Microsoft Windows DOS

Background
Windows is a series of computer operating systems distributed by Microsoft Corporation. The first public build launched on November 20th, 1985.

Note: The music and/or sounds on these screens are the sounds played by the computer at some point during the system log in. Most of the sounds are not heard on the screens themselves. The usage dates are determined by the release date of the system, up to the date that all support to the OS is discontinued.

(May 8, 1985-July 27, 1989)
Codenames:


 * Windows 1.0: "Interface Manager", "Window Manager"
 * Windows 2.x: "Windows 1.1", "Windows 1.5"

Screen: On a blue (or black depending on what graphics adapter you use) background, we see two segmented copies of the then-current Microsoft logo merging together. Afterwards, the words 'Microsoft Windows' with the version/revision number below appear, along with a copyright stamp at the bottom of the screen.

Variants:


 * For the screen’s first years (1985-1987), the Microsoft logo from that time was used instead.
 * On computers with an Intel i386 microprocessor, the “Microsoft Windows” text is extended to “Microsoft Windows/386”.
 * A similar variant for computers with an Intel 80286 microprocessor exists, with the text extended to “Microsoft Windows/286”.
 * On beta builds, the version/revision number is replaced with the build’s nickname.
 * On Developer’s Beta 1 of Windows 2.x, the screen is shifted upwards slightly.
 * The language of the screen can vary depending on which country your computer came from (France, Nederlands, Germany, etc.).
 * On build 1.33 of Windows 3.00, the Microsoft logo is replaced with "Windows 3.0" (set in a font similar to that of said logo), the version number is removed, the copyright stamp is slightly different and most notably, "Microsoft Windows" is replaced with "We Believe in Magic!".
 * OEM releases use either a modified version of this screen or a custom one entirely. For a full list, see the OEM Variants section.

FX/SFX: The copies of the Microsoft logo merging and the text appearing.

Sounds: None.

Availability: Ultra rare.


 * First appeared on Windows Beta Release and later made it's retail debut on Windows 1.01 (with the former being released exclusively to beta testers, hence the name).
 * The normal version with the then-current Microsoft logo debuted on Windows 1.04.
 * The microprocessor variant made it's first appearance on Windows 2.01, which was released exclusively to users of the Compaq DeskPro 386 computer.
 * Additionally, the Intel 80286 sub-variant debuted on Windows 2.1.
 * It made it's final retail appearance on Windows 2.11 and it's final internal appearance on build 1.33 of Windows 3.00 (albeit with the latter using a variant).
 * Some beta versions became lost media, with their only proof being their screens. Although for Windows Preliminary Release 0.50, some of it's core files were found as leftovers in Windows Premiere Edition.
 * Excluding virtual machines, computers running either version are very hard to find in modern times, especially after their discontinuation on December 31, 2001.

Editor's Note: One of the first startup screens to have some kind of animation accompanying it.

(January 2, 1990-October 20, 1991)
Codenames:
 * Windows 3.00: "Windows 3.0"
 * Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions 1.0: "Multimedia Windows"

Screen: A more modern version of the previous screen.


 * The background color is now blue-violet (or for some graphics adapters, dark blue), with the color of the Microsoft logo being a brighter shade of said color.
 * The Microsoft logo now takes up part of the top half of the screen.
 * “Microsoft Windows” is shortened to just “Windows”, is bigger, is set in the Times New Roman font and has a gray dropshadow. There is also a small trademark symbol next to it.
 * The version/revision number is replaced with just “Version 3.0”. It is also now set in the Times New Roman font, much like the “Windows” text.
 * The copyright stamp has a slightly different order.
 * The entire splash is now in the 4:3 aspect ratio instead of the 16:9-esque one seen in the previous splash.

Variants:
 * On build 55, the colors of the background and the Microsoft logo are swapped (with the background in light blue and the Microsoft logo in the regular blue, much like the previous splash’s background color).
 * On the IBM OEM release of Windows 3.0A, a capital "A" is added to "Version 3.0".
 * A special variant exists for Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions 1.0. The "Version 3.0" text is replaced with "graphical environment with Multimedia Extensions 1.0" (with "Multimedia Extensions 1.0" below "graphical environment with"), and below that is the logo for Multimedia PC. To make room, "Windows" is slightly shifted upwards.
 * A different version of the variant might have existed. Here, the Multimedia PC logo is slightly different. The version text is also different as it instead says “Version 3.0 + Multimedia Extensions 1.0”, and below that is “for the”, making the full text read: “Windows Version 3.0 + Multimedia Extensions for the Multimedia PC”.
 * On Windows MDK Version 59 (which is the beta version of MME 1.0), "Version 3.0" is extended to "Version 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions".
 * On the first two betas of Windows 3.1, the 0 in "Version 3.0" is replaced with a 1, making it read "Version 3.1". Starting with build 34f, a box was added below which reads: "BETA RELEASE (number)"
 * On build 43e, the phrase “THIS PRODUCT IS A PRE-RELEASE VERSION AND MAY BE USED ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE MICROSOFT WINDOWS NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT." is added.

FX/SFX: None.

Startup Sound (Music/Sounds):
 * Windows 3.00; Windows 3.1 builds 26-43e: None.
 * Windows MDK Version 59ː
 * Startup: A door creaking. (doors.wav)
 * Shutdown: None.
 * Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions 1.0:
 * Startup: Bells jingling. (bells.wav)
 * Shutdown: Water flowing. (water.wav)

Availability: Extremely rare. Only on computers running Windows 3.0, Windows Multimedia Extensions 1.0, or early Windows 3.1 beta releases.

Editor's Note: None.

Windows 3.1x
===Windows 3.1: (December 17, 1991-November 10, 1994 [end of production], December 31, 2001 [discontinued]); Windows for Workgroups: (April 4, 1992-December 31, 1993 [end of production], November 1, 2008 [discontinued])===

Codename(s):
 * Windows 3.1 - "Janus"
 * Windows for Workgroups
 * 3.1 - "Winball", "Sparta"
 * 3.11 - "Snowball"

Background: The earliest beta build of Windows 3.1 dates back to January 1991. Windows 3.1 included improved system stability, expanded support for multimedia, an updated font family (now called "TrueType"), and workgroup networking.

Nicknames: "Windows Flag", "Classic Windows Flag", "TADA!"

Screen: We see a turquoise rectangle in the center of the screen. Inside the turquoise rectangle, the then-current Windows logo could be seen (consisting of 4 panels, red, green, blue and yellow in a "flying" black window pane.) Underneath of that are the words "Times" in a serif font. Underneath of that, in a smaller serif font, are the words "Times". At the bottom of the rectangle is a copyright notice.

Variants:
 * The final beta release of Windows 3.1 contains a small white rectangle with the text "Final Beta Release" in it, which is placed in between "Version 3.1" and the copyright notice.
 * On Windows 3.2 Chinese, the version number is changed to '3.2' and there's Chinese characters under it.
 * On Version 3.11, it's says "Version 3.11" under the 'Windows' text.
 * On portable touchscreen devices (not so portable at the time), "Times" is added into the logo; somewhat like this: "Times" is tilted 90 degrees counterclockwise, "Times" is right next to "Times". Below that is "Times", and below all that is "Times". Everything else is as is.
 * On business computers, "MICROSOFT" is tilted 90 degrees counterclockwise, "WINDOWS" is much more stretched, and "FOR WORKGROUPS" is seen below the logo. The rest is as is.

FX/SFX: None.

Startup Sound (Music/Sounds):
 * Startup: A "TA-DAAA" sound effect used by the system, called "tada.wav".
 * Shutdown: Descending chimes, another sound effect used by the system, called "chimes.wav".

Startup Sound (Music/Sounds) Variant: Windows for Workgroups Version 3.11 uses "chimes.wav" for both the startup and shutdown.

Startup Sound (Music/Sounds) Trivia: In Roblox's early years (2006-2012), every time you'd complete something in a level, collect a badge or use a face changer model, the Windows 3.1 Startup would be heard. Although some games on the website such as Work at a Pizza Place uses Windows XP's "tada.wav".

Availability: Very rare. Only on computers running on Windows 3.1 or 3.11.

Editor's Note: The sound can startle a few. The music sounds cheap and unfitting.

(August 24, 1995-December 31, 2000 (mainstream support), December 31, 2001 (extended support)
Codename(s): "Chicago"

Background: Windows 95 was the first version of Windows to introduce features such as the Start button and the task, which are still included to this day, and additionally introduced a major graphical overhaul that still persists in modern Windows versions to this day.

Screen: On a picture of a blue, partly cloudy sky, we see the Windows logo from before, this time tilted down to the right and the inner panels being slightly transparent, in the center of the screen above the logo for the operating system, which consists of the name "Microsoft", in white and above and on the left side of the operating system's name, which is "Windows", in black, next to "95", in white. In the top-right corner of the screen is Microsoft's logo of the time, in black, and at the bottom of the screen is a loading bar that consists of a white bar with a blue gradient segment that scrolls from left to right as the operating system loads.

Startup Sound (Music/Sounds):


 * Startup: Starts with a short synthesized bell tune made up of two notes and a quick series of ascending notes before playing a light five-note piano tune accompanied by soft strings. This was composed by Brian Eno and is also known as "The Microsoft Sound".
 * Shutdown: The same "tada.wav" used by Windows 3.1x.

Availability: Very rare in modern times. Only on computers running on Windows 95.