What is this?

[johnleakedfan]

Windows 2000 Professional (b2000) (rc1) (axp)

Just a quick thing, wondering what the ''(axp)'' is in these folder names on the server

[DiskingRound]

AXP means Alpha AXP. Only betas of Windows 2000 have it AFAIK, the final version discontinued support for it. Alpha AXP Windows NT files are also included on Windows NT discs prior to 2000 RTM in the /alpha folder. Do not confuse this with early pre-release versions.

[Overdoze]

IIRC support for AXP was dropped in RC3.

[gordon_freetux]

Does anyone now the exavt build number of the last AXP-Version?

[Overdoze]

2128 is the last leaked build to have AXP support.

[lilysmith22]

AXP is originally known for Alpha AXP. For more about this you can read these articles :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AXP
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEC_Alpha

[Whistler]

It's kind of surprising, how they dropped the Alpha platform. You would think that if the Alpha version of the OS has gone that far, it would be developed all the way. I think it had to do with Compaq (which bought the platform) dropping Alpha, so with no new Alpha computers being released that could have Windows 2000 preinstalled, Microsoft decided to drop it.

[Overdoze]

It's kind of surprising, how they dropped the Alpha platform. You would think that if the Alpha version of the OS has gone that far, it would be developed all the way. I think it had to do with Compaq (which bought the platform) dropping Alpha, so with no new Alpha computers being released that could have Windows 2000 preinstalled, Microsoft decided to drop it.

Yes, that seems the most likely reason. As you said, there's little sense in bringing a platform to RC2 stage then dropping support for it, unless the target hardware became obsolete in the process.