Gallery: Windows 95 - 15 years after

1 of 41
  • 459779.jpg

    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

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459815.png

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

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459781.gif

    Welcome to Windows 95

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459777.gif

    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

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459869.jpg

    Setup options for Windows 95.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459780.gif

    Start up your Windows menus.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459782.png

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

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459783.gif

    Windows, windows, windows.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459784.gif

    Task bar options.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459899.jpg

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

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459775.gif

    Registry editor.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459806.gif

    How the registry editor is set up.

    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.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459807.gif

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

    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.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459808.gif

    Internet Explorer 1.0

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459786.gif

    Windows 95 accessibility

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459789.gif

    Win 95 diagnostics - a horror page

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459790.gif

    Finding your way through Windows 95.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459788.gif

    Set your clock.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459791.gif

    Installing a network wasn't an easy task.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459794.gif

    Modem ports.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459796.gif

    Setting up a network.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459793.gif

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459800.gif

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 460092.jpg

    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).

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459805.png

    There was always Minesweeper to kill time.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459802.gif

    Yes, there was security in Windows 95.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459797.gif

    Setting up passwords.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459801.gif

    Having a safe recovery.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459792.gif

    Installing query.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459795.gif

    Naming files in Windows Explorer.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 460099.gif

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459798.gif

    Plug and play installation.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 460098.gif

    Setting up a device through the Hardware Manager.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459803.png

    Create docs.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459787.gif

    Add a printer

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459799.gif

    Printer fonts.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459804.gif

    Help!!

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 459785.gif

    Finally Windows 95 gets replaced by Windows 98.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • 460101.gif

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

    Caption by: Andy Smith

1 of 41

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

Caption by: Andy Smith

1 of 41

Related Topics:

Windows Enterprise Software Microsoft Windows 10 PCs Reviews

Related Galleries

    • 1 of 3

  • MSI Creator 17 laptop

    The world’s first laptop with a Mini LED display.

  • MSI GS66 Stealth

    A gaming laptop with a premium sandblasted core black chassis.

  • MSI GE66 Raider

    The new 15.6-inch GE66 Raider features the latest CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER graphics and an ultrafast 300Hz display powered by a massive 99.9 Whr battery. ...