What is Windows 95?

Windows 95 is the official product name of the next major version of Microsoft Windows, and is the successor to Windows 3.x and Windows for Workgroups 3.x.

What are the key benefits and features of Windows 95? What features will Windows 95 not have?

Windows 95 will present a major step forward in functionality on desktop and portable PC platforms by providing a system that is even easier, faster and more powerful to use, and which maintains compatibility with the Windows- and MS-DOS® operating system-based applications and hardware peripherals in which customers have invested.

Ease of use will be improved through the Plug and Play architecture and a more intuitive user interface. With the introduction of the Windows 95 operating system, the engine of Microsoft Windows is being revamped to improve performance and provide smooth multitasking. Windows 95 will be a complete, integrated 32-bit operating system that does not require MS-DOS, although it can run MS-DOS-based applications. It implements the Win32® API and provides pre-emptive multitasking and multiple threads of execution for 32-bit applications. Windows 95 will include reliable and open networking support and high performance, as well as messaging and dial-up network access services.

As the successor to Windows 3.x and Windows® for Workgroups 3.x, Windows 95 will meet a number of key requirements. First, Windows 95 will be compatible with applications and device drivers for both MS-DOS and Windows. When a customer upgrades to Windows 95, performance will meet or exceed performance of Windows 3.1, as long as the customer has an 80386DX or higher system with at least 4 MB of RAM for the same set of tasks. For systems with more than 4 MB of memory, performance will be improved over Windows 3.1. The transition to the new user interface will be easy for current users of Windows, and companies that want to make the transition at their own pace will still be able to run Program Manager and File Manager during the transition period.

Windows 95 will not be processor-independent nor will it support symmetric multiprocessing systems. Windows 95 is also not designed to meet C2-level security specifications. If these features are important to a customer, Windows NTTM is the right operating system to use.

How does Windows 95 compare to the Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups and Windows NT operating systems?

Windows 95 is designed to make mainstream PCs easier and more powerful. It will be the right choice for customers who want to run business and personal-productivity applications and for use on home computers. Windows NT is designed for the most demanding business uses such as development or advanced engineering and financial applications. Windows NT is also the right choice for those who need scalability to multiprocessing and RISC systems.

What are the hardware requirements for Windows 95?

Windows 95 will run on Intel (or compatible) 80386DX or higher processors with a minimum of 4MB of memory (8MB recommended). A VGA-compatible video adapter is also required. Windows 95 is expected to use approximately 35-45 MB additional hard disk space as a typical upgrade from Windows 3.x or Windows for Workgroups 3.x, and MS-DOS (20 MB additional hard disk space required to access Microsoft Exchange and The Microsoft Network). Optional, but recommended, equipment includes a mouse, CD-ROM drive, modem, and audio card.

Why is Microsoft changing the version numbering system for Windows?

Until recently, version numbers have served us well. Version numbers helped inform customers that new versions were available and gave some sense for the significance of the improvements. However, our customer base has broadened to include less technical users, and our research indicates that even our most sophisticated customers find our current version-numbering scheme confusing. For example, Windows 3.1 provided far more new capabilities than a typical 0.1 release, and Windows for Workgroups 3.11 introduced dramatically more than the usual .01 release. We must make it easier for customers to understand which version of our software they are using, so they know when to consider upgrading to the next release.

Does this numbering system mean Microsoft will release a new version of Windows every year?

No. It means that the version numbers will help give users a sense for the "model year" of their software, in the same way that customers have a sense of the model year of their cars today.

Why will individual customers want to upgrade to Windows 95?

The sheer quantity of the improvements included in Windows 95 represents a great value for customers. Top on the list of requested improvements was an easier way to work with the PC. As a result, a new user interface was designed for Windows 95 that will help make computing even easier for both less experienced users and experienced users who want greater efficiency and flexibility.

Long file name support is one of many usability improvements in Windows 95. Improving ease of use goes beyond fixing problems with Windows - it encompasses the hardware, applications and network as well. Plug and Play will make hardware configuration automatic, and built-in networking will make starting a new network or connecting to an existing network server such as Novell® NetWare® and Windows NT Server just as easy.

Customers also want greater efficiency and power and to get their work done faster. They want to run more than one application or task at the same time. They want to use their computers to access files, electronic mail, and public-information networks from any location - at work, at home, or on the road. They also want better multimedia, whether for playing MS-DOS-based games or for teleconferencing using TV-quality video resolution. The following are highlights of capabilities in Windows 95 that address these requests:

• Preemptive multitasking. Windows 95 can perform multitasking smoothly and responsively for 32-bit applications.
• Scalable performance. The performance improvements that Windows 95 provides over Windows 3.1 increase as the amount of RAM increase, due to the high-performance 32-bit architecture of Windows 95.
• Support for 32-bit applications. Windows 95 supports the Win32 API, which means customers can look forward to a new generation of easier, faster and more reliable applications.
• Increased reliability. Windows 95 increases protection for running existing MS-DOS- and Windows-based applications and provides the highest level of protection for new 32-bit applications for Windows. As a result, an errant application will be much less likely to disable other applications or the system.
• Faster printing. Windows 95 features a new 32-bit printing subsystem that reduces the time spent waiting for print jobs to finish and improves system response when jobs are printing in the background.
• Better multimedia support. Just as Windows 3.1 made sound a part of the system, Windows 95 now includes support for video playback. The video system and CD-ROM file system will provide high-quality output for multimedia applications.
• More memory for MS-DOS-based applications. The Windows 95 use of protected-mode drivers means customers will have more than 600K free conventional memory in each MS-DOS session, even when they are connected to the network and using a CD-ROM drive and a mouse.
• Microsoft Exchange client. Windows 95 includes the Microsoft Exchange client, a universal client that retrieves messages into one universal inbox from many kinds of systems, including Microsoft Mail, faxes, Internet Mail, The Microsoft Network, CompuServe® Mail, and so on.
• Support for Mobile Computing. Users of portable PCs will benefit from the built-in support provided by Windows 95 for their hardware, with automatic hardware reconfiguration (through Plug and Play), integrated disk compression, and battery power management. Dial-Up Networking and the Briefcase help users stay organized and stay connected while on the road.
• Internet Ready. Windows 95 includes the plumbing you need to connect to the Internet-support for TCP/IP, and PPP dial-up connections is built-in, and easy access to the Internet is available through The Microsoft Network. In addition, Microsoft Plus! includes the Internet Jumpstart Kit to give you the tools to browse the "net."

Why will companies want to upgrade to Windows 95?

Companies will want to move to Windows 95 because it can help reduce their PC support burden, help increase their control over the desktop, and help increase the productivity of their end users. Numerous studies have shown that as much as 80 percent of the cost of owning a PC over the long term are the costs associated with support, including installing, configuring and managing the PC, and training the PC user. The Gartner Group has concluded that Windows 95 will likely lead to significantly lower total cost of ownership compared to MS-DOS and Windows 3.1 (PC Research Note: Personal Computing Costs: A Windows 95 Model, Aug. 15, 1994). Their model estimates the support savings will be $1,180 per user per year. Over the five-year ownership period assumed in the analysis, this translates into savings of nearly $6,000 per user.

Windows 95 includes numerous features designed to reduce the costs of supporting PCs and PC users, including the following:

• A simpler, more intuitive user interface that can reduce training requirements for novice users and enable experienced users to learn new tasks with less help. The start button, taskbar, Windows Explorer, wizards, a new help system and more will make Windows 95 easy to learn and make functionality easy to discover.
• Built-in networking support that is easier to set up and configure and is faster and more reliable to use. Whether you're running NetWare or Microsoft networks using NetBEUI, IPX/SPX or TCP/IP protocols, and using NDIS or ODI drivers, Windows 95 has integrated support for your network client, protocol and driver. Additional networks are added easily. Windows 95 includes 32-bit clients for both NetWare and Microsoft networks that are fast, reliable, and require no conventional memory. A Windows 95-based PC can have multiple network clients and transport protocols running simultaneously for connecting heterogeneous systems. In addition, Dial-Up Networking in Windows 95 makes it easy to access information on the network from remote locations in an easy, reliable, and secure manner.
• Plug and Play device installation to automate the difficult process of adding devices to a PC. Windows 95 supports the industry-standard Plug and Play specification to enable automatic installation and configuration of add-on devices. If you install Windows 95 on the system you have today and purchase a Plug and Play add-on device, you will be able to install that device by just plugging it in and turning on your system. Plug and Play takes care of the messy details of installation and configuration. Plug and Play also enables innovative new system designs that support such capabilities as hot docking and undocking.
• System-management capabilities that will simplify remote administration and enable new system-management applications. Windows 95 features an infrastructure for the management of PCs that leverages a hierarchical database of system-configuration information, called the Registry. The Registry holds all the pertinent information about the system - hardware, software, user preferences and privileges - and provides access to its contents over the network through a variety of industry-standard interfaces, including SNMP, DMI, and Remote Procedure Call. This infrastructure will simplify many administrative tasks by including tools for remote configuration of the desktop and will lead to a new generation of sophisticated system-management applications for managing the desktop, performing hardware and software inventorying, and supporting software distribution.
• System policies that enable an administrator to control a desktop configuration. Windows 95 supports policies, which are settings an administrator configures to define the operations users can access on their PCs. Policies also can be used to define the appearance of the desktop. For example, the administrator can set a policy to disable the MS-DOS prompt and the "Run" commands, to prevent users from arbitrarily running applications.
• Support for shared PCs and roving users. Windows 95 can present different configurations, depending on who has logged into the PC. This option allows users to log into different machines on the network and see their personal configurations. Many users may choose to use the flexibility of saving desktop settings by password and log-on name. For instance, for a multi-user workstation on which one user requires large-print or high-contrast settings due to a vision impairment.
• Built-in agents for automating backup of desktop systems. Windows 95 includes the software required to backup a desktop system using a server-based backup system. The backup agents included with Windows 95 work with the most popular server-based systems.

In addition to reducing support costs and increasing control over the desktop, Windows 95 will help make end users more productive. In usability-test studies, users of Windows 3.1 are able to perform a series of typical tasks that they perform today in 25 percent less time using Windows 95. These tests did not take into account many of the tasks that users would like to perform but which are too difficult today, such as installing a CD-ROM drive and sound card or retrieving a file from the desktop system or the network, while using the computer at home or traveling on business. By making these capabilities much more accessible, Windows 95 will enable customers to be even more productive using PCs.

Won't it be expensive to put Windows 95 on all the PCs in a company?

Windows 95 has been designed to provide a safe and smooth transition to the new operating system. Windows 95 will work on the hardware and software you already have through support for existing device drivers and applications for MS-DOS and Windows. On mainstream systems - those with at least 4 MB of RAM and an 80386DX processor - Windows 95 will perform as fast or faster than Windows 3.1 if all you do is upgrade the operating system. The installation program will detect and maintain current system settings and enable automated installation through a variety of techniques, including login scripts and software-distribution applications. Users of Windows 3.1 will be productive quickly, as confirmed by the thorough usability testing Microsoft conducted with users of Windows 3.1 and the learning aids that will be included with the product. A study by Usability Sciences (October 1994) showed that after a 20-minute "play period" and with the help of a computer-based tutorial, users of Windows 3.1 using Windows 95 for just 90 minutes can perform a common set of tasks nearly 50 percent faster than with Windows 3.1 - providing a dramatic increased in productivity.

The savings achieved by using Windows 95 can outweigh the costs of making the migration. The Gartner Group has estimated that migration costs can be recouped in three to six months. Good planning and deployment techniques can help keep these costs to a minimum.

Given the recent delays in the availability date, should companies delay their efforts to evaluate, test, and deploy Windows 95?

Not at all. The delay actually gives corporations a good opportunity to begin their planning now, and the Windows Preview Program made a prerelease version of Windows 95 available to support this effort. Microsoft is working hard to provide tools and assistance for corporations to do thorough migration planning - these tools include TrainCast, where a series of free training programs covering Windows 95 migration will be broadcast to VARs, support professionals, corporate helpdesk personnel, OEMs, Authorized Training Education Centers and others interested in in-depth training; and the Windows 95 Resource Kit, which is the essential source of technical information and tools for MIS managers and network administrators. Thorough advance planning can save time and money as indicated in a recent Gartner Group migration analysis. The Gartner Group believes the cost of migrating to Windows 95 can be as low as $200 per desktop by carefully planning how to train end users and support staff, how to automate the actual deployment and how to take advantage of the new capabilities built-in to Windows 95. The best starting point for IS managers interested in learning more is to attend the upcoming Windows 95 TrainCast. Call 1-800-597-3300 for more details on TrainCast.

How much testing has Windows 95 undergone?

Windows 95 has gone through a great deal of testing both internally and externally to ensure the quality of the product. With more than a year of testing to over 50,000 technical beta sites; 70,000 MSDN level II subscribers; 10,000 tracked Windows 3.x upgrades; as many as 400,000 preview kits accounting for more than 1,000,000 users; and a variety of other programs, Microsoft will have produced the most tested product in the history of software manufacturing. Some additional statistics of what the product has gone through include: over 293 person-years of internal testing; over 2 million stress tested hours; and a rigorous automated test procedure that has created over 13 billion windows, 36 billion dialog boxes, 250 million processes, and over 600 million print jobs.

Is Windows 95 a "1.0" release? Should I wait for a "1.1" release before upgrading?

No. Windows 95 is the fourth major revision of Windows. It has undergone the largest testing effort in the history of the PC industry, and is a quality product. Companies should begin evaluating now, and base their upgrade decision on the results of their testing.

What tools has Microsoft developed to help me with my planning and deployment of Windows 95? Where can I get them?

Microsoft has developed a number of tools to assist with the planning and deployment of Windows 95. These tools include the following:

Windows 95 Evaluation & Migration Planning Kit - Includes tools and documentation to determine the business impact of, evaluate, and plan for the migration to Windows 95. Tools range from a financial impact model and case studies to an interactive demo, the Windows 95 Resource Kit in help file format, and much more. This CD can be also be ordered directly from Microsoft Inside Sales at (800)-426-9400.

Windows 95 TrainCast video series - For IS Professionals interested in video training, Microsoft produced a series of educational and instructional training videos based on the Windows 95 Resource Kit. Topics include all aspects of planning, implementing and supporting Windows within an organization. For a complete list of titles and ordering information call the Traincast hotline at (800) 597-3200.

How can I tell whether the applications I use are compatible with Windows 95?

Microsoft has tested over 2,500 programs internally, and has published the results in the form of a Software Compatibility List (see the "For More Information" section at the end of this document for additional locations). If the application you use is not listed in the document, it doesn't mean it won't work, it just indicates that the application wasn't part of our internal testing effort, though it may well have been tested by users as part of our beta test program.

Do you have a similar list for hardware?

Yes. The Hardware Compatibility List identifies the hardware devices that Microsoft has tested and verified as working with Windows 95. This list is updated as additional products are tested. (see the "For More Information" section at the end of this document for additional locations).

What different packages will you have for Windows 95?

Windows 95 will be offered on diskette, and for the first time on CD-ROM. The diskette version will be available as an upgrade (for existing users of Windows, Windows for Workgroups and OS/2®), or for new installations (for users that don't have an operating system on their PC). The CD-ROM is also available as an upgrade for existing users of Windows, Windows for Workgroups and OS/2. The CD-ROM is designed for any user that has a CD-ROM drive, and will speed the time of installation. In addition, the CD-ROM will include some extras including video clips, audio wave files, and a new game.

As a companion product to Windows 95, Microsoft will be offering Microsoft Plus!, a product that will make Windows 95 PC's look and run better than ever before. Targeted at 486 and Pentium class PC's, Microsoft Plus! also makes fast and easy to get onto the Internet. For more information, see the Microsoft Plus! section below.

When will Windows 95 be available?

Windows 95 will be available on August 24, 1995. The upgrade version of Windows 95 for existing Windows and Windows for Workgroups users has an estimated retail price of $109 (choice of diskette or CD-ROM). The full version of Windows 95 for new installations with no existing version of Windows, has an estimated retail price of $209 (diskette only).

In which languages will Windows 95 be localized for, and when will they be available?

Available at the same time as the English version will be: French, German, Italian, Dutch, Swedish, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazilian) and The Pan European version (Pan European is an English version with the capability to run Eastern European applications). Portuguese (Iberian), Danish, Finnish, Norwegian.

Other localized versions of Windows 95 will come during the fall: Japanese, Chinese traditional and simplified (mainland), Portuguese (Iberian) Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Russian, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Catalan, Basque, Greek, Turkish, Korean, Thai and Slovenian. Others coming a little later: Arabic, Hebrew and Vietnamese (English-enabled).

I understand there is a new logo for Windows 95. What will it mean to me?

The new logo, which looks quite similar to the current logo, featuring the same Windows flag, will be used optionally by vendors to identify their hardware, software and peripheral products that take advantage of new capabilities in Windows 95. The logo will let customers know at a glance, for example, which CD-ROM drives are Plug and Play-enabled and which applications are 32-bit.

Vendors can obtain detailed logo requirements by accessing the Microsoft Developer Solutions Phone-Fax service at (206) 635-2222 and requesting document 130.

Is Microsoft working on versions of Windows 95 for microprocessors other than Intel-compatible microprocessors?

No, Windows 95 is designed only for Intel-compatible microprocessors, and won't be ported to other processor architectures. Windows NT is Microsoft's portable operating system, and it's already available on high-end Intel, MIPS®, Alpha AXPTM, PowerPCTM and Clipper computers.

Will MS-DOS 6.22, Windows 3.11, and Windows for Workgroups 3.11 still be available when Windows 95 ships?

Yes. These products will still be available from the same channels you presently obtain them from. We will continue to make these products available as customer demand dictates.

What will happen to MS-DOS?

Microsoft will continue to enhance MS-DOS as long as customers require it. Future versions will be derived from the protected-mode technology developed in the Windows 95 project.

How will the new user interface in Windows 95 make the PC easier to use?

The goal for the user interface for future versions of Windows is to make computers easy for all people to use. The user-interface design in Windows 95 will achieve these goals through the most extensive usability-testing effort ever (thousands of hours of laboratory testing, with hundreds of users of all levels of experience) and through feedback from various sources, including testing at customer sites, reviews with experts on training in Windows, audits by user-interface consultants, feedback from focus groups, and analysis of product-support calls.

We expect both inexperienced and experienced users will find that the changes being made to the user interface in Windows 95 make it even easier to learn and use. The system Taskbar will make all the functions most users need accessible with a single click of a button. The taskbar will show all open windows and will make it much easier to switch between windows by just clicking on a button representing that window. Instead of mastering different kinds of tools (Program Manager, File Manager, Print Manager and Control Panel) to work with different resources on their computers, users of Windows 95 will be able to browse for and access all resources in a consistent fashion with a single tool. All resources in the system will have property sheets, which present tabbed notebook style interface settings that can be directly changed; a new integrated Help system makes it easy and fast to get help at all times.

Won't a new user interface mean a lot of retraining for current users of Windows?

No. The Windows 95 user interface is designed to make experienced users of Windows 3.x productive immediately, and usability testing has found this to be the case. After a few iterations of working with the Windows 95 environment, users of Windows 3.1 are able to complete common tasks faster with Windows 95. With subtle refinements in the user interface and the addition of migration training aids during the continued testing process, productivity can be expected to improve even more.

Windows 95 will enable corporate customers and individuals who want to move gradually to the new user interface to continue running Program Manager and File Manager while they become familiar with the new user-interface features.

What is the Microsoft Registration Wizard?

The Windows 95 Registration Wizard is simply an electronic version of the paper-based registration card that will ship in the Windows 95 product box. And just like paper-based registration, online registration is completely optional.

How does the Microsoft Registration Wizard work?

The Registration Wizard helps you step by step through the process of registering your copy of Windows 95. The wizard helps you provide the same information that you would fill out using the paper registration form. For example, the wizard starts by asking your name, company name, address and phone number. It then gives you the option of sending information about your computer system's configuration (such as the processor type, amount of memory and hard-disk space) and your hardware peripherals (such as your network card, CD-ROM drive and sound card). The wizard also asks if you'd like to send information about the applications on your system. The wizard makes it easy for you to provide information about your system configuration, because it automatically queries the system registry of your computer and displays a list of your computer's configuration information. You can see all of the information,