Microsoft's Forgotten Recipe for Fun in the Operating System
Microsoft's Windows 95 CD was more than just an operating system, it was a party. The CD included music videos, cartoons, and games that had no relation to computing whatsoever.
According to Raymond Chen, the Microsoft engineer responsible for putting it all together, it was simply because 'it was fun.' Why does one have to justify having fun?
The Weezer video for 'Buddy Holly' was a major hit, but it wasn't easy to get on the CD. Microsoft had to negotiate directly with Geffen Records, without even consulting the band members.
When asked about the licensing process, Chen explained that they had to individually track down every actor from the Happy Days diner for permission to use their likeness in the video.
The fun didn't stop there. A 2026 post from Chen describes how the first Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows shipped with a bright red sticker reading 'Now includes TETRIS for Windows!' because the Tetris licensing deal had not closed by the time the boxes went to print.