Microsoft Windows is a family of operating systems for personal computers. In this article we look at the history of Microsoft operating systems from 1985 to present day. The development of the Microsoft Windows operating system as we know it today began in 1981. Although its release was announced as early as 1983, it would not appear commercially until two years later.

Microsoft works on the first version of a new operating system. Interface Manager is the code name and is considered as the final name, but Windows prevails because it best describes the boxes or computing "Windows" that are fundamental to the new system. Windows is announced in 1983, but it takes a while to develop. Skeptics call it "vaporware."

In 1985, Microsoft Windows 1.0 was named due to the computing boxes, or "Windows" that represented a fundamental aspect of the operating system. Instead of typing MS-DOS commands, Windows 1.0 allowed users to point and click to access the Windows. In 1987 Microsoft released Windows 2.0, which was designed for the designed for the Intel 286 processor. This version added desktop icons, keyboard shortcuts and improved graphics support.

Microsoft released Windows 3.0 in May, 1990 offering better icons, performance and advanced graphics with 16 colors designed for Intel 386 processors. This version is the first release that provides the standard "look and feel" of Microsoft Windows for many years to come. Windows 3.0 included Program Manager, File Manager and Print Manager and games (Hearts, Minesweeper and Solitaire). Microsoft released Windows 3.1 in 1992.

At this time computers were not as advanced as in the current day, if consumers experience problems repairs could be costly and time consuming. Problems such as crashing memory and virus infections were common and people were left with little choice but to employ a computer repair engineer to conduct a repair on the computer.

Released just as interest in PCs was about to skyrocket due to the pending public release of the World Wide Web, 3.1 would be the first operating system that most people would browse the internet with. 3.1 was faster, had a drastically improved user interface and the ability to run more programs at once without crashing.

Meanwhile Microsoft continued to develop Windows NT. Microsoft hired Dave Cutler, one of the chief architects of VMS at Digital Equipment Corporation (later purchased by Compaq, now part of Hewlett-Packard) to develop NT into a more capable operating system. Cutler had been developing follow-on to VMS at DEC called Mica, and when DEC dropped the project he brought the expertise and some engineers with him to Microsoft. DEC also believed he brought Mica's code to Microsoft and sued. Microsoft eventually paid $150 million US and agreed to support DEC's Alpha CPU chip in NT.

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