Windows NT4

Windows NT 4.0

A version of the Windows NT operating system
A screenshot of Windows NT Workstation 4.0 SP6, showing the Start menu and Windows Explorer
Developer	Microsoft
Source model	Closed source
Released to manufacturing	31 July 1996; 20 years ago (1996-07-31)
General availability	24 August 1996; 20 years ago (1996-08-24)
Latest release	4.0 SP6a (Build 1381) / 26 July 2001; 15 years ago (2001-07-26)
Platforms	IA-32, Alpha, MIPS, PowerPC
Kernel type	Hybrid
License	Commercial proprietary software
Preceded by	Windows NT 3.51 (1995)
Succeeded by	Windows 2000 (2000)
Official website	http://www.microsoft.com/ ntworkstation/default.asp (Defunct)
Support status
Embedded	Mainstream support ended on 30 June 2003 Extended support ended on 11 July 2006
Server	Mainstream support ended on 31 December 2002 Extended support ended on 31 December 2004
Workstation	Mainstream support ended on 30 June 2002 Extended support ended on 30 June 2004

Windows NT 4.0 is a preemptively multitasked,graphical operating system, designed to work with either uniprocessor or symmetric multi-processor computers. It was part of Microsoft's Windows NT line of operating systems and was released to manufacturing on 31 July 1996. It is a 32-bit Windows system available in both workstation and server editions with a graphical environment similar to that of Windows 95.

The successor to Windows NT 3.51, Windows NT 4.0 introduced the user interface of Windows 95 to the Windows NT product line, including the Windows Shell, Windows Explorer (known as Windows NT Explorer), and the use of "My" nomenclature (e.g. My Computer). It also includes most applications introduced with Windows 95. Internally, Windows NT 4.0 was known as the Shell Update Release (SUR). While many administrative tools, notably User Manager for Domains, Server Manager and Domain Name Service Manager still used the old graphical user interfaces, The Start Menu in Windows NT 4.0 separated the per-user shortcuts and folders from the All users shortcuts and folders by a separator line. Windows NT 4.0 includes some enhancements from Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95 such as the Space Cadet pinball table, font smoothing, full window drag, high color icons and stretching the wallpaper to fit the screen. Windows Desktop Update could also be installed on Windows NT 4.0 to update the shell version and install Task Scheduler. The Windows NT 4.0 Resource Kit included the Desktop Themes utility.