Development of Windows XP

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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.

Contents 1 Neptune 2 Early beta program 3 Pre-Beta 2 and Beta 2 4 Pre-RC1 and RC1 5 Pre-RC2 and RC2 6 Pre-RTM and RTM 6.1 Service Pack 1 6.2 Service Pack 2 6.3 Service Pack 2b 6.4 Service Pack 2c 6.5 Service Pack 3 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

[edit] Neptune

Windows Neptune (build date of December 27, 1999 with a build number of 5111 and a build tag of main.991227-????) was released to testers in 1999 as an alpha release (though it is still debated as to whether it was an alpha release or a Technology Preview). It comes from the Windows 2000 codebase. "Neptune" was slated to be a home edition of Windows 2000, supposed to be released in 2001 (again, debated). But "Neptune" and its business counterpart "Odyssey" were merged to form "Whistler". Development of "Neptune" was canceled in early 2000. There were two builds sent out to testers before it's cancelation, 5000 (not leaked, the existence of it is questioned) and 5111 (which was leaked, and is legitimate).

[edit] Early beta program

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.^[1]

Starting from build 2250, 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.^[2] 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 2296 (Beta 1, with a build tag of 2296.beta1.001024-1157) was released on October 31, 2000. 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.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Pre-Beta 2 and Beta 2

Various changes have been implemented in these builds since Beta 1. These builds were labelled "Beta 2" even though they were only Pre-Beta 2 builds. During this period, Microsoft announced that they had no plans to release any kind of theme builder application so that users can make their own UI for use on Visual Styles. Starting from build 2410, the Recycle Bin icon has been moved to the lower-right of the desktop by default, in a controversial move obviously intended as a "poke" at Apple Inc. (at the time Apple Computer, Inc.).

Build 2410 (with a build tag of idx02.0011212-1507) 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 6.0 with the new Media and IM Explorer bars, Outlook Express 6.0, Windows Movie Maker 1.1, Windows Media Player 8.0, MSN Explorer 1.1, 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.

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 5, 2001. Since then, "Whistler" was known as Windows XP. Also, on that day, technical reviewers received a private demonstration of "Whistler" builds 2428 & 2432 at Microsoft. In these builds, a new visual style called "Luna" was added, dropping the "Watercolor" visual style.

Build 2428 (with a build tag of idx01.010129-1827) was released to testers and reviewers on February 13, 2001. There were not much changes from build 2419, except that it was the first build to contain the Luna theme. The boot screen and the logon screen has also been changed.

Build 2446 (with a build tag of main.010224-2228) was released to testers on March 5, 2001. This build featured numerous UI tweaks, updated Help and Support content for digital media tasks and updates to Remote Desktop Connection.

Build 2462a (Beta 2) was released on March 23, 2001.

[edit] 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 Bluetooth, 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 drivers 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 schemes 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."^[3]

[edit] Pre-RC2 and RC2

Amazon's Mistake

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.^[4]

Microsoft revealed that another interim release of Windows, code-named Longhorn, eventually released as Windows Vista, would follow Windows XP,^[5] 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.

[edit] 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 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.

[edit] Service Pack 1

Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows XP was released on 9 September 2002. It contains post-RTM security fixes and hot-fixes, compatibility updates, optional .NET Framework support, enabling technologies for new devices such as Tablet PCs, and a new Windows Messenger 4.7 version. The most notable new features were USB 2.0 support and a Set Program Access and Defaults utility that aimed at hiding various middleware products. Users can control the default application for activities such as web browsing and instant messaging, as well as hide access to some of Microsoft's bundled programs. This utility was first brought into the older Windows 2000 operating system with its Service Pack 3. This Service Pack supported SATA and hard drives that were larger than 137GB (48-bit LBA support) by default. The Microsoft Java Virtual Machine, which was not in the RTM version, appeared in this Service Pack.^[6] Support for IPv6 was also introduced in this Service Pack.

On 3 February 2003, Microsoft released Service Pack 1a (SP1a). This release removed Microsoft's Java virtual machine as a result of a lawsuit with Sun Microsystems.^[7]

[edit] Service Pack 2

Service Pack 2 (SP2) (codenamed "Springboard") was released on 6 August 2004 after several delays, with an emphasis on security.^[8] Unlike the previous service pack, SP2 added new functionality to Windows XP, including an enhanced firewall, improved Wi-Fi support, such as WPA encryption compatibility, with a wizard utility, a pop-up ad blocker for Internet Explorer 6, and Bluetooth support. The new welcome screen during the kernel boot removes the subtitles "Professional", "Home Edition" and "Embedded" since Microsoft introduced new Windows XP editions prior to the release of SP2. The green loading bar in Home Edition and the yellow one in Embedded were replaced with the blue bar, seen in Professional and other versions of Windows XP, making the boot-screen of operating systems resemble each other. Colors in other areas, such as Control Panel and the Help and Support tool, remained as before.

Service Pack 2 also added new security enhancements, which included a major revision to the included firewall that was renamed to Windows Firewall and is enabled by default, Data Execution Prevention, which can be weakly emulated, gains hardware support in the NX bit that can stop some forms of buffer overflow attacks. Also raw socket support is removed (which supposedly limits the damage done by zombie machines). Additionally, security-related improvements were made to e-mail and web browsing. Windows XP Service Pack 2 includes the Windows Security Center, which provides a general overview of security on the system, including the state of antivirus software, Windows Update, and the new Windows Firewall. Third-party anti-virus and firewall applications can interface with the new Security Center.^[9]

[edit] Service Pack 2b

In August 2006, Microsoft released updated installation media for Windows XP SP2 and Windows Server 2003 SP1 to contain a patch^[10] that requires ActiveX controls to require manual activation in accordance with a patent held by Eolas.^[11]. Since then, the technology was licensed by Microsoft, and Service Pack 3 and later versions do not include this update.

[edit] Service Pack 2c

On 10 August 2007, Microsoft announced a minor update to Service Pack 2, called Service Pack 2c (SP2c).^[12] The update fixes the issue of the diminishing number of available product keys for Windows XP. This update will only be available to system builders from their distributors in Windows XP Professional and Windows XP Professional N operating systems. SP2c was released in September 2007.

^[13]

[edit] Service Pack 3

Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) was released to manufacturing on April 21, 2008 and to the public via both the Microsoft Download Center and Windows Update on May 6, 2008.^{[14][15][16][17]}

It began being automatically pushed out to Automatic Update users on July 10, 2008.

[edit] See also

• History of Microsoft Windows
• Development of Windows 98
• Development of Windows Vista

[edit] References

1. ^ Thurrott, Paul (2000-06-30). "EXCLUSIVE: Whistler technical beta begins". Windows IT Pro. http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/19365/19365.html. Retrieved on 2006-10-29. 
2. ^ Thurrott, Paul (September 4, 2000). "Whistler Build 2257 Preview". http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/whistler_2257.asp. Retrieved on 2009-02-04. 
3. ^ "Windows XP: 115 Days Until Launch". Microsoft PressPass. 2001-07-02. http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2001/jul01/07-02releasecandidatepr.mspx. Retrieved on 2006-12-02. 
4. ^ Peter Galli (August 29, 2006). "Amazon Reveals Windows Vista Pricing". eWeek. http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2009918,00.asp. Retrieved on 2007-06-03. 
5. ^ Peter Galli (July 30, 2001). "Pushing Forward - the next version of Windows". eWeek. http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,113701,00.asp. Retrieved on 2006-07-07. 
6. ^ "Windows XP Service Pack 1 preview". 9 September 2002. http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/windowsxp_sp1_preview.asp. Retrieved on 2007-09-21. 
7. ^ "Differences Between Windows XP SP1 and Windows XP SP1a". 3 February 2003. http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=813926. Retrieved on 2007-09-21. 
8. ^ "How to obtain the latest Windows XP service pack". 2007-03-26. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389. Retrieved on 2007-09-21. 
9. ^ "Windows XP Service Pack 2 information". Microsoft. 4 August 2004. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/overview.mspx. 
10. ^ "Internet Explorer 6 software update and its effect on ActiveX controls". Microsoft. http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/912945. 
11. ^ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{cite web}}". Microsoft. 21 August 2006. http://blogs.technet.com/backroom/archive/2006/08/21/448330.aspx. 
12. ^ "Windows XP Service Pack 2c (SP2c) press release". Blink.nu. 10 August 2007. http://bink.nu/news/microsoft-windows-xp-professional-service-pack-2c-release.aspx. 
13. ^ "Windows XP Service Pack 2c (SP2c) information". Microsoft. 17 September 2007. http://oem.microsoft.com/script/sites/public/winxp_sp2c.htm. 
14. ^ "Windows XP Service Pack 3 Released to Manufacturing". Microsoft. 2008-04-21. http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/itproxpsp/thread/9ababbbc-d3ed-41c4-8b6c-9d194c121604. Retrieved on 2009-01-29. 
15. ^ "Windows XP SP3 Released to Web (RTW), now available on Windows Update and Microsoft Download Center". Microsoft. 2008-05-06. http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/en-US/itproxpsp/thread/34234455-65a4-4069-a034-435e95b17f84. Retrieved on 2009-01-29. 
16. ^ "Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers". Microsoft. 2008-05-06. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=5b33b5a8-5e76-401f-be08-1e1555d4f3d4&DisplayLang=en. Retrieved on 2008-05-07. 
17. ^ "Windows XP Service Pack 3 - ISO-9660 CD Image File". Microsoft. 2008-05-06. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=2fcde6ce-b5fb-4488-8c50-fe22559d164e&DisplayLang=en. Retrieved on 2008-05-07. 

[edit] External links

• Windows XP Builds List – A complete list of every known build of Windows XP, including build date, leak/release date, and which lab compiled it and other comments.
• The Road to Gold: The development of Windows XP Reviewed on Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows