Windows NT - technical definition

(Windows New Technology) A 32-bit operating system from Microsoft for Intel x86 CPUs. NT was the core technology in Windows 2000 and Windows XP (see Windows). Available in separate client and server versions, it included built-in networking and preemptive multitasking. Windows NT was introduced in 1993 as Version 3.1 with the same user interface as Windows 3.1. In 1996, Version 4.0 switched to the Windows 95 desktop and changed some of the dialogs (see table below).

A New Lineage
Unlike Windows 95/98, NT supported multiprocessing systems (see SMP), added extensive security and administrative features and offered a dual boot capability. Designed for enterprise use, each application could access 2GB of virtual memory. NT did not support Plug and Play, which was later added in Windows 2000 and XP. NT 4 Server, Enterprise Edition supported clustering and failover in the event of system failure.

For x86 Machines Only
NT ran 16-bit DOS and Windows applications in its own emulation mode (see Windows on Windows) and also provided a command processor that executed DOS commands. Support for the PowerPC and MIPS platforms was initially planned, but later dropped. Support for Alpha servers reached beta testing stages, but was also dropped.

Following are the various versions of NT as well as Windows 2000, which followed. See Windows, Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003.

      Date          Workstation   Server
      of            Version       Version
 Ver. Intro.   GUI  Name          Name

 Windows NT

 3.1  Jul '93  PM  NT             Advanced Server
 3.5  Sep '94  PM  NT             Advanced Server
 3.51 Aug '95  PM  NT             Advanced Server

 4.0  Aug '96  95  Workstation    Server

 Windows 2000

 2000 Feb '00  95  Professional   Server
 2000 Feb '00  95  Professional   Advanced Server
 2000 Feb '00  95  Professional   DataCenter Server

 PM = Program Manager; the GUI in Windows 3.x
 95 = The GUI in 95/98/NT4/2000/XP