The world's most ubiquitous operating system was not always so. The evolution of Windows was often uncertain and precarious. Its success was symbiotic with advancements in processor speed and memory capacity, and Microsoft relied heavily on third-party software to bridge the gap between concept and consumer. Tour the almost 25-year history of the Windows OS through these screen shots.

Windows 1.0


Windows 2.0


Windows 3.0


Windows 3.11


Windows 3.11 NT


Windows 95


Windows 98


Windows 2000


Windows Millennium Edition


Windows XP


Windows Vista


Windows 7


Credit goes to --> A History of Microsoft Windows