Chapter Summary

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The following points summarize the key concepts in this chapter:

A New Operating System

• Windows 95 and 98 represent the new generation of operating system technology for personal computers.
• It replaces the older MS-DOS and Windows 3.x systems with a new 32-bit operating environment offering better memory management, and simplified hardware installation.
• The new desktop operating environment offers an improved user interface and easier networking tools.
• Unlike Windows 3.x (which is an operating environment), Windows is a full operating system and does not rely on MS-DOS. MS-DOS (often called MS-DOS 7.0) is available for the purpose of maintaining backward compatibility.
• Windows 95 supports long filenames, but retains a 8.3 filespec directory for backward compatibility.
• Windows 95 supports multithreading and multitasking.

Installing and Configuring Windows 95

• Installing Windows 95 is a simple process. It can be installed as an upgrade to a MS-DOS/Windows 3.x system or as a stand-alone operating system. It can also be installed in a dual-boot system with either Windows 3.x or Windows NT.
• Hardware installation is simple with support for Plug and Play. Hardware management is made simple by using the Device Manager.

How Windows 95 Works

• The Registry is the biggest difference between Windows 95 and Widows 3.x. The registry replaces the .INI configuration files used by Windows 3.x, although they can still be used to provide backward compatibility.