DOS Timeline 1980 to 2002

A History ofMicrosoft MS-DOS and Windows (and its main competitors) on the8086 Processor family

NOTE - Other (minor) versions ofDOS & Windows exist, This list is based on major versionsplus items observed or reported

Note - Any changes listed continue on to later versions:

 Month

 Year

 Version

 Major Changes or Remarks

 December  1980

 QDOS

 Microsoft buys non-exclusive rights to market Pattersons Quick & Dirty  Operating System from Seattle Computer Products (Developed as 86-DOS)
 (Which is a clone of Digital Researches CP/M in virtually every respect)
 July  1981

 86-DOS

 Microsoft buys all rights to 86-DOS from Seattle Computer Products, and the  name MS-DOS is adopted for Microsoft's purposes and IBM PC-DOS for  shipment with IBM PCs    (For Computers with the Intel 8086 Processor)
 Q3  1981

 CP/M 86

 Digital Research release CP/M 86 for the Intel 8086 Processer
 Mid  1981  PC-DOS 1.0  Pre-Release PC-DOS produced for IBM Personal Computers (IBM PC)  Supported 16K of RAM, ~ Single-sided 5.25" 160Kb Floppy Disk
 August  1982  PC-DOS 1.1  OEM PC-DOS for IBM Corporation. (First Release Version)
 September  1982  MS-DOS 1.25  OEM Version for Zenith Computer Corporation.. (Also known as Z-DOS) This  added support for Double-Sided 5.25" 320Kb Floppy Disks. Previously the disk  had to  be turned  over to  use the other side
 Q4  1982

 CP/M Plus

 Digital Research release CP/M Plus for the Intel 8086 Processer
 March  1983  MS-DOS 2.0  OEM Version For Zenith - This added support for IBM's 10 MB Hard Disk,  Directories and Double-Density 5.25" Floppy Disks with capacities of 360 Kb
 March  1983  PC-DOS 2.0  OEM PC-DOS for IBM Corporation. -  Released to support the IBM XT
 March  1983  MS-DOS GUI   Microsoft first announces it intention to create a GUI  (Graphical User Interface)  for its existing MS-DOS Operating System. Microsoft also introduces its first  mouse, "The Microsoft Mouse", including card and software, for US$200. A  major tool in its GUI Development Program. (Windows is Born)
 November  1983  MS-DOS 2.01  OEM Version for Wang Computer Corporation.
 November  1983  PC-DOS 2.1  OEM PC-DOS for IBM Corporation. -  Released to support IBM PCjr PC
 November  1983

  Microsoft Windows for MS-DOS

 Microsoft formally announces Windows 1.0, but does not have a working  copy!  Microsoft shows Windows to IBM, but IBM is not interested in such an  unfinished product.
 November  1983

 Digital Research

 Meanwhile, Digital Research debuts its GEM GUI for the IBM PC at Fall  COMDEX 1983, and also debuts its first multiuser and multitasking  version of  CP/M, Concurrent CP/M (MP/M) for the Intel-based IBM PC.
 December  1983  MS-DOS 2.11  OEM Version for AT&T, Bull & Sony. - Support for foreign and extended  characters was added.
 Notes  >>>>

 "DOS Menu"

 There were also a number of Retail/Freeware Menu or Shell Programs  becoming  available  for DOS to help the novice user and shield him from the  'raw' command  line! Prompting Microsoft to speed up its GUI development work!
 Early  1984  MS-DOS 2.25  OEM Version for Unknown Computer Manufacture. (Possibly Zenith)
 September  1984  MS-DOS 3.0  OEM Version for Various Manufactures.- Support for High-Density 1.2 MB  Floppy Disks and 32 MB Hard Disks was added. - No extended partitions.
 September  1994  PC-DOS 3.0  OEM PC-DOS for IBM Corporation
 November  1984  MS-DOS 3.1  OEM Version for Various Manufactures. Network support was added.
 >  1985  DOSPlus 1.0  Digital Research release DOSPlus 1.0 as a follow on from CP/M Plus
 March   1985  Dr GEM 1.1  A small number of Computer Manufactures start to bundle 'GEM' DOS  Manager by Digital Research (Who also published DR-DOS) It stands for  Graphical  Environment  Manager Details & History
 September  1985  Dr GEM 1.2  Digital  Research release 'retail' GEM version 1.2
 November  1985

 Microsoft Windows 1.01

 Microsoft announces the Retail shipment of Microsoft Windows, a GUI which  extends the features of the DOS operating system. Windows  provides users with  the ability to work with several programs at the same time and  easily switch  between them without having to quit and restart individual  applications. (Retail  Price was US$99) Screenshots
 December   1985  PC-DOS 3.2  OEM PC-DOS for IBM Corporation. ~ Support for 3.5" LD 720Kb Floppy Disks
 >  1986  DOSPlus 2.0  Digital Research release DOSPlus 2.0 - Forerunner to DrDOS
 >  1986

Dr GEM

 Amstrad & KayPro bundle 'GEM' software with MS-DOS 3.1
 April  1986  MS-DOS 3.2  First Retail Release of MS-DOS ~ Support for 3.5" LD 720Kb Floppy Disks
 August   1986  Windows 1.03  Microsofts second release, - MS-DOS version 3.2 support added
 January

1987 

 Windows DDL Volume 1

 Microsoft Windows Device Driver Library Volume 1
 Additional support for display devices, printers, and pointing devices added
 April  1987

 OS/2

 Microsoft announces MicroSoft Operating System/2 (MS OS/2) a new personal  computer operating system. It has been designed and developed specifically to  harness the capabilities of personal computers based upon the Intel 80286 and  80386 microprocessors. This is the first product to be announced as a result of the  Joint  Development Agreement between IBM and Microsoft announced in August  1985.  -  Intended Replacement for MS-DOS
 April  1987  Windows 1.04  - IBM Personal System/2 support added
 April  1987  MS-DOS 3.21  OEM Version for Kaypro & Zenith Computer Corporations. (And others)
 April  1987  MS-DOS 3.3  MS-DOS 3.3 introduces support for more than one logical drive per hard disk.  Logical drives are treated as completely separate disks under MS-DOS, even  though they may occupy the same physical hard disk. Plus 3.5" HD 1.44MB Floppy Disk Support + Real Time Support for the  'new' CMOS clock
 April  1987  PC-DOS 3.3  OEM PC-DOS for IBM Corporation. Added support for PS/2 Computers
 April  1987

 MS OS/2 - 1.0

 Microsoft & IBM OS/2 Version 1.0 Released
 
Click here for OS/2 History, Sub-Versions and Resources
 Mid  1987  DOSPlus 2.1  Digital Research release DOSPlus 2.1 - Last release before DrDOS 3.31
 October  1987

 MS LAN Manager

 Microsoft releases LAN Manager, (Local Area Network) a LAN operating  system add-on that runs on both  MS-DOS and OS/2.
 November    1987  Windows 2.0  Microsoft releases Microsoft Windows 2.03 (Retail Packaging however may show  it as Windows 2.0) offering compatibility with  existing  Windows applications and  a  new visual appearance compatible with Microsoft  OS/2 Presentation Manager.  In addition to the new visual appearance,  it uses a  system of overlapping  windows, rather than tiled windows. Windows  2.03 also includes significant  performance enhancements and improved support for expanded memory  hardware. Screenshots
 >  1988  Windows/286   Version 2.03 ~ When Windows/386 was released, Microsoft renamed Windows  2.03 to Windows/286 (For the Intel 286) for version consistency, And labelled all  further production accordingly. However it was not replaced by Windows/386, As  both versions were aimed at different processors. Therefore Version 2.03 can be  found labelled under both descriptions.
 February  1988  MS-DOS 3.3Plus  Extended MS-DOS for Selected OEMs
 March  1988  MS-DOS 3.3T  Modified MS-DOS 3.3 for Tandy (Radio Shack) Computers as TandyDOS
 April  1988  MS-DOS 3.31  Extended Version for Various OEM Manufactures.
 May >  1988  DrDOS 3.3x  Digital Research release DrDOS 3.31 (No version 3.0  recorded) followed  by a series of OEM  versions.  3.32, 3.33, 3.34, 3.35, 3.40, 3.41 & 3.42  Some releases include a version of GEM Desktop (Called ViewMAX)
 July  1988  MS-DOS 4.0  This version provided XMS support, support for partitions on hard disks up to  2.10  GB and a graphical shell. ~ It also contained a large number of bugs and  many  programs refused to run on it.
 July  1988  PC-DOS 4.0   OEM PC-DOS for IBM Corporation. (IBM buy rights to future versions of PC-DOS)
 August   1988  Windows/286   Version 2.10 ~ Intel 286 Optimised Edition
 August  1988  Windows/386   Version 2.10 ~ Intel 386 Optimised Edition (Introduces HIMEM.SYS Driver)
 October  1988  MS OS/2 1.10  Microsoft and IBM announce the delivery of the jointly developed  Operating  System/2 (OS/2) 1.1 with Presentation Manager. Presentation Manager  is the  graphical user interface (GUI) for the OS/2 operating system. This is the  second  major release of the Standard Edition of OS/2. (LAN version also released)
 November  1988  MS-DOS 4.01  Major Bug Fix for MS-DOS 4.0 (Core Files almost completely rewritten)
 November  1988  PC-DOS 4.01   Major Bug Fix for PC-DOS 4.0
 December  1988  DrDOS 4.41  Digital Research release DrDOS 4.41 (No Version 4.0 released!)
 March  1989  Windows/286  Version 2.11 ~ Intel 286 Optimised Edition
 March  1989  Windows/386  Version 2.11 ~ Intel 386 Optimised Edition
 April  1989  MS-DOS 4.01a  Minor update to MS-DOS 4.01 to include better support as Larger Hard Drives  become available. A File Update is also released to support MS-DOS 4.01
 April  1989  Dr GEM 3.13  Last retail release of GEM by Digital Research
 April  1989  MS OS/2 - 1.10EE  Microsoft and IBM OS/2 1.10 Extended Edition released, with LAN Manager.
 June   1989

 IBM OS/2 - 1.20

 IBM OS/2 1.20 released.
 May  1990  Windows 3.0  Microsoft announces the immediate, worldwide availability of Microsoft Windows  3.0, This version offers dramatic performance increases for Windows  applications, advances in ease of use and  aesthetic appeal, and straightforward  integration into corporate computing  environments Network Drivers also made  available.  Screenshots   IBM start to offer Windows 3.0 as a PS/2 Option
 May  1990  DrDOS 5.0  Digital Research release DrDOS 5.0 - First Retail Version
 September  1990    IBM and Microsoft agree to end their development relationship.
 April  1991  IBM OS/2 - 1.30  IBM OS/2 1.30 released.
 October  1991  Windows 3.0a  Maintenance Release of Windows 3.0 focusing on specific problems
 April  1991  MS-DOS 5.0  This was a major upgrade. It allowed parts of DOS to load itself in the high  memory area and certain device drivers and TSRs to run in the unused parts of the  upper memory area between 640K and 1024K. This version also added support  for IBM's new 2.88 MB floppy disks. An improved BASIC interpreter and text  editor were included, as was a disk cache, an undelete utility and a Hard Disk  partition-table backup program . After the problems with MS-DOS 4, it also  provided a utility to make programs think they were running on a different version  of MS-DOS.(SETVER) ~ Restores confidence in DOS after  v4.x  disaster.
 June   1991  DrDOS 6.0  Digital Research release DrDOS 6.0 Adds disk compression, disk optimizer, etc.
 June  1991  PC-DOS 5.0  IBM PC-DOS 5.0
 June  1991  MS-DOS 5UG  MS-DOS 5.0 Upgrade Edition for all earler versions (First Upgrade Version)
 October  1991

 Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions Version 1.0

 OEM Windows 3.0 with MultiMedia Extensions v1.0.  This version of Windows  was probably a standard version of Windows 3.0a and Microsoft Multimedia  Extensions Version 1.0 being  released as an OEM Multimedia CD-ROM only.  IBM list Windows 3.0 MM as an option for PS/2 Computers
 Notes

1991

 Tandy Modular Windows

 Tandy Modular Windows was an OEM Special GUI for Tandy Corp.'s Video  Information System (VIS) Multimedia Player. It was essentially a Windows 3.0  Core Program, But  without any Microsoft Desktop Accessories, Drivers, or a  number of other features. (Not to be confused with Windows 3.0 MultiMedia)
 Q3  1991

Windows NT Program

 New Technology Development Program - NT Operating System was first  intended to be based on OS/2 Technology but was later changed to Windows
 Q4  1991  MS-DOS 5.Oa  This was a minor update for MS-DOS 5.0 which dealt with possibly catastrophic  problems with UNDELETE and CHKDSK. A File Update  is also released
 Q4  1991  MS-DOS 5aUG  Replaces MS-DOS 5.0 Upgrade (Details as for MS-DOS 5.0a)
 February  1992  PC-DOS 5.0.1  PC-DOS 5.0 Rev 1 (Possibly an update for same reason as MS-DOS 5.0a)
 April  1992  Windows 3.1  Microsoft ships Microsoft Windows 3.1 with over 1,000 enhancements. The new  version created unprecedented user demand with over one million advance orders  placed worldwide. ~ 386 Enhanced Mode with minimum 4MB RAM - Operates  in Standard Mode with 2MBs - Added support for Truetype Fonts  Screenshots
 April  1992  Win 3.1UG  Windows 3.1 Upgrade for Windows 3.0 Users. (Full Version marked Upgrade!)
 June  1992

IBM OS/2 - 2.0

 IBM OS/2 version 2.0 released. (Microsoft withdraws support for OS/2)
 September  1992  PC-DOS 5.0.2  PC-DOS 5.0 Rev 2 - To correct errors with Windows 3.1 (EMM386.EXE)
 October  1992

 Windows for Workgroups 3.1

(WfWG 3.1)

 Microsoft announces the worldwide availability of Microsoft Windows for  WorkGroups 3.1 (WfWG) which integrates networking and workgroup  functionality  directly  into Windows 3.1. The product allows common activities of  sending  electronic  mail, scheduling group meetings, sharing files and printers,  managing  calendars, and  working together on groups projects. It can provide  networking  capabilities on its  own, or it can be used as a client on an existing  local area  network. Screenshots (Unlike NT, WfWG is still a MS-DOS GUI)
 October  1992  WfWG31AD  Windows for Workgroups 3.1 Add-On for MS-DOS Users
 October  1992  WfWG31AW  WfWG 3.1 Add-On for Windows Users - This package is for machines that  already  have Windows version 3.1 installed. It upgrades Windows by  adding  those files required for the new features  of WfWG 3.1 (Uses Compliance Checking)  
 Q4   1992

 WindowsNT BETA

 Windows New Technology - First BETA Testing of Windows NT ~ Microsofts  first true 32bit Operating System.
 March  1993  MS-DOS 6.0  This was a catch-up with Novell's DR-DOS 6. It added a disk-compression utility  called DoubleSpace, a basic anti-virus program and a disk defragmenter. It also  finally included a MOVE command, an improved backup program, MSBACKUP  and multiple boot configurations. Memory management was also improved by the  addition of MEMMAKER. A number of older utilities, such as JOIN and  RECOVER were removed. However DOSSHELLwas still included.
 March  1993  MS-DOS6UG  MS-DOS 6.0 Upgrade Edition for all earler versions from 3.3 onwards.
 March  1993  6.0 Supplemental  Microsoft released a Supplemental Update of Earler Files removed from v6.0
 May  1993

 Windows for PEN  Computing 3.1

 Microsofts first attempt at a GUI for Palm and Organiser type small computers. It  used a cut down version of MS-DOS 6.0 & Windows 3.1 with a PEN Driver Set.
 Note  1993  Dr PalmDOS  Digital Research base their PalmDOS on CP/M with GEM ViewMAX
 June   1993  PC-DOS 6.1  IBM starts to number PC-DOS in series with MS-DOS
 Q3  1993  NovellDOS 7.0  DrDOS sold to Novell who release it as NovellDOS 7.0 with NetWare
 July  1993  WindowsNT 3.1  Windows NT - Designed for Business & Networking Use - Not dependent on  MS-DOS - Uses its own NTFS Bootstrap to install. (Released on 3.5" Disks)   Link Site Abandoned - New Screenshots to Follow

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 Windows NT Service Packs

 After the release of NT 3.1 Microsoft began a series of Service Pack Releases,  which included Updates, Patchs as well as New or Updated Network Drivers. The Last  known Service Pack for Windows NT 3.1 was SP-3 (Dated October 1994)
 November  1993  MS-DOS 6.2  Extra security was built into DoubleSpace following complaints of data loss.  A  new disk checker, SCANDISK, was also introduced, as well as improvements to  DISKCOPY and SmartDrive (DOSSHELL was removed to the Supplemental Disk Set)
 November  1993  MS-DOS62UG  MS-DOS 6.2 Upgrade Edition for all earler versions from 3.3 onwards.
 November  1993  MS-DOS62SU  MS-DOS 6.2 Step-Up for 6.0 Users Only (MS-DOS Step-Up differs from  Upgrade in that it is limited to earler 6x versions only and contains file updates not  complete copies of application files other than IO.SYS & MSDOS.SYS)
 November  1993  6.2 Supplemental  Microsoft released a Supplemental Update of Earler Files removed from v 6.2  Including DOSSHELL which was removed from 6.2 & later versions.
 December  1993

 Windows for Workgroups 3.11

(WfWG 3.11)

 WfWG 3.11 contains the complete software package for machines that do not  have Windows Operating System version 3.0 or 3.1. It contains all the WfWG  software, including Windows 3.1 functionality, file sharing, printer sharing,  network dynamic data exchange (DDE),  Microsoft Mail, Microsoft Schedule+,  Microsoft At Work PC Fax, Remote Access Services, 32-bit file and disk  access, and advanced security. Screenshots
 December  1993  WfWG311AD  WfWG 3.11 Add-On for MS-DOS Users.
 December  1993  WfWG311AW  WfWG 3.11 Add-On for Windows Users -This package is for machines that  already have Windows or WfWG version 3.1 installed. It  upgrades Windows or  WfWG 3.1 by adding those files required for the new features of WfWG 3.11.
 December  1993   MSClient 3.0  Microsoft Client for MS-DOS version 3.0 (Network Add-On for MS-DOS)  
 December  1993  Windows 3.11  With WfWG Compatable Core Files, SVGA & updated drivers Screenshots  Windows 3.11 was never marketed as such, It is a Service Release of Windows  3.1 only - The only way to check you have it was to click the 'About' Box
 December  1993  Win31 Updates  Microsoft also made available 2 updates for Windows 3.1 to bring it upto  Windows 3.11 standard ~ 3.11 Core Files and SVGA Driver Updates.
 December   1993  PC-DOS 6.3  Replaces PC-DOS 6.1
 Q1  1994  MS-DOS 7.0 BETA 1  Work starts on a Enhanced version of MS-DOS for 32bit Windows. At first  based on MS-DOS 6.2 with DoubleSpace but later changed due to legal action.
 March  1994  MS-DOS 6.21  Following legal action by Stac Electronics, Microsoft released this interim version  which had DoubleSpace removed This was an interim limited release of  MS-DOS  until  replacement of DoubleSpace ~ Otherwise identical in function to  MS-DOS 6.2
 March  1994  MS-DOS621UG  MS-DOS 6.21 Upgrade Edition for all earlier versions (No Step-Up Released)
 March  1994  6.21 Supplemental  Microsoft released a Supplemental Update of Earlier Files removed from v6.21
 March  1994

  Win32s for Windows 3.1

 Win32s is a set of runtime libraries for Windows 3.1, which enable users to run  most Windows NT 32-bit applications on Windows 3.1, without the extensive  hardware requirements of Windows NT.
 April  1994  MS-DOS 6.22  Microsoft licensed a disk-compression package called DoubleDisk from  VertiSoft  Systems and renamed it DriveSpace, which was included in this  version. (Other than disk-compression there is no difference to MS-DOS 6.2)
 April  1994  MS-DOS622UG  MS-DOS 6.22 Upgrade Edition for all earler versions from 3.3 onwards.
 April  1994  MS-DOS6.22SU  MS-DOS 6.22 Step-Up for 6.0, 6.2, 6.21 Users Only
 April  1994  6.22 Supplemental  Microsoft released a Supplemental Update of Earler Files removed from v6.22
 May  1994  MS-DOS 7.0 BETA 2  Second BETA of WindowsDOS now based on DriveSpace Technology.
 September  1994

 Chicago

 Microsoft announces that Microsoft Windows 95 is the official name for the next  version of Windows, code-named "Chicago." This name was chosen to make it  easier for customers to identify the most current version of Microsoft Windows. It  is a fully integrated 32-bit operating system replacing Windows 3.11, Windows  for  Workgroups 3.11, and MS-DOS as the mainstream desktop operating  system.
 Windows 4.0 (95) uses a version of MS-DOS to 'Bootup' (MS-DOS 7.0)
 September  1994  WindowsNT 3.5  Windows New Technology 3.5

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 NT Service Packs  No recorded Service Pack was published for NT 3.5
 November  1994  OS/2 Warp 3.0  IBM OS/2 Warp 3.0 released 
 August  1995  Windows 95 OEM  OEM (Pre-Installed) 32bit Processing - Long Filename Support & other major  improvements over Windows 3.x (Still uses original FAT16) DriveSpace Included  Windows 95 supports two new partition types (0E and 0F) to support the logical  block addressing (LBA) INT13h extensions as specified in the Windows 95  Driver Development Kit (DDK).~ Includes Internet Explorer 1.0
 August  1995  Windows 95  Retail Windows 95 for Computers without MS-DOS (or earlier MS-DOS Version)  Link Site Abandoned - New Screenshots to Follow
 August  1995

 Integral MS-DOS 7.0

 MS-DOS 7.0 (Also called WindowsDOS) is an integral part of Windows 95.
 (It and later versions are
NOT available as a Stand-Alone OS)
 It provides support for  Long  Filenames only  when Windows is running, but  removes a large number of  other utilities,  some of  which are on the Windows  95 CD versions in the \other\oldmsdos directory. (Reports itself as Windows 95)
 August  1995  Win95UG  Windows 95 Upgrade for Previous Versions of Windows
 August  1995  Educational Pack  Discounted Combined Win95 & NT4.0 for Teachers & Students Only.
 August   1995  Win95 PlusPack  Extras for Win95 such as DriveSpace 3, MS Themes and 3D Pinball Game
 August   1995

 Win95 CD-ROM Extras & Updates

 Microsoft release Extra Applications found on 95 CD for Floppy Disk Users.  (This MS page has changed now to the equivalent of 'WindowsUpdate')
 September  1995

 Win95 - DOS 7.0 Supplemental

 Microsoft release a Supplemental Update of MS-DOS 6.22 Files removed from  Win95 Called OLDDOS.EXE ~ Microsoft still find it difficult to 'Kill' DOS
 September  1995  WindowsNT 3.51  Updated Release of NT 3.5 with additional network drivers
 Link Site Abandoned - New Screenshots to Follow

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 NT ServicePacks   The Last  Service Pack for Windows NT 3.51 was SP- 5 (Dated October 1996)

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 1995

 Nashville

 Windows 95 OSR (OEM Service Release) Update Program

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 1995

Cairo

 Windows NT (4.0) 'Future Technology' BETA Program. (Also reported as Detroit)

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 1995

 Pegasus

 Windows CE (Compact Edition) Development Program - Based on Windows  95  and designed for the Handheld PC  (H/PC) and Portable PC (P/PC) also  known  as Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) ~ The Windows CE series is  included  to complete the Windows Range.
 February  1996  Windows 95A  OSR 1.0 (As with later sub-versions of OSRs - Pre-Installed) IE 2.0 Included.
 February  1996

 Win95 SP1

 Service Pack 1 for Windows 95 (95A Upgrade) This was the only Windows 9x  Service Pack, After this MS placed further updates on internet 'WindowsUpdate' Web Site.
 August  1996  WindowsNT 4.0  Microsofts (Cairo) 32bit Muli-Tasking Operating System. Available in Server,  Desktop and Upgrade Versions. (Development continues for Option & Enterprise)  Link Site Abandoned - New Screenshots to Follow

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 NT ServicePacks  The Latest Service Pack for NT 4.0 is SP - 6a (Dated December 1999)
 August  1996  OS/2 Warp 4.0  IBM OS/2 Warp 4.0 released
 September  1996  Windows 95B  OSR 2.0 (Mainly a Floppy Disk Release) - Windows 95 OSR 2 onwards support  two new partition types (0B and 0C) to support the FAT32 file system.  Maximum  partition size now 2 TeraBytes (TB) But still 2.1 GBs if is FAT16  selected.
 September  1996  Windows 95B CD  OSR 2.1 with added USB Support (CD-ROM Versions Only) IE 3.0 Included.
 September  1996

 Integral MS-DOS 7.10

 Updated  MS-DOS 7.10 is an integral part of OSR 2 and later versions of  Windows. The main change is support for FAT 32, a  more efficient and robust  way of  storing Data on Large Hard Disks. ('Large Disk Support' is an Option in  FDISK)
 November  1996  WindowsCE 1.0  Pegasus ~ All versions of Windows CE are OEM releases only.
 Late  1996

Windows NT5

 Windows NT 5.0 Development Program. Windows NT Background & History
 April  1997  PC-DOS 7.0  PC-DOS 7.0 Revsion 0 - Update available to Revsion 1 (PC-DOS 2000) from IBM
 September   1997

 NT5 BETA

 Windows NT 5.0 BETA Program. Click here for NT5/2000 Build TimeLine
 November  1997  Windows 95C  OSR 2.5 with Integrated Internet Explorer 4.0 (Improved USB Support) Some  issues of 95B/C Install CD-ROMs were 'Bootable' Dependent on BIOS Support.
 November  1997  WindowsCE 2.0  Mercury ~ Successor to Windows CE 1  
 November  1997  OpenDOS 7.01  DrDOS sold to Caldera who release it as Caldera OpenDOS 7.01
 December  1997  WinNT 4.0 OP  NT 4.0 Option Pack
 December  1997  WinNT 4.0 Ent  NT 4.0 Enterprise Version
 >  1997

 Memphis

 Windows 98 BETA Program
 February   1998  DR-DOS 7.02  Caldera release OpenDOS 7.02 (Then rename it as DR-DOS 7.02)
 April  1998  PC-DOS 2000  PC-DOS 7.0 Revsion 1 - Fully Y2K Compliant Update
 Q2  1998  WindowsCE 2.01  Gryphon ~ First Microsoft P/PC OS
 June  1998  Windows 98 OEM  OEM (Pre-Installed) With full FAT32 & USB Support and Integrated Internet  Explorer 4.0 (Install CD-ROM is now 'Bootable')
 June  1998  Windows 98  Retail Windows 98 for Computers without MS-DOS
 Link Site Abandoned - New Screenshots to Follow
 June  1998  Win98 UG  Windows 98 Upgrade for Previous Versions of Windows
 June  1998  Educational Pack  Discounted Combined Win98 & NT4.0 for Teachers & Students Only.
 June   1998  Win98 PlusPack  'Extras' that could have been included on 98 CD! (Say no more!)
 July  1998  WindowsCE 2.1  Birch ~ P/PC Release
 August  1998  NT5 BETA 2  Windows NT5 Beta 2 (Becomes Windows 2000 Beta 2)
Q3     Win CE 2.11 Pro  Jupiter ~ CE 2.11 Professional ~ H/PC Release
 April  1999

Win2000 BETA 3

 Windows 2000 Beta 3
 Q2  1999

 Neptune

 Planned successor to Windows 98 (Cancelled Early 2000) See Whistler
 Q2  1999

  Odysee

 Planned successor to Windows NT5 (2000) (Cancelled) See Whistler
 May  1999

 Win98 SP1

 Service Pack 1 for Windows 98 (Major Bug Fixes plus IE 4.01 SP1)
 May  1999  Windows 98SE OEM  OEM (Pre-Installed) Win98 Second Edition - Integrated Internet  Explorer 5.0
 May  1999  Windows 98SE  Retail Windows 98SE for Computers without MS-DOS or Windows
 May  1999  Win98SE UG  Windows 98SE Upgrade for Previous Versions of Windows
 May  1999  Educational Pack  Discounted Combined Win98se & NT4.0 (SP-5) for Teachers &  Students Only.
 July/August  1999

 Millennium

 Millennium Edition (WinMe) BETA Testing Program
 Still rallies on MS-DOS (No longer supports Real Mode)  (MS-DOS 8.0)
 August  1999  DR-DOS 7.03  Caldera release DR-DOS 7.03 then transfer all rights to Lineo,  Corp
 Q3  1999  WindowsCE 2.11  Wyvern ~ P/PC release

.> 

 1999  WinMe BETA  Click here for the Full Windows Me TimeLine with Build Numbers.
 End   1999  DR-DOS 7.04  Lineo release OEM version as DR-DOS 7.04 
 Early  2000  DR-DOS 7.05 BETA  Lineo BETA Test OEM DR-DOS 7.05 but then discontinue DR-DOS  development.
 Q1   2000

 Whistler

 Planned future merge of Windows 98, Millennium and NT(2000) into 1 OS
 February  2000

 Windows 2000 Professional

 Windows 2000 Professional (NT & Network Users) NO MS-DOS Support  Successor to Windows NT 4.0 - Designed for Business Use. Available in Server,  Desktop and Upgrade Versions.

 >

 >

 NT Service Packs  The Latest Service Pack for Windows 2000 is SP-2 Dated May 2001
 May  2000  WindowsCE 3.0  For Microsoft's Pocket PC Handheld Devices. A Major Revamp! 2 code-names  have been reported = Rapier for P/PC 2000 and Galileo for H/PC 2000
 August  2000  Windows Me OEM  OEM (Pre-Installed) For Home Users with Integrated Internet Explorer  &  Outlok Express 5.5 and MSN Messenger - Gold Release 4.10.3000
 (
ME as in Millennium Edition or Me as in I myself ?)
 September  2000  Windows Me  Retail for Computers without MS-DOS or Windows  
 
Link Site Abandoned - New Screenshots to Follow
 September  2000

 Integral MS-DOS 8.0

 Major change to MS-DOS 8.0 is the removal of 'Real-Mode' Support. Other  than  that it is identical to MS-DOS 7.10 (This is done by changes to IO.SYS &  COMMAND.COM)
 September  2000  WinMe Step-Up  Limited Promotional Step-Up Version for Windows 98/98se Users Only
 September  2000  WinMe UG  Windows Millennium Upgrade for Previous Versions of Windows (Not 3.x)
 April    2001

 WindowsCE

Talisker

 Microsoft Announces Beta 1 of "Talisker," the Next Version of Windows CE  http://www.microsoft.com/PressPass/press/2001/Apr01/04-10TaliskerPR.asp
 >>>>>>>  2001

 

 Windows XP is the release name for Windows Whistler and was released on  October 25 2001 Due to the large number of 'Builds' it has not been  possible to  keep  listing them! - Read - http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/windowsxp_gold.asp
 ????????

2002

 Now that Windows no longer uses a MS-DOS loader or supports it in  any way. It is time to close the DOS Timeline. I enjoyed doing  it, but  now is the time to STOP. For New and Breaking News on  Windows  and its Future visit http://www.winsupersite.com/default.asp

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