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Gallery: Windows 95 - 15 years after

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    On the biggest day of his professional career, August 24, 1995, Bill Gates takes center stage to introduce the world to Windows 95. Remember, this launch was so big it helped make Gates the richest man in the world. Here's a look back at some of the features and headaches that made this product so memorable. Mary Jo Foley blogs her thoughts on Win 95's 15th anniversary and more Windows to come.

    Photo and screenshot credits: Microsoft

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459815.png

    Windows 95 splash screen. Here are some others from Windows 1.01 to Windows 7

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Welcome to Windows 95

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Setup wizard.

    According to Microsoft, here are the system requirements for installing Windows 95: (note that they're talking MB not GB.)

    * Personal computer with a 386DX or higher processor (486 recommended)
    * 4 megabytes (MB) of memory (8 MB recommended)
    * Typical hard disk space required to upgrade to Windows 95: 35-40 MB The actual requirement varies depending on the features you choose to install.
    * Typical hard disk space required to install Windows 95 on a clean system: 50-55 MB The actual requirement varies depending on the features you choose to install.
    * One 3.5-inch high-density floppy disk drive
    * VGA or higher resolution (256-color SVGA recommended)

    To use Microsoft Exchange and The Microsoft Network:

    * 8 MB of memory
    * 20 MB of additional hard disk space
    * Modem (required for using The Microsoft Network)

    Optional components:

    * Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device
    * Modem or fax/modem
    * Audio card and speakers for sound

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Setup options for Windows 95.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Start up your Windows menus.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459782.png

    A rare site in the '90s, an almost empty Windows 95 desktop.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459783.gif

    Windows, windows, windows.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459784.gif

    Task bar options.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Scary. Remember Bob? He was there to help with Windows 95. Here's his history in pictures.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459775.gif

    Registry editor.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459806.gif

    How the registry editor is set up.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459778.gif

    Remember Windows Explorer? You can probably still find it on Windows 7 but you couldn't live without it on Windows 95.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Remember this screen? One of the most important ones in Windows 95 for home users.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459867.png

    Internet Explorer 1 and its test screen. This browser first appeared just a month before the launch of Windows 95 in 1995.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459808.gif

    Internet Explorer 1.0

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459786.gif

    Windows 95 accessibility

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459789.gif

    Win 95 diagnostics - a horror page

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459790.gif

    Finding your way through Windows 95.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459788.gif

    Set your clock.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Installing a network wasn't an easy task.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Modem ports.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459796.gif

    Setting up a network.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459793.gif

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459800.gif

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    One of the greatest time wasters of history. At least it taught Windows novices how to use a mouse and how to drag and drop. It's still in Windows (XP here).

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459805.png

    There was always Minesweeper to kill time.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459802.gif

    Yes, there was security in Windows 95.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459797.gif

    Setting up passwords.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459801.gif

    Having a safe recovery.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459792.gif

    Installing query.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459795.gif

    Naming files in Windows Explorer.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 460099.gif

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459798.gif

    Plug and play installation.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 460098.gif

    Setting up a device through the Hardware Manager.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459803.png

    Create docs.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459787.gif

    Add a printer

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459799.gif

    Printer fonts.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459804.gif

    Help!!

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459785.gif

    Finally Windows 95 gets replaced by Windows 98.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    By popular demand, the dreaded Blue Screen of Death usually meant big problems.

    Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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Andy Smith

By Andy Smith | August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT) | Topic: Windows

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On the biggest day of his professional career, August 24, 1995, Bill Gates took center stage to introduce the world to Windows 95.

Read More Read Less

On the biggest day of his professional career, August 24, 1995, Bill Gates takes center stage to introduce the world to Windows 95. Remember, this launch was so big it helped make Gates the richest man in the world. Here's a look back at some of the features and headaches that made this product so memorable. Mary Jo Foley blogs her thoughts on Win 95's 15th anniversary and more Windows to come.

Photo and screenshot credits: Microsoft

Published: August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT)

Caption by: Andy Smith

1 of 41 NEXT PREV

Related Topics:

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Andy Smith

By Andy Smith | August 24, 2010 -- 09:06 GMT (02:06 PDT) | Topic: Windows

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