Hello, everyone. In this Filler, most of you who use Virtual Machines by means of Virtualization and Emulation are probably going to run into Three Different Generations of Windows.
So I think its best to talk about them so you would know how to deal with them.
This Filler will cover most of the Vintage Windows Generations of PCs from Windows 3.1 to Windows 7
Queentintin
Posted: Sun May 18, 2025 6:46 pm
Windows 95
Windows 95 lasted from 1996 to 2001. During its time, included a new way of finding installed applications through a "Start" menu, and included the same networking abilities as Windows for Workgroups, the last Windows 3x Revision of Windows 3.11.
The ability to run 32-bit applications similar to Windows NT or Windows 3.1 with Win32s WinG. It still ran on top of DOS, but bundled its own special "Windows 95" DOS. However, it was overshadowed by Windows 98...
Windows 98
From 1999 to 2006, this was the Windows 9x that is well remembered and a favorite for those growing up in the Mid to Late 1990s. Besides its focus on web integration. The help system, many applications, and even the desktop are redesigned to make use of Internet Explorer. Windows 98 became a Cultural Icon for Reality and Fiction. Even in the Disney Movie, "Digimon the Movie" used this Operating System that was included inside Izzy's Laptop Computer during Act 2 "Our War Game". The problem is that bext Operating System would mark the end of the Windows 9x on a whimper as it was rushed out unfinished.
Windows ME
From 2000 to 2003, Windows ME was the last of the Windows 9x Generation of Computers. It did have a number of stability problems such as installing it on a new computer including freezes and lockups. Most Vendors stuck with Windows 98 due to it being buggy and unstable. Therefore, Windows ME did not last very long as it was released in a Premature Unfinished State.
Windows ME did bring something new to the Windows Computers being Windows Movie Maker, Internet Games, System Restore, Explorer Web View, Personalized Menus, and new common dialogs.
In 2023, a fanmade project called Windows ME Second Edition was worked on using the Windows XP to recreate Windows Me experience with features from Windows Me and Windows 2000 to Windows XP using the Windows NT Generation of Computers. As a result, most if not all of ME's problems were corrected.
From 2000 to 2010, Windows 2000 was the first of the long Running Windows NT Generation of Computers in the Modern PC Era to Information PC Era. It had 4 Versions being Professional, Server, Advanced Server & Datacenter Server.
Some people who used Windows 2000 was a good alternative to Windows ME as Windows 2000 was more stable than Windows ME.
It included new Accessibility Options, increased language and locale support, NTFS 3.0, the Encrypting File System and Active Directory.
Windows 2000 was first planned to replace both Windows 98 and Windows NT 4.0 but both Frameworks did not merge until 2001 which lead to the next Windows OS...
Some of its notible games that work on that PC for its time was 3D Ultra Pinball Thrillride, the EA Sports 2003 Online Series of Games & Cross Country USA 2 just to name a few examples.
Windows XP
This is my favorite Windows Retro Operating System which lasted and stayed the longest from 2001 to 2014 and it was a favorite among those who used it. As it contained increased performance and stability, a more intuitive user interface, improved hardware support, and expanded multimedia capabilities. It was also the first consumer edition of Windows not based on the Windows 95 kernel or MS-DOS. However, despite this, it was also the last of the Windows Computers to use an x86 Processor CPUs as Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10 and later versions would use x64 Processor CPUs.
Windows Vista
Even though Windows XP was a successful OS. Windows Vista from 2006 to 2014 did run into some bottlenecks performance issues and compatibility problems with older software. However, it also introduced the Windows Aero UI that would be later be seen in Windows 7. This was also the First Windows NT Operating System to enter the x64 Processor Era proper even though Windows XP also had a x64 Processor Edition.
Windows Aero is the UI the design language of Windows Vista and Windows 7. It was also the first release of Windows to be made available through a digital distribution platform.
Windows 7
The Third Longest Running Windows NT Operating System was Windows 7 from 2009 to 2023. It was built using the Windows Vista Format as it was not only ironed out the problems with Windows Vista but lasted for 14 years over taking Windows XP's 13 year run.
Following Windows 7 is where Windows went into the Touchscreen type of PCs starting with Windows 8...
Posted: Mon May 19, 2025 4:34 am
Windows 3x (Versions 3.1 & 3.11)
Windows 3.1 or 3.11 became a mainstay of what would lead to Future Generations of Windows from 1992 to 2001 as it laid the Foundation of Windows 9x Computers such as Windows 95 and Windows 98.
Its common Sound System that its 2GB Hard Drives can handle was the Sound Blaster 16 during its time. As far as 16-Bit Applications were concerned, the Deluxe Editions of the Super Seeker Game Series being the Version 1.1 Releases of Treasure Mountain, Treasure Math Storm, Treasure Cove and Treasure Galaxy worked well. Their Version 2.0 releases however, were new to Windows 9x PCs as they were updated versions meant for the Windows 9x Generation PCs.
Windows NT 3x Versions (3.1, 3.5 & 3.51) From 1995 to 2001, the Windows NT 3x Series from Versions 3.1 to 3.51 was Microsoft's entry into the Windows NT Generation but not known by a lot of people at while looked like the Windows 3x Generation, it was the first entry unto 32-Bit Operating Systems. However, it was overshadowed by Windows NT 4.
Windows NT 4x or Windows NT 4.0
Succeeding the Windows NT 3x Series of PCs, Windows NT 4.0 being the only Windows NT 4x PC lasted from 1996 to 2006. While it lasted for 10 Years. The Processor Speed was improved by moving components into the kernel. This set the foundation of later Windows NT Generation PCs that followed such as Windows 2000 and later. However, like Windows 3x, Windows NT 4x also was limited to 2GB and installing some common games like 3D Ultra Pinball Outpost was not that simple due to the Shared Drive Modes for some reason.
Bonus: MS-DOS MS-DOS is how it all began that lasted from 1981-1997. A year after MS-DOS was released in 1981, Microsoft began licensing DOS to other OEMs that ported it to their custom x86 hardware and IBM PC clones.
*Outro* Anyway, that's all I got to say about the 3 Generations of Windows PCs when you're plan to make a Virtual Machine or Retro PC. So stick around for more stories waiting to be told in the Mermaid Princess RP Guild.
When Windows 95 came out, it became a likely common thing that Ultimate DOOM still ran on that platform to demonstrate its capabilities. It was during a time where Display & Graphics Rendering was transiting from Software to Hardware such as Early 3D Acceleration along with the concept of CD-ROM Drives being completely new as most small companies that would soon become Triple-A Companies & likely abandoned DOS Platform PCs over the next few years.
This caused a revolution where Home PCs went from being a competitor platform to a time where most computers would be in every household for the most part as 1996, 1997 and sometimes 1998 would be the last years of DOS Computers where all future PC Products would be aimed at the Windows PC Platform.
By the Turn of the New Millennium, you can see how much progress that the PC went through such as from ZZT to the Unreal Engine as an example and that Game Engines has evolved past gaming where creation tools are also used in automobile, architecture, movies, entertainment and television industry, just to name a few examples where the creation tool engines have advanced to nowadays.
There are 2 other Windows Versions that are worth mentioning being the Windows 1x & 2x
=Honorable Mentions= Windows 1x
Windows 1x Microsoft's attempt at a graphical multitasking operating environment for the IBM PC and is the one Windows Operating System that started it all lasting from 1985 to 2001. It co-operative multitasking, tiled windows, ability to launch and integrate with DOS programs, runs on top of existing DOS
Windows 2x
Windows 2x came out 2 years after Windows 1x in 1987 and lasted until 2001. Windows 2 adds overlapping windows, menu keyboard shortcuts, VGA support, and other user interface changes influenced by IBM standards.
After a fallout between Microsoft and IBM, development refocused on Windows 3.0 and what would become Windows NT.
Windows 3.0
From 1990 to 2001, Windows 3.0 Windows 3.x was the first to gain significant development and commercial traction. It replaced the MSDOS Executive with a Program Manager and File Manager. This also laid down the ground work for what would lead to Microsoft Office and Windows 9x, starting with Windows 95.
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