| Windows Version | Bit Architecture | Native Arabic Support | Phonetic Layout Support | |----------------|------------------|----------------------|--------------------------| | Windows 95 | 32-bit only | Limited (ANSI only) | Requires third-party driver | | Windows 98 / SE | 32-bit only | Improved (but no Unicode) | Requires third-party driver or registry hack | | Windows 2000 / XP | 32-bit & 64-bit (XP 64 rare) | Full Unicode | Built-in or third-party | | Windows Vista / 7 | 32-bit & 64-bit | Full Unicode | Built-in (Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator) | | Windows 8 / 10 / 11 | 32-bit & 64-bit | Full Unicode | Official downloadable layouts |
Most phonetic layouts (often called "Arabic QWERTY") map Arabic characters to their English counterparts based on sound (e.g., 'A' for Alif, 'S' for Seen). | Windows Version | Bit Architecture | Native
Findings
Abbas, A. M., Hassanein, M. M. A., & El-Hakim, M. S. (2015). Design and implementation of an Arabic phonetic keyboard. Journal of Computer Science and Technology, 30(3), 531-539. (2015)
Windows 95 and 98 used the system for non-Latin scripts. They lack the modern "Keyboard Layout Creator." 'A' for Alif
That specific title tells you everything about the era.
El-Hakim, M. S., Abbas, A. M., & Hassanein, M. M. A. (2016). Arabic keyboard layouts: A comparative study. Journal of King Saud University - Computer and Information Sciences, 38(2), 163-172.