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Why did Windows 95 setup use three operating systems?

(devblogs.microsoft.com)
304 points mooreds | 3 comments | 17 Nov 24 19:54 UTC | HN request time: 0.717s | source
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reddalo ◴[17 Nov 24 21:02 UTC] No.42167210[source]▶
Don't modern versions of Windows do the same? For example, I clearly remember that the Windows 10 installer first launches a Windows 7-like environment.
replies(4): >>42167331 #>>42167711 #>>42168337 #>>42169513 #
1. Kwpolska ◴[17 Nov 24 23:38 UTC] No.42168337[source]▶
The installer runs in Windows PE (a stripped-down, live version of Windows). It looks like Windows Vista, because Microsoft never bothered to update the bitmaps making up the fake theme.
replies(1): >>42170904 #
2. MortyWaves ◴[18 Nov 24 09:12 UTC] No.42170904[source]▶
I thought I read somewhere recently that they finally updated the installer
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3. londons_explore ◴[18 Nov 24 12:09 UTC] No.42171701[source]▶
Remember very few people install windows in the modern world - most systems ship with windows, and then are only repaired or upgraded.

That is presumably why Microsoft doesn't put much engineering effort into the install-from-empty-disk case.