Windows

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Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems created by Microsoft. The first version was released on November 20, 1985. Currently, Windows 10 is one of the most popular operating systems around the world.

Because of its heavy usage around the world, and since pretty much everyone knows how to use it, Windows is a popular choice for use with hosting a VM on CollabVM.

Versions

Keep in mind that this list is sorted chronologically and not by codebase as you would expect. You can fix that by clicking the sort button on the "Codebase" column.





List of Windows versions
Version Type GA [1] End of support Codebase Architectures Codename Notes
Windows 1.01 Consumer 11/20/1985 12/31/2001 1.x/2.x 16-bit Interface Manager The very first Windows release. Longest supported version of Windows at 16 years.
Windows 1.02 Consumer 05/14/1986 12/31/2001 1.x/2.x 16-bit None Adds international keyboards
Windows 1.03 Consumer 08/21/1986 12/31/2001 1.x/2.x 16-bit None Updates some programs
Windows 1.04 Consumer 04/10/1987 12/31/2001 1.x/2.x 16-bit None Minor changes and bug fixes. First version to support VGA and PS/2 Mouse. Template:Shititation needed
Windows 2.03 Consumer 12/09/1987 12/31/2001 1.x/2.x 16-bit None First version to have tiled windows. Last version to run off a floppy.
Windows 2.1 Consumer 05/27/1988 12/31/2001 1.x/2.x 16-bit None Designed to take advantage of Intel HMA
Windows 2.11 Consumer 03/13/1989 12/31/2001 1.x/2.x 16-bit None First version to add support for AppleTalk, as well as some minor changes to memory management and updates to the printing stack.
Windows 3.0 Consumer 05/22/1990 12/31/2001 3.x 16-bit None First widely-used version of Windows, sound support could be added thru the MME upgrade.
Windows 3.1 Consumer 04/06/1992 12/31/2001 3.x 16-bit Janus First version to be distributed on CD-ROM (Template:Shititation needed), sound support was included in this release.
Windows NT 3.1 Business 07/27/1993 12/31/2000 NT x86, Alpha, MIPS Razzle First version of Windows NT.
Windows Cairo Business Unreleased Unreleased NT x86 Cairo Unreleased version of Windows with a early Windows NT 4.0 Explorer.
Windows 3.11 Consumer 11/08/1993 12/31/2001 3.x 16-bit None No comment.
Windows 3.2 Consumer (China) 11/22/1993 12/31/2001 3.x 16-bit None Only in Simplified Chinese. Final version of Windows to be 16-bit.
Windows NT 3.5 Business 09/21/1994 12/31/2001 NT x86, Alpha, MIPS, PowerPC Daytona Another version of Windows with a early Windows NT 4.0 Explorer. This time you get it with the NewShell update.
Windows NT 3.51 Business 05/30/1995 12/31/2001 NT x86, Alpha, MIPS, PowerPC Daytona Final version of Windows to include a 3.1-style GUI.
Windows 95 Consumer 08/24/1995 12/31/2001 9x 16-bit/x86 Chicago First version to include the taskbar, start menu, and Explorer.
Windows 96 Consumer Unreleased Unreleased 9x 16-bit/x86 Nashville This is the unreleased version of Windows that first introduced IE Shell integration.
Windows NT 4.0 Business 08/24/1996 06/30/2004 NT x86, Alpha, MIPS, PowerPC Shell Update Release Final version of Windows to support MIPS, PowerPC, and Alpha. MIPS and PowerPC were dropped early on.
Windows CE 1.0 Embedded 11/16/1996 12/31/2001 CE x86, ARM, MIPS, SuperH Pegasus, Alder Possibly the first Windows Phone entry. It's a portable PC and it also powered the Sega Dreamcast.
Windows CE 2.0 Embedded 09/29/1997 09/30/2005 CE x86, ARM, MIPS, SuperH Jupiter, Birch Another Windows Phone release, but it has a Windows 98 style UI.
Windows 98 Consumer 06/25/1998 07/11/2006 9x x86 Memphis First version of Windows to include Disk Cleanup, Windows Update, multi-monitor support, and the infamous IE shell.
Windows 98 SE Consumer 05/05/1999 07/11/2006 9x x86 None Slightly improved version of Windows 98 that isn't as bad. Still has the IE shell though.
Windows 2000 Business 02/17/2000 07/13/2010 NT x86 Windows NT 5.0 Support for the Alpha architecture was dropped right before release. Final version to support the 486.
Windows Neptune Consumer Unreleased Unreleased NT x86 Neptune First version to include the logon screen.
Windows Odyssey Business Unreleased Unreleased NT x86 (presumably) Odyssey Windows Neptune for businesses.
Pocket PC 2000 Mobile 04/19/2000 09/10/2007 CE ARM Rapier No comment.
Windows CE 3.0 Embedded 06/15/2000 10/09/2007 CE x86, ARM, MIPS, SuperH Cedar Yet another Phone release.
Windows ME Consumer 09/14/2000 07/11/2006 9x x86 Millennium Final version to be based around MS-DOS. Introduced Windows Movie Maker.
Pocket PC 2002 Mobile 10/04/2001 10/14/2008 CE ARM Merlin Pocket PC 2000 with a different UI.
Windows XP Consumer 10/25/2001 04/08/2014 NT x86, amd64, Itanium Whistler First commercial version to not be based around MS-DOS. First version to include ClearType and fast-user switching. Technically the longest supported version of Windows if POSReady 2009 is counted.
Windows CE 4.0 Embedded 01/07/2002 07/10/2012 CE x86, ARM, MIPS, SuperH Talisker Windows CE 3.0 but with a Windows XP style UI.
Windows XP MCE Consumer 10/29/2002 04/08/2014 NT x86 Freestyle No comment.
Windows Server 2003 Business 04/24/2003 07/14/2015 NT x86, amd64, Itanium Whistler Server No comment.
Windows Mobile 2003 Mobile 06/23/2003 07/08/2014 CE ARM Ozone No comment.
Windows Mobile 2003 R2 Mobile 03/24/2004 07/08/2014 CE ARM None No comment.
Windows CE 5.0 Embedded 07/09/2004 10/14/2014 CE x86, ARM, MIPS, SuperH Macallan No comment.
Windows Mobile 5.0 Mobile 05/09/2005 10/13/2015 CE ARM Magneto No comment.
Windows Server 2003 R2 Business 12/06/2005 07/14/2015 NT x86, amd64, Itanium None No comment.
Windows FLP Business 07/08/2006 04/08/2014 NT x86 Eiger No comment.
Windows CE 6.0 Embedded 11/01/2006 04/10/2018 CE x86, ARM, MIPS, SuperH Yamazaki No comment.
Windows Vista Consumer 01/30/2007 04/11/2017 NT x86, amd64 Longhorn First version to include "Aero", Flip 3D, and many other tools.
Windows Mobile 6.0 Mobile 02/12/2007 01/08/2013 CE ARM Crossbow No comment.
Windows Server 2008 Business 02/27/2008 01/14/2020 -- 01/10/2023 (paid updates) NT x86, amd64, Itanium Longhorn Server Final version of Windows Server to support x86. Final version to support the classic Start Menu.
Windows Mobile 6.1 Mobile 04/01/2008 01/08/2013 CE ARM None No comment.
Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 Embedded 12/09/2008 04/09/2019 NT x86 None XP-based Embedded OS released in late 2008. Notable for outlasting XP's EOL by nearly 4 years.
Windows Mobile 6.5 Mobile 05/11/2009 01/08/2013 CE ARM None No comment.
Windows 7 Consumer 10/22/2009 01/14/2020 -- 01/10/2023 (paid updates) NT x86, amd64 Windows 7 First version to include the "Superbar", Task Progress, and Direct3D 11. Final version to support the classic theme.
Windows Server 2008 R2 Business 10/22/2009 01/14/2020 -- 01/10/2023 (paid updates) NT x86, amd64, Itanium Server 7 Final version of Windows to support the Itanium processor.
Windows Phone 7 Mobile 10/21/2010 10/14/2014 CE ARM None No comment.
Windows EC 7 Embedded 03/01/2011 04/13/2021 CE x86, ARM, MIPS Chelan No comment.
Windows Phone 7.5 Mobile 09/27/2011 10/14/2014 CE ARM Mango No comment.
Windows Server 2012 Business 09/04/2012 10/10/2023 -- 10/13/2026 (paid updates) NT amd64 Server 8 First version of Windows Server without the classic theme.
Windows 8 Consumer 10/26/2012 01/12/2016 NT x86, amd64 Windows 8 First and only version since Windows 95 to not have a start button. First version to have the Windows Store.
Windows RT 8 Consumer 10/26/2012 01/12/2016 NT ARM Blue No comment.
Windows Phone 7.8 Mobile 10/29/2012 10/14/2014 CE ARM None No comment.
Windows Phone 8 Mobile 10/29/2012 07/08/2014 NT ARM None No comment.
Windows EC 2013 Embedded 06/13/2013 10/10/2023 CE x86, ARM, MIPS None No comment.
Windows 8.1 Consumer 10/17/2013 01/10/2023 NT x86, amd64 Blue Final version to support "Games Explorer". Last version to have no start menu, Syskey, and "3D Builder".
Windows RT 8.1 Consumer 10/17/2013 01/10/2023 NT ARM Blue Later versions have a Start Menu added to it.
Windows Server 2012 R2 Business 10/17/2013 10/10/2023 -- 10/13/2026 (paid updates) NT amd64 Server 2012 R2 No comment.
Windows Phone 8.1 Mobile 08/04/2014 07/11/2017 NT ARM None No comment.
Windows 10 Consumer 07/29/2015 10/14/2025 NT x86, amd64, ARM Threshold First version to include DirectX 12, a full-screen command prompt, and Cortana. Final version of Windows that supports x86.
Windows 10 IoT Core Embedded 07/29/2015 01/09/2029 (LTSC) CE x86, x64, ARM Athens No comment.
Windows 10 Mobile Mobile 03/17/2016 01/14/2020 NT x86, amd64, ARM None Final version of Windows Mobile.
Windows Server 2016 Business 10/12/2016 01/12/2027 NT amd64 Server 2016 No comment.
Windows Server 2019 Business 11/13/2018 01/09/2029 NT amd64 Server 2019 Final version of Windows to not require TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. Final version to include Internet Explorer.
Windows 10X Consumer Unreleased Unreleased NT x86, amd64 Santorini Cancelled, but many features were transfered to Windows 11.
Windows Server 2022 Business 09/27/2021 10/14/2031 NT amd64 Server 2022 Final version of Windows to not require UEFI.
Windows 11 21H2 Consumer 10/05/2021 10/10/2023 NT amd64, ARM Sun Valley Removes many taskbar customization features, removes 3D Viewer, Cortana, Internet Explorer, Paint 3D, and Skype.
Windows 11 22H2 Consumer 09/20/2022 10/08/2024 NT amd64, ARM Sun Valley 2 Feature update to Windows 11
Windows 11 23H2 Consumer 10/31/2023 11/11/2025 NT amd64, ARM Sun Valley 3 Feature update to Windows 11
Windows 11 24H2 Consumer TBA In Development NT amd64, ARM Hudson Valley Currently in development stage.
Windows Server 2025 Business TBA In Development NT amd64 Server 2025 First version to use Windows 11 shell.
  1. ↑ GA stands for "General Availability." That is the day when you can buy the operating system by itself without needing to buy a new computer.
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