Windows XP

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Windows XP
Windows XP Logo.png
Microsoft Windows XP
Codename
Preliminary name		 Whistler
Kernel version NT 5.1
NT 5.2
CPU architecture x86, x64, IA64
Release date 24 August 2001
Support end 8 April 2014
Preceded by Windows 2000
Neptune / Odyssey
Succeeded by Windows Server 2003 (coterminous)
Longhorn / Windows Vista

Windows XP (codenamed Whistler) is an operating system developed by Microsoft, and the successor to Windows ME and Windows 2000. It was released to manufacturing on August 24, 2001, while its server counterpart, Windows Server 2003, was released almost two years later. The name, XP, stands for eXPerience.

Windows XP bridged the gap between the Windows 9x and Windows NT series of operating systems; ending the former, while bringing the stability and security of the latter to consumers.

A 64-bit version of the operating system, based on the Windows Server 2003 kernel, was made available on April 25, 2005.

Windows XP support ended on April 8, 2014, while its server counterpart ended a year later. However, antimalware signatures were still being produced for Windows XP for a year after the End-Of-Life (EOL).

Changes

Note that this changelog includes only beta versions of Windows XP for now. It does not describe changes happening after RTM (eg - SP1 betas).

Build 2211 (Early stages)

  1. Gains few features and appearances of Windows XP.
  2. Has no watermark, unlike the SD (Source Depot) Windows 2000 Post-RTM build.

Build 2223

  1. Refers to Windows Whistler Professional in the watermark on the desktop.
  2. Adds Neptune-style Welcome screen.

Build 2250

  1. First known Whistler build to include the new Watercolour (then known as Professional) theme.
  2. Start menu was redesigned in this build, and now forms the Start menu of Windows XP and later Windows versions. However, this feature is disabled by default.
  3. Internet Explorer identifies itself as version 5.6.

Build 2257

  1. Improves on the then-new Professional theme, renames it to Watercolour.
  2. Replaces many 'Windows 2000' references with 'Whistler', with some exceptions.
  3. Has the new Start menu enabled by default, not disabled as it was in Build 2250. The Start menu was also redesigned.
  4. Minor change on boot screen, mainly focusing on reference changes.

Build 2267

  1. Introduces a new bootscreen.
  2. The look of the Start menu is updated.

Build 2296 (Beta 1)

Appears to be identical to the previous builds.

Build 2410 (Pre-Beta 2)

  1. Gains a number of new features.
  2. Has a number of higher resolution icons.
  3. IE is now 6.0 beta instead of 5.6.
  4. Requires a product key.

Build 2416

  1. Windows Activation is added, but it is not functional.
  2. It doesn't requires a product key.

Build 2419

  1. Windows Setup redesigned.
  2. Windows Tour prototype present.
  3. Requires a product key again.

Build 2428

  1. First leaked build with the Luna theme, which went on to be the major theme for Windows XP.
  2. Animations are present in the taskbar and the Start menu.
  3. Contains a working Windows Activation and prevents log on to the system after 14 days of installation.

Build 2433

  1. Minor changes to OOBE to be able to check the internet connection and ask for the necessary settings to connect.
  2. Minor changes to Explorer.

Build 2446

  1. Windows flag was replaced in setup.
  2. Windows Media Player was updated.
  3. CD Player was removed.

Build 2457

  1. Requires a new product key.

Build 2462 (Beta 2)

  1. Main Beta 2 build of Windows Whistler.

Build 2464

  1. New icon for "File a bug report".

Build 2465

  1. First build to start calling itself Windows XP in most places.
  2. The 'shine' was removed from the Start Menu.
  3. Luna theme was updated.
  4. Now uses Bliss wallpaper by default.

Build 2469

  1. New Setup UI.
  2. OOBE was a bit changed.
  3. More mentions of Whistler in this build have been removed.

Build 2474 (Pre-RC1)

  1. Most Whistler references were replaced.
  2. Uses Windows XP references and RC 1 on the setup.
  3. New boot screen.
  4. Includes an animated windows flag at the login screen.

Build 2475

  1. Minor changes from pervious build.

Build 2481

  1. Official Pre-RC1.
  2. All the remaining Whistler references were replaced.
  3. New Homestead and Metallic (Olive green and Silver) Luna theme colours.
  4. Animating Windows flag was removed.
  5. New XP sounds were added.
  6. Windows XP Tour is fully set up.

Build 2485

  1. Homestead and Metallic themes are now called Olive Green and Silver like they are in the final version.
  2. OOBE font for the question mark's speech is Arial (as opposed to Comic Sans).
  3. The default Bliss wallpaper is changed to Windows XP Professional.
  4. The copyright dates are shown in the lower-left corner of the winver banners as opposed to "Version 2002" on earlier builds.

Build 2486

  1. Mostly bug fixes, otherwise almost identical to RTM.

Build 2494

  1. You can use .NET Passport and the new user interface for Windows Messenger is available.

Build 2495

  1. TweakUI has been added in this build for unknown reasons.

Build 2517

  1. Uses a slightly different font during setup and while loading the default drivers in the TXT setup.
  2. The title now reads "Windows Setup" instead of "Windows XP Setup".

Build 2525

  1. This build is the first to use the "xpclient" lab in the buildtag.

Build 2526

  1. The timebomb is set to 2 hours.

Build 2531

  1. The timebomb is again set to 180 days.

Build 2535

  1. New default wallpaper.

Build 2542

  1. Changes product key.
  2. Extends Windows Activation to 30 days.

Build 2600

  1. Official RTM.

Editions

  • Starter: This version was intended for emerging markets. Cannot launch more than 3 programs at a time and can utilize only up to a maximum of 512MB RAM. This version is meant for low-cost PC's.
  • Home Edition: This edition is for low to mid end PCs and can address up to 4 GB RAM. This version was included in ULPC(Ultra Low PC's)
  • Professional: This is the mainstream high end version.
  • Media Center Edition: This version is specially for Media Center based PC. System requirements are significantly higher than other editions. This version includes Media Center and new themes.
  • Embedded: This version is intended for the embedded sector.
  • Tablet PC Edition: This version was included in tablets from 2002-2006. This is the tablet-optimized version of Windows XP.
  • 64-bit Edition: This version was intended for 64-bit PC's and thus could address far more RAM amounts. One such edition was for Itanium as well.

Improvements

  • Visual styles: A theming engine was designed by Microsoft which included the new Luna interface. The previous placeholder theme, Watercolor, was replaced in later versions of the operating system.

Builds

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

Pre-Beta

Technical Beta

Beta 1

Pre-Beta 2

Beta 2

Pre-RC1

RC1

Pre-RC2

RC2

Pre-RTM

RTM

Post-RTM

Service Pack 1 Beta

Service Pack 1

Service Pack 2 Beta

Service Pack 2

Service Pack 3 Beta

Service Pack 3

Post-Service Pack 3

External links

Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows

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