windowsonwindows

windowsonwindows, 3 months ago to random

On 26th June 2022, Windows Server 2012 build 7965, from March 2011, was leaked. It is notable for its never-before-seen boot screen, with a large, flat version of the Windows 7 logo. This logo was later seen as the Start button in the Windows 8 & Server 2012 Developer Previews.

windowsonwindows, 3 months ago to random

The Windows “Safe To Shutdown” screen was implemented for users to know when they could safely turn off power to their PC, if it ran on hardware that couldn’t do so automatically. It has been present since at least as far back as Windows NT 3.1 build 297, from 28th June 1992. 🌃

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windowsonwindows, 3 months ago to random

In July 1996, Microsoft was sued by Caldera, who owned a competitor to their MS-DOS operating system, called DR-DOS. They claimed the fact Windows 95 (1995) could only run on top of MS-DOS was anti-competitive & illegal. In January 2000, Microsoft settled out of court for $280m.

windowsonwindows, 3 months ago to random

The Windows 10 Fall Creators Update released in October 2017, as the final Windows 10 semiannual update not named after its year of release. It debuted the My People taskbar feature, power throttling & more. This was the last Windows 10 semiannual update for Windows 10 Mobile. 📲

windowsonwindows, 3 months ago to random

Windows XP featured 4 sample images: Blue Hills (by Mark Karrass) depicts a hilly blue forest in Washington, US; Sunset (by Mick Roessler) shows a sunset over Lake Pichola, India; Winter (also by Karrass) is of an unknown snowy forest; Water Lilies’ author & location are unknown.

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windowsonwindows, 3 months ago to random

Chess is a wallpaper from Windows 3 (1990). It depicts six chess pieces falling on a chess board. Its author is unknown. In Windows XP builds 2475 & 2486, the Chess user picture is replaced by this wallpaper, possibly caused by an error during the compilation of these builds.

windowsonwindows, 3 months ago to random

Aurora is the default wallpaper of Windows Vista (2006). Designed to be “peaceful, calm & open” according to Windows design team member Jenny Lam, it was inspired by the Aurora Borealis (or Northern Lights) as seen from Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington. ✨🟢🟡👀

windowsonwindows, 3 months ago to random

We all know about Windows 95…but have you heard of Windows 94? 👀 Windows Codename Chicago build 90c, from March 1994, refers to itself in setup as Windows 94! Ultimately, Chicago released as Windows 95 in August 1995. But it’s interesting to think what could have been... 9️⃣4️⃣

windowsonwindows, 3 months ago to random

Windows 10 Version 2004 - a.k.a. Windows 10 Version 20H1 - was the official Windows 10 May 2020 Update. Originally to be called Version 2003, Microsoft decided to change the name, likely to minimise any potential confusion with Windows Server 2003. ✅

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windowsonwindows, 3 months ago to random

XBox Music was a media player app, introduced in Windows 8 (2012), and meant as the successor to Windows Media Player. In Windows 10 (2015), it was redesigned & rebranded as Groove Music. In Windows 11 (2021), the app was again reborn, this time known simply as Media Player. 🎵🎥

windowsonwindows, 3 months ago to random

Xbox One OS is a modified version of Windows designed to power the XBox One & Series X/S consoles. Debuting with the XBox One on 22nd November 2013, it was initially based on Windows 8 (2012). Games run inside virtual machines powered by Microsoft’s Hyper-V virtualisation app.

windowsonwindows, 3 months ago to random

Windows Vista Beta 1 (build 5112) was released on 27th July 2005. Jenny Lam - a designer on the Vista team - said this build’s wallpaper “showed off the [Aero] glass really well, so when you run [a window] over the blades, you can see the refraction & get a sense of depth”. 🌱

windowsonwindows, 3 months ago to random

As part of the launch of Windows 11 (2021), New York-based ice-cream manufacturer Mikey Likes It produced a flavour called “Bloomberry” - a blueberry, pound cake & chocolate ice-cream, named to refer to the new “bloom” wallpapers included in Windows 11.

windowsonwindows, 3 months ago to random

Windows 3.2 was an updated release of Windows 3.1 (1992), made available exclusively for the Chinese market. In addition to bug fixes, it included improved language localisation for simplified Chinese, plus improved compatibility with Chinese programs.

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windowsonwindows, 3 months ago to random

Windows 95 (1995) introduced a Welcome window that launched automatically on boot up. Found at C:\Windows\welcome.exe, it provided tips, as well as links to a tour, online registration, info on new features & other Microsoft products. It was later ported to Windows NT 4 (1996).

windowsonwindows, 3 months ago to random

WinPad is an unreleased mobile OS from Microsoft. Worked on during 1993/4, it was initially based on Windows 3.1 (1992), then early builds of Windows 95 (1995), before being scrapped. It was designed to sync with a user’s PC to allow email, fax, file transfers & more on the go.

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windowsonwindows, 3 months ago to random

OS/2 was an operating system initially by Microsoft & IBM. After the alliance ended, IBM released OS/2 2, which could run Windows (& DOS) apps via its “Win-OS/2” Windows 3 virtual machine. This prompted IBM to call OS/2 “a better DOS than DOS & a better Windows than Windows".

windowsonwindows, 3 months ago to random

On 8th September 1994, Microsoft announced the name of Windows 3.1’s (1992) successor. Rather than Windows 4 (as many had predicted), it’d be called Windows 95 (1995). 👀 They explained the choice of name as, “easier for consumers to identify the most current version of Windows”.

windowsonwindows, 3 months ago to random

Hotdog Stand was a colour scheme included in Windows 3.1 (1992). Its primary colours are red (symbolising ketchup) & yellow (mustard). Along with all 3.1 schemes, it was removed in Windows 95 (1995). It does, however, have a cult following. Because…who doesn’t love hotdogs? 🌭

windowsonwindows, 3 months ago to random

Microsoft initially aimed to let users run Windows 3.1 (1992) as a virtual machine inside Windows 95 (1995). But, the idea was quickly scrapped. Developer Raymond Chen said: “95 was intended to be maximally backward compatible. This feature would be an admission that we failed.”

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windowsonwindows, 4 months ago to random

To combat the problems users had navigating the system in Windows 3.1 (1992), Microsoft introduced the Start Menu & Taskbar in Windows 95 (1995). Both would quickly become synonymous with Windows, going through various iterations over the years. Which was your favourite? 👀

windowsonwindows, 4 months ago to random

In early 1997, Microsoft said that Memphis - the codename for the next consumer version of Windows & the successor to Windows 95 (1995) - would ship by the end of that year. 📦 However, the release was delayed. ⏳ If everything had gone to plan, we may have gotten this… 👀

windowsonwindows, 4 months ago to random

During UX Week 2012, Director of Program Management for the Windows User Experience, @jensenharris, spoke of Windows 8’s (2012) lock screen images: “Every one of them was selected as an Easter egg to showcase one of [8’s design] principles. Something no-one’s going to notice.”

windowsonwindows, 4 months ago to random

Bill Gates posing for the press at the Windows XP launch in New York, 25th October 2001.

windowsonwindows, 4 months ago to random

Windows Vista Starter Edition was a version of Windows Vista (2006) intended for use on cheap, low-end PCs in developing countries. Only available in 32-bit, it limited the maximum number of running apps to 3, the maximum RAM to 1GB & didn’t include Vista’s new Aero visual style.