Windows 2000 Home

Main Update: Beta is just around the corner. I had waited to long to release PR2, so Beta is almost ready for everyone to test.
Among many changes, Feedback tool got an upgrade, here's a small peek Tester IDs no longer needed to submit feedback.


Preview Release 1

*This screenshot was taken just before the actual PR1 VHD was compressed. Wallpaper is different, and possibly icons.

DOWNLOAD: (VHD format, compressed in 7z)
Part 1
Part 2
Password: 17410
Submit Feedback

Preview Release 1 is out!, to selected tester first though. I might allow for others to test as well. YOU MUST HAVE A TESTER ID TO ACCESS THIS PREVIEW RELEASE. PLEASE USE YOUR BA USERNAME IN THE TESTER ID BOX(For sending feedback). There are still many visual aspects that belong to Windows 2000 Pro, but PR1 is currently focused on the feature set. Some of the changes to the OS include:

- Some Icons
- Sounds (not finished but there are some)
- Wallpapers
- Themes (including themes from Win 98)
- "New" Windows Update (still works, so you might want to update... if you want)
- Updated some of the Windows Applets, "paint, some of the games, calculator", with some from Windows XP
- Changed services (Automatic start:Zero Wireless Configuration)
- Microsoft Office Professional from ~1998 (removed some pro features and Access)
- Added Feedback program**
- Added "Themes" shortcut
- Added Aero cursors (they look nice...)
- Added some fonts.
- Installed Net 2 framework
- Installed Windows Media Player 9
- Installed about 6 security updates

I am excited to hear from the selected testers first before everyone else. If you are in the tester group, you will recieve the links via PM. If PR1 releases to everyone else, then links will be above all this. This is in VHD, no need to install. I recommend Virtual Box, but it should work with other program. VBox Additions has been removed.
This is a Preview Release, and could be unstable. If you BSOD, please send feedback with this Program, it is the same on PR1, but is slightly modified. Do not post feedback on topic.
**Please make sure to include the two hyphens on you Tester ID (EX. "-12A34-") and be sure to specify, "Bug or Comment". If you have a Tester ID please continue to use it.

Updates:
9-5-2011 - Ok there has been some slight setbacks, and delays, but I am back on track with Win2K Home. PR2 is coming very soon. First the select testers, then everyone else. Please be sure to send feedback on PR1.
8-27-2011 - There have been some concerns over what format this is in. I'm assuming you mean the zipped file, which is in *.7z. PR2 will be in RAR for easier access. Still VHD though, have no idea how Windows 2000 ISO is compressed .
8-25-2011 - I have decided to allow everyone to test Windows 2K Home PR1. Download links below, and be sure to submit feedback. Use your BA Username in the Tester ID section, Specify "Bug or Comment" in Please Specify section. Type your feedback in English or Spanish, I know both Enjoy!
8-24-2011 - Just really quick, Happy Birthday Windows 95 & XP Development on Windows 2K Home will be delayed for about a week. All previous release times are incorrect. Sorry about this but everyone has a life off the Internet . You will notice though that everyone now has access to this OS, although please submit feedback.
8-22-2011 - Quick Update. PR2 is almost complete. I will take all of the feedback into mind for the final PR2, Beta, RC, and hopefully Release. The feedback app is also being updated with a cool feature, which I hope is finished before Beta. A few wallpapers will be added, some removed. Also looking for someone to design the main default wallpaper. Your design could be the face of Windows 2000 Home.
8-21-2011-12:35PM - Windows 2000 Home is taking a small detour. You'll find out soon enough when Preview Release 2 comes out.
8-21-2011 - PR2 is in the works! It will include some visual changes that PR1 lacked, some "new icons", sounds, updates, and overall stability with add windows applets from other Windows.
-Older updates deleted-

Tester IDs no longer needed to submit feedback.

I want to be tester.

Here I want to....

I want to be a tester.

Will this actually see the light of day as an OS? Or is this a project that not a single person will see the release of. Neptune was planned to be a home edition if you like (if you read Microsoft's documents at the time)

I want to test!!!

i don't want to test this , but i thought i would comment . there is a home version of windows 2000 . its called windows xp . enjoy !

I'll test!

Actually, Microsoft intended 2000's Home equivalent to be Windows ME, but that was based on the 9x kernel and was an utter disaster.

wrong
WinME was never supposed to be home version of 2000

can't even see your logic behind this

I meant, Microsoft released Windows ME and Windows 2000 at around the same time, intending ME to be used by home users and 2000 by businesses.

RE: internet explorer 6.0 ,i think you should leave ie 6.0 there,it will lookk more like somthing MS would create.

if you want it to be more "home like" then make sure you have a link in the start/accessories folder for themes.exe ( in the system32 folder) or add a control panel icon for themes.exe

I'll be a tester.

i would like to be a tester

Windows 2000 Home edition is called Windows Neptune.

NO, no windows Neptune should be the succesor to windows 2000 for consumer, odyssey for buisness.
windows ME was the "home" counterpart of windows 2000.

why would a home edition have a new kernel number? remember neptune should be NT 5.5, windows 2000 is NT 5.0

and the "home" and "professional" idea come with windows XP, in whistler it was called personal.

and befor whistler "professional" was just a name like workstation for NT 4.0

yes i would like to be a tester please

didn't microsoft make a sp4 rollup package for windows 2000 are you using that or just sp4

That Clears up a LOT of Confusion

actualy there was going to be three versions of Neptune:
a high end product: Server
a general consumer versionn: Professional
a reduced function version ( minus networking features etc ): Home or Personal

see for yourself: http://www.mediafire.com/?uqgfbjbc020sd7f

Go look at Microsoft's documents. All I can say

@"Ramireztime

how long is the delay going to be i want to see what your first build is like

Hey are you going to be back-porting wireless zero configuration? I would love to find out more about how that could be done, and if i could help at all!

I'll be a tester! How unfortunate I missed the first builds
Hope you can find a way to get chrome working in it!

i will test it as well if you want

Cheers

Graham

Sure add me to the Next testing stage please