Microsoft C 7.0 already had a C++ compiler and an early
version of MFC in
1992. But you're right: it was when Visual C++ 1.0 came out in 1993 that C++ became
really popular among developers targeting Windows. VC1.0 introduced "wizards"
msc was really good in those days. As a systems guy I used to study its generated
assembly code which was extremely good. However today's gcc uses advanced
instructions too, thus also very good, whereas all the unix cc's of the 90ths known
to me were rather naive, simple lex&yacc derived.
The "wizards" also were very good making gui programmig much easier.