Did you know? Windows 95 used three different operating systems during setup

Raymond Chen, a longtime Microsoft software engineer, explained the deliberate design choice behind the three distinct user interfaces used during the Windows 95 setup process, transitioning from DOS to Windows 3.x, and finally to the classic Win9x GUI. The setup program was designed to run on three different operating systems – MS-DOS, Windows 3.1, and Windows 95 – to upgrade systems from different starting points, with each component handling specific tasks to streamline development and reuse a single codebase. Chen’s insights shed light on the sophisticated multi-OS support within the Windows 95 setup program, showcasing the intricate process of upgrading systems from various computing environments.

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