Windows Neptune/5.5.5111.1

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5111about.png
Neptune 5111
Kernel version NT 5.50
CPU architecture x86
Edition Client Professional
BIOS date December 10, 1999
Neptune 5111 CD.jpg

Windows Neptune build 5111 is the Developer Release of Neptune and a Milestone 2 build.

It is the only build of Neptune to have leaked.

Installation

The copy available on the BetaArchive FTP server is not bootable, but can be installed using a Windows 98 boot disk, navigating to the i386 directory and typing winnt.

Another way of booting Neptune is to add the boot sector, using the same boot sector available on the Windows 2000 disc.


The explorer in Neptune is often quoted as being a problem in Neptune, and is blamed for the slow startup on the first boot. The reason for the apparent hanging at first boot, is that a broken still image service is trying to startup, before explorer is loaded. Fixing or otherwise stopping the service from running should fix the slow startup.

Setup Upgrade Bug

Inserting a Windows Neptune disc into a Windows XP computer will show a message saying "This CD-ROM contains a newer version of Windows than the one you are presently using. Would you like to install Neptune?"

This might be because Windows Neptune's version is 5.50.5111, while Windows XP's version is 5.10.2600.

Key / Timebomb

Most of the leaked ISO images have had their timebombs nulled and don't require a key, however the copy available on the BetaArchive FTP server will accept the following key W7XTC - 2YWFB - K6BPT - GMHMV - B6FDY and/or any Windows 98 / 98SE Retail keys (Not MSDN, OEM or Upgrade). The copy available on the BetaArchive FTP server has a timebomb of 444 days and does not need a specific BIOS date set.

Features

Login Screen

The Login Screen in Neptune is an HTML and JavaScript based UI. The Login Screen files can be found in logonhta.dll. Installing Internet Explorer 6 on this build usually causes the login screen to stop functioning.


The Login screen displays a user picture for each user on the system that can be changed via the User Accounts Panel. Included by default are around 7 or 8 pictures, and you can also set a custom picture.

User Accounts

Neptune introduced 4 types of accounts ranging from Owner to Guest:

  • Owner - This type of account is intended for people who can make system-wide changes to the computer. A person with an Owner account can make changes to all Windows accounts that have been created for this computer, such as changing account names, pictures, passwords, and account types.
  • Adult - This type of account is intended for people who can make standard changes to the computer, such as installing applications and software.
  • Child - This type of account is intended for children whose activity should be monitored and who should be safeguarded against corrupting computer settings and deleting important system files. Restricted accounts have limited access to internet content and can have limited computer time. A person with a child account can only change his or her own account name and picture.
  • Guest - This type of account is intended for Guests to use the computer. Guest accounts have restricted access to this computer. Settings, Themes and web browsing history will be erased each time a person with a guest account turns off the computer. Only Documents created by a guest person will be saved.

User Accounts Panel

Useraccountmnger 5111.PNG

Another HTML and JavaScript based UI, pretty much an early version of the Windows XP user accounts manager, Interestingly it seams that the wording and layout did not change much even upto the RTM of XP The source code for the applet is contained in nusrmgr.cpl.

Help Center

Helpsupport 5.5.5111.png

The Help Center in this build appears to be a direct copy from an early Windows ME build, as the internal branding and help text often contains references to "Windows Millennium". It is run by MSHTML and uses .htm and .xml files for most of the content, as can be seen in the data folder C:\WINNT\PCHealth\HelpCtr\System..

There is an intentionally commented out Windows 2000 Help Link (same help as the Windows 2000 RTM) in the homepage.htm code and the system restore Link points to a missing EXE in the winnt directory.

The database is a .mdb file and can be edited with Microsoft Access (after Whistler 2202, Microsoft switched to a different file format that doesn't allow easy editing); copying the database from early Windows ME builds should add the full range of support topics, however some broken help links will show up.

Using the HCupdate.exe in the binary folder and a properly configured .cab file allows updates to the Help Center components.

Bug Reporting

The bug reporting is launched via the "Help And Support Center" and is not linked to on the start menu, like most of the other HTML based apps it appears to be from an early Windows ME build, as much of the branding still says "Windows Millennium".

There are two ways of launching the report a bug, one is via the desktop shortcut "Report a Bug" and the other is to click on the Comments link on the top of every dialogue/window.

Creating a bug report still works creating a cab file in the root of C:, however the reporting servers have been shutdown/re-purposed years ago. The page code is "bugrep.htm" in the vendor folder.

The following is written at the bottom of Submit form: "Bug Reporting Page Version: 5.00.00.5112". This could be a reference to another build but it is very unlikely it existed due to the fact it is found in build 5111. Simmilar text can be found in Whistler builds.


Bugrep.htm contains 2 commented out sections "Direct X Team" & "System Restore Team" Containing extra steps to diagnose issues.

Auto Update

Neptuneauclient.PNG

Microsoft Autoupdate in Neptune is hidden away in the C:\WINNT directory named wuauclt.exe (That could stand for Windows Update Auto Update Client). Copied directly from a Windows ME build this application was to form a part of the Automatic Updates


This is another of the HTML applications and the UI code is stored in wuauhtml.dll.

Mars / Mars.exe

An executable with this name can be found in pretty much every leaked Millennium and Neptune build. In early Millennium builds, the icon is a blue lower-case "m" on white background, but that was later changed to a yellow square smiley (";)") with black borders.

Mars.exe is a shell for running the HTML based applications that was built into IE 5.5 that ran framed applications embedded into IE pages, requiring XML files as reference.


Mars exists in retail Windows XP. The file marscore.dll (called "Mars"core because Mars was it's beta name) has been renamed to pchshell.dll - which is "PC Health Shell". Notice the GUId in the image of XP's pchshell, and the marscore from Neptune. Next to it, same GUId, same file, same contents, only the Neptune version has an XML validator built into it.

Activity Centers

Activity Centers are single window applications, Written in a combination of HTML and the Win32 API, that facilitate easy ways to complete common tasks, However, by the release of Windows Millennium Beta 1 in the fall of 1999, it was clear that the underlying Activity Center technology wasn't going to be far enough along to provide the needed HTML hooks into the traditional Win32 interface, So plans where scaled back dramaticly, Microsoft axed Photo Center, Gaming Activity Center and the Home Networking Configuration Center before ever releasing them publicly to testers.

Remnants of the Activity Centers where phased out by Millennium Build 2419 and where replaced by other applications.

The Activity Centers main layouts are contained in the "ACCORE.DLL" (Activity Center CORE.DLL) and is used to tie all the activity center resources together via the html layout extracted when the dll is registered.

Installing Activity Centers

To install the Activity Centers in this build, follow these instructions:

  • Put your Neptune installation CD into your CD drive.
  • Click Start, Run or press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
  • Type in regsvr32 X:\i386\accore.dll (where X:\ is the drive letter of your CD drive) and press Enter.
  • Now you can find the files in %WINDIR%\Activity.

You can set the activity centers as a background, as it is probably meant to be, by doing the following:

  • Right click the desktop, click properties and go to the Web tab.
  • Put a tick in the box with: Show Web content on my Active Desktop.
  • Click the "New" button and browse to the activity center's main homepage (%WINDIR%\Activity\Start\StartPage\start.htm).
  • Maximize the new screen at the desktop by hovering over the top with your mouse and clicking the second right button.
  • Optional: Remove the icons by right clicking in the empty space on the desktop, hovering over "Active Desktop" and clicking "Show Desktop Icons". Then place your mouse over the left border and stretch it as far left as possible or click the third right button.


After many years, Extensive file edits, Lots of research and trial and error, Ex-BA member KenOath was able to fix the Activity Centers as close to what Microsoft intended.

The Music Center evolved into Windows Media Player 7. 4 files that were used in the Music Center became main resource files in WMP7.

Fast Boot

Neptunebootopt.png

Fast boot appears in the Power Options Control Panel, but is only available if you install Neptune on a FAT formatted partition. On the next reboot Neptune optimizes the boot.

Other Notes

onetouch.exe

Neptunecoresetup.PNG

This EXE is included on the windows Neptune CD with the title "Neptune Core Setup". It looked as though it was meant to download the latest Neptune files from a Microsoft server and proceed to install Neptune as an upgrade.

Many of the internal strings point this to being some kind of unattended setup program:

Unattendneptune core 5111.PNG

joindom.exe

Neptunoobe2.PNG

joindom.exe is set to start on first boot and is an internal pre-release Microsoft utility that sets up the First user name and appears to be part of an Out OF Box Experience
Neptunoobeprerel.PNG
Interestingly, the file version information points to it being a part of an upgrade setup.


Neptuneupgrade.PNG

multidsk.exe

Neptune Multidesk.PNG

This is a file found in the I386 folder on the Neptune disk allows usage of multi desktops (similar to many Linux based operating systems) and has the annoying habit of logging you off , if you exit the program, First included in the Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Resource Kit





themes.exe

Windows ME Theme files copied to Neptune

This file is found in the System32 folder, Copying the plus pack themes from a windows me computer and browsing to them allows basic (windows ME/ 98) themes to be set in Neptune







Other Neptune SKU'S

Microsoft Anti-trust documents from Neptune era indicate that Neptune was to have not only one, but several editions, namely "Entry-Level", "Standard" and "High-End", which translate into these modern SKUs: "Starter", "Home" and "Professional / Server"

There are also several strings in file USETUP.EXE from Neptune build 5111.1 that clearly mention "Neptune Server", but it is unknown whether Neptune was to have any other editions except Home.





Build 5095.1

A file from Neptune build 5111.1 with version number 5.50.5095.1

There is a file (tosdvd.sys) in Neptune build 5111.1 that has a version number 5.50.5095.1 and could come from an earlier Neptune build, but it is unknown whether Neptune build 5095.1 ever existed.


Gallery

See Also