Microsoft's Windows Desktop Update was an optional feature included with Internet Explorer 4, which provided several updated shell features introduced with the Windows 98operating system for older versions of Microsoft Windows. It included features such as Active Desktop and tight IE4 integration with the Windows Explorer. It was downloadable as part of IE4 for all versions of Windows 95 except Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2.5 (4.00.950C) which included IE4 (but not slipstreamed) and installed it after Windows 95 was setup. It was also available as part of IE4 for Windows NT 4.0. It was not included in any later version of Internet Explorer (IE5 onwards). Microsoft is one of few companies engaging itself in the console wars Where they are up against sony, nintendo, and of course sharps new console which may cause a threat. ... It has been suggested that Internet Explorer 7 be merged into this article or section. ... In computing, a shell is a piece of software that provides an interface for users (command line interpreter). ... Windows 98 (codenamed Memphis) is a graphical operating system released on June 25, 1998 by Microsoft and the successor to Windows 95. ... An operating system (OS) is a set of computer programs that manage the hardware and software resources of a computer. ... Microsoft Windows is the name of several families of proprietary software operating systems by Microsoft. ... Active Desktop is a feature of Microsoft Internet Explorer 4. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Windows Shell. ... Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. ... Windows NT 4. ...
Updates
Updates to the Windows Desktop Update was part of IE 4 hotfixes and service packs. Later, shell security updates for Windows 95 and Windows NT 4 included both the update to the Windows Desktop Update version and the original version. Also sometimes the Windows Desktop Update version and the update to the original version was packaged separately.
The Windows Desktop Update also added the ability to create desk-bands like the quicklaunch bar. It also updated the Windows file manager, explorer.exe (also a shell), to be more modular and extensible.