Windows Vista: Difference between revisions

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'''Windows Vista''' is a operating system produced by Microsoft. While the client version was released on January 30th, 2007, the Server version, which was still known as "Longhorn Server" to that time, was not released until February 27th, 2008, several months after it was given the final name Windows Server 2008.
'''Windows Vista''' is an operating system developed by [[Microsoft]], released worldwide on January 30, 2007. Prior to its official announcement on July 22, 2005, it was known by its codename, [[Windows:Longhorn|Windows "Longhorn"]].


This article is about the client Windows Vista only. For information about its Server counterpart, see '''[[Windows:Server 2008|Windows Server 2008]]'''.
Development of the operating system spanned approximately five years, starting in early 2001. Over the course of this time period, the product was first codenamed ''Whistler+'' (with some sources stating ''Idaho'' as a possible codename), and then ''Longhorn'' in May 2001. The first builds of the operating system known to use the Longhorn codename were compiled in May, 2002.  


During its development it had the codename "Longhorn". Development originally started earlier in approximately January to May 2001, when it was known by its old codename, "Whistler+" (although some sources also cite another possible codename, "Idaho"), though by late May 2001, it had been renamed to "Longhorn", and at least going back to September 2001, the builds of Longhorn being compiled were forked from the continuing "Whistler Server" builds. Although the Client counterpart of "Whistler Server", [[Windows:XP|Windows XP]], was released on October 25th, 2001, the Server counterpart was later renamed to Windows .NET Server, briefly Windows .NET Server 2003, and finally [[Windows:Server_2003|Windows Server 2003]], and its continued development provided the codebase for the Longhorn builds.
Initially envisioned as a minor upgrade to [[Windows:XP|Windows XP]], Microsoft later characterized "Longhorn" as a complete overhaul of the Windows operating system. One of the largest changes slated for "Longhorn" was pervasive use of managed code.  


Although the project itself was renamed to "Longhorn" in late May 2001, it was not until May 2002 that the builds were known to officially use the Longhorn codename (this might just mean that it was not hard coded into the kernel until then).
While in its earlier stages of development, "Longhorn" suffered from many problems relating to reliability and stability. This was due not only to the premature technology on which the operating system was based, but also because of the way new features were introduced and implemented. For this reason, the development of the operating system was "reset", with a preliminary build, [[Windows:Longhorn:3790.1232.winmain.040819-1629|3790.1232.winmain.040819-1629]] being compiled on August 19, 2004. Although this build is not known to contain any code from "Longhorn", it did include the "Longhorn" End User License Agreement (EULA), a testament to the build's authenticity.


One of the biggest differences to Windows XP was that applications for Longhorn were supposed to be developed in managed languages, mainly C#, and that the "traditional" Win32 API should be replaced with managed .NET libraries in many places. During Longhorn development, many parts of the OS were rewritten in .NET 1.2 (can be
Contrary to popular belief, only very early "Longhorn" builds were directly derived from Windows XP; later builds were based on [[Windows:Server:2003|Windows Server 2003]] Release Candidate code. Builds compiled after the development reset are based on Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1.
seen as a prototype of .NET 2.0), causing bugs and memory leaks, especially in Windows Explorer.


While in its earlier stages of development, Longhorn suffered from many problems relating to reliability and stability. For this reason, on August 19th, 2004, the development of Longhorn was reset, and a preliminary build, Build 3790.1232, was compiled as a test of the new version of the Windows Server 2003 codebase on which the Longhorn code would be based from that point on, having been forked from the same build of Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1. While it didn't contain any true Longhorn code, it did use the Longhorn EULA (End User License Agreement), proving that it was indeed distributed as a Longhorn build, and was to be tested as such.
During Beta 1 development, Microsoft named the operating system ''Windows Vista''. The new name was chosen to improve the product's image and reputation, and to reflect the new capabilities of the operating system.


Contrary to popular belief, Longhorn was based on Windows Server 2003 all along, just that the code reset was to replace the currently used Windows Server 2003 code (Windows .NET Server 2003 Release Candidate) with a later compile (Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1).
A total of two Service Packs were released for the Windows Vista operating system. Service Pack 1 was made available to MSDN subscribers on Febuary 15, 2008, and was released to the Microsoft Download Center and Windows Update on March 18, 2008. Service Pack 2 was released to manufacturing on April 28, 2009, and released to the Microsoft Download Center and Windows Update on May 26, 2009. In addition, Microsoft released the ''Platform Update for Windows Vista'' on October 27, 2009, which was comprised of major new Windows 7 components and updated runtime libraries. The Platform Update requires Service Pack 2 prior to installation.
 
Although it was apparently the case that certain builds of Longhorn were compiled from the old code as recently as Build 4094 from November 2004, Microsoft had otherwise switched entirely to compiling Longhorn from the more recent code, having entered Omega-13 stage. Build 5001 from September 27th, 2004, one of the first genuine Longhorn builds compiled after the reset, used the product name "Windows lh" instead of "Windows XP", and had very little else in the way of difference from that of Windows NT 5 (Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003), although the version number had shifted back up from 5.20 (as with Build 3790.1232), and the build numbering scheme had reverted back to the one used by the Longhorn builds, rather than the Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 builds.
 
However, by Build 5048 from March 2005, most of Longhorn's feature set was added back in, with a few exceptions. Yet even despite this, this build was criticized for continuing to lag behind in features and general functionality to some extent, most notably by Paul Thurrott, who even stated "This has the makings of a train wreck." as far as that build was concerned.
 
Microsoft continued compiling Longhorn builds, and by the time Build 5098 was compiled, almost all of the Longhorn functionality was added back in (with a notable exception to the sidebar, which was not added back until by the time that Build 5219 was compiled), and development had returned to normal.
 
At around the same time that the project entered Beta 1 stage with Build 5112, Microsoft gave the product a final name, in this case, Windows Vista. The name Windows Vista was chosen to improve the product's image and reputation.
 
Later, Windows Vista entered Beta 2 stage, and finally Release Candidate stage, until the RTM build was compiled in November 2006, and the product was released to general availability on January 30th, 2007.
 
There are two Service Pack releases for Windows Vista, Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (Server counterpart known as Windows Server 2008) and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (Server counterpart known as Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2).


==Builds==
==Builds==
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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://winjade.net/board/index.php?showtopic=4167 Windows Vista Builds List - winJade] - includes Longhorn, Vista and Vista SP1 build tags
* [http://winjade.net/board/index.php?showtopic=4167 Windows Vista build list] ''WinJade'' list including "Longhorn", Vista, and Vista SP1 build tags.
* [http://mcb.betaarchive.co.uk/ Microsoft Collection Book] - with tips on how to install leaked Vista builds and those released to the general public
* [http://uxunleaked.blogspot.com Si vis pacem, para bellum] - Grabberslasher's blog post that describes builds 3790, 5001 and 5098
* [http://uxunleaked.blogspot.com Si vis pacem, para bellum] - Grabberslasher's blog that describes build 3790, 5001 and 5098

Revision as of 10:37, 10 November 2013

Windows Vista
Windows Vista Logo.png
Microsoft Windows Vista
Codename
Preliminary name		 Longhorn
Kernel version NT 6.0
CPU architecture x86, x64
Release date 30 January 2007
Support end 11 April 2017
Preceded by Windows XP / Longhorn
Succeeded by Windows 7

Windows Vista is an operating system developed by Microsoft, released worldwide on January 30, 2007. Prior to its official announcement on July 22, 2005, it was known by its codename, Windows "Longhorn".

Development of the operating system spanned approximately five years, starting in early 2001. Over the course of this time period, the product was first codenamed Whistler+ (with some sources stating Idaho as a possible codename), and then Longhorn in May 2001. The first builds of the operating system known to use the Longhorn codename were compiled in May, 2002.

Initially envisioned as a minor upgrade to Windows XP, Microsoft later characterized "Longhorn" as a complete overhaul of the Windows operating system. One of the largest changes slated for "Longhorn" was pervasive use of managed code.

While in its earlier stages of development, "Longhorn" suffered from many problems relating to reliability and stability. This was due not only to the premature technology on which the operating system was based, but also because of the way new features were introduced and implemented. For this reason, the development of the operating system was "reset", with a preliminary build, 3790.1232.winmain.040819-1629 being compiled on August 19, 2004. Although this build is not known to contain any code from "Longhorn", it did include the "Longhorn" End User License Agreement (EULA), a testament to the build's authenticity.

Contrary to popular belief, only very early "Longhorn" builds were directly derived from Windows XP; later builds were based on Windows Server 2003 Release Candidate code. Builds compiled after the development reset are based on Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1.

During Beta 1 development, Microsoft named the operating system Windows Vista. The new name was chosen to improve the product's image and reputation, and to reflect the new capabilities of the operating system.

A total of two Service Packs were released for the Windows Vista operating system. Service Pack 1 was made available to MSDN subscribers on Febuary 15, 2008, and was released to the Microsoft Download Center and Windows Update on March 18, 2008. Service Pack 2 was released to manufacturing on April 28, 2009, and released to the Microsoft Download Center and Windows Update on May 26, 2009. In addition, Microsoft released the Platform Update for Windows Vista on October 27, 2009, which was comprised of major new Windows 7 components and updated runtime libraries. The Platform Update requires Service Pack 2 prior to installation.

Builds

  • No information available
  • Existence doubtful
  • Information or pictures available
  • Leaked or released

Omega-13

Beta 1

Pre-Beta 2 (Beta 2 Fork)

Community Tech Preview 2 (Beta 2 Fork)

Beta 2 (Beta 2 Fork)

Beta 2

NOTE: Some of the earliest builds listed may not actually be Beta 2 builds (although still obviously within the Beta 2 fork), so their exact status is still to confirm.

Beta 2

Pre-RC 1

Pre-Release Candidate 1

Release Candidate 1

Pre-Release Candidate 2

Release Candidate 2

Pre-RTM

RTM

Post-RTM

Service Pack 1

Service Pack 2

See Also

External links

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