Windows 95/98/ME® Versions Features

This document lists brief descriptions and features of Microsoft® Windows 95/98/ME operating system and add-on varieties produced by Microsoft. While you may find older versions of development tools in many places, links to the old/used programming tools sales pages of EMS Professional Software, this page's sponsor, are provided for your convenience. EMS is not affiliated with Microsoft or any other vendor. All terms on this page are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other Microsoft version information. Information on other vendors' products. Y2K info.

Some licensing information from MS OEM Sales representative Ray A., +1-800-325-1233, on 5 April 2000:
Purchases of unbranded OEM packages in the open market for resale to PC manufacturers for end user sales with new computers is OK. Unbranded sales of OEM products to end users are OK if the sale is bundled with a PC, motherboard, or hard disk drive. Branded OEM packages are subject to the license included with the branded package.

Windows 95 (buy it)

MS Part Numbers:

Windows 95 Upgrade, 3.5": W95/ISK BBNDL 95 EN NA VUP 3H W/IES: 362-00242
Windows 95 Upgrade, CD: UPDATE WINDOWS 95 (CDROM): 050-052-950
Windows 95 for PCs without Windows, 3.5": W95/ISK BBNDL 95 EN NA 3H W/IESK: 362-00241
Windows 95, Vietnamese Edition: "WINDOWS VI 85 (3.5)H": 050-031VIV950

Identification on CD face:
0795 Part No. 000-04404 - Original Windows 95 OEM, marked "For Distribution Only with a New PC"
0196 Part No. 000-27722 - Windows 95 OEM version A. Most recent directory dated 1/16/96 2:58:12PM. Files in root dated 7/11/95 9:50:00am.
0196 Part no. 000-37080 - OSR1
0796 Part No. 000-45234 - OSR2
0796 Part no. 000-45236 - OSR2 with Plus!
0197 Part No. 000-59944, 230236 - OSR2 OEM with USB Support
1297 Part No. X03-52599 - OSR2.1 plus IE on CD
1297 Part no. X03-56265 - OSR 2.5 - adds IE 4.01 and Plus!
x0350348 - unknown version and features

If Windows95 is already installed, you can determine version number by:
Right-clicking the "My Computer" icon on your desktop. Select Properties, General. Or, type VER /R at a DOS prompt.

Visit http://www.compuclinic.com/osr2faq/index.html#USB for more extensive information on Windows95 versions.

• License Pak (WINDOWS 95 MLP SINGLE USER) 0504030V950
• Original Windows95 - (first, original release), OEM package
  CD face reads: 0196 Part No. 000-27722. COA on cover of manual PN 000-06681
• Windows95 - OSR1 (Service Release 1)
  CD face reads: 0196 Part no. 000-37080
• Windows95 4.00.950B, also called OSR2 (Service release 2). The OSR2 FAQ (http://ling.ucsd.edu/~erwin/osr2.html) contains details on how to install 4.00.950B on a system that already has a version of Windows. This version is supposed to use email functions that precede those that came with later distributions that included Outlook. This version does not have USB support, but there is an update, which can only be installed on top of OSR2, called "usbsupp.exe." This update is also known as "OSR2.1." It has been released to OEMs, and is also available in MSDN. OSR2 includes new features & capabilities such as FAT32, APM improvements, Bus Mastering support, PCMCIA enhancements, CDFS enhancements, MMX support, etc. There are two different "versions" of OSR2 currently being sold in the US. The first is the "DSP" (Delivery Service Partner) version. This is the version Microsoft wants you to buy. This version is distributed only through official Microsoft OEM channels in 5 packs. This version is identifiable by the fact that it includes a second CDROM, entitled "Microsoft Windows95 Starts Here/How & Why." (This is a set of tutorial programs). The second version consists of only one CDROM (both come with manual and certificate of authenticity).
  CD face reads: 0796 Part No. 000-45234
• OSR2 with Plus!
  CD face reads: 0796 Part no. 000-45236
• OEM Version of OSR2 with USB patch included. Identified in Windows Explorer as W95_FULL_AR
  Manual rear part number 000-61171, 306547
  Manual cover states: "For distribution with a new PC only"
  Manual cover has Certificate of Authenticity with Product ID in format 99999-OEM-9999999-9999
  Manual page ii has © 1981-1995. Document No. 000-61171, 5787-05
  CD in flexible, clear plastic sleeve has red license sticker 000-32800, 609162
  CD face has © 1981-1997, 0197 Part No. 000-59944, 230236
  CD reads "Microsoft Windows95 With USB Support"
  CD files/directories dated 5/1/97 12:14pm
  Package includes:
  America Online offer, 000-44919, P00060, 5787-05, 303188
  Addendum to Software License agreement, 000-43043, 5787-05, 303187
  Registration card with attached postcards for US (0796 Part No. 000-39690, 303045)
  and Canadian (0796 Part No. 000-39690) customers.
• OSR 2.5 - includes the USB patch of OSR2.1 plus Internet Explorer 4.01 on the CD
  CD face reads: 1297 Part No. X03-52599.
  The part number for OSR2.5 with Plus! is X03-56265. Non-DSP versions may have other part numbers. "GENUINE MICROSOFT" hologram on CD hub ring. CD volume name is "Win95_OSR25." File date on files in the Win95 directory of CD is 11/26/97 12:16PM.
• OSR 2.5 - adds IE 4.01 and Plus!
  CD face reads: 1297 Part no. X03-56265
• Other CD numbers for unknown versions. Anyone know for sure what these are?
  0795 Part No. 000-04404
• Windows 95 Upgrade for users of Windows, retail box. MS part number 050-052-950. For existing Windows users.
• Special Upgrade offer. Requires MS-DOS 3.31 or later and Microsoft Windows 3.0 or later or OS/2 version 2.0 or later. Requires 4MB or RAM, 8MB or more recommended. 45MB of hard disk space, depending on what options you install.
  The single user version has box label with MS part number: 654-00212 (includes IE4)
  WIN95/ISK BNDL 95 ENGLISH NA VUP CD
  MADE IN USA
  FOR DISTRIBUTION IN USA/CANADA ONLY
  
  The Small Business Network Edition, with 5 user licenses, has box label:
  MS product number: 654-00190
  W95/ISK BBNDL 95 EN NA VUP CD 5 MUL
  MADE IN USA
  FOR DISTRIBUTION IN USA/CANADA ONLY

This from JR0959: I think the version you list under " unknown" is a version sold to the educational institutions. I typed the part number x03-50348 into a web search and got the page from Illinois school district 348. Here is some text from their web page that shows the CD part number and the version descriptions. I think that under version "C", in first part number, the "1296" may be a typographic error because I have only ever seen "1297" on the CD's.

Wabash Community School District 348.
Last Updated March 1999

Staff Technical Support :
Windows 95 Installations and Component Additions

If you're wanting to add Windows components or have corrupted system files to
overwrite, be aware that not all versions of Windows 95 are the same. You can
check your version by right-clicking "My Computer" on your desktop and
selecting "Properties." Make sure you do not use a CD ROM for an older
version.

Version 4.00.950B of Windows 95
CD ROM #0197 Part No. 000-59990 and 0796 Part No. 000-45236

This is the version which pulled together the original, PLUS!, and fixes. Not
an upgrade CD. (All upgrades from Win 3.11 need the service pack 1 patch
loaded.)

Version 4.00.950C of Windows 95 Operating System Versions, aka OSR2
ON CD ROM:1296 Part No. X03-56247 and 1297 Part No. X03-50348

Windows98 (buy it)

MS Part Numbers:

WINDOWS 98 ENGLISH NA VUP CD CCP: 730-00002
Windows 98 2^nd Edition Upgrade with Play Pack, "WINDOWS 98 ENGLISH NA VUP CD REFRESH": 730-00848
WINDOWS 98 ENGLISH NA CD REFRESH SE: 730-00847

OEM. CD face marked © 1981-1998, 1298 Part No. X04-04214

Windows 98 Upgrade (730-00002) - You qualify for this if you are a licensed user of Windows 3.x, Windows for Workgroups 3.1x, or Windows 95.

Windows 98 Second Edition Upgrade (730-00848) - You qualify for this if you are a licensed user of Windows 3.x, Windows for Workgroups 3.1x, or Windows 95.

Windows Millenium Edition (Windows ME) (Buy it)

MS Part Numbers:

WINDOWS MILLENIUM EDTN ENGLISH NA: C83-0003 (Update from Win98/Win98SE)
WINDOWS MILLENIUM EDTN ENGLISH NA: C83-0001

Windows ME OEM 3-pack carton