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

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Welcome to Windows 95

    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

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Setup options for Windows 95.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Start up your Windows menus.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Windows, windows, windows.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Task bar options.

    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.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Registry editor.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    How the registry editor is set up.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    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

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

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    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

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    Internet Explorer 1.0

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Windows 95 accessibility

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Win 95 diagnostics - a horror page

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Finding your way through Windows 95.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Set your clock.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Installing a network wasn't an easy task.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Modem ports.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Setting up a network.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    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).

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    There was always Minesweeper to kill time.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Yes, there was security in Windows 95.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Setting up passwords.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Having a safe recovery.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Installing query.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Naming files in Windows Explorer.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Plug and play installation.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Setting up a device through the Hardware Manager.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Create docs.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Add a printer

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Printer fonts.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Help!!

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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    Finally Windows 95 gets replaced by Windows 98.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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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.

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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

Caption by: Andy Smith

1 of 41

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