Windows
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Introduction
At the time of this edit, the Microsoft Windows family of operating systems runs the vast majority of the world's personal computers. How did Windows rapidly become the dominant operating system on the planet?
Background
History
Predecessors
CPM
The CP/M Operating System, first written by Gary Kindall in PL/M, a language of his own invention, in 1975. It was written for the Intel 8080 CPU, which was the power behind such legendary machines as the Altair 8800 and the IMSAI 8080, one of which was used in the movie 'War Games'. The system was very popular among those early computer users, and saw the introduction of many new devices, such as the 5 1/4" floppy disk drive and the hard disk drive. In 1980, when IBM was building its first PC, they went to Gark Kindall, who didn't think the system would take off. It might interest you that one or two years later, the CP/M-86 OS was released independantly of IBM, and cost about ten times what the then-new MS-DOS system. Overall there is very little difference between Digital Research's CP/M and Microsoft's MS-DOS, with the exception of hardware compatibility and the CPUs they ran on.
DOS
DOS stands for Disk Operating System. A product called MSDOS was released by Microsoft in 1981 for the IBM Personal Computer. It offered file system access to fat partitions and had tools for editing, programing, and management.
Later versions would support a semi-graphical navigator, and the ability to mount remote shares.
MSDOS had an long-lasting effect on the computer world, a very scaled down version of MSDOS was present in every Windows OS until the recent Windows XP (and the Windows NT Operating Systems, Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and the soon to be Windows XP x64 Edition).
OS/2
(include OS/2 for Windows and explain source code overlap with Windows)
Inception
Microsoft was not the first company to investigate the use of a Graphical User Interface, or GUI, to control a personal computer. That distinction belongs to the Xerox Corporation's Palo Alto Research Center (Xerox PARC). Xerox demonstrated seven key ideas whose strategic importance were immediately apparrent to both Microsoft and Apple, and critical to the success of both the Apple Macintosh and Microsoft Windows:
1. The use of a windowing system to give a user common presentation and operation of differrent applications,
2. The concept and use of a mouse to navigate that system,
3. A clear demonstration that multitasking (running several applications at the same time) could actually be useful to home and business users,
4. The demonstration of a laser printer, which significantly increased the potential for desktop publishing,
5. That a computer could potentially be used by an operator with little or no training,
6. That such an operator, once familiarized with the system, would be strongly opposed to moving back to a more complicated environment,
and
7. That such a computer could be networked.
The impact of that final idea took a long time to be fully realized-- Windows certainly did not embrace it, or even support it, initially-- but the whole package really was demonstrated that long ago.
Why Xerox wasn't able to capitalize on its own strokes of genius would be (and, indeed, is) another book, in and of itself.
16-Bit Versions
(286/386/486; explain)
Windows 3.0 - 3.1
(stub)
(explain use of 386 protected mode and why this was important; note that apps, and significantly, device drivers, are still 16-bit)
Windows for Workgroups
(stress importance of being first version to really support networking; possibly compare Banyan Vines, Novell Netware, etc.; also eval those for Predecessors section above)
32-Bit Versions
Windows NT
(stress independence from DOS and differrences from consumer Windows version: kernel, multitasking model (preemptive instead of cooperative), driver model
Windows 95
The first 32-bit Operating System in the Windows Family outside of Windows NT. But still, it is easier to crash than Windows NT (but harder to crash than Windows 3.1), and relative to Windows NT, not very stable. This project has been abandoned years ago.
Windows 98
(stress changes in driver model; USB support; GUI changes)
Windows 2000
This version of Microsoft Windows preceded Windows XP. Its core functionality is very similar, but it lacks some of the features later added to XP. Many continue to use 2000 instead of XP, because they believe the extra XP features are unnecessary and cause the computer to run slower.
Windows Me
This version of Windows was meant to bring an end to the 95/DOS line of OS's. It featured new features in the multimedia area such as Windows Movie Maker 1.0. It also had other important new features such as System Restore. Most of the new features were continued into Windows XP making XP what it is.
Windows XP
Windows XP was originally released in year 2001. It included improved graphics, more user-friendly environment. As per Microsoft, Windows XP was built on Windows 2000 so it is supposed to have much more Stability (you can not expect crashproof windows), Higher security (currently released SP2 provide a little bit of higher security). It's main feature additions were from Windows ME.
Windows 2003 Server/Advanced Server
64-Bit Versions
There is currently support for the 64-bit Intel Itanium processor in Windows Server 2003 Enterprise and Datacenter editions, supporting up to 64 Itanium CPUs in the later.
Only AMD has released a functioning x86 64-bit series of processors. Intel does have plans to release x86 64-bit processors although this is mostly meaningless because there is no current functioning Windows x86 64-bit operating system for x86 64-bit CPUs. I say in theory because there is an x86 64-bit Longhorn beta and there is also a beta of Windows XP however neither of these system are ready for continual use. It should be noted at this point that there are some Linux distributions that have 64-bit versions and these versions work as expected according to my knowledge.
Note also that there are computers based on the 64-bit IBM Power chips that are used in the G5 Macintosh computers that are running the Windows NT kernel. These "Macs running Windows" are used for game development on the future generation Xbox that will use IBM Power CPUs.
(explain existing 64-bit CPUs-- AMD, Intel, etc.)
Windows Vista
This version of Microsoft Windows, due for release mid-2006, is the next major upgrade for the Windows operating system.
Until the product name was revealed in July 2005, Windows Vista was known as 'Codename Longhorn'.
It includes major changes graphically. Translucency and other visual effects are highly used. Also, applications are now switching over to the .NET framework. (Add something more about core like avalon, and GUI)
Design Goals
(UI similarity; consistent experience; ease of use; hardware abstraction; compatibility; etc. should this poop be above the versions list? is it more useful for strategy context for the version descriptions that follow, so that the booger evolution becomes apparrent, or down here as a summary of modern goals?)
Installation
This chapter will explain how to install Windows. Since installation is fairly similar between versions-- with important, and sometimes subtle, differences-- we will example how to install Windows XP, Home Edition, and then review the differences for other versions. This chapter explains only the basics; once you're up and running, check out the Configuration chapter to personalize your system.
Make sure that whatever you are installing, that you have a copy of the files you need stored in a safe place, even if it's on a separate partition. You're generally better off wiping the partition with your old operating system so as to remove all the incompatible files, viruses, spyware and general clutter/temp files that all computers accrue over their lives.
Installing Windows XP, Home Edition
Depends if you install from booting a CD or from running the setup program from another version of Windows. It's better to boot from the disk, this way you can alter your partitions before you install whereas otherwise you may find yourself being forced to install it over an old copy.
Differences for Windows XP Professional
So close to the installation as Windows Home as to make no difference.
Differences for Windows MCE base-2004-2005
(stub)
(not that many people will actually ever see these screens but that only makes it more important that this information be listed somewhere)
Differences for Windows 2003 Server
The microsoft os to host web pages and ftp sites. the open source Apache project is the leader in server software. Win 2003 Ser only has like 30% of the niche market.
Configuration
(place chapter intro here)
Basic Configuration
(how to set the machine name, time, etc.; NOT networking)
Appearance and Environment
(display settings and properties; wallpaper; themes; etc.)
Networking
The workgroup is usually set up when the operating system is first installed. This choice can be edited from the network wizard later on. Once a computer has a network (basically before it's first boot) it can trade files with other computers on that network.
(basic Workgroup and Domain configuration; NOT connection sharing, firewall stuff, etc.; that goes into Advanced Stuff)
Printers
(needs to be below networking because this should explain network printers; explain how to add a printer; how to change the default printer; how to change the printing defaults; when to choose PCL vs. PS when printer offers both; parallel vs. USB vs serial vs. network; explain FAX send can be a printing device, etc.)
Accessibility
(handicapped access; explain Magnifier, text-to-speech, voice recognition, etc., including a -brief- discussion of third-party options)
Electronic Mail
Outlook Express
By default, Microsoft Windows includes Outlook Express to allow access to electronic mail.
For further details, please see the Outlook Express User's Manual. For details about the full version of Outlook, available with Microsoft Office, please see the Outlook User's Manual.
Mozilla Thunderbird
A rather more secure e-mail program than Outlook Express and works almost exactly the same.
Further details: http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/
Using Windows
Windows comes with a variety of software, paint, Notepad and in later versions Word, Browser, E-mail client and so on. A great variety of Freeware, Shareware and commercial packages are available.
Basic Operation
Optimizing Performance
The problem is that the effects of many tweaks are a bit iffy. There are some programs that work and some tweaks that, while they have an effect, are not something that you are likely to notice. Generally the Internet Speed tweaks and XPLite programs are worth using. Beyond that though, don't bother. If things like the appearance settings and NTFS Last Access Stamp tweaks noticeably improve your speed then you would be better off running either Win98SE or Linux, conversely they all have some effect and removing unneded features does help.
Tweaks Worth Using
Nlite (Program)
Turn Off System Restore (service)
Internet Speed
General Tips
Several programs work for almost all Windows versions.
X-setup (http://www.x-setup.net/) Excellent tweaking program, comes well recommended.
DH TuneXP (http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4194) Free tweaker program, has useful tweaks.
SG TCP/IP Optimizer (http://www.speedguide.net/downloads.php) Use this for fast internet tweaking.
cFos Homepage (English) (http://www.cfos.de/index2_e.htm) Get the packet shaping software from here.
XpLite (http://www.litepc.com) Very useful in removing parts of Windows 2000 and Xp systems.
Nlite (http://nuhi.msfn.org/) Fulfills the same function as XpLite but instead works on a windows XP CD image which is then transformed into a bootable CD. This program is freeware and more versatile than XpLite.
Processor Scheduling
When using Windows 2000 and XP there is an option to retry your operating system allocates processing power to programs. this is governed by registry entry called Win32PrioritySeparation and the values for this are allocated as follows...
Start with zero and add numbers as follows
The ratio of foreground to background priority
3:1, add 2.
2:1, add 1.
1:1, add 0.
Length of the quanta
Variable lengths: add 4.
Fixed lengths: add 8.
Te intervals between switching quanta.
Shorter: add 32.
Longer: add 16.
By default it is set to "2" which is equal to "38", setting it to backround processeses sets it to "24". Note that this value is in decimal. Personally I use a value of "36" for the best all-around benefit. This value allows all programs to work seamlessly even at 100% processor usage; mind you this is on a P4 so your mileage may vary.
Internet Speed
Generally optimizing an Internet connection involves tweaking the MTU (maximum transmission unit)and the receive window. The MTU controls how much data is in every download packet, larger settings improve efficiency by reducing overhead and require fewer acknowledgment packets. The receive window sets how much data is to be received before needing to send an acknowledgment packet, this setting does not need to be a multiple of the MTU and should be as large as reasonably possible.
It would also be worth the time to set up a packet scheduler. Generally doing heavy uploading and downloading at the same time would slow down your connection, with a a packet scheduler this is less of an issue. Additionally, some packet schedulers like cFosSpeed allow for prioritizing specific programs like games over more bandwidth intensive but less interactive applications like FTP clients.
Trimming the OS
Litepc creates software to trim operating systems. Removing unused parts of the OS is beneficial in several ways. It reduces the amount of disk space that the OS takes up, removes possible security issues and results in less of a RAM hit. XPLite allows for currently installed operating system to be altered while NLite (as previously mentioned) does the same to a CD image. XPLite leaves corrupted registry entries and is less versatile than Nlite.
Side Note
On a final note it is important to know what any changes actually do, besides "provides speed boost" and how they affect your computer. I have had many incidents where the accruation of "tweaks" served to slow the computer down. Don't rely on being able to undo them with the program.
Windows CE
Consumer edition of windows. Used with consumer electronics. Most notably used with the revolutionary Sega Dreamcast video game console.
Windows 9x
Windows Xp / 2000 / Server 2003
Beforehand it should be noted that 2000 is often acknowledged to provide better performance with real world use (Several programs running at the same time). It lacks some of the features of XP including the themes but is essentially the same and uses the same drivers.
There are some tweaks that do not require specialized software.
Control Panel>System
Advanced>Performance Settings>
Disabling features will reduce the overhead on any action and some users can notice significant performance benefits from deselecting everything. Font smoothing, especially if using ClearType, will depend heavily on the graphics card, disabling it may have a significant effect.
Paging File
There are plenty of recommendations on this, the one that makes the most sense is to set the minimum to cover normal system use like 256 or 512 MB which will not require it to change in size while in general use but to set the maximum much higher to cover contingencies. The default will work fine in most cases, note that setting the minimum higher will result in paging file fragmentation, something that is a pain to fix and will give a speed hit.
Cluster Size
This represents the cluster size on a partition, generally bigger means less fragmentation as files expand and slighly higher disk speed as less data is spent on overhead, conversely it wastes space as each file takes up a minimum of one cluster. The default seems to do fine. Altering the cluster size on the partition with the Master Boot Record may cause problems. Also, the default cluster size (4KB on NTFS / Windows XP) allows the computer to transfer data without using extra buffering.
Services.msc / Msconfig
Run>services.msc
Really there is no reason why anyone should bother with this section. Unless disabling security flaws removing services causes no end of interesting errors and will free up around 7-12MB.
One benefit to using services.msc to msconfig is that services can be set to manual. However most services will not properly start up, I reccommend to use Run>msconfig after identifying what services are necessary to disable them, they can also be restored to Windows default by clicking select all.
Services that are critical or that are needed and may not start otherwise should be set to Automatic while the oher Automatic services should be set to Manual. This will theoretically cause them to only start when needed (again, it should be noted that this is almost never true). Note that some services are set to disabled by default on Windows Server 2003, these are Windows Xp features that are generally not needed by a server, if they are required they must first be enabled at services.msc.
Xsetup
UDMA/66
Hardware>Hard Disk
This must be enabled on Windows 2000 as it is disabled by default. If your system is capable of UDMA/66, enable it, if the system is not capable then rebooting will untick the box.
Prefetching
System>File system>Windows Prefetching
Windows prefetcher will monitor an application's startup sequence and Windows boot. After three application startups or three Windows boot ups, it creates a .PF file in the Windows Prefetch folder for the application or the associated boot item. This file is referenced anytime the application is launched but only when it is launched and NOT before. Windows uses the information in the applications's .PF file to optimally load the necessary files associated with the application loading into memory. Such as DLL A before B ect... Windows also uses this file when the defragmenter is run to layout all necessary files that the application uses to startup in sequence on the harddrive to further improve application load time. The same things happen during boot up but only in relation to files used for the boot process. Applications that are not loaded on startup are NOT precached or preloaded into Memory during boot. They are not precached at any time. This is NOT a cache and the .PF files should NOT be deleted or "cleaned". Manually deleting .PF Files does nothing but force Windows to recreate the .PF file if it is missing the next time the associated application is launched. This is a waste of time. Simply leave the .PF files and the Prefetch folder alone. Windows will automatically clean it as necessary in relation to uninstalled applications. Prefetching is NOT Caching, it is a new feature of Windows that improves application load and boot time performance automatically.
File System
System>File system>Windows NT/2K/XP Options>Windows File System Options
These are generally useless features, note that disabling the last access time stamp can cause windows cleanup to have interesting ideas on what is useless data. Disabling the creation of short file names may cause issues in some programs as well as pretty much all programs written for dos. Conversely you are unlikely to use those programs and it will help when dealing with folders that have many files that start the same.
RAM
System>Memory
Unloading dll files instantly can cause system instability, conversely extra ram is always a good thing. Instability will only occur in very rare circumstances however if you start the same programs over and over this could be beneficial. This depends on how much ram you have though leaving it as it is may be the best choice.
Disabling paging will force the computer to keep more of the system in RAM. This will also prevent the computer from entering sleep mode. Windows will NEVER page the core kernel & drivers (that would cause a crash) , however it is willing to page a part of it's systems. This setting causes more of the system to not be paged, probably won't help your game speed but if you run RAM heavy programs it will prove beneficial. Theory being that the programs will page but not the Windows core which should do less of a performance hit.
Cacheman
Just one setting, may improve performance, may do nothing.
Settings>Cache
Set the bottom box to "Balance"
It would be a good idea to stop Cacheman starting with Windows which you can do from the Options bar; it's worth noting here that "RAM Recovery" is generally agreed to be completely worthless, don't use it.
Other Links
Optimize Xp (http://mywebpages.comcast.net/SupportCD/OptimizeXP.html) Wonderful site, also includes links to tweaking myths.
Other Platforms
Windows CE
Ancient times
Microsoft was trying to enter the PDA market years before the release of the first Windows-powered hadhelds. First development initiatives happened as early as 1990. When Apple's Newton MessagePad emerged, Microsoft decided to begin development of the new OS.
The WinPad project would be a revolution in the user inteface design. With the touchscreen and handwriting recognition support, the project promised brand-new user experience. However, the mobile devices' hardware was not ready for such an operating system at that moment. The main fault of the developers was possibly the attempt to use portions of the existing kernel modules' code. The project was closed in 1994.
At the same time, Microsoft worked on the Pulsar project. The concept of a multipurpose wire- and keyboardless device featuring unique architecture was too pathbreaking, and Microsoft discarded this idea as well.
(to be continued...)
(...and PocketPC... and Handheld PC... and so on... make some sense of this mess for the reader! this of all things is clear as MUD even to developers!)
Windows XP Embedded
(stub)
SmartPhone
(stub)
Crap that is all I have to say....You can not push data to the thing...It just goes away and does not answer
Automotive
(stub)
Microsoft's Development Cycle
(explain how a new version of Windows is conceptualized, designed, timelined, developed, put in beta, and released)
The Windows Version Lifecycle
This should be brutally obvious. As a version is released it is rapidly discovered that there are millions of bugs (errors), exploits and and miscellaneous issues. This leads to a large stream of patches being released sometimes being condensed into a service pack. As the program ages and newer systems are released the support will be discontinued so as to force users to upgrade.
(explain how a Windows version is serviced-- Service Packs, Windows Update, etc-- and finally obsoleted; explain how support options change and eventually evaporate)
The Future
Vista
Blackcomb
See Wikipedia article Windows Blackcomb.
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