Microsoft Windows {{pp-semi|small=yes}} {{refimprove|date=November 2007}} {{Redirect|Windows}} {{Infobox OS 2 | name = Microsoft Windows | logo = [[Image:Windows logo.png|225px|Windows logo]] | screenshot = [[Image:Windows Vista Desktop.png|250px]] | caption = Screenshot of [[Windows Vista]] Ultimate (Build 6000). | developer = [[Microsoft Corporation]] | family = [[MS-DOS]]/[[Windows 9x|9x]]-based, [[Windows CE]], [[Windows NT]] | source_model = [[Closed source]] / [[Shared source]] | working_state = Publicly released | kernel_type = | license = [[Microsoft|MS]]-[[EULA]] | website = [http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/default.mspx microsoft.com/windows] }} '''Microsoft Windows''' is a series of [[software]] [[operating system]]s produced by [[Microsoft]]. Microsoft first introduced an operating environment named ''Windows'' in November 1985 as an add-on to [[MS-DOS]] in response to the growing interest in [[graphical user interface]]s (GUIs).{{cite web|url=http://inventors.about.com/od/mstartinventions/a/Windows.htm?rd=1|title=http://inventors.about.com/od/mstartinventions/a/Windows.htm?rd=1|accessdate=2007-04-22}} Microsoft Windows came to [[Market dominance|dominate]] the world's [[personal computer]] market, overtaking [[Mac OS]], which had been introduced previously. At the 2004 [[International Data Corporation|IDC]] Directions conference, it was stated that Windows had approximately 90% of the [[Client (computing)|client]] operating system market.[http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=8 Operating System Market Share] www.marketshare.hitslink.com The most recent client version of Windows is [[Windows Vista]]; the current [[Server (computing)|server]] version is [[Windows Server 2008]]. ==Versions== {{seealso|List of Microsoft Windows versions}} [[Image:Windows 1.0.jpg|thumb|top|left|200px|The box art of Windows 1.0; the first version that Microsoft released to the public.]] The term ''Windows'' collectively describes any or all of several generations of Microsoft (MS) operating system (OS) products. These products are generally categorized as follows: ===16-bit operating environments=== The early versions of Windows were often thought of as just graphical user interfaces, mostly because they ran on top of [[MS-DOS]] and used it for [[file system]] services.[http://news.soft32.com/windows-evolution_1629.html » Windows Evolution » Soft32.com News] However, even the earliest 16-bit Windows versions already assumed many typical operating system functions, notably, having their own [[executable file format]] and providing their own [[device driver]]s (timer, graphics, printer, mouse, keyboard and sound) for applications. Unlike [[MS-DOS]], Windows allowed users to execute multiple graphical applications at the same time, through [[computer multitasking|cooperative multitasking]]. Finally, Windows implemented an elaborate, segment-based, software virtual memory scheme, which allowed it to run applications larger than available memory: code segments and [[resource (Windows)|resource]]s were swapped in and thrown away when memory became scarce, and data segments moved in memory when a given application had relinquished processor control, typically waiting for user input.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} 16-bit Windows versions include [[Windows 1.0]] (1985), [[Windows 2.0]] (1987) and its close relatives, ''[[Windows 2.1x|Windows/286-Windows/386]]''. {| class="wikitable sortable" align="right" style="font-size: 85%; text-align: center;" |+ Windows OS market share |- | '''Source''' !Hitslink[http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=10&qpmr=15&qpdt=1&qpct=3&qptimeframe=M&qpsp=113 Net Applications OS versions market share for June 2008] !Awio[http://w3counter.com/globalstats.php?date=2008-06-30 W3Counter global web stats for June 2008] !XiTi[http://www.xitimonitor.com/en-us/internet-users-equipment/operating-systems-april-2008/index-1-2-7-129.html XiTiMonitor report, May 29, 2008] !OneStat[http://www.onestat.com/html/aboutus_pressbox58-microsoft-windows-vista-global-usage-share.html OneStat press release, April 1, 2008] |- | '''Date''' | ''June 2008'' | ''June 2008'' | ''Apr 2008'' | ''Mar 2008'' |- !All versions | 90.89%[http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=8 Net Applications OS market share] | - | 94.45% | 95.94% |- ![[Windows XP]] | 71.20% | 77.89% | 75.16% | 78.93% |- ![[Windows Vista]] | 16.14% | 8.06% | 15.81% | 13.24% |- ![[Windows 2000]] | 2.11% | 3.03% | 1.76% | 2.82% |- ![[Windows 98]] | 0.43% | 0.93% | 0.48% | 0.58% |- ![[Windows 2003]] | - | 0.74% | 0.49% | - |- ![[Windows NT]] | 0.69% | 0.05% | 0.05% | - |- ![[Windows ME]] | 0.25% | 0.35% | 0.20% | 0.31% |- ![[Windows CE]] | 0.06% | - | 0.02% | - |- ![[Windows 95]] | 0.01% | - | 0.01% | - |- !Windows other | - | - |0.47% | - |} ===Hybrid 16/32-bit operating environments=== [[Windows 2.1x|Windows/386]] introduced a 32-bit [[protected mode]] [[kernel (computer science)|kernel]] and [[virtual machine]] monitor. For the duration of a Windows session, it created one or more [[virtual 8086 mode|virtual 8086 environments]] and provided device virtualization for the video card, keyboard, mouse, timer and [[interrupt]] controller inside each of them. The user-visible consequence was that it became possible to preemptively multitask multiple MS-DOS environments in separate windows, although graphical MS-DOS applications required full screen mode. Also, Windows applications were multi-tasked cooperatively inside one such virtual 8086 environment. [[Windows 3.0]] (1990) and [[Windows 3.1x|Windows 3.1]] (1992) improved the design, mostly because of [[virtual memory]] and loadable virtual device drivers ([[VxD]]s) which allowed them to share arbitrary devices between multitasked DOS windows.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} Also, Windows applications could now run in protected mode (when Windows was running in Standard or 386 Enhanced Mode), which gave them access to several megabytes of memory and removed the obligation to participate in the software virtual memory scheme. They still ran inside the same address space, where the segmented memory provided a degree of protection, and multi-tasked cooperatively. For Windows 3.0, Microsoft also rewrote critical operations from [[C (programming language)|C]] into [[Assembly language|assembly]], making this release faster and less memory-hungry than its predecessors.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} ===Hybrid 16/32-bit operating systems=== With the introduction of the [[32-bit]] [[Windows 3.1x|Windows for Workgroups 3.11]], Windows was able to stop relying on DOS for file management.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} Leveraging this, [[Windows 95]] introduced [[Long filename|Long File Names]], reducing the [[8.3 filename]] DOS environment to the role of a [[boot loader]]. MS-DOS was now bundled with Windows; this notably made it (partially) aware of long file names when its utilities were run from within Windows. The most important novelty was the possibility of running 32-bit multi-threaded preemptively multitasked graphical programs. However, the necessity of keeping compatibility with 16-bit programs meant the GUI components were still 16-bit only and not fully reentrant, which resulted in reduced performance and stability. There were three releases of Windows 95 (the first in 1995, then subsequent bug-fix versions in 1996 and 1997, only released to OEMs, which added extra features such as [[File Allocation Table|FAT32]] and primitive USB support). Microsoft's next OS was [[Windows 98]]; there were two versions of this (the first in 1998 and the second, named "Windows 98 Second Edition", in 1999). In 2000, Microsoft released [[Windows Me]] (''Me'' standing for ''Millennium Edition''), which used the same core as Windows 98 but adopted some aspects of Windows 2000 and removed the option boot into DOS mode. It also added a new feature called System Restore, allowing the user to set the computer's settings back to an earlier date. ===32-bit operating systems=== The NT family of Windows systems was fashioned and marketed for higher reliability business use, and was unencumbered by any Microsoft DOS patrimony.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} The first release was [[Windows NT 3.1]] (1993, numbered "3.1" to match the Windows version and to one-up [[OS/2]] 2.1,{{fact|date=September 2007}} IBM's flagship OS co-developed by Microsoft and was Windows NT's main competitor at the time), which was followed by [[Windows NT 3.5|NT 3.5]] (1994), [[Windows NT 3.51|NT 3.51]] (1995), [[Windows NT 4.0|NT 4.0]] (1996), and [[Windows 2000]] (essentially NT 5.0). NT 4.0 was the first in this line to implement the "Windows 95" user interface (and the first to include Windows 95's built-in 32-bit runtimes). Microsoft then moved to combine their consumer and business operating systems. [[Windows XP]], coming in both home and professional versions (and later niche market versions for [[tablet PC]]s and [[media center]]s) improved stability, user experience and backwards compatibility. Then, [[Windows Server 2003]] brought [[Windows Server]] up to date with Windows XP. Since then, a new version, [[Windows Vista]] was released and [[Windows Server 2008]], released on [[February 27]], [[2008]], brings [[Windows Server]] up to date with [[Windows Vista]]. [[Windows CE]], Microsoft's offering in the mobile and embedded markets, is also a true 32-bit operating system that offers various services for all sub-operating workstations. ===64-bit operating systems=== [[Windows NT]] included support for several different platforms before the [[X86 architecture|x86]]-based [[personal computer]] became dominant in the professional world. Versions of NT from 3.1 to 4.0 variously supported [[PowerPC]], [[DEC Alpha]] and [[MIPS Technologies|MIPS]] R4000, some of which were 64-bit processors, although the operating system treated them as 32-bit processors. With the introduction of the [[Intel]] [[Itanium]] architecture, which is referred to as [[IA-64]], Microsoft released new versions of Windows to support it. Itanium versions of [[Windows XP]] and [[Windows Server 2003]] were released at the same time as their mainstream x86 (32-bit) counterparts. On [[April 25]] [[2005]], Microsoft released [[Windows XP Professional x64 Edition]] and x64 versions of Windows Server 2003 to support the [[x86-64|AMD64/Intel64]] (or ''x64'' in Microsoft terminology) architecture. Microsoft dropped support for the Itanium version of Windows XP in 2005. [[Windows Vista]] is the first end-user version of Windows that Microsoft has released simultaneously in 32-bit and x64 editions. Windows Vista does not support the Itanium architecture. The modern 64-bit Windows family comprises AMD64/Intel64 versions of [[Windows Vista]], and [[Windows Server 2003]] and [[Windows Server 2008]], in both Itanium and x64 editions. ==History== {{main|History of Microsoft Windows}} Microsoft has taken two parallel routes in its operating systems. One route has been for the home user and the other has been for the professional IT user. The dual routes have generally led to home versions having greater [[multimedia]] support and less functionality in networking and security, and professional versions having inferior multimedia support and better networking and security.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} The first version of Microsoft Windows, [[Windows 1.0|version 1.0]], released in November 1985, lacked a degree of functionality and achieved little popularity, and was to compete with Apple's own operating system.{{Fact|date=April 2007}} Windows 1.0 is not a complete operating system; rather, it extends MS-DOS. Microsoft Windows version 2.0 was released in November, 1987 and was slightly more popular than its predecessor. Windows 2.03 (release date January 1988) had changed the OS from tiled windows to overlapping windows. The result of this change led to Apple Computer filing a suit against Microsoft alleging infringement on Apple's copyrights.{{Citation | last = | first = The Apple vs. Microsoft GUI Lawsuit | author-link = | title = The Apple vs. Microsoft GUI Lawsuit | date = | year = 2006 | url = http://lowendmac.com/orchard/06/apple-vs-microsoft.htm | accessdate = 2008-03-12}}{{Citation | last = | first = APPLE COMPUTER, INC. v. MICROSOFT CORP., 35 F.3d 1435 (9th Cir. 1994) | author-link = | last2 = | first2 = | author2-link = | title = APPLE COMPUTER, INC. v. MICROSOFT CORP., 35 F.3d 1435 (9th Cir. 1994) | date = | year = | url = http://home.earthlink.net/~mjohnsen/Technology/Lawsuits/appvsms.html | accessdate = 2008-03-12}} [[Image:Windows 3.11 workspace.png|thumb|right|300px|A [[Windows for Workgroups 3.11]] desktop.]] Microsoft Windows version 3.0, released in 1990, was the first Microsoft Windows version to achieve broad commercial success, selling 2 million copies in the first six months.[http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/compsoft/soft1991.htm][http://www.thocp.net/companies/microsoft/microsoft_company.htm] It featured improvements to the user interface and to multitasking capabilities. It received a facelift in Windows 3.1, made generally available on [[March 1]], [[1992]]. Windows 3.1 support ended on [[December 31]], [[2001]].[http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=3078 Please Verify your Location] In July 1993, Microsoft released [[Windows NT]] based on a new kernel. NT was considered to be the professional OS and was the first Windows version to utilize [[preemptive multitasking]].{{Fact|date=April 2007}}. Windows NT would later be retooled to also function as a home operating system, with Windows XP. On August 24th 1995, Microsoft released [[Windows 95]], a new, and major, consumer version that made further changes to the user interface, and also used [[preemptive multitasking]]. Windows 95 was designed to replace not only Windows 3.1, but also Windows for Workgroups, and MS-DOS. It was also the first Windows operating system to use Plug and Play capabilities. The changes Windows 95 brought to the desktop were revolutionary, as opposed to evolutionary, such as those in Windows 98 and Windows Me. Mainstream support for [[Windows 95]] ended on [[December 31]], [[2000]] and extended support for [[Windows 95]] ended on [[December 31]], [[2001]].[http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=7864 Please Verify your Location] The next in the consumer line was Microsoft [[Windows 98]] released on June 25th, 1998. It was substantially criticized for its slowness and for its unreliability compared with [[Windows 95]], but many of its basic problems were later rectified with the release of [[Windows 98]] Second Edition in 1999.{{Fact|date=April 2007}} Mainstream support for [[Windows 98]] ended on [[June 30]], [[2002]] and extended support for [[Windows 98]] ended on [[July 11]], [[2006]].[http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=6513 Please Verify your Location] As part of its "professional" line, Microsoft released [[Windows 2000]] in February 2000. The consumer version following Windows 98 was [[Windows Me]] (Windows Millennium Edition). Released in September 2000, [[Windows Me]] implemented a number of new technologies for Microsoft: most notably publicized was "[[Universal Plug and Play]]." In October 2001, Microsoft released [[Windows XP]], a version built on the Windows NT [[Kernel (computer science)|kernel]] that also retained the consumer-oriented usability of Windows 95 and its successors. This new version was widely praised in computer magazines.[http://review.zdnet.com/4520-6033_16-4206367.html Your top Windows XP questions answered! (Part One)] It shipped in two distinct editions, "Home" and "Professional", the former lacking many of the superior security and networking features of the Professional edition. Additionally, the first "Media Center" edition was released in 2002,[http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/freestyle_preview.asp Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows: A Look at Freestyle and Mira] with an emphasis on support for DVD and TV functionality including program recording and a remote control. Mainstream support for [[Windows XP]] will continue until [[April 14]], [[2009]] and extended support will continue until [[April 8]], [[2014]].[http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=3223 Please Verify your Location] In April 2003, [[Windows Server 2003]] was introduced, replacing the [[Windows 2000]] line of server products with a number of new features and a strong focus on security; this was followed in December 2005 by Windows Server 2003 R2. On [[January 30]], [[2007]] Microsoft released [[Windows Vista]]. It contains a number of [[Features new to Windows Vista|new features]], from a redesigned shell and user interface to significant [[Technical features new to Windows Vista|technical changes]], with a particular focus on [[Security and safety features new to Windows Vista|security features]]. It is available in a number of [[Windows Vista editions and pricing|different editions]], and has been subject to [[Criticism of Windows Vista|some criticism]]. ==Timeline of releases== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align: left; " |- ! abbr="release" | Release date ! abbr="name" | Product name ! abbr="version" | Version ! Notes ! Last [[Internet Explorer|IE]] |- ! {{rh}} | November 1985 | [[Windows 1.0|Windows 1.01]] | 1.01 | Unsupported | - |- ! {{rh}} | November 1987 | [[Windows 2.0|Windows 2.03]] | 2.03 | Unsupported | - |- ! {{rh}} | March 1989 | [[Windows 2.1|Windows 2.11]] | 2.11 | Unsupported | - |- ! {{rh}} | May 1990 | [[Windows 3.0]] | 3.0 | Unsupported | - |- ! {{rh}} | March 1992 | [[Windows 3.1x]] | 3.1 | Unsupported | [[Internet Explorer 5|5]] |- ! {{rh}} | October 1992 | [[Windows 3.1|Windows For Workgroups 3.1]] | 3.1 | Unsupported | [[Internet Explorer 5|5]] |- ! {{rh}} | July 1993 | [[Windows NT 3.1]] | NT 3.1 | Unsupported | [[Internet Explorer 5|5]] |- ! {{rh}} | December 1993 | [[Windows 3.1|Windows For Workgroups 3.11]] | 3.11 | Unsupported | [[Internet Explorer 5|5]] |- ! {{rh}} | January 1994 | [[Windows 3.2]] (released in [[Simplified Chinese]] only) | 3.2 | Unsupported | [[Internet Explorer 5|5]] |- ! {{rh}} | September 1994 | [[Windows NT 3.5]] | NT 3.5 | Unsupported | [[Internet Explorer 5|5]] |- ! {{rh}} | May 1995 | [[Windows NT 3.51]] | NT 3.51 | Unsupported | [[Internet Explorer 5|5]] |- ! {{rh}} | August 1995 | [[Windows 95]] | 4.0.950 | Unsupported | [[Internet Explorer 5|5]] |- ! {{rh}} | July 1996 | [[Windows NT 4.0]] | NT 4.0.1381 | Unsupported | [[Internet Explorer 6|6]] |- ! {{rh}} | June 1998 | [[Windows 98]] | 4.10.1998 | Unsupported | [[Internet Explorer 6|6]] |- ! {{rh}} | May 1999 | [[Windows_98#Windows_98_Second_Edition|Windows 98 SE]] | 4.10.2222 | Unsupported | [[Internet Explorer 6|6]] |- ! {{rh}} | February 2000 | [[Windows 2000]] | NT 5.0.2195 | Extended Support until [[July 13]], [[2010]]{{cite web|url=http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=3071|title=Microsoft Support Lifecycle|date=[[May 4]] [[2005]]|accessdate=2007-03-25|publisher=Microsoft}} | [[Internet Explorer 6|6]] |- ! {{rh}} | September 2000 | [[Windows Me]] | 4.90.3000 | Unsupported | [[Internet Explorer 6|6]] |- ! {{rh}} | October 2001 | [[Windows XP]] | NT 5.1.2600 | Current for [[Service pack|SP]]2 and [[Service pack|SP]]3 ([[Software release life cycle#RTM or RTW|RTM]] and SP1 unsupported). | [[Internet Explorer 8|8]] |- ! {{rh}} | March 2003 | [[Windows XP 64-bit Edition]] 2003 | NT 5.2.3790 | Unsupported | [[Internet Explorer 6|6]] |- ! {{rh}} | April 2003 | [[Windows Server 2003]] | NT 5.2.3790 | Current for SP1, R2, SP2 (RTM unsupported). | [[Internet Explorer 8|8]] |- ! {{rh}} | April 2005 | [[Windows XP Professional x64 Edition]] | NT 5.2.3790 | Current | | [[Internet Explorer 8|8]] |- ! {{rh}} | July 2006 | [[Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs]] | NT 5.1.2600 | Current | - |- ! {{rh}} | November 2006 (volume licensing)
January 2007 (retail) | [[Windows Vista]] | NT 6.0.6000 | Current. Version Changed to NT 6.0.6001 with SP1 (February 4th 08) | [[Internet Explorer 8|8]] |- ! {{rh}} | July 2007 | [[Windows Home Server]] | NT 5.2.4500 | Current | 8 |- ! {{rh}} | February 2008 | [[Windows Server 2008]] | NT 6.0.6001 | Current || [[Internet Explorer 8|8]] |- ! {{rh}} | 2010 (planned) | [[Windows 7]] (codenamed Blackcomb, then Vienna) | NT 6.1.6574.1 (M1 beta release) | Future release |- |} ==Security== [[Image:Windows Security Center XP SP2.png|thumbnail|right|225px|The [[Windows Security Center]] was introduced with Windows XP Service Pack 2.]] [[Computer security|Security]] has been a hot topic with Windows for many years, and even Microsoft itself has been the victim of security breaches. Consumer versions of Windows were originally designed for ease-of-use on a single-user PC without a network connection, and did not have security features built in from the outset. [[Windows NT]] and its successors are designed for security (including on a network) and multi-user PCs, but are not designed with Internet security in mind as much since, when it was first developed in the early 1990s, Internet use was less prevalent. These design issues combined with flawed code (such as [[buffer overflow]]s) and the popularity of Windows means that it is a frequent target of [[computer worm|worm]] and [[computer virus|virus]] writers. In June 2005, [[Bruce Schneier]]'s ''Counterpane Internet Security'' reported that it had seen over 1,000 new viruses and worms in the previous six months.{{cite web |url=http://www.schneier.com/crypto-gram-0506.html |title=Crypto-Gram Newsletter |last=Schneier |first=Bruce |authorlink=Bruce Schneier |date=[[June 15]] [[2005]] |accessdate=2007-04-22 |publisher=[[BT Counterpane|Counterpane Internet Security, Inc.]] }} Microsoft releases security patches through its [[Windows Update]] service approximately once a month (usually the second Tuesday of the month), although critical updates are made available at shorter intervals when necessary.{{cite web |url=http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1825805,00.asp |title=Microsoft's Security Response Center: How Little Patches Are Made |author=Ryan Naraine |date=[[June 8]] [[2005]] |accessdate=2007-04-22 |publisher=[[eWeek]] }} In Windows 2000 (SP3 and later), Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, updates can be automatically downloaded and installed if the user selects to do so. As a result, Service Pack 2 for Windows XP, as well as Service Pack 1 for Windows Server 2003, were installed by users more quickly than it otherwise might have been.{{cite web |url=http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=50900297 |title=Windows XP SP2 Distribution Surpasses 100 Million |author=John Foley |date=[[October 20]] [[2004]] |accessdate=2007-04-22 |pubisher=[[InformationWeek]] }} ===Windows Defender=== [[Image:Windows Defender Vista.png|thumbnail|right|225px|[[Windows Defender]]]] On [[6 January]] [[2005]], Microsoft released a beta version of Microsoft AntiSpyware, based upon the previously released [[GIANT Company Software|Giant]] AntiSpyware. On [[14 February]], [[2006]], Microsoft AntiSpyware became [[Windows Defender]] with the release of beta 2. Windows Defender is a freeware program designed to protect against spyware and other unwanted software. [[Windows XP]] and [[Windows Server 2003]] users who have [[Windows Genuine Advantage|genuine]] copies of Microsoft Windows can freely download the program from Microsoft's web site, and Windows Defender ships as part of [[Windows Vista]].{{cite web|url=http://www.Microsoft.com/Windowsvista/features/foreveryone/security.mspx|title=Windows Vista: Features|accessdate=2006-07-20}} ===Third-party analysis=== In an article based on a report by Symantec,{{cite web|url= http://www.symantec.com/enterprise/theme.jsp?themeid=threatreport|title=Symantec 11th Internet Security Threat Report, Trends for July–December 06}} internetnews.com has described Microsoft Windows as having the "fewest number of patches and the shortest average patch development time of the five operating systems it monitored in the last six months of 2006."[http://www.internetnews.com/security/article.php/3667201 Report Says Windows Gets The Fastest Repairs] And the number of vulnerabilities found in Windows has significantly increased— Windows: 12+, Red Hat + Fedora: 2, Mac OS X: 1, HP-UX: 2, Solaris: 1. A study conducted by [[Kevin Mitnick]] and marketing communications firm Avantgarde in 2004 found that an unprotected and unpatched Windows XP system with Service Pack 1 lasted only 4 minutes on the Internet before it was compromised, and an unprotected and also unpatched [[Windows Server 2003]] system was compromised after being connected to the internet for 8 hours.[http://www.avantgarde.com/ttln113004.html Automated "Bots" Overtake PCs Without Firewalls Within 4 Minutes] www.avantgarde.com However, it is important to note that this study does not apply to Windows XP systems running the Service Pack 2 update (released in late 2004), which vastly improved the security of Windows XP. The computer that was running Windows XP Service Pack 2 was not compromised. The [[AOL]] National Cyber Security Alliance Online Safety Study of October 2004 determined that 80% of Windows users were infected by at least one [[spyware]]/[[adware]] product.[http://www.staysafeonline.info/pdf/safety_study_v04.pdf Safety Study] www.staysafeonline.info (PDF) Much documentation is available describing how to increase the security of Microsoft Windows products. Typical suggestions include deploying Microsoft Windows behind a hardware or software [[firewall]], running [[anti-virus]] and [[anti-spyware]] software, and installing patches as they become available through [[Windows Update]].{{Fact|date=April 2007}} ==Windows Lifecycle Policy== Microsoft has stopped releasing updates and hotfixes for many old Windows operating systems, including all versions of Windows 9x and earlier versions of Windows NT. Windows versions prior to [[Windows XP|XP]] are no longer supported, with the exception of [[Windows 2000]], which is currently in the Extended Support Period, that will end on [[July 13]], [[2010]]. Windows XP versions prior to SP2 are no longer supported either. Also, support for [[Windows XP 64-bit Edition]] ended after the release of the more recent [[Windows XP Professional x64 Edition]].{{Fact|date=April 2007}} No new updates are created for unsupported versions of Windows. ==Emulation software== Emulation allows the use of some Windows applications without using Microsoft Windows. These include: * [[Wine (software)|Wine]] - a [[free and open source software]] implementation of the [[Windows API]], allowing one to run many Windows applications on x86-based platforms, including [[Linux]]. Wine is technically not an emulator but a "compatibility layer";[http://www.winehq.org/ About Wine] while an emulator effectively 'pretends' to be a different CPU, Wine instead makes use of Windows-style APIs to 'simulate' the Windows environment directly. ** [[CrossOver]] - A Wine package with licensed fonts. Its developers are regular contributors to Wine, and focus on Wine running officially supported applications. ** [[Cedega]] - [[TransGaming Technologies]]' proprietary [[Fork (software development)|fork]] of Wine, designed specifically for running games written for Microsoft Windows under Linux. ** [[Darwine]] - This project intends to port and develop Wine as well as other supporting tools that will allow [[Darwin (operating system)|Darwin]] and [[Mac OS X]] users to run Microsoft Windows applications, and to provide [[Win32]] [[Application Programming Interface|API]] compatibility at application source code level. * [[ReactOS]] - An open-source OS that is intended to run the same software as Windows, originally designed to imitate Windows NT 4.0, now aiming at Windows XP compatibility. It has been in the [[development stage]] since 1996. ==See also== {{Portal|Microsoft}} '''General:''' *[[Comparison of operating systems]] *[[List of operating systems]] *[[Comparison of Windows versions]] *[[Comparison of Windows and Linux]] *[[Ammunition LLC#Microsoft Windows PCs|Microsoft computers made for Windows]] '''Further reading:''' *[[Architecture of the Windows NT operating system line]] *[[Criticism of Microsoft Windows]] *[[List of Microsoft Windows components]] *[[:Category:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows topics]] *[[VisiOn]] *[[Windows Explorer]] *[[Windows Genuine Advantage]] *[[Windows Media]] *[[Windows Startup Process]] ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==External links== {{Wikibooks|Basic Computing Using Windows}} *[http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/ Official Microsoft Windows Website] *[http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/WinHistoryIntro.mspx Microsoft Windows History Timeline] *[http://www.msdn.com Microsoft Developer Network for Microsoft Windows programming] {{History of Windows}} {{Microsoft}} {{Windows Components}} {{Operating System}} [[Category:Microsoft Windows| Microsoft Windows]] {{Link FA|tl}} [[af:Microsoft Windows]] [[ar:مايكروسوفت ويندوز]] [[an:Microsoft Windows]] [[ast:Microsoft Windows]] [[az:Microsoft Windows]] [[bn:মাইক্রোসফট উইন্ডোজ]] [[zh-min-nan:Microsoft Windows]] [[be:Windows]] [[bs:Microsoft Windows]] [[br:Windows]] [[bg:Microsoft Windows]] [[ca:Microsoft Windows]] [[ceb:Microsoft Windows]] [[cs:Microsoft Windows]] [[da:Microsoft Windows]] [[de:Microsoft Windows]] [[et:Microsoft Windows]] [[el:Microsoft Windows]] [[es:Microsoft Windows]] [[eo:Vindozo]] [[eu:Microsoft Windows]] [[fa:مایکروسافت ویندوز]] [[fo:Windows]] [[fr:Microsoft Windows]] [[fur:Microsoft Windows]] [[ga:Microsoft Windows]] [[gl:Windows]] [[ko:마이크로소프트 윈도]] [[hsb:Windows]] [[hr:Microsoft Windows]] [[ilo:Microsoft Windows]] [[id:Microsoft Windows]] [[ia:Microsoft Windows]] [[is:Microsoft Windows]] [[it:Microsoft Windows]] [[he:Microsoft Windows]] [[ka:ვინდოუსი]] [[ku:Microsoft Windows]] [[la:Microsoft Windows]] [[lv:Microsoft Windows]] [[lb:Microsoft Windows]] [[lt:Microsoft Windows]] [[li:Windows]] [[jbo:la canko]] [[hu:Microsoft Windows]] [[mk:Microsoft Windows]] [[ml:മൈക്രോസോഫ്റ്റ്‌ വിന്‍ഡോസ്‌]] [[mr:मायक्रोसॉफ्ट विंडोज]] [[ms:Microsoft Windows]] [[nl:Microsoft Windows]] [[ja:Microsoft Windows]] [[no:Microsoft Windows]] [[nn:Microsoft Windows]] [[oc:Windows]] [[uz:Microsoft Windows]] [[nds:Microsoft Windows]] [[pl:Microsoft Windows]] [[pt:Microsoft Windows]] [[kaa:Microsoft Windows]] [[ksh:Microsoft Windows]] [[ro:Microsoft Windows]] [[qu:Windows]] [[ru:Microsoft Windows]] [[sq:Microsoft Windows]] [[simple:Microsoft Windows]] [[sk:Microsoft Windows]] [[sl:Microsoft Windows]] [[sr:Мајкрософт виндоуз]] [[sh:Microsoft Windows]] [[fi:Microsoft Windows]] [[sv:Microsoft Windows]] [[tl:Microsoft Windows]] [[ta:மைக்ரோசாப்ட் வின்டோஸ்]] [[th:ไมโครซอฟท์ วินโดวส์]] [[vi:Microsoft Windows]] [[tr:Microsoft Windows]] [[uk:Microsoft Windows]] [[ur:MS Windows]] [[yi:ווינדאס]] [[zh-yue:Microsoft Windows]] [[diq:Microsoft Windows]] [[bat-smg:Microsoft Windows]] [[zh:Microsoft Windows]]