Windows has been through many different revisions. Windows 9x refers to all the releases of the Microsoft Windows operating systems from Windows 95 to Windows Millennium Edition. The original version started with a basic GUI. Prior to the major release of Windows 3.1, Windows went through several revisions to reach the polished look that now resides on many desktops.

Windows 3.1, released in April of 1992, included scalable True Type fonts. This version became one of the most popular operating systems from its release until the mid 90s. One of its main limitations was that it relied on DOS in order to run. It therefore had all the Windows initialization files (INI files) built into the basic DOS structure to enable Windows 3.x startup.

By the end of 1993, Microsoft released Windows for Workgroups, version 3.11. This was the first version with integrated networking and workgroup capabilities. Features included e-mail utilities, group task scheduling, file and printer sharing, and calendar management. It offered improved NetWare and Windows NT compatibility, as well as improved stability. Although networking was integrated, it was hard to use and it still operated on top of DOS.

Windows 95 was released in August of 1995 with many more features and benefits than any previously released version. This was the first version of Windows that could be defined as a true operating system, not requiring DOS to be loaded prior to the Windows software installation. This release was also regarded as more user-friendly than previous releases, thus making PCs more attractive and accessible to new users. Windows 95 also introduced long filename support, advanced networking features, and plug-and-play capabilities. Some limitations in this version included higher system requirements, a learning curve due to the new look and feel, and inconsistency with plug-and-play features.

The following year, Microsoft released Windows 95 OSR2. This newer version included several bug fixes as well as improvements to various embedded features. It now included Internet Explorer 3.0 web browser and supported the new and more efficient 32-bit file management system called FAT32 and Universal Serial Bus (USB). This release of Windows had one major limitation. It was only available to manufacturers and resellers. Therefore most end users did not get a chance to see the improvements unless they purchased a new PC.

In June of 1998, Windows 98 was released. This version included Internet Explorer 4 and an improved support for USB. It supported newer technologies such as ACPI power management. Despite many improvements, the major limitation with Windows 98 was a lack of stability. However, in May of 1999, Windows 98 Second Edition was released. With the inclusion of year 2000 (Y2K) updates, better USB support, the latest version of Internet Explorer, and several other updates, this version of Windows was the most functional to date. Although Windows 98 still lacks complete stability, it is regarded by many technicians as the most stable version of Win9x.

In September of 2000, Microsoft released the Millennium Edition of Windows ME. This version includes enhanced multimedia capabilities and improved Internet support, and is the last version of Windows to run on the Win9x kernel. The kernel is the memory-resident heart of the operating system. It is responsible for process, task, disk, and memory management. ME exhibits poor stability in comparison to Windows 98SE.

Windows XP Home edition, a consumer level operating system, followed Windows ME. Windows XP Home edition boasted an entirely 32-bit kernel based on the NT kernel and more stability than any of the Win9x versions. However, compatibility issues exist with older software and hardware. Also, Windows XP has significantly higher system requirements than previous operating systems. These factors may make the choice to switch to Windows XP a difficult one for some users.

As Microsoft continues to develop and release newer versions of the Windows operating systems, end users should be able to look forward to new features and more stability. However, as with any new operating system technologies some limitations and lapses should be expected.