Windows 95

Microsoft Windows 95

Basic Information

• Model: Windows 95 (various OEM Service Releases)
• Version: 4.00.950 (Original Release), 4.00.950A (OSR1), 4.00.950B (OSR2), 4.00.950C (OSR2.5)
• Release Date:
  • Released to Manufacturing: July 14, 1995
  • General Availability (Retail): August 24, 1995
• Minimum Requirements:
  • Processor: Intel 386DX or higher (12 or 16 MHz being the slowest)
  • RAM: 4 MB
  • Hard Disk Space: 50–55 MB (depending on features selected)
• Supported Operating Systems: Windows 95 is an operating system itself, succeeding Windows 3.1 and MS-DOS.
• Latest Stable Version: OEM Service Release 2.5 (OSR 2.5), version 4.0.950 C, released November 26, 1997.
• End of Support Date: December 31, 2001 (Extended Support)
• End of Life Date: December 31, 2002 (for sales to OEMs) / January 1, 2003 (no more patches or support)
• Auto-update Expiration Date: Not explicitly defined as a separate expiration; updates ceased with the end of support.
• License Type: Proprietary commercial software.
• Deployment Model: Primarily sold as a shrink-wrapped product for end-users and pre-installed by OEMs on new PCs. Later editions (OSRs) were OEM-only.

Technical Requirements

• RAM: Minimum 4 MB, 8 MB recommended for optimal performance. For Microsoft Exchange and The Microsoft Network, 8 MB was required.
• Processor: Intel 386DX or higher (e.g., 386DX, 486, Pentium). A 486 processor was recommended for optimal performance. It requires an Intel 80386 (or compatible) and does not support 16-bit x86 processors.
• Storage: 50-55 MB of free hard disk space for a clean installation. A compact installation required 10 MB, while a full custom installation needed a minimum of 19 MB. Additional space was needed for a swap file, depending on RAM.
• Display: VGA or higher resolution; 256-color SVGA recommended.
• Ports: Support for standard PC ports of the era, including serial, parallel, and PS/2. USB support was introduced with OSR2.1.
• Operating System: Windows 95 is an operating system. It was built upon MS-DOS, which it largely integrated and superseded.

Analysis of Technical Requirements: Windows 95 was designed to be accessible on the prevalent hardware of its time, offering a significant upgrade over Windows 3.1 while maintaining compatibility with existing 16-bit applications. The minimum requirements were quite modest, allowing it to run on older 386DX machines. However, Microsoft recommended a 486 processor with 8 MB of RAM for a smoother user experience, indicating that the minimum configuration could lead to performance bottlenecks. The hard disk space requirements were also relatively small by modern standards, reflecting the software landscape of the mid-1990s. The introduction of 32-bit architecture and preemptive multitasking aimed to improve stability and performance even on these modest systems.

Support & Compatibility

• Latest Version: OEM Service Release 2.5 (OSR 2.5), version 4.0.950 C.
• OS Support: Windows 95 itself is an operating system. It was designed to be maximally compatible with existing MS-DOS and 16-bit Windows programs and device drivers. It also supported 32-bit applications.
• End of Support Date: December 31, 2001 (Extended Support).
• Localization: Available in various international versions, including English (ANSI code page 1252), Far East versions (Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean), PanEuropean versions (Cyrillic, Central Europe, Turkish, Greek, Baltic), Middle East versions (Arabic, Hebrew), and Thai. The Windows code page could be selected during setup but not changed afterward.
• Available Drivers: Windows 95 introduced Plug and Play functionality for easier hardware installation. It could use 16-bit Windows 3.x drivers and provided its own drivers for devices like mice, CD-ROMs, and sound cards for DOS programs.

Analysis of Overall Support & Compatibility Status: Windows 95 was a landmark OS for its improved compatibility and support features compared to its predecessors. Its Plug and Play capability was a significant advancement, simplifying hardware configuration. The OS maintained strong backward compatibility with older MS-DOS and 16-bit Windows applications, which was crucial for its adoption. However, support officially ended in 2001, meaning there are no longer any official updates, security patches, or technical assistance from Microsoft. Modern hardware and software are generally not compatible with Windows 95, and finding drivers for contemporary components is virtually impossible. Localization was comprehensive for its time, offering various language editions and supporting different character sets.

Security Status

• Security Features: Unified logon prompt, Windows 95 logon security with system policies (requiring network validation), user-level or share-level security for peer resource sharing, and password caching.
• Known Vulnerabilities: Windows 95 is highly vulnerable by modern standards due to its age and lack of ongoing security updates. It was considered to lack security, stability, and advanced networking capabilities compared to more mature operating systems even at its release.
• Blacklist Status: Not applicable in the traditional sense; however, due to its severe security vulnerabilities and lack of support, it is not recommended for use in any connected or sensitive environment.
• Certifications: No specific modern security certifications are applicable or maintained for Windows 95.
• Encryption Support: Limited native encryption. Third-party solutions were available for full hard disk encryption.
• Authentication Methods: Primarily password-based logon. User profiles and the Policy Editor (Poledit) allowed for some administrative control over user access and system settings.
• General Recommendations: Not recommended for any current use, especially on systems connected to the internet or networks, due to severe security risks. If used for retro purposes, it should be in an isolated environment.

Analysis on the Overall Security Rating: Windows 95's security is extremely poor by today's standards. While it introduced basic security features like user logon and share-level permissions, these were rudimentary and easily bypassed or exploited. The operating system was released before the widespread internet security threats of today, and its architecture was not designed to withstand modern attacks. Microsoft ceased providing security updates in 2001, leaving any system running Windows 95 exposed to countless known vulnerabilities. Therefore, its overall security rating is critically low, rendering it unsuitable for any practical or connected computing tasks in the current environment.

Performance & Benchmarks

• Benchmark Scores: Benchmarking tools like Winbench 97 and 3DMark99 were used during its era. Modern tools like CrystalMark Retro now support Windows 95 for comparative benchmarking.
• Real-World Performance Metrics: Introduced preemptive multitasking for 32-bit applications and improved memory management, allowing for smoother execution of multiple programs compared to Windows 3.1. 16-bit processes were still cooperatively multitasked.
• Power Consumption: Not a primary design consideration or widely documented metric for an operating system of this era. Power management features were rudimentary compared to modern OS.
• Carbon Footprint: Not a relevant metric for an operating system from this period.
• Comparison with Similar Assets:
  • Vs. Windows 3.1: Windows 95 offered a significantly improved graphical user interface (GUI) with the Start menu and taskbar, better stability, and support for 32-bit applications and long filenames.
  • Vs. Windows NT: Windows NT (e.g., NT 3.51, NT 4.0) was a more robust, business-oriented OS with true 32-bit architecture and better security, but had higher system requirements. Windows 95 was designed for lower-end consumer hardware.

Analysis of the Overall Performance Status: Windows 95 represented a significant performance leap for consumer operating systems at its release. Its 32-bit architecture and preemptive multitasking for 32-bit applications allowed for more efficient use of system resources and a more responsive user experience, particularly when running multiple applications simultaneously. The integration of MS-DOS and the new GUI streamlined operations. While its performance was revolutionary for its time, it is extremely slow and inefficient compared to modern operating systems, especially on contemporary hardware where it often struggles with compatibility. Benchmarking tools from its era, and now retro-benchmarking tools, confirm its performance within its historical context.

User Reviews & Feedback

User reviews and feedback for Windows 95, especially at its launch, were overwhelmingly positive, marking it as a revolutionary product.

• Strengths:
  • Intuitive GUI: The introduction of the Start menu, taskbar, and desktop shortcuts was a major improvement over previous Windows versions, making computing more accessible.
  • Plug and Play: Simplified hardware installation and configuration.
  • 32-bit Architecture: Enabled better performance and stability for applications designed for it.
  • Long Filenames: Support for up to 255-character filenames was a highly appreciated feature.
  • Multitasking: Improved ability to run multiple applications concurrently without significant slowdowns or crashes.
  • Internet Integration: Later versions and add-ons facilitated easier internet access, though initial versions lacked a browser.
• Weaknesses:
  • Stability Issues: Despite improvements, it was still prone to crashes (e.g., Blue Screen of Death) compared to more robust OS like Windows NT.
  • Security: Lacked robust security features, making it vulnerable in networked environments.
  • Hardware Compatibility: While Plug and Play was innovative, it wasn't always flawless, especially with older or non-PCI hardware.
  • Resource Demands: While modest, optimal performance often required more RAM and a faster processor than the stated minimums.
  • Reliance on MS-DOS: Still had an MS-DOS foundation, which limited its true 32-bit capabilities and stability in some areas.
• Recommended Use Cases:
  • Historically, it was the primary operating system for home and business PCs during its active support period.
  • Currently, its use is limited to retro computing, historical preservation, or running very specific legacy applications in isolated virtualized or physical environments.

Summary

Microsoft Windows 95 was a groundbreaking consumer-oriented operating system, released to manufacturing on July 14, 1995, and generally available on August 24, 1995. It merged MS-DOS and Windows into a single product, introducing a revolutionary graphical user interface featuring the iconic Start menu, taskbar, and desktop shortcuts. This made personal computing significantly more accessible and user-friendly. Key innovations included 32-bit architecture, preemptive multitasking for 32-bit applications, support for long filenames, and the Plug and Play standard for easier hardware installation. The latest stable version was OEM Service Release 2.5 (OSR 2.5), released in November 1997, which notably added USB support and the FAT32 file system.

Technically, Windows 95 required a minimum of an Intel 386DX processor with 4 MB of RAM and 50-55 MB of hard disk space, though 8 MB RAM and a 486 processor were recommended for optimal performance. Its compatibility with existing 16-bit applications and drivers was a major strength, ensuring a smooth transition for users. However, support for Windows 95 officially ended on December 31, 2001, with its end-of-life for sales to OEMs by December 31, 2002, and no further patches or support from January 1, 2003.

The security status of Windows 95 is critically low by modern standards. While it offered basic features like unified logon and user/share-level security, it was not designed for the pervasive internet threats of today and lacks any contemporary security updates or certifications. Its performance, while groundbreaking for its era, is severely outdated, and it is incompatible with most modern hardware and software.

User feedback at the time highlighted its intuitive GUI, Plug and Play capabilities, and improved multitasking as major strengths. Weaknesses included occasional instability (Blue Screen of Death) and rudimentary security.

In summary, Microsoft Windows 95 was a pivotal operating system that democratized personal computing through its user-friendly interface and improved technical foundation. Its strengths lay in its innovative GUI, enhanced compatibility, and significant performance improvements over its predecessors. However, its weaknesses, particularly in security and modern compatibility, render it obsolete for contemporary use. Recommendations for its use today are strictly limited to historical study, retro gaming, or running specific legacy applications in isolated, non-networked environments.

The information provided is based on publicly available data and may vary depending on specific device configurations. For up-to-date information, please consult official manufacturer resources.