Launching Windows 95
The start of "Start."
Chris Wild
Aug. 24, 1995
Mikol Furneaux waves two copies of Windows 95 at a midnight launch at a store in Sydney, Australia.
Credit: TORSTEN BLACKWOOD/AFP/Getty Images
Twenty years ago, amid great fanfare, Microsoft released Windows 95, its feverishly anticipated new operating system.The launch was hyped by a $300 million marketing campaign, including a “cyber sitcom” showing off the new features. Friends stars Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry made cameos. Commercials for Windows 95 played The Rolling Stones song “Start Me Up,” heralding the introduction of the now-iconic Start button.In addition to the Start button, Windows 95 introduced the task bar, and added support for filenames up to 250 characters (a thrilling feature at the time) and “Plug and Play” support for installing new hardware. Many electronics stores held midnight launches for the product, with thousands of people waiting in line to be the first to get their hands on the operating system.The release was a tremendous success. Microsoft sold 7 million copies in the first five weeks, and Windows 95 was soon the most popular operating system on the market.
Apr. 25, 1995
Microsoft CEO Bill Gates announces the Aug. 24 release date of Windows 95 at the Comdex Computer Show in Atlanta, Georgia.
Credit: DAVID MURRAY JR./AFP/Getty Images
Aug. 22, 1995
A manager assembles a Windows 95 display at Computer City in Vienna, Virginia.
Credit: PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images
A wholesale distributor unpacks copies of Windows 95 in Hong Kong.
Credit: TOMMY CHENG/AFP/Getty Images
Microsoft CEO Bill Gates speaks on a television above a Windows 95 display at a store in Vienna, Virginia.
Credit: PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images
Microsoft CEO Bill Gates launches Windows 95 before a crowd of thousands in Redmond, Washington.
Credit: THERESE FRARE/AFP/Getty Images
4 MB RAM, 50-55MB hard drive space - Windows 95 System Requirements
Dame Edna Everage takes part in a launch event in Sydney, Australia.
Credit: Patrick Riviere/Getty Images
Aug. 24, 1995
Anthony Martin of the Committee to Fight Microsoft Corp. distributes leaflets outside a downtown Manhattan computer store warning consumers not to purchase Windows 95, claiming that it is not an "upgrade" and will require consumers to purchase costly additional memory for their computers.
Credit: Bob Strong/AFP/Getty Images
Aug. 24, 1995
Bill Gates is joined by comedian Jay Leno at the Windows 95 kickoff event in Redmond, Washington.
Credit: THERESE FRARE/AFP/Getty Images
Bill Gates introduces Windows 95 at an event in Madrid, Spain.
Credit: Eric VANDEVILLE/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images
A Windows 95 display, two days before its Japanese language launch.
Credit: TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images
