Dinosaur Sightings: Windows splash screens from 1.01 to 7

Ever since the dawn of the Windows operating system, Microsoft has used Splash Screens as a means of distracting us while the operating system is loading. In addition to their entertainment value, the Windows splash screens typically provide us with some sort of feedback on the progress of the sometimes lengthy startup process.

In this gallery, you’ll be able to browse through all the splash screens from Windows 1.01 to Windows 7.

This gallery was originally published in June 2010.

Microsoft released Windows 1.01 on November 20, 1985

Microsoft released Windows 2.03 on November 1, 1987

Microsoft released Windows 3.0 on May 22, 1990

Microsoft released Windows 3.1 on March 18, 1992

Microsoft released Windows For Workgroups 3.11 on November 1, 1993

Microsoft released Windows NT 3.1 on July 27, 1993

Microsoft released Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server on July 27, 1993

Microsoft released Windows NT Workstation 3.5 on September 21, 1994

Microsoft released Windows NT Server 3.5 on September 21, 1994

Microsoft released Windows NT Workstation 3.51 on May 30, 1995

Microsoft released Windows NT Server 3.51 on May 30, 1995

Microsoft released Windows 95 on August 24, 1995

Microsoft released Windows NT Workstation 4.0 on August 24, 1996

Microsoft released Windows NT Server 4.0 on August 24, 1996

Microsoft released Windows 98 on June 25, 1998

Microsoft released Windows 98 SE on May 5, 1999

Microsoft released Windows 2000 Professional on February 17, 2000

Microsoft released Windows 2000 Server on February 17, 2000

Microsoft released Windows ME on September 14, 2000

Microsoft released Windows XP Home on October 25, 2001

Microsoft released Windows XP Professional on October 25, 2001

Microsoft released Windows XP 64-Bit Edition on October 25, 2001

Microsoft released Windows Server 2003 on April 24, 2003

Microsoft released Windows XP SP2 on August 6, 2004

…and here, we have the glowing Windows orb.

A glowing Windows flag.