Microsoft

Visual history: Windows splash screens from 1.01 to 10

By // March 4, 2016, 3:44 AM PST

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  • Windows splash screens from 1.01 to 10

    Ever since the dawn of the Windows operating system, Microsoft has used splash screens to distract us while the OS is loading. In addition to their entertainment value, the Windows splash screens have typically provided us with feedback on the progress of the (sometimes lengthy) startup process.

    In this gallery, you’ll be able to browse through all the splash screens from Windows 1.01 to Windows 10.

  • Windows 1.01

    Microsoft released Windows 1.01 on November 20, 1985

  • Windows 2.03

    Microsoft released Windows 2.03 on November 1, 1987

  • Windows 3.0

    Microsoft released Windows 3.0 on May 22, 1990

  • Windows 3.1

    Microsoft released Windows 3.1 on March 18, 1992

  • Windows For Workgroups 3.11

    Microsoft released Windows For Workgroups 3.11 on November 1, 1993

  • Windows NT 3.1

    Microsoft released Windows NT 3.1 on July 27, 1993

  • Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server

    Microsoft released Windows NT 3.1 Advanced Server on July 27, 1993

  • Windows NT Workstation 3.5

    Microsoft released Windows NT Workstation 3.5 on September 21, 1994

  • Windows NT Server 3.5

    Microsoft released Windows NT Server 3.5 on September 21, 1994

  • Windows NT Workstation 3.51

    Microsoft released Windows NT Workstation 3.51 on May 30, 1995

  • Windows NT Server 3.51

    Microsoft released Windows NT Server 3.51 on May 30, 1995

  • Windows 95

    Microsoft released Windows 95 on August 24, 1995

  • Windows NT Workstation 4.0

    Microsoft released Windows NT Workstation 4.0 on August 24, 1996

  • Windows NT Server 4.0

    Microsoft released Windows NT Server 4.0 on August 24, 1996

  • Windows 98

    Microsoft released Windows 98 on June 25, 1998

  • Windows 98 SE

    Microsoft released Windows 98 SE on May 5, 1999

  • Windows 2000 Professional

    Microsoft released Windows 2000 Professional on February 17, 2000

  • Windows 2000 Server

    Microsoft released Windows 2000 Server on February 17, 2000

  • Windows ME

    Microsoft released Windows ME on September 14, 2000

  • Windows XP Home

    Microsoft released Windows XP Home on October 25, 2001

  • Windows XP Professional

    Microsoft released Windows XP Professional on October 25, 2001

  • Windows XP 64-Bit Edition

    Microsoft released Windows XP 64-Bit Edition on October 25, 2001

  • Windows Server 2003

    Microsoft released Windows Server 2003 on April 24, 2003

  • Windows XP SP2

    Microsoft released Windows XP SP2 on August 6, 2004

  • Windows Vista

    Microsoft released Windows Vista on January 30, 2007

    Windows Vista’s splash screen actually has two parts to it, here we have the progress bar…

  • Windows Vista

    …and here, we have the glowing Windows orb.

  • Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2

    Microsoft released Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 on October 22, 2009. Both had the same splash screen.

  • Windows 8/8.1

    Microsoft released Windows 8 on October 26, 2012. Almost one year later, on October 17, 2013, Microsoft released Windows 8.1.

    Windows 8 and 8.1 had the same splash screen. (Windows Server 2012 was released on September 4, 2012. Windows Server 2012 R2 was released on October 18, 2013. Both shared the same splash screen as Windows 8/8.1)

  • Windows 10

    Microsoft released Windows 10 on July 29, 2015. (Windows Server 2016 is expected to be released some time in the third quarter of 2016.)

    The Windows 10 splash screen is identical to the Windows 8/8.1 splash screen. My guess would be that Microsoft wisely decided to expend more effort into making the operating system better rather than creating a new splash screen.

Windows splash screens from 1.01 to 10

Ever since the dawn of the Windows operating system, Microsoft has used splash screens to distract us while the OS is loading. In addition to their entertainment value, the Windows splash screens have typically provided us with feedback on the progress of the (sometimes lengthy) startup process.

In this gallery, you’ll be able to browse through all the splash screens from Windows 1.01 to Windows 10.

Related Topics:

Microsoft Software Enterprise Software Collaboration Mobility Cloud Hardware

By Greg Shultz

Greg Shultz is a freelance Technical Writer. Previously, he has worked as Documentation Specialist in the software industry, a Technical Support Specialist in educational industry, and a Technical Journalist in the computer publishing industry.