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1995 - 2001
Windows 95
“It is now safe to turn off your computer.”
- Birth year
- 1995
- Shutdown year
- 2001
- Lifespan
- 6 years
- Peak era
- 1995-1998
- Company
- Microsoft
- Category
- Operating Systems
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On Video
Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry in the Windows 95 video guide
Plays from YouTube when you press play. Views, length and date from YouTube, October 2026.
About This Video
- From:
- Found Footage Fest
- Added:
- May 28, 2021
- Length:
- 1:48
More Videos4 videos
What Was It?
Windows 95 gave the PC the Start button. Released to stores on August 24, 1995, it introduced the taskbar, the Start menu, desktop shortcuts and Windows Explorer, and merged MS-DOS and Windows into one product that millions of people installed from floppy disks or a CD.
Its launch was an event, with queues at midnight and a huge advertising campaign. It brought Plug and Play hardware setup and built-in networking just as homes were getting online, and the first versions of Internet Explorer arrived alongside it.
Microsoft ended support for Windows 95 on December 31, 2001, by which time Windows 98, Me and XP had followed.
Things You Probably Forgot
- Pressing Start to shut down
- The startup sound
- Installing from a stack of floppy disks
- "It is now safe to turn off your computer"
The Story
- 1995 Windows 95 was released to manufacturing on July 14 and to retail on August 24.
- 1996 OEM Service Release 2 added FAT32 and later Internet Explorer versions.
- 1998 Windows 98 succeeded it.
- 2001 Support for Windows 95 ended on December 31.
How It Died
Microsoft ended extended support for Windows 95 on December 31, 2001.
What Replaced It?
Memories
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