Windows 1.0 Archives

Winsage

June 26, 2025

Windows killed the Blue Screen of Death

Windows has replaced the Blue Screen of Death with a new Black Screen of Death. This change marks a significant shift in error screens that began with Windows 1.0 in 1985. The update follows the CrowdStrike outage that affected 8.5 million Windows devices and led to the introduction of the Windows Resiliency Initiative, aimed at enhancing security and reducing disruptions from unexpected restarts. The new Black Screen of Death features a "simplified UI" and includes a quick machine recovery feature to help PCs regain functionality faster after unsuccessful restarts.

Winsage

June 2, 2025

Microsoft updates Notepad app with new features after decades

Microsoft's Notepad is undergoing an update that introduces enhanced formatting features, moving away from its traditional minimalist design. The new version will support "lightweight formatting," including Markdown-style input, a formatting toolbar for bold, italic, hyperlinks, lists, and headings. Users who prefer the classic Notepad can revert to its original simplicity by clearing formatting or disabling new features in the app settings. Notepad was first launched in 1983 as "Multi-Tool Notepad" and became a part of the Windows operating system starting with Windows 1.0 in 1985.

Winsage

May 23, 2025

Microsoft dumps AI into Notepad

Microsoft has updated Notepad to include the Copilot feature for text generation, requiring users to sign in with their Microsoft account to access the Write feature. Users can generate text by selecting the Write option from the Copilot menu, which can then be reviewed, saved, or refined. Microsoft has also introduced AI-driven features in Paint, including a sticker generator and a smart selection tool. These updates reflect Microsoft's efforts to innovate its built-in Windows applications, although some users question the necessity of AI in simpler tools like Notepad.

Winsage

April 2, 2025

Windows Logo: A Visual Evolution of Microsoft’s Iconic Designs

- Windows 1.0 and 2.0 did not have a distinct logo and relied on traditional Microsoft branding. - Windows 3.1 introduced the iconic four-pane window logo, marking a significant shift in branding. - The logos for Windows 95 and 98 featured a cleaner Sans-Serif font and represented an evolution in branding. - Windows ME had a revamped logo aimed at a younger audience, featuring a green frame. - Windows XP introduced a bold, expressive logo with a 3D effect, marking a new era in branding. - Windows Vista's logo embraced glassmorphism and was consistent with Windows 7, showcasing a glossy finish. - Windows 8 introduced a flat blue logo reflecting minimalism and the new Metro UI. - Windows 10 retained a minimalist approach with a darker shade of blue logo. - Windows 11 featured a straighter, more minimalistic logo with slight curvature of the edges.

Winsage

March 31, 2025

How to Try Out Windows’ New ‘Blue Screen of Death’

Microsoft has redesigned the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) for Windows, making it "more streamlined" and aligned with Windows 11 design principles. The new BSOD will not be blue; it has appeared green during testing and will transition to black upon public release. The familiar frowny-face emoticon has been removed, replaced by a message stating, "Your device ran into a problem, and needs to restart," along with a progress percentage and stop code details. Users can experience the new BSOD by enrolling in the Windows Insider program, specifically through the Canary, Dev, or Beta Channels, with the Beta channel recommended for a more stable experience.

Winsage

March 31, 2025

10 Facts you probably didn’t know about Windows as Microsoft turns 50

- Windows was originally named "Interface Manager" before being changed to "Windows" prior to its launch in 1985. - Early versions of Windows (1.0, 2.0, and 3.x) operated on top of MS-DOS and required users to boot into MS-DOS before launching the graphical interface. - The Briefcase folder was an early tool for synchronizing files between computers, which became obsolete with the rise of cloud storage solutions. - Prior to Windows XP, user profiles were basic and lacked robust security; full user accounts were implemented with Windows NT. - Several applications from Windows 1.0, including Calculator, Paint, Notepad, Clock, and Control Panel, are still present in Windows 11 in modernized forms. - The "Format" dialog in File Explorer has used the same code for over 30 years, although updates for FAT32 support are being developed. - TrueType fonts were introduced in Windows 3.1 in 1992 through a licensing agreement with Apple, improving font rendering quality. - The "Ctrl + Alt + Delete" shortcut was created by IBM engineer David Bradley as a debugging tool and later adopted by Microsoft for secure attention sequences in Windows NT. - Windows 1.0 required a minimum of 256KB of RAM at its launch in 1985, while Windows 11 requires at least 4GB.

Winsage

March 17, 2025

Today in Apple history: Microsoft gets sued for ripping off Mac OS

The development of the Macintosh in the early 1980s led to a correspondence between Bill Gates and John Sculley regarding the licensing of the Macintosh operating system. Sculley showed cautious interest in Gates' proposal, but it was dismissed by Jean-Louis Gassée on June 25, 1985. Gates then focused on creating a mass-market operating system, resulting in the debut of Windows on November 15, 1985. The introduction of Windows provoked a strong reaction from Sculley, despite Windows 1.0 being inferior to Mac OS. On November 21, 1985, Sculley and Gates formalized an agreement licensing Macintosh's visual displays to Microsoft, which included a non-exclusive license for Microsoft to use aspects of Mac technology. As Windows 2.0 was released, Apple filed a lawsuit against Microsoft on March 17, 1988, claiming appropriation of its innovations, but the court ruled in favor of Microsoft, stating that the existing license covered certain interface elements.

Winsage

November 17, 2024

7 built-in Windows games I miss the most

- Solitaire was introduced in Windows 3.0 in 1990 and became a staple for users until Windows 7. - Chess Titans was part of the 3D games suite introduced with Windows Vista, known for its visuals and smooth animations. - Minesweeper debuted with Windows 3.1 in 1992 and became a cultural icon due to its minimalist design and addictive gameplay. - SkiFree was included in the Microsoft Entertainment Pack and featured a humorous skiing premise. - Smart Dots was part of the Symantec Game Pack, focusing on creating boxes on a grid of dots. - Hangman was another game from the Symantec Game Pack, a word-guessing game popular among friends and family. - 3D Pinball for Windows - Space Cadet was originally part of Full Tilt! Pinball and included in several Windows versions, known for its engaging gameplay and soundtrack.

Winsage

November 11, 2024

Bill Gates Introduced Windows 41 Years Ago Today: Here’s How Much You’d Have If You Invested $1000 In Microsoft When It Went Public

Bill Gates unveiled Windows on November 10, 1983, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, marking the beginning of a software revolution in personal computing. Initially projected for release in April 1984, Windows faced development delays and was ultimately launched in November 1985. Despite early skepticism, Windows 1.0 laid the groundwork for future innovations, leading to Windows becoming the leading operating system globally. Microsoft's IPO occurred on March 13, 1986, with an initial share price that would have allowed a ,000 investment to secure approximately 47.6 shares. The company has had multiple stock splits, significantly increasing the number of shares for early investors, resulting in an initial ,000 investment now worth over .35 million. In the latest financial report, Microsoft reported revenue of .60 billion for the first quarter, a 16% increase from the previous year. Microsoft shares closed down 0.68% at 2.54, with after-hours trading at 2.35.

Winsage

November 11, 2024

Today in Apple history: Microsoft reveals its plans for Windows 1.0

In 1984, Apple launched the Mac, while Microsoft was preparing to release Windows 1.0, which was initially seen as "vaporware." Apple had recently introduced the graphical user interface (GUI) with the Lisa computer, although it did not meet expectations. Both Apple and Microsoft drew inspiration from innovations at Xerox PARC. Bill Gates acknowledged this shared heritage in a 2017 Reddit AMA. Windows 1.0 was limited compared to the Lisa, despite attempts to include similar features. At its launch, Microsoft was known as a developer for the Mac and negotiated a deal with Apple for a license to use parts of Mac technology for Windows. After the release of Windows 2, which resembled Mac OS, Apple took legal action against Microsoft for copyright infringement. Legal disputes continued until August 1997 when Apple dropped all lawsuits against Microsoft. By then, Windows 1.0 was largely forgotten, and Microsoft was gaining power with the upcoming success of Windows 95, while Apple was preparing for its own resurgence.