Windows XP dropped in October 2001 and instantly became the operating system everyone actually liked using. It ditched the clunky Windows 2000/ME vibe and gave us that smooth, colorful interface with the iconic green Start button and blue taskbar. XP was built on the rock-solid NT core, which meant fewer crashes, and over the years it got major updates like Service Pack 1 (2002), SP2 (2004) with real security fixes, and SP3 (2008) to keep it alive way longer than anyone expected. This OS powered everything from family PCs to office workhorses, and if you remember that “Bliss” wallpaper, you already feel the nostalgia.