Since I've read Windows User Experience Interaction Guidelines (there's a PDF download avaliable) I've found it to be admirably self-deprecating, humbly pointing out their own horrible UI practices long scolded by Joel Spolsky.
I'd like to know, however, what they had in mind while they made those mistakes. Is this (terrific) UX Guidelines document something new, or were there previous issues of such? If so, where can I find them? My prayers to Google yielded no leniency.
EDIT: The bounty will be awarded to anyone who finds an official (Microsoft) UX or UI guideline published before Windows XP.