<P> In 1993, Microsoft released Windows NT 3.1, the first version of the newly developed Windows NT operating system . It was not based on DOS and, as a result, was a fully 32 - bit operating system, unlike the hybrid 16 - bit kernel, 32 - bit applications model used in Windows 95, 98 and Me . At the same time, it introduced NTFS, a file system designed to replace the inferior File Allocation Table (FAT) which was used by DOS and the DOS - based Windows operating systems . In 1996, Windows NT 4.0 was released, which included a fully 32 - bit version of Windows Explorer written specifically for it, making the operating system work just like Windows 95 . Windows NT was originally designed to be used on high - end systems and servers, however with the release of Windows 2000 (codenamed NT 5.0), many consumer - oriented features from Windows 95 and Windows 98 were included, such as the Windows Desktop Update, Internet Explorer 5, USB support and Windows Media Player . These consumer - oriented features were continued and further extended in Windows XP, which introduced a new theme called Luna, a more user - friendly interface, updated versions of Windows Media Player and Internet Explorer, and extended features from Windows Me, such as the Help and Support Center and System Restore, all while retaining the robustness and stability of Windows 2000's kernel . Windows Vista focused on securing the Windows operating system against computer viruses and other malicious software by introducing features such as User Account Control, while also including many consumer features such as Windows Aero, updated versions of the standard games (Solitaire, etc .) to show off the 3D capabilities of Vista, Windows Movie Maker, and Windows Mail to replace Outlook Express . Despite this, Windows Vista was critically panned for its poor performance on older hardware and its at - the - time high system requirements . Windows 7, as such, was focused on simplifying Windows Vista . Despite technically having higher system requirements, reviewers noted that it ran better than Windows Vista did . Windows 7 also removed many extra features, such as Windows Movie Maker, Windows Photo Gallery and Windows Mail, instead requiring users download a separate Windows Live Essentials to gain those features and other online services . Windows 8 and Windows 8.1, a free upgrade for Windows 8, introduced many controversial features, such as the removal of the Start menu and the introduction of the Start Screen, the removal of the Aero glass interface in favor of a flat, colored interface as well as the introduction of "Metro" apps (later renamed Universal Windows Platform apps) and the Charms Bar user interface element, all of which were criticized . </P> <P> The current version of Windows, Windows 10, reintroduced the Start menu, while retaining the Universal Platform apps, but instead allowing them to run in a window instead of always in full screen . Windows 10 was very well received, with many reviewers stating that Windows 10 is what Windows 8 should have been . Windows 10 also marks the last version of Windows to be traditionally released . For the future, Microsoft will no longer release new versions of Windows and instead introduce major updates to the operating system that add new features, so far 3 of which have been released (see Windows 10 section below). </P> <P> The first independent version of Microsoft Windows, version 1.0, released on November 20, 1985, achieved little popularity . The project was briefly codenamed "Interface Manager" before the windowing system was developed - contrary to popular belief that it was the original name for Windows and Rowland Hanson, the head of marketing at Microsoft, convinced the company that the name Windows would be more appealing to customers . </P> <P> Windows 1.0 was not a complete operating system, but rather an "operating environment" that extended MS - DOS, and shared the latter's inherent flaws and problems . </P>

What is the oldest version of microsoft windows