Microsoft introduced Windows 95, a landmark personal-computer operating system, in August 1995.
Windows 95 unified features that had previously been associated with separate Microsoft environments. It introduced the Start menu, taskbar, and long-file-name support, while also incorporating improved 32-bit capabilities. Its launch became a major consumer technology event, supported by a large advertising campaign and the use of the Rolling Stones song “Start Me Up.”
Microsoft had been founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975, initially developing software for microcomputers. The company became a major force in personal computing through MS-DOS, Windows, and applications such as Microsoft Office.
Microsoft later diversified into enterprise software, cloud computing, gaming, and professional networking. Windows 95 should not be confused with Windows 3.1, its predecessor, or Windows 98, which followed it in 1998.