Evolution Windows OS
By: Sisitha Jayawardhane
Tags: Windows, Windows 1 10, Evolution Of Windows

MS-DOS

Short for Microsoft Disk Operating System, MS-DOS is a non-graphical command line operating system derived from 86-DOS that was created for IBM compatible computers. MS-DOS originally written by Tim Paterson and introduced by Microsoft in August 1981 and was last updated in 1994 when MS-DOS 6.22 was released. MS-DOS allows the user to navigate, open, and otherwise manipulate files on their computer from a command line instead of a GUI like Windows.

Today, MS-DOS is no longer used; however, the command shell, more commonly known as the Windows command line is still used by many users. The bottom image is an example of a Windows command line window running in Microsoft Windows 10.

Most computer users are only familiar with how to navigate Microsoft Windows using the mouse. Unlike Windows, MS-DOS is navigated by using MS-DOS commands. For example, if you wanted to see all the files in a folder in Windows you would double-click the folder to open the folder in Windows Explorer. In MS-DOS, you would navigate to the folder using the cd command and then list the files in that folder using the dir command.

Windows 1.0

Windows 1.0 is the first desktop environment developed and made by Microsoft. It is built on top of Microsoft DOS. Unlike its successor, Windows 2.0, Windows 1.0 did not allow windows to overlap each other. The device has 256 KB of memory storage.

Microsoft Windows 1.0x

Interface Type: GUI

Kernel: 16-bit

Developer: Microsoft Corporation

Release Date: November 20, 1985.

Version Release Dates:

Windows Premiere Edition: July 30, 1985

Windows 1.01: November 20, 1985 (official release)

Windows 1.02: May 1986

Windows 1.03: August 1986

Windows 1.04: April 1987

Succeeded by Windows 2.0 In December 9, 1987,

Support for this version of Windows ended on December 31, 2001. It is the longest supported version of Windows ever, supported for 16 years.

Windows 1.0 System requirements:

Video: CGA/HGC/EGA

DOS: MS-DOS 2.0

RAM: 256 KB or more,

Disk Drive(s): 2 double-sided disk drives or hard drive.

Windows 1.0 included programs:

Microsoft DOS Executive

Calculator

Calendar

Cardfile

Clipboard

Clock

Notepad

Paint

Reversi

Terminal

Write

Windows 2.0

Windows 2.0 is a 16-bit operating environment from Microsoft released in 1987–1988, Windows 2.00, Windows 2.01 and Windows 2.03 were shells for the DOS system, providing a graphical user interface for improved interaction than the command-line interface of DOS.

Windows 2.0 was officially released on 9 December 1987, and super-ceded Windows 1.0. It was succeeded by Windows 2.1x in 1988, Windows 2.11 in 1989 then Windows 3.0 in 1990. Windows 2.0 was officially supported by Microsoft until December 31, 2001. It was the first Windows to have minimisation and maximisation.

Windows 2.0 was officially released on 9 December 1987, and super-ceded Windows 1.0. It was succeeded by Windows 2.1x in 1988, Windows 2.11 in 1989 then Windows 3.0 in 1990. Windows 2.0 was officially supported by Microsoft until December 31, 2001. It was the first Windows to have minimisation and maximisation.

New Features

Overlapping windows (Windows 1.x could only tile windows)

Better keyboard shortcuts

Improved shell design

VGA graphic support

EMS memory support

System Requirements

1 GHz or faster processor or SoC processor.

1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit RAM.

GB for 64-bit RAM. 16 GB for 32-bit OS 20 GB for 64-bit OS Hard disk space.

DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver Graphics card.

Drawbacks/issues:

Windows 3.0

It is a 16-bit operating system that needs a preinstalled DOS like MS-DOS. In May 1990 Windows 3.0 came onto the market as graphical operating system extension for DOS in the languages German, English and French. The main advantage, unlike DOS, is the simultaneous execution of DOS and Windows programs in a graphical user interface. Virtual machines allow the simultaneous execution of several DOS applications in a separate 8086/8088 environment. Applications are running in cooperative multitasking and can now use up to 16 Mbytes of RAM.

New Features

Improved user interface

Better memory management with Intel’s 80286 and 80386 processors.

Multiple DOS program multitasking support.

Revamped Control Panel

Solitaire card game program added.

Improved Paintbrush program.

Improved Windows icons in EGA\VGA mode, support for 256 color VGA. (80286 processor or better required)

(Multimedia Extensions 1.x release): included a CD-ROM drive and sound card support, such as the Creative Labs Sound Blaster Pro.

System requirements

The official system requirements for Windows 3.0x:

8086/8088 processor or better

384K of free conventional memory (real mode, protected modes require more)

Hard disk with 6–7MB of free space

CGA/EGA/VGA/Hercules/8514/A graphics and an appropriate and compatible monitor

Microsoft DOS version 3.1 or higher

Also, a Microsoft-compatible mouse is recommended.

Drawbacks/issues:

It crashed a lot

It ran on top of DOS

Multitasking was only cooperative

Hardware support was still a bit spotty

Windows 95

Windows 95 was a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system built on top of MS-DOS. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company’s previous Windows products. During development, it was referred to as Windows 4.0 (Windows 4.00) or by the internal codenames Cougar and Chicago.

Windows 95 integrated Microsoft’s formerly separate MS-DOS and Windows products. It featured significant improvements over its predecessor, Windows 3.1, most notably in the graphical user interface (GUI) and in its relatively simplified “plug-n-play” features. There were also major changes made at lower levels of the operating system, such as moving from a mainly 16-bit architecture to a pre-emptively multitasked 32-bit architecture.

In the marketplace, Windows 95 was a major success, and within a year or two of its release had become the most successful operating system ever produced. It also had the effect of driving other major players (including OS/2) out of business, something which would later be used in court against Microsoft. Some three years after its introduction, Windows 95 was succeeded by Windows 98.

Here is a list of Windows 3.1 system requirements:

100% IBM compatible computer

80386 or higher processor aka a “386” system

2MB or better RAM

8MB Hard disk drive space

3.5 inch or 5.25 inch floppy disc drive

VGA video

Keyboard and Mouse

DOS 3.1 or higher

New Key Features:

Improved windows control and appearance of windows

New introduced Desktop

Right button menu

New help system

Task bar and start menu

Build-in network support with dial-up for different protocols

Folder view of all kinds of files and resources

Support of 32 bit application, pre-emptive multitasking and thread

Drawbacks/issues:

Items dragging and dropping works on most folders except the Control Panel, Printers, or Dial-Up Networking folders. This inconsistency in the interface may confuse some users.

Cannot pre-emptively multitask Win16 applications because it uses the same System Virtual Machine (VM) model as in Windows 3.1 to run Win16 applications. Thus, Windows 95 will revert to a cooperative multitasking environment when running Win16 applications and give them exclusive control of the CPU for as long as the applications are executing. As a result, true pre-emptive operation is impossible when multitasking a mixture of Win16 and Win32 applications.

System protection against buggy applications is weak as compared to other 32-bit OS such as Windows NT and OS/2 Warp. Due to the reason stated above, if a Win16 program hangs, it can tie up critical 16-bit code modules located in the System VM and halt all other processes. To recover from this kind of system crash, the user has to reboot the PC.

There is a security hole with File and Printer sharing for NetWare networks which may affect data security for corporate users. If a Windows 95 user configures his machine to share files and printers with other users on the network using File and Printer Sharing for NetWare networks, and he enables remote administration or install Microsoft Remote Registry Services, it is possible for another user on the network to gain read-only access to his machine. At the moment when the evaluation was done, Microsoft has already issued an updated driver for File and Printer Sharing for NetWare Networks to fix this bug.

Windows 95 uses an easily cracked 32-bit key to store the passwords in the PWL file. Again, while the evaluation was under way, Microsoft has released an updated and enhanced security component which uses a 128-bit key and includes enhancements to the way passwords are stored in the PWL file.

Windows 98

Windows 98 (codenamed Memphis also used to suppose to be the codename for Windows 97) is a graphical operating system by Microsoft. It is the second major release in the Windows 9x line of operating systems. It was released to manufacturing on May 15, 1998 and to retail on June 25, 1998 as the first entry in 6th generation of operating systems. Windows 98 is the successor to Windows 96. Like its predecessor, it is a hybrid 16-bit/32-bit monolithic product with an MS-DOS based boot stage. Windows 98 was succeeded by Windows 98 Second Edition on May 5, 1999, then by Windows Me (Millennium Edition) on September 14, 2000. Microsoft support for Windows 98 ended on July 11, 2006. As of September 2011 Windows Update v4 has been shut down resulting an endless loop of trying to access the site this has affected all versions of the Windows 9x family.

New Key Features:

Improved appearance of window

Integrated Microsoft Internet Explorer in Windows Explorer and Help System

Quick Launch tool bar

“Show Desktop” button on quick launch tool bar

An ActiveX desktop

System requirements:

According to Microsoft, the minimum system requirements for Windows 98 and 98SE are:

66MHz 486DX computer, with 16MB of memory

VGA monitor

Mouse or compatible pointing device

Keyboard

Floppy disk drive or CD-ROM drive

Drawbacks/issues:

Windows 98 cannot boot on a computer with more than 512 MB of RAM without unofficial patches , And it does not support more than one processor core , The ability to multi-tasking very bad , The ability to multi thread a very bad , Handling a bad device , DMA is often conflict and Cpu resource management turmoil .

Windows 2000

Windows 2000, also known as Windows NT 5.0, is built on NT Technology as a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on November 8, 1999, and launched to retail on December 15, 1999. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the final release of Microsoft Windows to display the “Windows NT” designation. It was succeeded by Windows XP for desktop systems in October 2001 and Windows Server 2003 for servers in April 2003. Windows Me was released seven months after Windows 2000 and one year before Windows XP, but Windows Me was not intended to be, nor did it serve as the successor to Windows 2000. Windows Me was designed for home use, while Windows 2000 was designed for business. As of September 2011, Windows Update v4 has been shutdown resulting an endless loop of trying to access the site this has affected all versions of the Windows 9x family and Windows 2000 up to Service Pack 3. Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 is now not compatible with Windows Update v6 without the latest Windows Update Agent.

System requirements:

To run Windows 2000, Microsoft recommends:

133MHz or higher Pentium-compatible CPU

64MB RAM recommended minimum; more memory generally improves responsiveness (4GB RAM maximum)

2GB hard disk with a minimum of 650MB of free space. Additional free hard disk space is required if you are installing over a network.

Note: Windows 2000 Professional supports single and dual CPU systems.

While these are Microsoft’s recommended minimums, UITS recommends the following:

Pentium II or better

At least 128MB of RAM

4GB hard drive, with at least 1GB free

New features:

Some of the significant features of Windows 2000 Professional are:

Support for FAT16, FAT32, and NTFS.

Increased uptime of the system and significantly fewer OS reboot scenarios.

Windows Installer tracks applications and recognise and replaces missing components.

Protects memory of individual apps and processes to avoid a single app bringing the system down.

Encrypted file systems protect sensitive data.

Secure VPN (virtual private network) supports tunneling into private LAN over the public Internet.

Personalised menus adapt to the way you work.

Multilingual version allows for User Interface and help to switch, based on login.

Includes broader support for high-speed networking devices, including native ATM and cable modems.

Supports USB (Universal Serial Bus) and IEEE 1394 for greater bandwidth devices.

Drawbacks/issues:

Microsoft no longer supports Windows 2000 Professional as of July 13, 2010 , So , updates , hot fixes and phone support are no longer offered for this product , The users with Windows 2000 on a machine may encounter an issue that cannot be fixed , Windows 2000 users should consider upgrading to avoid loss of support features .

Windows 2000 requires the users to log on using a name and password , and it uses that log-on authentication to control the file access , And the hardware compatibility and system requirements make Windows 2000 an iffy choice for antiquated hardware , And just because the hardware is new , It does not make it compatible with Windows 2000 .

The users can not uninstall Windows 2000 Professional like Windows 98 , If an installation does not work , their only recourse is to wipe out everything by reformatting the disk drive and reinstalling the operating system and all their applications .

The users who want Windows 2000 should purchase a computer that comes with it and all the necessary peripherals installed , Those who want better performance should invest in a faster processor or a memory upgrade .

Windows Me

Windows Me was the successor to Windows 2000 and was targeted specifically at home PC users. It included Internet Explorer 5.5, Windows Media Player 7, and the new Windows Movie Maker software, which provided basic video editing and was designed to be easy to use for home users. Microsoft also updated the graphical user interface, shell features, and Windows Explorer in Windows Me with some of those first introduced in Windows 2000, which had been released as a business-oriented operating system seven months earlier. Windows Me could be upgraded to Internet Explorer 6 SP1 (but not to SP2 (SV1) or Internet Explorer 7), Outlook Express 6 SP1 and Windows Media Player 9 Series. Microsoft .NET Framework up to and including version 2.0 is supported, however versions 2.0 SP1, 3.x, and greater are not. Office XP was the last version of Microsoft Office to be compatible with Windows Me.

System requirements:

Pentium II Celeron processor, 350Mhz

64MB RAM

4GB hard drive with 1GB free before installing Windows Me

DirectX compatible video card with 4MB VRAM

Sound Blaster compatible sound capability with two speakers

17" color monitor (15.9" viewable area), .28dp resolution

24X CD-ROM drive

1.44MB floppy drive

Standard Windows keyboard

Microsoft 2-button mouse

10/100 Ethernet card or a 56K modem

New Features:

System Restore Tool

Restore Tool Automatic Windows Update

Windows Image Acquisition (WIA)

System File Protection

Generic Drivers for USB storage devices

Windows Movie Maker

Drawbacks/issues:

The downside to this omission, however, is that some older DOS apps and, curiously, some Windows apps won’t run under Windows Me. This is because Windows Me no longer supports options to boot or reboot into DOS mode, which requires real mode.

Windows XP

Windows XP is an operating system introduced in 2001 from Microsoft’s Windows family of operating systems, the previous version of Windows being Windows Me. The “XP” in Windows XP stands for eXPerience.

Microsoft called the XP release its most important product since Windows 95. Along with a redesigned look and feel to the user interface, the new operating system was built on the Windows 2000 kernel, giving users a more stable and reliable environment than previous versions of Windows.

New Features:

CD Burner.

Device Driver Rollback.

Internet Connection Firewall.

Remote Desktop.

Remote Assistance.

System requirements:

The minimum hardware requirements for Windows XP Home Edition are:

Pentium 233-megahertz (MHz) processor or faster (300 MHz is recommended)

At least 64 megabytes (MB) of RAM (128 MB is recommended)

At least 1.5 gigabytes (GB) of available space on the hard disk

CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive

Keyboard and a Microsoft Mouse or some other compatible pointing device

Video adapter and monitor with Super VGA (800 x 600)or higher resolution

Sound card

Speakers or headphones

The minimum hardware requirements for Windows XP Professional include:

Pentium 233-megahertz (MHz) processor or faster (300 MHz is recommended)

At least 64 megabytes (MB) of RAM (128 MB is recommended)

At least 1.5 gigabytes (GB) of available space on the hard disk

CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive

Keyboard and a Microsoft Mouse or some other compatible pointing device

Video adapter and monitor with Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher resolution

Sound card

Speakers or headphones

Drawbacks/issues:

Windows XP is expensive to buy , It cannot be installed onto multiple computers because it only has a single user license , It is prone to crashing, therefore, making it unstable, And it cannot be run on old hardware.

Windows Vista

Windows Vista began as a project codenamed Longhorn in 2001. The Vista platform was announced by Microsoft in the summer of 2005, then released for manufacturing in late 2006. On January 29, 2007, Bill Gates hosted a public launching of the Vista operating system in Times Square.

The intent behind this dramatic upgrade to Windows’ flagship operating system was a more robust and secure user experience, and although this was achieved to an extent, the system was ultimately perceived by many as far too restrictive and frustratingly incompatible with a diverse range of third-party software and hardware. As a result, the Vista platform remains one of the less popular Windows operating systems, and many users opted instead to either stick with XP and/or wait for the often preferred and upgraded Windows 7.

Mainstream support for Vista ended in 2012, just five years after its release, with extended support ending in 2017.

System requirements:

Windows Vista Capable PC Specification (Minimum Requirements):

A modern processor (at least 800MHz)

512 MB of system RAM memory

A graphics processor that is DirectX 9 capable

Windows Vista Premium Ready PC Specifications (Recommended Requirements):

1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor

1 GB of system memory

A graphics processor that runs Windows Aero (DirectX 9 class graphics processor that supports WDDM Driver, Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware and 32 bits per pixel with big enough graphics memory)

128 MB of graphics memory

40 GB of hard drive capacity with 15 GB free space

DVD-ROM Drive

Audio output capability

Internet access capability

New Features:

Windows Aero

Windows shell

Windows Search

Windows Sidebar

Windows Internet Explorer 7

Windows Media Player 11

Windows Defender

Backup and Restore Center

Windows Mail

Windows Calendar

Windows Photo Gallery

Windows DVD Maker

Windows Media Center

Games:

Games Explorer: Windows Mobility Center Windows Fax and Scan Windows Meeting Space

Windows HotStart

Shadow Copy

Windows Update

Parental controls

Windows SideShow

Speech recognition

Problem Reports and Solutions

Windows System Assessment Tool

Windows Ultimate Extras

Reliability and Performance Monitor

Disk Management

Windows Anytime Upgrade

Digital Locker Assistant

Drawbacks/issues:

Requirements high, too hot deal: Windows Vista , the next generation operating system requires superb computer to install.

, the next generation operating system requires superb computer to install. Regarding price, sucking your hard earned money: The price of Windows Vista Ultimate edition seems to be too high.

Ultimate edition seems to be too high. Replace the oldies, another way of extracting

Windows 7

Windows 7 was released to manufacturing on July 22, 2009, and reached general retail availability on October 22, 2009, less than three years after the release of its predecessor, Windows Vista. Windows 7’s server counterpart, Windows Server 2008 R2, was released at the same time.

On October 26, 2012, Windows 7 was super-seeded by Windows 8. However, as Windows 8 introduces significant changes in the user interface and is optimised for touch-screen devices, it is expected that Windows 7 will continue to be predominant for some time. Windows 7 will continue to be available for purchase until at least 2014, and will be supported by Microsoft until at least 2020.

Unlike Windows Vista, which introduced a large number of new features, Windows 7 was intended to be a more focused, incremental upgrade to the Windows line, with the goal of being compatible with applications and hardware with which Windows Vista was already compatible. Presentations given by Microsoft in 2008 focused on multi-touch support, a redesigned Windows shell with a new taskbar, referred to as the Superbar, a home networking system called HomeGroup, and performance improvements. Some standard applications that have been included with prior releases of Microsoft Windows, including Windows Calendar, Windows Mail, Windows Movie Maker, and Windows Photo Gallery, are not included in Windows 7; most are instead offered separately at no charge as part of the Windows Live Essentials suite.

System requirements:

1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor*

1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)

16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)

DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

Additional requirements:

Internet access (fees may apply)

Depending on resolution, video playback may require additional memory and advanced graphics hardware

Some games and programs might require a graphics card compatible with DirectX 10 or higher for optimal performance

For some Windows Media Center functionality a TV tuner and additional hardware may be required

Windows Touch and Tablet PCs require specific hardware

HomeGroup requires a network and PCs running Windows 7

DVD/CD authoring requires a compatible optical drive

BitLocker requires Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2

BitLocker To Go requires a USB flash drive

Windows XP Mode requires an additional 1 GB of RAM and an additional 15 GB of available hard disk space.

Music and sound require audio output

New Features:

Aero Shake

Aero Snap

Aero Peek

Aero Templates, Themes

Device Stage

Domain Join Gadgets (improved)

HomeGroup

Jump Lists

Libraries

Location-Aware Printing

Multiplayer Games

Networking (improved)

Play To function

Performance (improved)

TaskbarWindows Media Center (improved)

Drawbacks/issues:

The first main disadvantage of the windows 7 is the hardware configuration. Windows 7 needs RAM capacity of at least 1 GB.

Windows 7 cannot be easily upgraded from windows XP. It has the drawbacks in upgrading the operating system in the easy manner.

Only the advanced users are convenient with the windows 7. New users find it difficult to use windows 7 and they switch back to windows XP itself.

Sometimes driver support is not providing for the old systems and the old version of motherboard. This disables some of the features in the windows7

Many users have encountered the problem of BSOD with windows 7 and have reported. This problem occurs often because of the software and the hardware changes in the system.

Many applications have failed to run in windows 7 and they are asking for online support.

Only the high end computers can install the windows 7 and it can be used only in highly configures systems.

Various old softwares that are into existence will not work in the windows 7 operating system. It will be a great problem to search for the windows 7 compatible versions for the particular software.

Windows 8/ 8.1

Windows 8 is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, and tablets. It is part of the Windows NT family of operating systems, succeeds Windows 7 and precedes Windows 8.1 and Windows 10.

Development of this operating system started before the release of its predecessor in 2009. Its existence was first announced in January 2011 at Consumer Electronics Show. During its development and test phases, Microsoft released three pre-release versions: Developer Preview (September 13, 2011), Consumer Preview (February 29, 2012), and Release Preview (May 31, 2012). On August 1, 2012, Windows 8 graduated from the development stage and was released to manufacturing. Windows 8 is slated for general availability on October 26, 2012.

Windows 8 is built based on Metro design language and introduces a new form of “Windows 8-style software”, which may only be obtained through Windows Store. Windows 8 also features a new start screen, Internet Explorer 10, native support for USB 3.0, a new Windows Defender that combats malware (instead of only spyware), Windows To Go, and support for UEFI SecureBoot. The last of these has stirred controversy.

Windows 8 is available in four major editions: Windows 8, Windows 8 Professional, Windows 8 Enterprise, and Windows RT 8, Windows Phone 8. The first three have almost the same hardware requirements as that of Windows 7. The latter, however, runs on tablet computers with ARM architecture and has different hardware requirements. Hardware vendors willing to receive Microsoft’s certification for such devices need to adhere to a list of certification requirements. Windows 8 Enterprise and Windows RT will not be available at retail outlets.

System requirements:

Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster

RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)

Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)

Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver

Below are some additional requirements that are needed in order for Windows 8 to run certain features, like touch.

A tablet or monitor that supports multitouch.

Windows Store apps require a screen resolution of at least 1024x768, and to snap apps you’ll need a 1366x768 screen resolution.

Some games/applications only run at full capacity if used with graphics cards with DirectX 10 or higher.

DVD playing software is not included by default in Windows 8, so you have to download your own program either from the Windows Store or through a vendor’s website.

For Windows 8.1 Pro users, BitLocker To Go requires a USB flash drive.

A TV tuner is needed to record live TV in Windows Media Player.

New Features:

Easy Gestures. Windows 8 is the first truly gestural version of Windows

Live Tiles and Lock Screen. The apps you use in Windows 8 can feed you information without you even having to open them.

you use in Windows 8 can feed you information without you even having to open them. System-Wide Search

Refresh and Reset

Settings Sync

Snap View for Multitasking

Pin Anything

Share Everything

Drawbacks/issues:

The main disadvantage of Windows 8 is overlapping of Metro and Aero User Interface. …

is overlapping of Metro and Aero User Interface. … There is no way to turn the home screen tiles into icons. …

It is very difficult to swap between different screens. …

Another disadvantage of Windows 8 is the Metro multitasking.

Windows 10

Windows 10 (formerly known as Windows 9) is a personal computer operating system developed by Microsoft as part of the Windows NT family of operating systems. Officially unveiled in September 2014 following a brief demo at Build 2014, the operating system reached general availability beginning on July 29, 2015. It is the successor to Windows 8.1.

Windows 10 is serviced in a significantly different manner from previous releases of Windows. Is delivery is often described by Microsoft as a “service”, due to its ongoing updates, with Terry Myerson explaining that Microsoft’s aim is that “the question of ‘what version of Windows are you running’ will cease to make sense.”

Unlike previous versions of Windows, Windows Update does not allow the selective installation of updates; instead, all updates (including patches, feature updates, and driver software) are downloaded automatically. Users can only choose whether the system will reboot automatically to install updates while the system is inactive , or be notified to schedule a reboot. Windows Update also uses a peer to peer system for distributing updates; by default, users’ bandwidth is used to distribute previously downloaded updates to other users, in combination with Microsoft servers. Users can instead choose to only use peer-to-peer updates within their local area network.

System Requirements

Latest OS — Make sure you are running Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 Update

— Make sure you are running Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 Update Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor or SoC

1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor or SoC RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit

1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit Hard disk space: 16 GB for 32-bit OS or 20 GB for 64-bit OS

16 GB for 32-bit OS or 20 GB for 64-bit OS Graphics card: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver

DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver Display: 800x600

New features:

Start Menu Returns. It’s what Windows 8 detractors have been clamouring for, and Microsoft has finally brought back the Start Menu

8 detractors have been clamouring for, and Microsoft has finally brought back the Start Menu Cortana on Desktop. Being lazy just got a lot easier

Xbox App

Project Spartan Browser

Improved Multitasking

Universal Apps

Office Apps Get Touch Support

Drawbacks/issues: