Photos: A tour through the history of Microsoft's Windows

Windows 1

Windows 1 had a colour 16-bit interface, and many of its basic programs - Paint, Notepad, Clipboard, the clock and calendar - are still in current versions.

Microsoft pushed out new versions of Windows 1 each year, but continued supporting the original interface until the version was withdrawn in late 2001. Windows 1.0 required a minimum of 256KB, two double-sided floppy disk drives and a graphics adapter card. To run multiple programs - or when using DOS 3.0 or higher - you'd need a hard disk and 512KB memory.

Fun fact: Windows 1 was originally meant to be called "Interface Manager', but Microsoft's head of marketing at the time convinced the executive team 'Windows' would be more appealing.

Windows 2.0

The version was designed for Intel's 386 processor, which landed just prior to Windows 2.0's arrival. The following year Microsoft would become the world's largest PC software maker.

Windows 3

Much of its success was due to its graphics - it's the first time Windows could compete with Apple's Macintosh on interface. It had 16 colours and boasted better performance and an improved user interface.

Microsoft also debuted File Manager, Print Manager and Program Manager, which are still included in Windows today. Later on a CD-ROM drive and sound card were also made available.

To the future dismay of bosses everywhere, Windows 3.0 included Solitaire, Hearts and Minesweeper. As the company said at the time: "Now you can use the incredible power of Windows 3.0 to goof off."

Windows 95

It also featured the ability to switch between 32-bit and 16-bit and offered internet support.

Windows 95 broke the company's previous sale records by selling 7 million copes in five weeks. At the time of its launch, eight in ten PCs globally were running on Windows or MS-DOS.

Microsoft released five different versions of Windows 95 in the three years until it was superseded by Windows 98.

But despite record sales, system crashes, hardware detection problems and buggy drivers meant users weren't entirely happy with the OS.

Windows 98

It also debuted Microsoft's web browser Internet Explorer - which initially didn't go down so well and attracted a court case over claims Microsoft was operating a monopoly.

Windows ME/2000

But Windows ME did bring with it some features of the OS that still feature in Windows today, such as Movie Maker and System Restore.

Alongside the launch of Windows ME came Windows 2000 professional, which was the last of the NT OSes. Until then Microsoft had two separate lines for its operating systems, with Windows NT aimed at business PCs. Windows 2000 had a great reputation among business users for being able to get work done due to its ease of use, stability and internet compatibility.

Windows XP

Windows users were most taken with the redesigned user interface, which included the first overhaul to the Start menu. Windows XP was launched in two major editions: Home and Professional. Windows XP sold around 400 million copies within its first five years.

The operating system remained incredibly popular even after Microsoft released newer versions of the operating system - mostly due to its ill-received successor Windows Vista. Windows 7, which was the 2009 successor to Vista, only overtook XP in terms of market share towards the end of 2011.

Windows XP remains so popular that the likes of the US Navy and a number of Australian government departments and businesses are willing to fork out shedloads to Microsoft to keep providing patches after it ended support for XP in the middle of last year.

Windows Vista

Microsoft's main goal was the improve the security standing of its Windows operating system, which it achieved.

But Vista's high system requirements, restrictive licensing terms, lengthier boot time and efforts to clamp down on copyright infringement meant its take-up within the Windows user base was below expectations. As a result of the complaints, many users who might have wanted to upgrade from Windows XP decided to instead stick with what they knew.

Windows 7: The Redeemer

Arguably the best version of Windows to date, Windows 7 offered significant stability, security and user interface improvements over previous versions.

It also provided new features such as 'snap', 'peek' and 'shake' for multi-tasking and functionality, and marked the debut of Windows Touch - taking into account an increasingly mobile world based on touchscreens.

Windows 7 sold over 100 million copies in six months and still continues to hold just under half the entire OS market share to this day.

Windows 8

The company's aim was to improve the operating system for the increasingly popular tablet market, but the touch-optimised design failed to translate to the desktop - resulting in less-than-stellar sales. The later 8.1 version Microsoft released addressed a number of user concerns, but didn't fully win disgruntled Windows fans over.

The initial reaction to the just-released Windows 10 operating system indicates Windows 7 users may skip Windows 8 altogether for version 10 - making Win8 another Vista for Microsoft.

Windows 10

Windows 10 also welcomed Microsoft's personal assistant Cortana and the new Edge default well browser, as well as support for fingerprint and facial recognition.

Time will tell if it can match the popularity of Windows 7, but early signs look promising.