Windows 9x
| Windows 9x | |
|---|---|
Screenshot of Windows 95, the first version of Windows in the 9x series | |
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Written in | C, C++, Assembly |
| Working state | Discontinued |
| Source model | Closed source |
| Initial release | 4.00.950 / July 14, 1995 (as Windows 95) |
| Final release | 4.90.3000 / June 19, 2000 (as Windows Me) |
| Update method | Windows Update |
| Supported platforms | IA-32 |
| Kernel type | Monolithic |
| Userland | Windows API |
| Influenced by | MS-DOS, OS/2, Windows 3.1, VAX/VMS |
| Default user interface | Windows shell (Graphical) |
| License | Proprietary commercial software |
| Preceded by | Windows 3.1 (1992-1993) |
| Succeeded by | Windows XP (2001) |
| Support status | |
| Mainstream support for Windows 95 ended on December 31, 2000. Extended support ended on December 31, 2001. Mainstream support for Windows 98 ended on June 30, 2002. Mainstream support for Windows Me ended on December 31, 2003. Extended support for both ended on July 11, 2006. | |
Windows 9x (also known as Win9x) is a generic term referring to a former line of Windows, a family of operating systems produced by Microsoft. It had releases between 1995 and 2000, and were based on the kernel first introduced in Windows 95, which was continuously updated in later versions. MS-DOS support was retained in order to facilitate booting into Windows as well as providing real mode support for DOS.
The first version of the Windows 9x series was Windows 95, which was succeeded by Windows 98 and then Windows Me, which was the third and last version of Windows in the series before it was superseded by Windows XP. It is predominantly known for its use in home desktops. In 1998, Windows made up 82% of operating system market share.
The internal release number for versions of Windows 9x is 4.x. The internal versions for Windows 95, 98, and Me are 4.0, 4.1, and 4.9, respectively. Previous MS-DOS-based versions of Windows used version numbers of 3.2 or lower. Windows NT, which was aimed at professional users such as networks and businesses, used a similar but separate version number between 3.1 and 4.0. All versions of Windows from Windows XP onwards are based on the Windows NT codebase.