1975    Microsoft is founded as a partnership between Bill Gates and Paul Allen in Albuquerque, New Mexico

1981    Microsoft is restructured to become an incorporated business in its home state of Washington.

1985    Microsoft Windows 1.0 is released.

1990    Microsoft releases the Windows 3.0 operating system.

1995    Computer software developer Microsoft releases its Windows 95 operating system.

1999    The "Melissa worm" infects Microsoft word processing and e-mail systems around the world.

2000    United States v. Microsoft: Microsoft is ruled to have violated United States antitrust laws by keeping "an oppressive thumb" on its competitors.