SMRTR TechFeb 17, 2025Daily.dev

Why did Microsoft use Windows 3.1 for the Windows 95 setup?

SMRTR summary

Microsoft's Windows 95 setup used a miniature version of Windows 3.1 to bootstrap the installation, allowing engineers to use a single codebase regardless of the starting environment. This approach leveraged existing technology and expertise, as MS-DOS lacked the advanced features needed for the setup process. Today, Windows setup still follows a similar pattern, using Windows PE as the miniature operating system to initiate installation.

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