Development of Windows XP
Part of a series of articles on |
Windows XP |
---|
Development of Windows XP started in 1999 as a successor to the Windows Neptune and Windows Odyssey projects. Neptune was originally going to be the successor of Windows Me, though based on the NT kernel. Microsoft merged the teams working on Neptune with that of Windows Odyssey, Windows 2000's successor, in early 2000.[1] The resulting project, codenamed "Whistler", went on to become Windows XP.[2]
Development work on Windows XP was completed on August 24, 2001, and the operating system was released on October 25 of that year.[3]
"Neptune" and "Odyssey"
In the late 1990s, initial development of what would become Windows XP was focused on two individual products; "
However, the project proved to be
"Whistler"
In January 2000, shortly prior to the official release of Windows 2000, technology writer Paul Thurrott reported that Microsoft had shelved both Neptune and Odyssey in favor of a new product codenamed "Whistler", after
In June 2000, Microsoft began the technical beta testing process. Whistler was expected to be made available in "Personal", "Professional", "Server", "Advanced Server", and "Datacenter" editions. At PDC on July 13, 2000, Microsoft announced that Whistler would be released during the second half of 2001, and also released the first preview build, 2250. The build notably introduced an early version of a new visual styles system[11] along with an interim theme known as "Professional" (later renamed "Watercolor"), and contained a hidden "Start page" (a full-screen page similar to Neptune's "Starting Places") and a hidden, early version of a two-column Start menu design. Watercolor was never meant to be the final theme for Whistler; in fact, it has been stated that Microsoft used it as a decoy until they were ready to show Luna.[12] Build 2257 featured further refinements to the Watercolor theme, along with the official introduction of the two-column Start menu, and the addition of an early version of Windows Firewall.[5]
Builds
Lost builds
These builds (including the earliest builds) are lost. Some are mentioned in the leaked source code.
- Build 2197 - The earliest notable build, which was mentioned in an IT Pro article by Paul Thurott to be gone out internally "weeks ago".[13] It was certainly compiled earlier than build 2200.[13]
- Build 2200 - The first build to be mentioned in a ZDNet article containing information about Whistler as of February 10, 2000.[14]
Available builds
Build 2202 (SD Windows 2000 Professional) is the earliest available build. It has some progress done at this point as the "Comments?" link was introduced and one file identifies the operating system as Windows 2001.[15]
Beta versions
Microsoft released Whistler Beta 1, build 2296, on October 31, 2000. In January 2001, build 2410 introduced
Announcement
On February 5, 2001, Whistler was officially unveiled during a media event under the name Windows XP, where XP stands for "eXPerience". As a complement, the next version of
In April 2001, Microsoft controversially announced that XP would not integrate support for
Release
In June 2001, Microsoft indicated that it was planning to, in conjunction with
On August 24, 2001, Windows XP build 2600 was
See also
- Windows 2000
- Windows Me
- Windows XP
- History of Microsoft Windows
References
- ^ a b "Microsoft consolidates Windows development efforts". CNET. CNET Networks. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
- ^ a b "Microsoft to christen Windows, Office with new name". CNET. CNET Networks. Archived from the original on 2014-03-12. Retrieved 2018-06-09.
- ^ "An Inside Look at the Months-long Process of Getting Windows XP Ready for Release to Manufacturing". Microsoft.com. Microsoft. Archived from the original on 21 June 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
- ^ "SuperSite Flashback: Neptune". Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows. Penton Media. Archived from the original on January 21, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
- ^ a b c d "The Road to Gold: The development of Windows XP Reviewed". Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows. Penton Media. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
- ^ "Road to Gold: A Look at the Development of Windows 2000". ITProToday. Informa. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
- ^ Paul Thurrot (5 July 2000). "The Road to Gold: The development of Windows Me". SuperSite for Windows. Archived from the original on 2015-03-18. Retrieved 2018-06-09.
- ^ "Activity Centers: A Windows Me Technology Showcase". Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows. Penton Media. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- ^ Thurrot, Paul (July 5, 2000). "The Road to Gold: The development of Windows Me". Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows. Penton Media. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2007.
- ^ "Windows "Longhorn" FAQ". Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows. Penton Media. June 22, 2005. Archived from the original on April 4, 2008. Retrieved April 4, 2008.
- ^ "Introducing the Whistler Preview, Build 2250". Windows IT Pro. Penton Media. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-06-09.
- ^ Raymond Chen. "The decoy visual style". The Old New Thing. Microsoft. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
- ^ a b "More Blackcomb/Whistler info surfaces". ITPro Today. February 13, 2000. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^ "After Win2000, it's Whistler and Blackcomb". ZDNET. February 10, 2000. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^ "The Road to Windows XP". Airesoft.
- CNET Networks. January 9, 2003. Archived from the originalon June 13, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
- ^ "The Road to Gold (Part Two)". Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows. Penton Media. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
- ^ a b c "The Road to Gold (Part Three)". Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows. Penton Media. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
- ^ "Windows XP won't support USB 2.0". CNET. CNET Networks. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
- ^ Mendelson, Edward (September 10, 2002). "Windows XP SP1 Irons out the Wrinkles". PCMag. Retrieved 2019-12-07.
- ^ "Windows XP marketing tab to hit $1 billion". CNET. CNET Networks. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
- ^ "Microsoft changes XP slogan in wake of US attacks". Computerworld NZ. IDG. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
- ^ "Microsoft Campaign Borrows Madonna's 'Ray'". Associated Press. October 16, 2001. Archived from the original on September 15, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
- ^ Thurrot, Paul. "Windows XP Marketing: Yes You Can". Windows IT Pro. Penton. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
- ^ "Microsoft stirs it up with Windows XP bash". CNET. CNET Networks. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.