Windows NT 3.1

Windows NT, introduced by Microsoft on July 27, 1993, marked a significant shift in the Windows operating system’s architecture and capabilities. Designed as a powerful 32-bit operating system, it supported preemptive multitasking, multi-user functionality, and multiprocessing, distinguishing it from its 16-bit predecessors based on MS-DOS.

Windows NT’s hybrid kernel was a pioneering move, influencing modern OS architecture with features like the Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL), which allowed it to run across different CPU architectures. This was a major step forward in creating a more secure and stable environment for both servers and workstations. The introduction of NTFS, a new file system, provided improved performance and security features.

Windows NT’s impact is still felt today, as its core architecture set the foundation for subsequent versions of Windows, including the latest Windows 11 release.