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Sonoma County

See how the iconic Windows XP Bliss wallpaper location has changed over the years
Winsage
July 16, 2026

See how the iconic Windows XP Bliss wallpaper location has changed over the years

Windows XP's default wallpaper, known as Bliss, was photographed by Charles O’Rear in January 1996 while he was driving on Highway 121 in Sonoma County, California. The image was taken after a storm, showcasing vibrant grass and fluffy clouds, using a medium-format Mamiya RZ67 camera with Fujifilm Velvia film. Microsoft acquired the rights to the photograph through Corbis and made it the default desktop background for Windows XP starting in 2001. The landscape has evolved over the years, with vineyards being removed due to a phylloxera infestation, resulting in a lush green hill that has changed with cycles of planting and removal.
30 years later, the iconic 'Bliss' green hill from Windows XP is still thriving — lucky passerby captures the hill looking almost identical to the 1996 photograph in 'super rare' event
Winsage
February 20, 2026

30 years later, the iconic ‘Bliss’ green hill from Windows XP is still thriving — lucky passerby captures the hill looking almost identical to the 1996 photograph in ‘super rare’ event

A Reddit user discovered a scene resembling the "Bliss" wallpaper from Windows XP, which features a serene rolling green hill chosen by Microsoft in 2001. The original hill, located in Sonoma County near Napa, has changed over the years, often covered by vineyards. The user captured the hill when it temporarily resembled its former state, with vibrant greenery, due to the removal of vineyards for pest control. The original photograph was taken by Charles O'Rear in 1996.
Microsoft's anniversary edition Windows XP-themed Crocs are definitely a look, but I'm not entirely sure I could carry them off
Winsage
August 7, 2025

Microsoft’s anniversary edition Windows XP-themed Crocs are definitely a look, but I’m not entirely sure I could carry them off

Microsoft has released a special anniversary edition of Crocs inspired by Windows XP, featuring a design that replicates the iconic Bliss wallpaper. The upper part of the footwear showcases fluffy white clouds against a blue sky, while the soles depict lush green grass. A worldwide launch is expected, though no specific dates have been provided. The Bliss image, captured by photographer Charles O’Rear in 1996 and acquired by Microsoft before Windows XP's release in 2001, depicts a hill in Sonoma County, California, which has since become a vineyard. Bliss was once one of the most viewed photographs globally, reflecting the popularity of Windows XP.
From pixels to pinot: The Windows XP 'Bliss' wallpaper hill was real and this is what it looks like now
Winsage
March 26, 2025

From pixels to pinot: The Windows XP ‘Bliss’ wallpaper hill was real and this is what it looks like now

Windows XP is celebrated for its user-friendly interface and vibrant aesthetics, particularly the "Bliss" wallpaper, which features a real location in Sonoma County, California. The photograph was taken by Charles O’Rear in 1996 and sold to Microsoft before the operating system's launch in 2001. The original image has a resolution of 4,510 by 3,627 pixels, compared to the 800 by 600 pixel version included with Windows XP. Over time, the depicted hill transformed into a vineyard, reflecting Sonoma County's role in California's wine production, which contributed approximately 6% of the state's output in 2021. Microsoft ended support for Windows XP in 2014, with the last version ceasing in 2019. Windows XP was a significant advancement over its predecessors and was used on the International Space Station until it was replaced by Linux in 2013. Windows 11 was released in 2021, with indications that 2025 will focus on a "Windows 11 PC refresh."
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