Ms Windows Basics - Yar

MS WINDOWS Basics

API • Abbreviation of Application Program Interface. • A set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software applications. • An API makes it easier to develop a program by providing all the building blocks. • Most operating environments, such as MSWindows, provide an API so that programmers can write applications consistent with the operating environment.

API (Contd..) • Although APIs are designed for programmers, they are ultimately good for users because they guarantee that all programs using a common API will have similar interfaces. • Two general lines of policies exist regarding publishing APIs: • Some companies guard their APIs zealously (Closed Source) • Other companies propagate their APIs freely (Open Source)

API (Contd..) • Generally lawful to analyze API implementations in order to produce a compatible one (Reverse Engineering). • However, the legal situation is often ambiguous, so that care and legal counsel should be taken before the reverse engineering is carried out. – For example, while APIs usually do not have an obvious legal status, they might include patents that may not be used until the patent holder gives permission.

MS Windows Evolution

1985: Windows 1.0 • The first version of Windows, provided a new software environment for developing and running applications that used GUIs and mouse pointing devices. • Windows users could switch among several concurrently running applications. • It included a set of desktop applications, including the MS-DOS file management program, a calendar, notepad, calculator, clock, and telecommunications programs.

1987: Windows 2.0 • Windows 2.0 took advantage of the improved processing speed of the Intel 286 processor, expanded memory, and inter-application communication capabilities. • Users could now overlap windows, control screen layout, and use keyboard combinations to move rapidly through Windows operations. • Windows 2.03 took advantage of the protected mode and extended memory capabilities of the Intel 386 processor.

1990: Windows 3.0 • The third major release of the Windows platform from Microsoft offered improved performance, advanced graphics with 16 colors, and full support of the more powerful Intel 386 processor. • Offered a wide range of useful features and capabilities, including Program Manager, File Manager, and Print Manager, A completely rewritten application development environment, An improved set of Windows icons. • Popularity of Windows 3.0 grew with the release of a new Windows software development kit (SDK).

1993: Windows NT 3.1 • "NT" stands for New Technology. • Windows NT 3.1 was a 32-bit operating system. • Was the first Windows operating system to combine support for high-end, client/server business applications with the industry's leading personal productivity applications. • Available in both a desktop (workstation) version and a server version called Windows NT Advanced Server.

Windows NT 3.1 (Contd..) • Desktop version was well received by developers because of its security, stability, and Microsoft Win32® API. • The OS broke new ground in security, performance, desktop scalability, and reliability. New features included a preemptive multitasking scheduler for Windows–based applications, integrated networking, domain server security, OS/2 and POSIX subsystems, support for multiple processor architectures, and the NTFS file system. • Result was a strategic business platform that could also function as a technical workstation to run highend engineering and scientific applications.

1993: Windows for Workgroups 3.11 • A superset of Windows 3.1 • It added peer-to-peer workgroup and domain networking support. • It was used in local area networks (LANs) and on standalone PCs and laptop computers. • It added features such as centralized configuration and security, significantly improved support for Novell NetWare networks, and remote access service (RAS).

1994: Windows NT Workstation 3.5 • Windows NT Workstation 3.5 release provided the highest degree of protection yet for critical business applications and data. • Supported for the OpenGL graphics standard. • Helped power high-end applications for software development, engineering, financial analysis, scientific, and business-critical tasks. • Offered 32-bit performance improvements and better application support, including support for NetWare file and print servers, the capability to use friendlier, long file names of up to 255 characters.

1995: Windows 95 • The successor to the three existing general-purpose desktop operating systems from Microsoft. • Integrated a 32-bit TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) stack for built-in Internet support, dial-up networking, and new Plug and Play capabilities. • Also offered enhanced multimedia capabilities, more powerful features for mobile computing, and integrated networking.

1996: Windows NT Workstation 4.0 • Brought increased ease of use and simplified management, higher network throughput, and tools for developing and managing intranets. • Included the popular Windows 95 user interface yet provided improved networking support for easier and more secure access to the Internet and corporate intranets. • In October 1998, Microsoft announced that Windows NT would no longer carry the initials NT and that the next major version of the business operating system would be called Windows 2000.

1998: Windows 98 • Windows 98 is the upgrade of Windows 95. • Described as an operating system that "Works Better, Plays Better," and was the first version of Windows designed specifically for consumers. • Users could find information more easily on their PCs as well as the Internet. • Other ease-of-use improvements included the ability to open and close applications more quickly, support for reading DVD discs, and support for universal serial bus (USB) devices.

1999: Windows 98 Second Edition • It was an incremental update to Windows 98. • Helped improve users' online experience with the Internet Explorer 5.0 browser technology and Microsoft Windows NetMeeting® 3.0 conferencing software. • Included Microsoft DirectX® API 6.1, which provided improve support for Windows multimedia, and offered home networking capabilities through Internet connection sharing (ICS). • It was also the first consumer OS from Microsoft capable of using device drivers that also worked with the Windows NT business operating system.

2000: Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me) • It was designed for home computer users. • Included the System Restore feature let users roll back their PC software configuration to a date or time before a problem occurred. Windows Movie Maker provided users with the tools to digitally edit, save, and share home videos. Windows Media® Player 7 technologies, users could find, organize, and play digital media easily. • Windows Me was the last Microsoft OS to be based on the Windows 95 code base. All future operating system products would be based on the Windows NT and Windows 2000 kernel.

2000: Windows 2000 Professional • More than just the upgrade to Windows NT Workstation 4.0, Windows 2000 Professional was also designed to replace Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT Workstation 4.0 on all business desktops and laptops. • Added major improvements in reliability, ease of use, Internet compatibility, and support for mobile computing. • It simplified hardware installation by adding support for a wide variety of new Plug and Play hardware, including advanced networking and wireless products, USB devices, IEEE 1394 devices, and

2001: Windows XP • The "XP" in Windows XP stands for "experience.” • Comes in two versions, XP Professional & XP Home Edition. • With Windows XP, Microsoft merged its two Windows operating system lines for consumers and businesses, uniting them around the Windows 2000 code base. • Home users can work with and enjoy music, movies, messaging, and photos with their computer, while business users can work smarter and faster, thanks to new technical-support technology, a fresh user interface.

2001: Windows XP 64-bit Edition • The first 64-bit client operating system from Microsoft. • Satisfies the needs of power users with workstations that use the Intel Itanium 64-bit processor. • Designed for specialized, technical workstation users who require large amounts of memory and floating point performance in areas such as movie special effects, 3D animation, engineering, and scientific applications.

FAT • Abbreviation for File Allocation table. • Due to fragmentation, a file may be divided into many sections that are scattered around the disk. The FAT keeps track of all these pieces. • In DOS systems, FATs are stored just after the boot sector. • The FAT system for older versions of Windows 95 is called FAT16, and the one for new versions of Windows 95 and Windows 98 is called FAT32.

FAT (Contd..) • FAT File System – Used by DOS. – Supported by all the other operating systems. – It is simple, reliable, and uses little storage. • VFAT – VFAT is an alternate use of the FAT file system available in Windows 95 and Windows NT 3.5. – It allows files to have longer names than the "8.3" convention adopted by DOS. – VFAT stores extra information in the directory that older DOS and OS/2 systems can ignore.

FAT (Contd..) • HPFS – HPFS is used by OS/2 and is supported by Windows NT. – Provides better performance than FAT on larger disk volumes and supports long file names. – Requires more memory than FAT and may not be a reasonable choice on systems with only low RAM.

• NTFS – NTFS provides everything. – Supports long file names, large volumes, data security, and universal file sharing. – A departmental NT file server will probably have all its partitions formatted for NTFS. Because the other operating systems cannot use it, NTFS is less

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