Development of Windows XP
Encyclopedia
Development of Windows XP
started in 1999 in the form of Windows Neptune
. Windows XP was developed for 18 months, from December 1999 to August 2001, and was released on October 25, 2001.
subscribers in 1999 (though it is still debated as to whether it was an alpha release or a Technology Preview). It was developed from the Windows 2000
codebase. "Neptune" was intended to be the next consumer version of Windows after Millennium. Only build 5111 was distributed outside of Microsoft.
In early 2000, it was reported that the development teams working on Neptune and Odyssey, an update to Windows 2000 for business users, had been amalgamated to work on a new project codenamed Whistler, which was eventually released as Windows XP.
Build 2223.1 (with a build tag of main.000411-2307) was released on April 11, 2000, and was previewed at the WinHEC (Windows Hardware Engineering Conference) in late April 2000.
On June 30, 2000, Microsoft announced the start of the "Whistler" technical beta program.
Starting from build 2202, Microsoft introduced the new UI technology
to various builds of "Whistler". Visual Styles, as it was called during this phase, was based on a skinning engine similar to Stardock's
WindowBlinds
. During this period, Microsoft introduced the "Professional" (later renamed to "Watercolor") theme which was dropped in January 2001. Also during this period, Microsoft began development on a new look for the Start menu.
Build 2250 (with a build tag of main.000628-2110) was the first build of "Whistler" released to testers, on July 13, 2000 at the Professional Developers Conference
(PDC) in Florida
. It closely resembled Windows 2000 and Windows Me
and didn't offer many new features, but it was the first build to feature Visual Styles. It also featured a task-based Control Panel. The new Start menu Microsoft had been working on was hidden in build 2250.
Build 2257 (with a build tag of idx01.000810-2103) was released in August 2000, after a month of inactivity. This build included the new Start menu in the UI, and it was the first to feature the results of Microsoft's "clean desktop" initiative. Also, the Professional Visual Style was tweaked with new colors. This was also the first build to include Microsoft's personal firewall
.
Build 2267 (with a build tag of idx01.000910-1316) was released on October 3, 2000. It offered small improvements, but no major new features
. But it allowed the user
to modify the "look and feel" of the system with a functional Display Properties dialog. Build 2267 also introduced a "Compatibility Center", which would eventually allow users to research whether particular hardware devices are compatible with this OS.
Build 2287 (with a build tag of beta1.001012-1640) was the final pre-Beta 1 release build. It featured a redesigned setup
routine, a redesigned Help & Support Center (the previous versions were lifted from Windows Me), and some UI tweaks. It was also the first build to use Dynamic Updates, a new Setup feature.
Build 2410 (with a build tag of main.001208-1937 and idx02.001212-1507) was released to testers on January 4, 2001. It included a number of new features, such as some new high-color icons, a renaming of the Professional theme
to "Watercolor", minor changes to the simplified Start Menu
, a new sample UI
skin, some tweaks and fixes and the inclusion of Internet Explorer 6
with the new Media and IM
Explorer bars
, Outlook Express 6
, Windows Movie Maker 1.1
(not included with server editions), MSN Explorer 1.1
(not included with server editions), Windows Media Player 8.0
, and Internet Information Services 5.1
.
Build 2416 (with a build tag of idx01.010104-1958) was released to testers on January 16, 2001. It featured a more attractive Help and Support Center, MP3 support
in Windows Media Player 8, a new File and Transfer Settings Wizard, a cascading Start Menu, new performance options, and System Restore
integration with System Properties.
Build 2419 (with a build tag of idx02.010113-1154) was released to testers on January 23, 2001. It debuted the final Windows XP Setup routine, and much of the final Windows XP wallpaper selection
. It was the first build to contain Windows Product Activation, which was added to help cut down on piracy
. It was also the last build to contain the "Watercolor" theme.
Build 2422 (with a build tag of idx02.010113-1154) was released to testers on January 25, 2001. The first build with Luna Theme, Control Panel had a new background
Build 2462 (Windows XP Beta 2, with a build tag of main.010315-1739) was released on March 23, 2001.
, as well as many other connection and wireless standards, such as IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 1394, and USB 1.0", wrote Carl Stork, General Manager of Windows Hardware Strategy. "We have been and remain committed to delivering support for these new standards in Windows XP and some of our other operating system products. The issue for USB 2.0 and Bluetooth is only the timing of availability for native support for Windows, and not any decision to choose support for one technology over another. Because of the lack of production-quality devices to test, and because Windows XP must be ready for PCs that will ship for the 2001 holiday season, Windows XP will not have native support for either technology when it is first released to PC system manufacturers. Microsoft’s goal is to deliver support for both Bluetooth and USB 2.0 soon after Windows XP is first available." By late July, the company was already shipping beta drivers for USB 2.0.
Build 2469 (with a build tag of idx02.010508-1228) was released to testers on May 12, 2001. Major changes to Networking and Net card driver
s were implemented in this build. This build also included minor updates to the Home Network Wizard, the RAS client connection wizard; the Base, Kernel, Plug and Play and Power Management; performance, reliability, boot time, application launch, setup, uninstall, and Windows 98
/ME upgrades; security & directory services, mainly new restrictions on local account login using blank passwords; and help
, management, and remote desktop/assistance.
Build 2474 (with a build tag of main.010508-1907) was released internally on May 17, 2001. It wasn't given to testers, but it was the first build to feature the new Product Activation
UI, which now used new XP-style dialogs
. It was also the first build to include a beta of Windows Messenger
4.
Build 2475 (with a build tag of idx01.010514-2023) was released to testers on May 24, 2001. This build featured a new boot
up logo
with a black screen that now reads Windows XP, a new introductory movie, a Welcome to Windows screen featuring a borderless window, a waving flag
animation on the Welcome screen that was later dropped, an icon
for Remote Assistance in the root of the All Programs menu, and various tours
of Windows XP and MPXP in Help and Support. Also, Setup was branded with "RC1" text.
Build 2481 (with a build tag of main.010523-1905) was released internally on June 1, 2001 and given to testers on June 6. This build featured a number of improvements, including a new Windows XP tour and two color schemes based on the Luna UI
. Then called "Homestead" and "Metallic", for their green and gray colors, respectively, the color scheme
s were among many others that Microsoft was working on, but only these two were included in the final release.
After Build 2481 was released, there would be no more changes to the Windows XP's GUI
, meaning that the UI
is very close to what it will be in the final product. Hardware
compatibility was also finalized, meaning that Microsoft
didn't add device support beyond what was then planned.
Build 2486 (with a build tag of main.010602-1927) was released to testers on June 15, 2001. For the first time, this build of Windows XP Home Edition could support multiple monitors, including dual-view. Previously, Microsoft had said that Home Edition would support only one display. 2486 was also the first build to include the four "sample pictures" that shipped in the RTM version of XP.
Build 2494 (with a build tag of main.010613-1739) was released to testers on June 21, 2001, which was the first to offer up balloon help suggesting that users tie their Windows logon to Passport
. It was also the first build to feature the new Windows Messenger UI.
Build 2505 (RC1, with a build tag of main.010626-1514) On July 2, 2001, as Release Candidate 1. There were no changes from previous builds. This was the first build released to the public via the Windows XP Preview Program (WPP) since Beta 2.
"The feedback that Microsoft has received from more than half a million
beta testers tells us loud and clear that people are super-excited about the experiences Windows XP enables and that we're in the home stretch for delivering the system to our customers", said Jim Allchin, group vice president of Microsoft's Windows division
, referring to the many feedbacks Microsoft had been receiving. "Today's release of RC1 further underscores Microsoft's commitment to excellence and to delivering the highest-quality product to our customers on October 25."
On July 7, 2001, Amazon.com
mistakenly posted Windows XP for sale on its site, and included pictures of its box. Microsoft asked the company to take down the pages, which they did, although Amazon would later make the same mistake a day before XP was released to manufacturing. Amazon would later make another mistake when they revealed Windows Vista
pricing before release.
Microsoft revealed that another interim release of Windows, code-named Longhorn, eventually released as Windows Vista, would follow Windows XP, moving the release date of Windows 7 (at the time codenamed Blackcomb) back at least two more years.
Build 2520 (with a build tag of main.010717-1624) was also released on the same day. There were no changes from previous builds although it was the first build to include the ability to remove Internet Explorer from Windows XP.
Build 2526 (with a build tag of xpclient.010724-1758) was eventually released as Release Candidate 2 (RC2) on July 27, 2001. RC2 didn't include any new features, although it had the ability to remove Internet Explorer, and this was the first time most users had seen it. Beyond that, Microsoft said that RC2 was primarily about bug fixes and fit-and-finish work.
Build 2542 (with a build tag of 2542.xpclient.010811-1534) was released on August 14, 2001. It was the first build to require testers to use new types of product keys. Like the previous build, this build offered no visual changes at all. Microsoft said that this build was primarily provided to regress existing 'fixed' bugs, to uncover any last minute ship-stopper regressions, and to get a final sanity check prior to RTM.
Build 2545 was forked to Build 2600 on August 20, 2001, and the company began hammering away at this final build for RTM, alerting the press about its progress and explaining the remainder of the schedule.
Build 2600 (with a build tag of 2600.xpclient.010817-1148) On August 24, 2001, was declared as RTM, and was handed off to PC
manufacturers at a media event held on the Microsoft campus.
Windows XP was released on October 25, 2001 to the general public and to retailers worldwide.
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
started in 1999 in the form of Windows Neptune
Windows Neptune
Neptune was the codename for a version of the Windows operating system that was under development by Microsoft during 1999. It was based on Windows 2000 and was scheduled to be the first consumer version of Windows to be built on NT code, to replace the Windows 9x series.In early 2000, Microsoft...
. Windows XP was developed for 18 months, from December 1999 to August 2001, and was released on October 25, 2001.
Neptune and Odyssey
Neptune (build date of December 27, 1999 with a build number of 5111) was shown to selected groups of internal users and TechNetTechNet
TechNet may refer to:* Technet , a fictional group in the Marvel Comics universe* TechNet , Singapore's first Internet access provider* TechNet , an American political lobbying organization...
subscribers in 1999 (though it is still debated as to whether it was an alpha release or a Technology Preview). It was developed from the Windows 2000
Windows 2000
Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the...
codebase. "Neptune" was intended to be the next consumer version of Windows after Millennium. Only build 5111 was distributed outside of Microsoft.
In early 2000, it was reported that the development teams working on Neptune and Odyssey, an update to Windows 2000 for business users, had been amalgamated to work on a new project codenamed Whistler, which was eventually released as Windows XP.
Early beta program
Build 2202 (released on February 2, 2000) The entire OS differed little from Windows 2000, and much of the operating system (boot screen, setup routine, etc.) still read as Windows 2000. However, the "for testing purposes only" can still be seen in the corner of the desktop, and the log-on screen reads "Windows Whistler".Build 2223.1 (with a build tag of main.000411-2307) was released on April 11, 2000, and was previewed at the WinHEC (Windows Hardware Engineering Conference) in late April 2000.
On June 30, 2000, Microsoft announced the start of the "Whistler" technical beta program.
Starting from build 2202, Microsoft introduced the new UI technology
Gui
Gui or guee is a generic term to refer to grilled dishes in Korean cuisine. These most commonly have meat or fish as their primary ingredient, but may in some cases also comprise grilled vegetables or other vegetarian ingredients. The term derives from the verb, "gupda" in Korean, which literally...
to various builds of "Whistler". Visual Styles, as it was called during this phase, was based on a skinning engine similar to Stardock's
Stardock
Stardock Corporation is a software development company founded in 1991 and incorporated in 1993 as Stardock Systems. Stardock initially developed for the OS/2 platform, but was forced to switch to Windows due to the collapse of the OS/2 software market between 1997 and 1998...
WindowBlinds
WindowBlinds
WindowBlinds is a computer program that allows users to skin the Windows graphical user interface. It has been developed by Stardock since 1998, and is the most popular component of their flagship software suite, Object Desktop. It is also available separately, and as an ActiveX/COM component...
. During this period, Microsoft introduced the "Professional" (later renamed to "Watercolor") theme which was dropped in January 2001. Also during this period, Microsoft began development on a new look for the Start menu.
Professional Developers Conference
Microsoft's Professional Developers Conference is a conference for software developers, normally Windows developers.It covers new and upcoming technology from Microsoft, and so only occurs in the years when there is something new to talk about...
(PDC) in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. It closely resembled Windows 2000 and Windows Me
Windows Me
Windows Millennium Edition, or Windows Me , is a graphical operating system released on September 14, 2000 by Microsoft, and was the last operating system released in the Windows 9x series. Support for Windows Me ended on July 11, 2006....
and didn't offer many new features, but it was the first build to feature Visual Styles. It also featured a task-based Control Panel. The new Start menu Microsoft had been working on was hidden in build 2250.
Build 2257 (with a build tag of idx01.000810-2103) was released in August 2000, after a month of inactivity. This build included the new Start menu in the UI, and it was the first to feature the results of Microsoft's "clean desktop" initiative. Also, the Professional Visual Style was tweaked with new colors. This was also the first build to include Microsoft's personal firewall
Windows Firewall
Windows Firewall is a software component of Microsoft Windows that provides firewalling and packet filtering functions. It was first included in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003...
.
Build 2267 (with a build tag of idx01.000910-1316) was released on October 3, 2000. It offered small improvements, but no major new features
Feature (software design)
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers defines the term feature in IEEE 829 as "A distinguishing characteristic of a software item ." - Feature-rich :...
. But it allowed the user
User (computing)
A user is an agent, either a human agent or software agent, who uses a computer or network service. A user often has a user account and is identified by a username , screen name , nickname , or handle, which is derived from the identical Citizen's Band radio term.Users are...
to modify the "look and feel" of the system with a functional Display Properties dialog. Build 2267 also introduced a "Compatibility Center", which would eventually allow users to research whether particular hardware devices are compatible with this OS.
Build 2287 (with a build tag of beta1.001012-1640) was the final pre-Beta 1 release build. It featured a redesigned setup
Installation (computer programs)
Installation of a program is the act of putting the program onto a computer system so that it can be executed....
routine, a redesigned Help & Support Center (the previous versions were lifted from Windows Me), and some UI tweaks. It was also the first build to use Dynamic Updates, a new Setup feature.
Beta 1
Build 2296 (Beta 1, with a build tag of 2296.beta1.001024-1157) was released on October 31, 2000. This first pre-beta of Windows XP.In this build, the Start Panel has been replaced by a new simple Start Menu, an MMC-based taskpad that is intended to make it easier to find frequently-accessed applications. This was the first build to group similar taskbar buttons and hide inactive icons in the system tray. Backward compatibility has been also added to this build. User switching was enabled in this build. In this stage of development, on November 13, 2000, Microsoft misannounced that "Whistler" will be called Windows 2001. This name was later dropped.Build 2410 (with a build tag of main.001208-1937 and idx02.001212-1507) was released to testers on January 4, 2001. It included a number of new features, such as some new high-color icons, a renaming of the Professional theme
Theme (computing)
In computing, a theme is a preset package containing graphical appearance details, used to customize the look and feel of an operating system, widget set or window manager....
to "Watercolor", minor changes to the simplified Start Menu
Start menu
The Start Menu and Start Button are user interface elements used in the later versions of the Microsoft Windows operating systems and in some X window managers...
, a new sample UI
Gui
Gui or guee is a generic term to refer to grilled dishes in Korean cuisine. These most commonly have meat or fish as their primary ingredient, but may in some cases also comprise grilled vegetables or other vegetarian ingredients. The term derives from the verb, "gupda" in Korean, which literally...
skin, some tweaks and fixes and the inclusion of Internet Explorer 6
Internet Explorer
Windows Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year...
with the new Media and IM
Instant messaging
Instant Messaging is a form of real-time direct text-based chatting communication in push mode between two or more people using personal computers or other devices, along with shared clients. The user's text is conveyed over a network, such as the Internet...
Explorer bars
Toolbar
In a graphical user interface, on a computer monitor, a toolbar is a GUI widget on which on-screen buttons, icons, menus, or other input or output elements are placed. Toolbars are seen in office suites, graphics editors, and web browsers...
, Outlook Express 6
Outlook Express
Outlook Express is an email and news client that is included with Internet Explorer versions 4.0 through 6.0. As such, it is also bundled with several versions of Microsoft Windows, from Windows 98 to Windows Server 2003, and is available for Windows 3.x, Windows NT 3.51, Windows 95 and Mac OS 9...
, Windows Movie Maker 1.1
Windows Movie Maker
Windows Movie Maker is a video creating/editing software application, included in Microsoft Windows Me, XP, and Vista. It contains features such as effects, transitions, titles/credits, audio track, timeline narration, and Auto Movie. New effects and transitions can be made and existing ones can be...
(not included with server editions), MSN Explorer 1.1
MSN Explorer
MSN Explorer is a web browser, developed by Microsoft, that integrates MSN and Windows Live features such as Windows Live Hotmail and Windows Live Messenger with a web browser. To make use of these services requires a Windows Live ID...
(not included with server editions), Windows Media Player 8.0
Windows Media Player
Windows Media Player is a media player and media library application developed by Microsoft that is used for playing audio, video and viewing images on personal computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system, as well as on Pocket PC and Windows Mobile-based devices...
, and Internet Information Services 5.1
Internet Information Services
Internet Information Services – formerly called Internet Information Server – is a web server application and set of feature extension modules created by Microsoft for use with Microsoft Windows. It is the most used web server after Apache HTTP Server. IIS 7.5 supports HTTP, HTTPS,...
.
Build 2416 (with a build tag of idx01.010104-1958) was released to testers on January 16, 2001. It featured a more attractive Help and Support Center, MP3 support
MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
in Windows Media Player 8, a new File and Transfer Settings Wizard, a cascading Start Menu, new performance options, and System Restore
System Restore
System Restore is a component of Microsoft's Windows Me, Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7, but not Windows 2000, operating systems that allows for the rolling back of system files, registry keys, installed programs, etc., to a previous state in the event of system malfunction or failure.The...
integration with System Properties.
Build 2419 (with a build tag of idx02.010113-1154) was released to testers on January 23, 2001. It debuted the final Windows XP Setup routine, and much of the final Windows XP wallpaper selection
Wallpaper
Wallpaper is a kind of material used to cover and decorate the interior walls of homes, offices, and other buildings; it is one aspect of interior decoration. It is usually sold in rolls and is put onto a wall using wallpaper paste...
. It was the first build to contain Windows Product Activation, which was added to help cut down on piracy
Piracy
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the perpetrator...
. It was also the last build to contain the "Watercolor" theme.
Build 2422 (with a build tag of idx02.010113-1154) was released to testers on January 25, 2001. The first build with Luna Theme, Control Panel had a new background
Beta 2
By the end of January 2001, the final naming of "Whistler" became an issue that news and rumor sites alike began posting their guesses. Eventually, the "XP" moniker was used, for "eXPerience." Microsoft announced the final name of "Whistler" on February 9, 2001. Since then, "Whistler" was known as Windows XP. Also, on 9 February 2001 that day, technical reviewers received a private demonstration of "Whistler" build 2428 at Microsoft. Build 2428 has a Date Stamp of 9 February 2001 and was known as Whistler Beta 2.Build 2462 (Windows XP Beta 2, with a build tag of main.010315-1739) was released on March 23, 2001.
Pre-RC1 and RC1
Responding to criticism that it wouldn't be supporting the upcoming USB 2.0 standard out of the box with Windows XP, Microsoft issued a letter to its customers on April 23, 2000 explaining the decision. "Microsoft is a big supporter of both USB 2.0 and BluetoothBluetooth
Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security...
, as well as many other connection and wireless standards, such as IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 1394, and USB 1.0", wrote Carl Stork, General Manager of Windows Hardware Strategy. "We have been and remain committed to delivering support for these new standards in Windows XP and some of our other operating system products. The issue for USB 2.0 and Bluetooth is only the timing of availability for native support for Windows, and not any decision to choose support for one technology over another. Because of the lack of production-quality devices to test, and because Windows XP must be ready for PCs that will ship for the 2001 holiday season, Windows XP will not have native support for either technology when it is first released to PC system manufacturers. Microsoft’s goal is to deliver support for both Bluetooth and USB 2.0 soon after Windows XP is first available." By late July, the company was already shipping beta drivers for USB 2.0.
Build 2469 (with a build tag of idx02.010508-1228) was released to testers on May 12, 2001. Major changes to Networking and Net card driver
Device driver
In computing, a device driver or software driver is a computer program allowing higher-level computer programs to interact with a hardware device....
s were implemented in this build. This build also included minor updates to the Home Network Wizard, the RAS client connection wizard; the Base, Kernel, Plug and Play and Power Management; performance, reliability, boot time, application launch, setup, uninstall, and Windows 98
Windows 98
Windows 98 is a graphical operating system by Microsoft. It is the second major release in the Windows 9x line of operating systems. It was released to manufacturing on 15 May 1998 and to retail on 25 June 1998. Windows 98 is the successor to Windows 95. Like its predecessor, it is a hybrid...
/ME upgrades; security & directory services, mainly new restrictions on local account login using blank passwords; and help
Online help
Online help is topic-oriented, procedural or reference information delivered through computer software. It is a form of user assistance. Most online help is designed to give assistance in the use of a software application or operating system, but can also be used to present information on a broad...
, management, and remote desktop/assistance.
Build 2474 (with a build tag of main.010508-1907) was released internally on May 17, 2001. It wasn't given to testers, but it was the first build to feature the new Product Activation
Product activation
Product activation is a license validation procedure required by some proprietary computer software programs. In one form, product activation refers to a method invented by Ric Richardson and patented by Uniloc where a software application hashes hardware serial numbers and an ID number specific...
UI, which now used new XP-style dialogs
Dialog box
In a graphical user interface of computers, a dialog box is a type of window used to enable reciprocal communication or "dialog" between a computer and its user. It may communicate information to the user, prompt the user for a response, or both...
. It was also the first build to include a beta of Windows Messenger
Windows Messenger
Windows Messenger is a client by Microsoft that is included in the Windows XP operating system. Designed for use by corporate users as well as home users, it was originally created as a streamlined and integrated version of MSN Messenger...
4.
Build 2475 (with a build tag of idx01.010514-2023) was released to testers on May 24, 2001. This build featured a new boot
Booting
In computing, booting is a process that begins when a user turns on a computer system and prepares the computer to perform its normal operations. On modern computers, this typically involves loading and starting an operating system. The boot sequence is the initial set of operations that the...
up logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
with a black screen that now reads Windows XP, a new introductory movie, a Welcome to Windows screen featuring a borderless window, a waving flag
Flag
A flag is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is usually rectangular and used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.The first flags were used to assist...
animation on the Welcome screen that was later dropped, an icon
Icon
An icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, from Eastern Christianity and in certain Eastern Catholic churches...
for Remote Assistance in the root of the All Programs menu, and various tours
Tours
Tours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
of Windows XP and MPXP in Help and Support. Also, Setup was branded with "RC1" text.
Build 2481 (with a build tag of main.010523-1905) was released internally on June 1, 2001 and given to testers on June 6. This build featured a number of improvements, including a new Windows XP tour and two color schemes based on the Luna UI
Gui
Gui or guee is a generic term to refer to grilled dishes in Korean cuisine. These most commonly have meat or fish as their primary ingredient, but may in some cases also comprise grilled vegetables or other vegetarian ingredients. The term derives from the verb, "gupda" in Korean, which literally...
. Then called "Homestead" and "Metallic", for their green and gray colors, respectively, the color scheme
Color scheme
In color theory, a color scheme is the choice of colors used in design for a range of media. For example, the use of a white background with black text is an example of a basic and commonly default color scheme in web design....
s were among many others that Microsoft was working on, but only these two were included in the final release.
After Build 2481 was released, there would be no more changes to the Windows XP's GUI
Gui
Gui or guee is a generic term to refer to grilled dishes in Korean cuisine. These most commonly have meat or fish as their primary ingredient, but may in some cases also comprise grilled vegetables or other vegetarian ingredients. The term derives from the verb, "gupda" in Korean, which literally...
, meaning that the UI
Gui
Gui or guee is a generic term to refer to grilled dishes in Korean cuisine. These most commonly have meat or fish as their primary ingredient, but may in some cases also comprise grilled vegetables or other vegetarian ingredients. The term derives from the verb, "gupda" in Korean, which literally...
is very close to what it will be in the final product. Hardware
Hardware
Hardware is a general term for equipment such as keys, locks, hinges, latches, handles, wire, chains, plumbing supplies, tools, utensils, cutlery and machine parts. Household hardware is typically sold in hardware stores....
compatibility was also finalized, meaning that Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
didn't add device support beyond what was then planned.
Build 2486 (with a build tag of main.010602-1927) was released to testers on June 15, 2001. For the first time, this build of Windows XP Home Edition could support multiple monitors, including dual-view. Previously, Microsoft had said that Home Edition would support only one display. 2486 was also the first build to include the four "sample pictures" that shipped in the RTM version of XP.
Build 2494 (with a build tag of main.010613-1739) was released to testers on June 21, 2001, which was the first to offer up balloon help suggesting that users tie their Windows logon to Passport
Windows Live ID
Windows Live ID is a single sign-on web service developed and provided by Microsoft that allows users to log in to many websites using one account...
. It was also the first build to feature the new Windows Messenger UI.
Build 2505 (RC1, with a build tag of main.010626-1514) On July 2, 2001, as Release Candidate 1. There were no changes from previous builds. This was the first build released to the public via the Windows XP Preview Program (WPP) since Beta 2.
"The feedback that Microsoft has received from more than half a million
Million
One million or one thousand thousand, is the natural number following 999,999 and preceding 1,000,001. The word is derived from the early Italian millione , from mille, "thousand", plus the augmentative suffix -one.In scientific notation, it is written as or just 106...
beta testers tells us loud and clear that people are super-excited about the experiences Windows XP enables and that we're in the home stretch for delivering the system to our customers", said Jim Allchin, group vice president of Microsoft's Windows division
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, referring to the many feedbacks Microsoft had been receiving. "Today's release of RC1 further underscores Microsoft's commitment to excellence and to delivering the highest-quality product to our customers on October 25."
Pre-RC2 and RC2
Amazon's MistakeOn July 7, 2001, Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
mistakenly posted Windows XP for sale on its site, and included pictures of its box. Microsoft asked the company to take down the pages, which they did, although Amazon would later make the same mistake a day before XP was released to manufacturing. Amazon would later make another mistake when they revealed Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
pricing before release.
Microsoft revealed that another interim release of Windows, code-named Longhorn, eventually released as Windows Vista, would follow Windows XP, moving the release date of Windows 7 (at the time codenamed Blackcomb) back at least two more years.
Build 2520 (with a build tag of main.010717-1624) was also released on the same day. There were no changes from previous builds although it was the first build to include the ability to remove Internet Explorer from Windows XP.
Build 2526 (with a build tag of xpclient.010724-1758) was eventually released as Release Candidate 2 (RC2) on July 27, 2001. RC2 didn't include any new features, although it had the ability to remove Internet Explorer, and this was the first time most users had seen it. Beyond that, Microsoft said that RC2 was primarily about bug fixes and fit-and-finish work.
Pre-RTM and RTM
Build 2535 (with a build tag of 2535.xpclient.010803-1621) was released on August 8, 2001, though it offered no visual changes.Build 2542 (with a build tag of 2542.xpclient.010811-1534) was released on August 14, 2001. It was the first build to require testers to use new types of product keys. Like the previous build, this build offered no visual changes at all. Microsoft said that this build was primarily provided to regress existing 'fixed' bugs, to uncover any last minute ship-stopper regressions, and to get a final sanity check prior to RTM.
Build 2545 was forked to Build 2600 on August 20, 2001, and the company began hammering away at this final build for RTM, alerting the press about its progress and explaining the remainder of the schedule.
Build 2600 (with a build tag of 2600.xpclient.010817-1148) On August 24, 2001, was declared as RTM, and was handed off to PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
manufacturers at a media event held on the Microsoft campus.
Windows XP was released on October 25, 2001 to the general public and to retailers worldwide.
See also
- History of Microsoft WindowsHistory of Microsoft WindowsIn 1983, Microsoft announced the development of Windows, a graphical user interface for its own operating system , which had shipped for IBM PC and compatible computers since 1981...
- Development of Windows 98Development of Windows 98Development of Windows 98 was done by Microsoft in the 1990s, initially using the codename "Memphis" to refer to the product. Many builds were released or leaked, starting with build 1351 on 15 December 1996 and ending with Windows 98 Second Edition....
- Development of Windows VistaDevelopment of Windows VistaDevelopment of Windows Vista occurred over the span of five and a half years, starting in earnest in May 2001, prior to the release of Microsoft's Windows XP operating system, and continuing until November 2006....