| Version of the Windows 9x operating system | |
 | |
 A screenshot of Windows 98, displaying its desktop, taskbar, Active Desktop, and Welcome To Windows 98 Window | |
| Developer | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Source model | Closed source |
| Released to manufacturing | May 15, 1998 |
| General availability | June 25, 1998 |
| Final release | Second Edition (4.10.2222 A) / June 10, 1999[1] |
| Platforms | IA-32 |
| Kernel type | Monolithic kernel (DOS) |
| License | Commercial software |
| Preceded by | Windows 95 (1995) |
| Succeeded by | Windows Me (2000) |
| Official website | Windows 98 at the Wayback Machine (archived October 12, 1999) |
| Support status | |
| Mainstream support ended on June 30, 2002[2] Extended support ended on July 11, 2006[2] | |
Windows 98 is a consumer-oriented operating system developed by Microsoft as part of its Windows 9x family of Microsoft Windows operating systems. It is the second operating system in the 9x line, as the successor to Windows 95. It was released to manufacturing on May 15, 1998, and generally to retail on June 25, 1998. Like its predecessor, it is a hybrid 16-bit and 32-bit[3] monolithic product with the boot stage based on MS-DOS.[4]
Windows 98 is web-integrated and bears numerous similarities to its predecessor. Most of its improvements were cosmetic or designed to improve the user experience, but there were also a handful of features introduced to enhance system functionality and capabilities, including improved USB support and accessibility, and support for hardware advancements such as DVD players. Windows 98 was the first edition of Windows to adopt the Windows Driver Model, and introduced features that would become standard in future generations of Windows, such as Disk Cleanup, Windows Update, multi-monitor support, and Internet Connection Sharing.
Microsoft had marketed Windows 98 as a "tune-up" to Windows 95, rather than an entirely improved next generation of Windows.[5]
Upon release, Windows 98 was generally well-received for its web-integrated interface and ease of use, as well as its addressing of issues present in Windows 95, although some pointed out that it was not significantly more stable than Windows 95.
Windows 98 sold an estimated 58 million licenses and saw one major update, known as Windows 98 Second Edition (SE), released on June 10, 1999.
After the release of its successor, Windows Me in 2000, mainstream support for Windows 98 and 98 SE ended on June 30, 2002, followed by extended support on July 11, 2006 along with Windows Me's end of extended support.
- ^ "Microsoft Announces Immediate Availability of Windows 98 Second Edition". June 10, 1999. Archived from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ a b Microsoft. "Microsoft Support Lifecycle". Support. Archived from the original on January 6, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ^ Microsoft (November 15, 2006). "How 16-Bit and 32-Bit Programs Multitask in Windows 95". Support. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ^ Microsoft (February 20, 2014). "Windows 95 Architecture Components". TechNet. Archived from the original on October 17, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2015.
- ^ Mossberg, Walter S. (May 14, 1998). "Windows 98 Offers Users Useful, Not Vital, Features". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on October 14, 2019. Retrieved October 14, 2019.