So, you think you're the ultimate Microsoft/Windows fan, huh? Well, it's time to dust off the ol' memory bank and really test your knowledge! Only the most astute Microsoft/Windows enthusiast will stand a chance to defeat this quiz, but I know there are plenty of you out there! And who knows? You may even learn a thing or three.

The questions are in no particular order of difficulty or importance. They are probably the most random set of Microsoft questions you've ever seen and you'll either know them or you won't! Either way, don't cheapen it and sell yourself short by looking up any answers you don't know. While I understand the bitter taste of defeat, it's important to note that if you look up *any* of the answers just to get them right for the sake of the quiz, you not only automatically fail the quiz, but you also fail Bill Gates and accept Steve Jobs as your personal savior. That is all. ;)

Instructions: Write down your answers and then check the answer page to see how well you did. If you dare voting, you'll immediately see how your answer compares to others taking the test. Give us some feedback and suggestions on the new format. Good luck, you'll need it.

And now, the impossible Microsoft/Windows fan quiz!:

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Congratulations for getting this far. Now go on to the answer page and see how well you did.

Answers

1. What was the code name of Windows 95? The correct answer is: C. Chicago

2. What year was Microsoft established and in which city and state? The correct answer is: D. Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1975

3. What is the name of the book written in 1994 by G. Pascal Zachary, who was given unprecedented access behind closed doors to chronicle the development of Windows NT? The correct answer is: A. Show-Stopper

4. What is the code name for Windows 8? The correct answer is: A. Windows 8. If you like Microsoft code names, check out Mary Jo Foley's CodeTracker - updated monthly.

5. In the 3D text screen saver in Windows NT, what words can you type to find an easter egg? The correct answer is: You got this one right! A, B, C, D, and E are all correct choices. "Volcano" reveals the names of the Windows NT development team. "Not evil" gives different names of the Windows NT team. "I Love NT" reveals the names of the Windows NT programmers. "Rock" displays a list of rock bands. And "Beer" reveals a list of beverages.

6. Bits from Neptune and Odyssey came together to eventually form which RTM OS? The correct answer is: C. Windows XP

7. What year did Microsoft invest $150 million in Apple? The correct answer is: C. 1997. Apple received a needed cash infusion while Microsoft paid Apple to put Internet Explorer as the default browser on Mac OS and gained an ally against it's biggest threat - Java. You can watch it on YouTube.

8. What is the name of the file that contains Windows's installation files in Vista and Windows 7? The correct answer is: C. Install.wim

9. How many times has Bill Gates been hit in the face with a pie (in public)? The correct answer is: B. 1

10. Name the musician who composed the Windows 95 start-up sound. The correct answer is: B. Brian Eno

11. What was the code name for the planned successor of Windows Longhorn? The correct answer is: E. Blackcomb. Longhorn was the code name for the software that became Windows Vista while Blackcomb's code name was changed to Vienna before it became Windows 7. They were named after ski resorts.

12. Mary Jo Foley got into hot water after she quoted a Microsoft memo which said Windows 2000 shipped with how many defects? The correct answer is: E. 63,000. Here's the original article.

13. Which version of Windows did Bill Gates receive a BSOD during a major public demo? The correct answer is: C. Windows 98. Here's a YouTube video of the demo at Comdex in 1998.

14. What is the name of the blogger who was hired to evangelize Windows Longhorn? The correct answer is: D. Robert Scoble

15. What was the actual version number of the first retail release of Windows? The correct answer is: D. 1.01

16. I say "Omega 13," you say... The correct answer is: C. Longhorn reboot

17. One leaked build of Whistler contained a theme that no other build contained. Which build was it, and what's the name of the theme? The correct answer is: C. 2410, Chartreuse Mongoose

18. Who at Microsoft is referred to by many as "the father of the NT kernel?" The correct answer is: A. David Cutler

19. "Developers, developers, developers." Steve Ballmer forever immortalized these words, but at which conference did he say, "Web developers, Web developers, Web developers?" The correct answer is: C. MIX 08

20. Which Windows system file did this image come from? The correct answer is: A. banimres.sys

Correct answers:

20 - You're naming (or you've named) your first child Whistler. 16-19 - You're a resident of Redmond. 11-16 - You're an RTM junkie, but try installing some betas! 6-10 - Your first Windows OS was Vista. 1-5 We suggest you ask Microsoft Bob. 0 - You're in big trouble. There was even a free question.

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