• Source:JND
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Microsoft:  Users of Microsoft Windows across the globe were hit by a massive outage on Friday when their computers faced a 'Blue Screen of Death' issue. Disruptions were reported across multiple countries, including India, the US, the UK and many European nations. The issue caused by a faulty Windows update by cyber security firm CrowdStrike was resolved on Friday, however, its residual impact might continue to affect some systems, Microsoft said.

The global outage severely impacted airlines, banking, flight operations, law enforcement agencies, stock markets and healthcare services. While private entities rushed to tackle the issue by turning to the manual mode, governments convened emergency response meetings to counter the problem.

Meanwhile, CEO of global computer giant Microsoft, Satya Nadella said that 'they are aware of this issue and are working closely with CrowdStrike and across the industry to provide customers technical guidance and support to safely bring their systems back online.'

One of the biggest IT outages also evoked people's interest in the company and its journey with the windows. Here's a brief summary of what is Microsoft and how it became an operating system giant.

What is Microsoft

Headquartered in Redmond, Washington DC, Microsoft Corp is one of the largest American multinational technology companies. Currently ranked at the 14th number in the list of US Fortune 500, it was founded by famous Businessman and philanthropist Bill Gates and his partner Paul Allen on April 4, 1975, to develop and sell BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800.

Microsoft Corp made the world feel its presence in mid 1980s with its unique operating system MS DOS. The company witnessed a meteoric rise after the launch of Windows on November 20, 1985.

Key Milestones in Microsoft's Journey:

1. Internet Tidal Wave Memo (1995): Microsoft began redefining its products and expanding into computer networking and the web, gaining a significant early presence on the World Wide Web.

2. Windows 95 Release (1995): Launched with pre-emptive multitasking, a new user interface, and bundled Internet Explorer, Windows 95 became a quick success with massive marketing efforts.

3. Entry into Gaming (2001): Microsoft introduced the Xbox, featuring a powerful Intel Pentium III processor, marking its entry into the video game console market.

4. Leadership Changes (2000): Bill Gates handed over the CEO role to Steve Ballmer while retaining a new position as Chief Software Architect, and later stepping down in favor of Satya Nadella in 2014.

5. Windows XP and Xbox Expansion (2001-2005: Windows XP unified the OS lines, and the Xbox 360's release expanded Microsoft's hardware offerings, leading to a significant market impact.