Dinosaur Sightings: Windows splash screens from 1.01 to 7

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  • 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.

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • Microsoft released Windows 1.01 on November 20, 1985

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • Microsoft released Windows 2.03 on November 1, 1987

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • Microsoft released Windows 3.0 on May 22, 1990

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • Microsoft released Windows 3.1 on March 18, 1992

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • Microsoft released Windows For Workgroups 3.11 on November 1, 1993

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • Microsoft released Windows NT 3.1 on July 27, 1993

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

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

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • Microsoft released Windows NT Workstation 3.5 on September 21, 1994

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • Microsoft released Windows NT Server 3.5 on September 21, 1994

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • Microsoft released Windows NT Workstation 3.51 on May 30, 1995

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • Microsoft released Windows NT Server 3.51 on May 30, 1995

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • Microsoft released Windows 95 on August 24, 1995

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • Microsoft released Windows NT Workstation 4.0 on August 24, 1996

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • Microsoft released Windows NT Server 4.0 on August 24, 1996

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • Microsoft released Windows 98 on June 25, 1998

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • Microsoft released Windows 98 SE on May 5, 1999

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • Microsoft released Windows 2000 Professional on February 17, 2000

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • Microsoft released Windows 2000 Server on February 17, 2000

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • Microsoft released Windows ME on September 14, 2000

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • Microsoft released Windows XP Home on October 25, 2001

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • Microsoft released Windows XP Professional on October 25, 2001

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

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

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • Microsoft released Windows Server 2003 on April 24, 2003

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • Microsoft released Windows XP SP2 on August 6, 2004

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • Microsoft released Windows Vista on January 30, 2007

    Windows Vista’s splash screen actually has two parts to it, here we have the progress bar…

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • …and here, we have the glowing Windows orb.

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

  • A glowing Windows flag.

    Caption by: Greg Shultz

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Check out the splash screens that have graced various Windows operating systems!

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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.

Caption by: Greg Shultz

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Related Topics:

Microsoft Enterprise Software Windows Windows 10 Collaboration Cloud
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