Windows NT 4

Windows NT 4 is the network operating system that was introduced following the Windows NT 3.51 operating system. Because Windows NT 3.51 is not found in many organizations today and is not on the Network, this tutorial does not discuss it. You will, however, know if you are working on a Windows NT 3.51 server because the graphics might look unfamiliar. Windows NT 3.51 uses the graphical interface of Windows 3.x, whereas Windows NT 4 and later versions have the look of the Windows 95/98/Me type of desktop.

Two versions of Windows NT 4 are available: Windows NT Workstation and Windows NT Server. The former is designed for desktop use, and the latter is for servers. Windows NT Workstation is a scaled-down version of Windows NT Server. It is based on the same code as Windows NT Server, and the two versions share a similar look and similar features. Unlike Windows 95 client systems, which accommodate games and older DOS-based programs, Windows NT Workstation was built for reliability and security.

Although Windows NT 4 has been superseded by Windows 2000 and Windows XP, many servers are still operating with Windows NT 4. Microsoft is providing less and less support for Windows NT now because it hopes that organizations will make the switch to the new generation of Windows products. Still, Windows NT continues to function adequately for many organizations, making the likelihood that you will encounter Windows NT very great.