Windows Operating System

TL;DR
Windows OS, developed by Microsoft in 1985, is the world’s most widely used desktop operating system.
🧩 1. Basic Information
               Field                       —>Description
OS Name                        —>Microsoft Windows
Developer                       —>Microsoft Corporation
First Released                —>November 20, 1985 (Windows 1.0)
Latest Version                —>Windows 11 (2021), Windows 12 (upcoming)
License Type                   —>Commercial (proprietary)
Supported Platforms      —>x86, x64, ARM64
Still Active?                      —>✅ Yes
⚙️ 2. Kernel & Architecture
Kernel Type: Hybrid Kernel
Based On: MS-DOS (earlier versions), Windows NT (modern versions)
Architecture Support: x86, x64, IA-64, ARM64
Boot System: BIOS/UEFI, secure boot, dual-boot support
🌟 3. Key Features
Intuitive GUI (Start Menu, Taskbar, File Explorer)
Multitasking & multi-user login
Gaming optimized (DirectX support)
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
Microsoft Store & wide app support
Cortana (voice assistant), Action Center, Widgets
BitLocker encryption, Defender Antivirus
Virtual desktops, touch support, Snap Layouts
Full integration with Microsoft Office & Azure
📈 4. Version History & Important Milestones ✅
 Version                                         —>Year                                       —>Milestone / Impact
Windows 1.0                          —>1985                                —>First GUI overlay on MS-DOS, tiled windows
Windows 3.0/3.1                   —>1990–92                          —>Big commercial success; File Manager,                                                                                                             TrueType font support
Windows 95                         —>1995                                —>Start Menu, Taskbar, 32-bit support, Plug                                                                                                        and Play
Windows 98                        —>1998                                 —>Internet Explorer, FAT32, better USB support
Windows ME                        —>2000                                —>Multimedia-focused; unstable; last DOS-                                                                                                         based Windows
Windows 2000                    —>2000                                —>Based on NT kernel; improved file system &                                                                                                     security
Windows XP                        —>2001                                —>Huge success; unified home & business, long                                                                                                   support till 2014
Windows Vista                    —>2007                                 —>Aero UI, UAC, high system requirements
Windows 7                          —>2009                                 —>Reliable, fast, most loved OS; long lifespan
Windows 8 / 8.1                  —>2012–13                            —>Touch-first UI; removed then restored Start                                                                                                       button
Windows 10                       —>2015                                  —>Rolling updates, WSL, Cortana, integrated                                                                                                       with cloud
Windows 11                       —>2021                                  —>New UI, centered Start Menu, Android apps                                                                                                       support
Windows 12 (expected)   —>2024–25                           —>AI-first, cloud-native, modular update                                                                                                                architecture
🎯 5. Target Audience & Use Cases
General Users: Home, students, small businesses
Enterprise: Server environments (via Windows Server)
Developers: Especially .NET, Visual Studio, WSL users
Gamers: Best-in-class support with DirectX 12 Ultimate
Educational Sector, Government, Creative Professionals
✅ 6. Pros & Cons
                           Pros                                                                  —>Cons
User-friendly interface                                               —>Requires frequent updates
Excellent gaming & app compatibility                       —>Some privacy concerns in newer versions
Strong enterprise support (Active Directory, etc.)  —>Paid license
Best support for productivity tools                           —>Slower on older hardware (esp. Win 11)
🎨 7. UI Demo & Visuals
Boot screen animation (Windows 95 → 11)
Evolution of the Start Menu & Taskbar
Windows Explorer, Settings app, Widgets panel
Demo of Snap Layouts, Virtual Desktops
App installs via Microsoft Store
Optional: gaming experience, WSL terminal, Edge browser
📦 8. Ecosystem & App Support
Microsoft Store + traditional .exe installers
Preinstalled apps: Edge, Calculator, Paint, Notepad
Compatible with major apps (Adobe, AutoCAD, Steam, Zoom, etc.)
Cloud: Microsoft 365, OneDrive integration
Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA in Win 11)
Windows Server for data centers, enterprises
🔐 9. Security & Updates
Windows Defender Antivirus (built-in)
BitLocker encryption
User Account Control (UAC)
Secure Boot & TPM 2.0 (in Win 11)
Monthly security patches + Feature updates (2x/year)
SmartScreen, ransomware protection, Windows Hello (face/fingerprint login)
🌍 10. Community, License & Development
Proprietary software (requires license or OEM pre-install)
Huge global user base & active communities
Developer tools: Visual Studio, WinUI, UWP, WSL
Enterprise tools: Group Policy Editor, Active Directory
Windows Insider Program (for early access & feedback)
🎁 BONUS: Full Version History Table (Windows)
Version Name                 —>Release Date        —>End of Life (EOL)   —>Notes
Windows 1.0                 —>1985-11-20            —>2001                        —>First graphical shell
Windows 2.0                —>1987-12-09            —>2001                       —>Overlapping windows support
Windows 3.0                —>1990-05-22           —>2001                       —>Major commercial success
Windows 3.1                —>1992-04-06           —>2001                       —>TrueType fonts, multimedia
Windows 95                 —>1995-08-24          —>2001                        —>Start Menu introduced
Windows 98                 —>1998-06-25          —>2006-07-11            —>Better USB, IE integration
Windows ME               —>2000-09-14           —>2006-07-11            —>Last DOS-based version
Windows 2000           —>2000-02-17            —>2010-07-13           —>First NT-based consumer OS
Windows XP               —>2001-10-25             —>2014-04-08         —>Most popular version; stable & fast
Windows Vista           —>2007-01-30            —>2017-04-11           —>Introduced Aero, UAC
Windows 7                 —>2009-10-22            —>2020-01-14          —>Very stable and widely loved
Windows 8                 —>2012-10-26          —>2016-01-12 (mainstream)       —>Metro UI, Start menu                                                                                                                                          removed
Windows 8.1               —>2013-10-17          —>2023-01-10                       —>Start button returned
Windows 10               —>2015-07-29          —>2025-10-14 (expected)   —>Rolling updates, Cortana,                                                                                                                                              WSL
Windows 11               —>2021-10-05          —>Ongoing                            —>New design, WSA, improved                                                                                                                               performance
Windows 12 (rumored)   —>2024–25 (TBD)      —>TBD                 —>Cloud-AI focus, modular system,                                                                                                                        faster updates
