[Internet Explorer 3]], a newer version of MSN, as well as features that were previously exclusive for [[Microsoft Plus! 95]] such as DriveSpace 3 or Scheduled Tasks (formerly System Agent). An update to it, known as the OEM Service Release 2.1, was released in August 1996, which not only updates Internet Explorer to version 3.02, but it also includes [[w:USB|USB]] support in form of an update package. It is not pre-installed by default, since USB support was still in an early state. It eventually caused Windows to crash more frequently. Another update, known as the OEM Service Release 2.5, was released in November 1997 and updated Internet Explorer to version 4.0, along with it the Active Desktop enhancements, although on incompatible devices, it still ships with IE 2. This is the last update for Windows 95 before being replaced with Windows 98. | ||
== Product Team credits Easter egg == | == Product Team credits Easter egg == | ||