Windows 98, released in 1998, was a major refinement of the Windows 95 experience and became one of the defining operating systems of the late ’90s. Built on the Windows 9x architecture, it offered improved hardware support, faster boot times, USB compatibility, better multimedia performance, and a more polished user interface. Its strong gaming support and wide driver availability made it the go-to platform for PC enthusiasts during the golden era of late-90s computing. Today, Windows 98 remains a favourite in the retro community for its blend of nostalgia, broad software compatibility, and ability to run smoothly on classic hardware.