Microsoft introduced Windows in 1985 and later became one of the world’s most valuable businesses.
Microsoft released Windows 1.0 on November 20, 1985. It was a graphical operating environment designed to run on top of MS-DOS, and it helped make personal computers more accessible to users who preferred windows, menus, and icons over command-line instructions.
The company had already gained major attention through its BASIC interpreter and the MS-DOS operating system. Its later growth came from Windows, Office, enterprise software, cloud computing, gaming, and professional networking through LinkedIn.
Windows 1.0 was not a complete replacement for DOS and looked very different from modern Windows. Microsoft’s market value has been supported by several businesses rather than by the Windows operating system alone.