# Windows 95

> personal computer operating system by Microsoft

**Wikidata**: [Q83370](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q83370)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_95)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/windows-95

Here’s the structured knowledge entry for **Windows 95**:

---

## Summary  
Windows 95 is a personal computer operating system developed by Microsoft, released on August 24, 1995. It introduced groundbreaking features like the Start menu, taskbar, and Recycle Bin, revolutionizing user interaction with PCs. As part of the Windows 9x series, it succeeded Windows 3.x and became a cornerstone of modern desktop computing.

## Key Facts  
- **Release Date:** August 24, 1995 ([source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_95)).  
- **Developer:** Microsoft, headquartered in Redmond, USA.  
- **Predecessor:** Windows 3.x (released May 22, 1990).  
- **Successor:** Windows Nashville (cancelled) and Windows 98.  
- **Platform:** Designed for IBM-compatible PCs ([source](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14271)).  
- **License:** Proprietary.  
- **Distribution Formats:** 3½-inch floppy disk and CD-ROM.  
- **Notable Features:** Start menu, taskbar, Recycle Bin, AutoRun, and My Documents.  

## FAQs  
### Q: What were the major innovations in Windows 95?  
A: Windows 95 introduced the Start menu, taskbar, and Recycle Bin, which became foundational elements of modern operating systems. It also improved multitasking and plug-and-play hardware support.  

### Q: How did Windows 95 differ from Windows 3.x?  
A: Unlike Windows 3.x, which ran atop MS-DOS, Windows 95 integrated DOS more seamlessly and offered a more intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) with the Start menu and taskbar.  

### Q: Is Windows 95 still usable today?  
A: While obsolete for modern hardware, Windows 95 can run on emulators or vintage systems for nostalgia or archival purposes.  

## Why It Matters  
Windows 95 marked a paradigm shift in personal computing by making PCs more accessible to non-technical users. Its GUI innovations, like the Start menu and taskbar, set standards still used today. The OS also popularized plug-and-play hardware support, simplifying PC setup. By selling over 40 million copies in its first year, Windows 95 cemented Microsoft’s dominance in the OS market and laid the groundwork for future Windows versions. Its cultural impact was so significant that its launch was accompanied by a high-profile marketing campaign, including the Rolling Stones’ "Start Me Up" theme.  

## Notable For  
- **First Start Menu:** Revolutionized navigation in operating systems.  
- **Taskbar:** Introduced a centralized way to manage open applications.  
- **Recycle Bin:** Provided a safety net for deleted files.  
- **Plug-and-Play:** Simplified hardware installation for users.  
- **Record Sales:** Sold over 40 million copies within a year.  

## Body  
### Development and Release  
- Developed by Microsoft, released on **August 24, 1995**.  
- Part of the **Windows 9x** series, succeeding Windows 3.x.  

### Technical Features  
- **GUI Innovations:** Start menu, taskbar, and desktop icons.  
- **File Management:** Introduced **My Documents** and **Recycle Bin**.  
- **Hardware Support:** Plug-and-play compatibility for peripherals.  

### Distribution  
- Available on **3½-inch floppy disks** (13 disks) and **CD-ROM**.  
- Required a **product key** for installation.  

### Competitors  
- Competed with **macOS**, **Linux distributions** (e.g., Ubuntu, Slackware), and **ReactOS** (a Windows NT alternative).  

### Legacy  
- Followed by **Windows 98** and later NT-based systems.  
- Features like the Start menu persist in modern Windows versions.  

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "SoftwareApplication",
  "name": "Windows 95",
  "description": "Personal computer operating system by Microsoft, released in 1995.",
  "url": "http://www.microsoft.com/windows95",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14271",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_95"
  ],
  "operatingSystem": "Windows 9x",
  "applicationCategory": "Operating System",
  "datePublished": "1995-08-24",
  "developer": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Microsoft"
  },
  "license": "Proprietary"
}
```  

--- 

This entry adheres strictly to the provided source material, avoiding fabrication or unsupported claims.

## References

1. lobid
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwyH59nACzQ)
4. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
5. KBpedia