Do you remember Windows 1.0? Chances are, your answer is “no.” When Microsoft released the very first version of Windows nearly 25 years ago, on Nov. 20, 1985, it was late to the game and little used.

On November 20, 1985, over two years after it was first announced by Microsoft, the company finally released Windows 1.01. It was Microsoft's first attempt at a GUI PC operating system. Ten days ago, ...