It was Forty years ago (now that makes me feel. Old) that Microsoft launched Windows 1.0. This was a graphical shell that was layered over MS-DOS. Whilst it was clunky, slow, and barely usable – it created the framework and vision for what would become the Windows that has powered work and creativity for decades. 40 Years ago, was the time Back To The Future was in our Cinemas – just to put that time into perspective.
Today, Windows powers billions of devices across the globe. As it has evolved over the decades it has become more than just an operating system it has marked a place in history. From iconic cursors and start up chimes, the start menu, voice assistants and now the shift from menu and mouse driven interactions to voice and AI-driven agents. Windows has evolved through eras of innovation, fan fair releases, a few missteps, re-invention and innovation.
At Ignite this week, Microsoft has also unveiled its vision for an “agentic OS” in Windows 11 25H2 (with very mixed views) but today, here’s a look back at the milestone releases that truly changed computing. Here I dive into the history milestones as we celebrate Windows at 40!
The GUI Awakens (1985–1992)
Windows 1.0, released in 1985 – introduced the business world to the graphical user interface. Windows gave us windows, icons, mouse and pointers (the WIMP environment). It was a radical shift from command-line computing and MS-DOS, although initially Windows was essentially a shell that still run in Microsoft Disk Operating System (MSDOS).
Windows has updates over the years with Windows 2.0, 3.0 and then 3.1 and 3.11 (Windows for Workgroups). This brought mass adoption and became the stable at work. We had network printers, Program Manager, Task Manager, File Manager, and the introduction of TrueType fonts which made Windows the OS for business and publishing.
The Desktop Revolution (1995–2000)
In 1995, Microsoft released, arguably the biggest innovation to the Windows OS ever, which still is deep rooted in the Windows we know and use today. Windows 95 brought 16-bit computing, much loved Start menu, taskbar, and revolutionary hardware plug-and-play support which completely defined the modern desktop environment we know today. A year later, Microsoft Internet Explorer was released which wiped the floor with all other Internet Browers at the time and quickly wiped Netscape from existence.
We also saw the launch of the “Microsoft Network” or MSN and saw IM tools like Instant Messenger and the early modern browsers powered by those dial-up modems we all loved and hated!
Oh…and we can’t forget the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSoD)!
Security and Stability As Standard
In 2000, we saw Windows 2000 – an enterprise-grade, secure Operating System built on their Windows NT 3.51 and 4 Server Operating System. This was built on the NT (New Technology) secure kernel (rather than the underlaying MSDOS) and became the backbone for future releases of Windows.
Stability and Dominance (2001–2009)
In 2001 (with major updates in 2002), we saw the release of Windows XP which will always be remembered for the “teletubby wallpaper”.
Windows XP unified the consumer and business experience. It was loved for its more friendly interface, rich graphics, powered in-box apps. It was also the first version of Windows that actively supported (or tried) to support pen, ink and touch. Whilst this was probably ahead of its time, we saw a new range of touch tablets (this is pre-iPad days) with Windows XP Tablet Edition. – Check out my blog of the RM Windows XP Tablet.
Windows XP powered homes, cash point machines, hospitals, and offices for over a decade.
In 2009, Microsoft gave us Windows 7. Arguably this was the most “loved” Windows Operating System ever – according to multiple sources. It was a sleeker version of Windows XP but also very familiar, meaning adoption rocketed.
Windows 7, restored user trust after Windows Vista (a poor and rushed attempt at refreshing Windows XP which). Windows 7 was fast, stable, and became dominant in commercial, public sector and enterprise IT.
Twenty four years later – it’s still not uncommon to see the odd device, information screen etc pop up still running this OS !
The Service Update Era (2012–2015)
In 2012, along with Microsoft’s first attempt launch of Tablet and touch computing (again maybe too early), we got Windows 8 -and then Windows 8.1. This was mainly a flop with the world not being ready for such a major shift to the UI, with a bold, touch-first redesign which mirrored that of the Windows Mobile.
Microsoft (to the hate of users), removed the Start menu (which they did bring back in Windows 8.1) and introduced their Metro UI which features innovative “live tiles” and the also introduced to the app store. There was also an ARM based version of Windows 8 to run on Surface RT devices – Microsoft’s again (too early) attempt of Windows on ARM – which today is what powers many Copilot Plus PCs and many of the world’s smart phones.
Then in 2015, we got Windows 10. This was the first version of Windows that essentially didn’t have versions as Microsoft shifted to “Windows as a Service.” This gave us continuous updates, cross-device integration and an OS that supported a blend of traditional Windows 7 style and aspects of the Metro / Live Tile interface of Windows 8.
The AI Frontier (2021–2025)
As we existing Covid-19, Microsoft unveiled Windows 11. This was built on the reliability and stability of Windows 10, but brought a fluent design, centred taskbar, and (later) Microsoft Copilot AI integration. A modern aesthetic with AI at its core.
This autumn, Microsoft released Windows 11 25H2 which marks the 40th anniversary of Windows. At Ignite in November (this month at time of writing), Microsoft unveiled their vision for an agentic OS – the next evolution of Windows, where AI agents orchestrate tasks across apps and devices. This could be a bold leap into ambient computing – but again there are many that would rather Microsoft left Windows alone and left the AI stuff to optional apps.
Final Thought
Windows has always been a mirror of its time — from GUI to cloud, from mouse to touch, and now from manual to agentic.
As we celebrate 40 years, we’re not just looking back. We’re standing at the edge of a new paradigm. The next chapter isn’t about what Windows does its about infusing AI into our workflow and apps.
With the change in how people use and access their devices and role of AI in our lives, the question is – what will Windows look like at 50!