The Long Road to the Longhorn Gold - Windows Vista

[Guest Prayaas Aggarwal]

A Bit of The LONG Story...

Remember that shitty Vista, that was nothing more than a vista of bling-bling effects? Well, it ain't so shitty. Circumstances made it that way.. Actually, it was bad luck at MS. As said before, Windows 7 was planned as 'Blackcomb' even before XP.  Read that 'how-it-was-named-story" in the Windows 7 Thread. Longhorn is the name of a bar between the two mountains that Whistler's visitors pass to reach Blackcomb. And Vista (originally Longhorn) was supposed to be an interim, between Whistler (XP) and Blackcomb (7) at that time..

However, things changed. Whistler was RTMed as Windows XP in 2001. Then began the development of Longhorn. Actually, they wanted to make things based on the .NET Technology. However, it was too immature at that time to be properly used. And things had to go wrong, and they did. Let me explain why Longhorn took 5 years to be released when it should've typically taken 3.

The interim, gradually assimilated many of the technologies meant for Blackcomb. It soon turned out to itself become a major release.

Early Improvements Milestone 1, 2, 3 - 2002

The time was coming. Gates was ambitious, really ambitious. XP's Luna look was so liked by people, that they started working more on the look. Basically Windows XP was being improved in the early builds. A new blue coloured theme called 'Plex' was introduced, which was a bit better than the Luna theme. They worked on graphics, ahead of their time. Old 486 PCs were not even ready for Windows XP, when they raised the system requirements to about 3 times. In the early M3 builds, the Windows logo was made white, just like it was done now, just before the new logo came into use. A prototype of Windows Sidebar came into being, and a new Relational Database based File System called WinFS (Windows Future Storage). It's forever in the future. Couldn't make it to the RTM. They also included the Avalon API (now Windows Presentation Foundation or WPF) in the M3 builds. They kept on putting so many features in Longhorn.

A new display driver model was introduced by them, called LDDM (Longhorn Display Driver Model) to replace XPDM. Many new appealing effects were included in those builds. The Desktop Composition Engine (DCE) was introduced. It is now known as DWM (Desktop Window Manager). The M3 Build 3718 included the DWM and some early hardware-accelerated alpha transparency and transition effects. As a demonstration of the DCE's capabilities, programs literally flipped into the taskbar and twisted as they were minimized.

The video below (of WinHEC '03) demonstrates what DCE could do:

http-~~-//www.youtube.com/watch?v=klYrxtHAflk

As you can see, the Task Gallery concept shown in the Windows 7 thread meant for Blackcomb has been implemented here with modern graphics. (I mean, modern for 2003) ABove is Longhorn Build 4015 which called itself 'Windows Longhorn XP Professional"

New Technology

Milestone 4 - 2003

Now, DCE's capabilities were implemented in an even better way, by changing the whole interface of the OS. Now, Longhorn looked no longer like XP with DCE. Now, Longhorn XP Professional was Longhorn Professional.

An M4 Build 4008 had many changes over M3, including a modified blue "Plex" theme and a new, simplified Windows Image-based installer that operates in graphical mode from the outset, and completed an install of the operating system in approximately one third the time of Windows XP on the same hardware. The installer is that new one which we got with Vista. Windows Explorer changed dramatically. Now, Windows Explorer was nothing but a .NET application. XP Task Pane was replaced by a Details Pane under the toolbars. View Modes was changed to the Icon Size Slider of Vista. WinFS was clear. The Sidebar was greatly improved.

Milestone 5 - 2003

The Windows Logo was enlarged with Build 4015. The Libraries of Windows 7 came there in Longhorn. Outlook Express was based on WinFS now.

The biggest problem: All memory leaks began. Windows Explorer memory leaks, Sidebar memory leaks. WinFS was really unreliable, so it was disabled by many testers rendering Outlook Express inoperable. Build 4029 was an improvement. Larger image and video previews were displayed in a tooltip when the mouse hovered over a file, column-level filtering of results was introduced, and overall performance of Explorer was somewhat improved over build 4015, though the memory leak issues were not entirely resolved. There was also a new analog clock user interface. Batch image processing of images was also introduced, making it possible for a user to rotate a number of images at once.

Build 4029's name was displayed as "onghornLay rofessionalPay" (Pig Latin for Longhorn Professional) in various places around the operating system. While some had presumed that screenshots of this build were fake because of this seemingly obvious mistake, Microsoft later explained that this was merely a test of some new code to locate and reduce the number of places in the operating system code that the name was defined. Internet explorer was also being improved. It had a download manager which was later removed.

Milestone 6 - 2003-4

Build 4039 is regarded as one of the most interesting builds. It was the first to contain DWM with full glass and the last to contain the Plex theme. It's Start Button didn't have Start written, just like Vista. A new Jade theme was added in later builds.

This was what Microsoft wanted to give to the public in 2004. A Beta of Longhorn was meant to come in 2004.

http-~~-//www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=cPDT21oEhW0#t=63s

This preview was given by MS in October 2003.

Milestone 7

Build 4074, regarded as the best Longhorn Build, was previewed at WinHEC 2004. It had the new icons, new font, new theme, new DWM. But Microsoft employees came to know that they were losing sight of what needed to be done to complete the next version of Windows and ship it to customers. Internally, some Microsoft employees were describing the Longhorn project as "another Cairo" or "Cairo.NET", referring to the Cairo development project that the company embarked on through the first half of the 1990s, which never resulted in a shipping operating system.

Build 4093 was the last Longhorn build compiled before Microsoft quit. Actually Build 4100 was supposed to be the beta. Something else happened. Nothing came up. Build 4093 was considered highly unstable, it contained Sidebar, WinFS, and an Avalon-based Windows Movie Maker. There was an Avalon-based Display Properties control panel applet hidden in the \WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 folder, similar to the one in Build 3683. Hence the Longhorn Development crashed! Longhorn wasn't half of what they wanted it to be.

The Longhorn Reset - Most Interesting Part

They started to develop Longhorn from scratch! Yes, it's right. All hardwork waste. Seeing that Vista came in 2006, they got nothing but 1.5 years to make that OS. So, we can say, it's a good OS. Had they got another 1.5 years, no bugs would've been there.

Now, instead of basing the code on the vulnerable XP, they based it on Windows Server 2003.

Longhorn Omega-13 D1 Builds

Now, the first build was just Windows Server 2003 recompiled. Then they jumped build numbers and compiled Build 5001. It had minor improvements. Build 5048 was the Longhorn Developer Preview which is regarded as one of the worst builds and a 'step backwards'.

Longhorn is now Vista

By the beginning of July 2005, having painted itself into a corner, so to speak, by choosing names like Windows Me and XP for previous client releases of Windows, Microsoft now had to find an even more interesting name for "Longhorn", to avoid the perception that this was a boring release (supposing that Windows 2006 would sound less exciting than Windows XP). The company considered several names from simple to fanciful and inventive. In the end, Microsoft chose Windows Vista, believing it to be a "wonderful intersection of what the product really does, what Windows stands for, and what resonates with customers, and their needs." Group Project Manager Greg Sullivan told Paul Thurrott—"You want the PC to adapt to you and help you cut through the clutter to focus on what’s important to you. That's what Windows Vista is all about: "bringing clarity to your world." (a reference to the three marketing points of Vista—Clear, Connected, Confident), so you can focus on what matters to you." Microsoft co-president Jim Allchin also loved the name, saying that "Vista" creates the right imagery for the new product capabilities and inspires the imagination with all the possibilities of what can be done with Windows—making people’s passions come alive."

The first beta was released soon, and it did not have the look and interface meant for Vista. It had a fairly working version of .NET Framework 3.0, still called WinFX.

CTPs were released after Beta 1. CTP 1 was Build 5219. This was the first public "Ultimate Edition" build, and included Super Fetch. Although not enabled by default, this refresh saw the return of the Windows Sidebar, which had been removed as part of the development reset, and the introduction of Desktop Gadgets, both of which are part of Microsoft gadgets line of mini-applications. Microsoft stated that they intended to make additional gadgets available for download from a web site over time. This build also supported a new version of Windows Media Center code-named "Diamond". Microsoft seems so obsessed with shiny things, diamonds and "pearls".

Windows Media Player 11 was included in the second CTP and the Windows Media Center was much disliked.

WDDM could no longer be bypassed with the next CTPs.

Beta 2 was a bit better. It was almost feature-complete. The start button was replaced by the pearl.

The Release Candidate was good, though the intrusiveness of UAC (User Account Control) was very irritating. New icons were almost final now.

The Pre-RTM builds were released to TAP testers. Build 5840 included the final set of wallpapers for the release.

Build 6000 made it to the public as RTM.

The Service Packs fixed most of the problems, but it was too late. In those long 5 years of not releasing any OS, MS lost much of it's market share to Apple, and the others sticked to XP.

However, it was good that Vista released. It raised requirements, was criticized, but by the time Windows 7 came, all had upgraded their PCs. Thus, Windows 7 was successful. The only reason Vista failed is that it was rushed up, and too ahead of it's time.

[Guest Prayaas Aggarwal]

The Longhorn Build List Part 1

WARNING: It's mysterious. Numbers are skipped too often.

Milestone 1/2

3646 (Lab01_N(portbld).020612-1346)

3663 M2 Build (lab06_N.020728-1728) The first Windows Code Name: "Longhorn" build known to exist. Only four low-resolution screenshots have been leaked publically. Originally published by Calvin Zhang, they were tagged and distributed by a release group known as xBetas.

3670 M2 Build (lab06_N.020819-1749)

3678 M2/M3 Build (?)

Milestone 3

3683 M3 Build (lab06_N.020923-1821), Leaked, October 20, 2002

3705 M3 Build

3706.Lab06_N.021029-1731, Leaked, May 22 2006 Features StartPage, partially implemented Desktop Composition Engine and Taskbar-Sidebar combo.

3708 M3 Build (Lab06_N.021108-1847)

3711 M3 Build

3713 (Lab06.000424-1359)

3718 M3 Build (lab06_N.021119-1730), Leaked, April 30, 2004 Features a workable Desktop Composition Engine which presents hardware-accelerated window effects, such as alpha transparency and transitions.

3728.dnsrv_dev(sergueik)

3883.0

3940

Milestone 4

4001.main.021204-1515 Stephen First M4 build. This milestone represented the migration to a Windows Image-based install.

4002.Lab04_N(yongqu).021218-1747

4002.Lab06_N(ntvbl06).030108-1926 psychochromatic

4003.Lab01_N(forrestf).030116-1035

4004

4006.Lab01_N.030209-2000

4006 M4 Build (main.030203-1038)

4007 M4 Build (main.030212-2037)

4007 M4 Build (main.030214-????)

4007 (main.030219-1933) Peteski

4007 (main.030219-1933) Peteski

4008.NT.030110-1512

4008.Lab01_N(briangu).030220-0837

4008 M4 Build (main.030219-1933), Leaked February 28, 2003

4011.main.030305-2045 Stephen, Leaked July 21, 2006

4012

4013 (NT.030320-1512)

4013 (NT.030320-1058)

4014 (NT.030324-1840)

4014.Lab01_N.030326-2000

Milestone 5

4015 M5 Build (main.030328-1500), Leaked April 28, 2003

4015 M5 Build (lab06_N.030403-1706)

4015 M5 Build (????.030407-????)

4016

4017

4018.Lab03_DEV(scoyne).020918-0001

4018 M5 Build (4018.Lab06_n030417-1721)

4019 M5 Build (lab01_N.030428-2000)

4020

4021.main.030415-0745 Peteski

4023 M5 Build (????.030521-????)

4024

4025

4026 M5 Build (????.030602-????)

4027

4028.Lab01_N.030701-2000 The first known Server build of Windows Code Name: "Longhorn" before Beta 1. The traditional Client bits, such as visual style and look, are present here, too, though they are not enabled by default.

4029 M5 Build (main.030619-0000), Leaked, September 23, 2003 Probably the last build from Milestone 5. Features extended tool tip which include image and video previews (still images), new Sidebar analog clock user interface. Partial implementation of the Desktop Composition Engine and Window Manager is also available. Most common strings are in Pig-Latin notation, including SKU information.

Milestone 6

4030

4030.0.Lab06_n.030630-1724 psychochromatic

4031

4032.Lab06_n.030710-1709 psychochromatic

4032.LAB01_N(skupec)

4033.main.030717-1555 Features a mixed-style theme, the wallpaper of which is most notable - the blue Plex visual style is mixed with a red still image of what is known as Desktop Aurora. The Pig-Latin notation used in certain 402* and 403* builds is also seen in this build, as are other interesting bits.

4033.idx01.030730-1630 psychochromatic

4034 built by: private/Lab06_dev(skatari)

4035

4037

4038.Lab01_N(bryant).030803-2000

4038.main.030813-1852 psychochromatic

4039.Lab06_n.030827-1717, Leaked August 22, 2007

4039.Lab06_n.030828-1802

4039.lab04_n(ahmeti)

4039 built by: private/Lab06_dev(skatari)

4040

4040.Lab04_N.030828-1910 psychochromatic

4042.main.030905-1800 psychochromatic

4042.Lab06_N.030909-1709 psychochromatic

4043

4044.Lab04_N(davj).030630-1505

4044.Lab06_n.030915-1925 Stephen

4044 M6 Build (????.030917-????)

4045

4046

4047

4048 M6 Build (lab02.030923-1849)

4049

4050.Lab04_N(davj).030630-1505

4050.idx02.030928-0552

4050.private/lab06_demo.031013-1849

4050.private/lab06_demo.031018-2015

4050.private/lab06_demo.031019-1809

4050 M6 Build (private/Lab06_dev(yasuho))

4051 PDC (M6) Build (idx02.031001-1340), Leaked, October 20, 2003 First publically released build by Microsoft, oriented primarily at IT specialists and developers who needed to become familiar with the new technologies introduces in Windows Code Name: "Longhorn" and other products from the new "wave."

4052

4053 M6 Build (main.031022-1720), Leaked, March 2, 2004

4053.lab01_fusion(jaykrell).031029-2141

4054.private/Lab06_dev(sunggch).030625-1334

4054.private/lab06_dev_ux(reinerf).031104-1800 luX

4055.private/Lab06_dev(sunggch).030625-1334 ?

4058.lab06_n.03118-1808

4059 (main.031208-1842)

Milestone 7

4060.private/Lab06_dev(skatari)

4060.Lab04_dev(yongqu).040113-1005

4060 built by: private/Lab06_dev(skatari)

4061.Lab01_N.040125-2000

4061.LAB01_N(skupec)

4062

4063

4065

4066.main.040226-1010 psychochromatic

4067.lab01_fusion.040316-2000

4067.Lab06_n.040307-1603

4067.private/lddm_dev_tech(devdmo).040212-1646

4068 lab07_n(skatari)

4071.private/Snap_dev_ux(ntvbl06).040420-1521

4071.private/Snap_dev_ux(ntvbl06).040426-1627

4073.idx02.040420-1832

4074 WinHEC Build (4074.idx02.040425-1535), Leaked, May 2004

4080.Lab06_n.040429-1614

4080.Lab06_n.040502-1523

4083.Lab06_n.040519-1614

4083.main.040516-1537 (64 bit), Leaked, November 10, 2004

4084.main.040527-0915 psychochromatic

4085 (private/Lab06_dev_tech(skatari).040430-0928)

4085.main.040603-1817 psychochromatic

4086.lab03_dev.040629-1910 psychochromatic

4086.lab01_n.040704-2000 psychochromatic

4087.main.040626-0846

4088.Lab07_N.040705-1625

4088.lab02_n.040706-1655 psychochromatic

4088.main(cjensen).040708-1751 luX

4089.private_lab06_dev_ux.040721-1800 Stephen

4093.main.040819-1215 Stephen Final winmain compile of Longhorn before it was cancelled and restarted to become what is now Vista

4093.040928 (winmain_oobe/avalon_wap_beta1.050620-2052)

4093.041006 (private/wcp_dev_platform(danmohr).041116-2208

4093.0 (lab03_dev(a-micnaz).040714-1853)

4094 (private/Lab06_dev_platform(snaptab).041124-0021)

4094 built by: private/Lab06_dev_tech(skatari)

Milestone 8/9 (D1 Builds)

3790.1232.winmain.040819-1629 psychochromatic

3790.winmain.040907-2000

5000.winmain.040908-2000

5000.vbl_core_build(ntbuild).040915-0831

5001.winmain.040927-1610

5002.winmain.041006-2000

5003.winmain.041014-1440

5004.winmain.041016-2000

5005.winmain.041018-1620

5006.winmain.041020-1640

5007.winmain.041021-1035

5008.winmain.041021-2200

5009.winmain.041022-1945

5010.winmain.041026-0350

5011.winmain.041028-1201

5012.winmain.041102-1650

5019

5027 (vbl_core_mig(davj).041006-1344)

5027 (vbl_core_diag(josesua).050113-1134)

5032 (vbl_core_build(jaykrell).050119-0943)

5033.winmain.050119-2030

5036.NT.050205-1730

5037 (vbl_core_build(jaykrell).050204-2158)

5037 (vbl_core_mui.050208-0200)

5040 (vbl_tools_build(surajp).050216-1434)

5039 (vbl_srv_wstm(srvbld-s).050208-1337)

5034.0 (vbl_wcp_avalon_dev(danmohr).050302-1220)

5048.vbl_srv_rpc(yongqu).050314-2000

5048.vbl_srv_ts_rdp_collab(JHughson).050318-1444

5048.0 (winmain_idx02.050401-0536) WinHEC 2005 preview build

5049.NT.050205-1730

5051.vbl_tools_wincet(kenma).050315-1233

5054.vbl_core_diag(josesua).050401-1500

5054.vbl_ux_nisd.050404-1730

5058.vbl_wcp_um_d2dev.050412-1800

5059.vbl_wcp_avalon.050412-1805

5059.vbl_ux_dev_checkin.050420-1700

5060.vbl_wcp_avalon.050417-1805

5061.NT.050404-1245

5062 (vbl_wcp_avalon(yungt).050429-0931)

5065 (???????.052106-2035)

5065 (vbl_core_setup.050509-2030)

5067 (vbl_wcp_um_d2_drivers(skatari).050504-0921)

5071 (winmain_idx01.050605-2010)

5072.vbl_core_fbrel(jshay).050527-1915

5077.vbl_core_mig(davj).050314-1245

5077.vbl_tools_build(skupec).050517-1200

5077.vbl_core_setup.050530-1400

5077.vbl_tools_build(andreva).050601-0028

5081.vbl_tools(miker).050604-1323

5081.winmain.050604-1500

5085 (vbl_srv_winsecurity(srvbld-s).050331-1512

5085.vbl_srv.050610-2000

5086 (vbl_wcp_mobile_tip(tpctext).050725-1705)

5086.winmain_idx02.050625-1734

5086.winmain_idx02.050621-2010

5087.(vivekrao).050606-1603

5087.vbl_ux_partners_ie.050616-1730

5087.winmain.050613-1840

5088 (winmain_oobe/avalon_wap_beta1.050620-2052)

5088.vbl_tools_build(jaykrell).050526-0115

5089.winmain.050615-1910 Stephen

5096.0 (vbl_srv_crpt(uril).050706-0200)

5098.winmain_beta1.050628-1740 psychochromatic

5099

Beta 1

5112.winmain_beta1.050720-1600 Windows Vista Beta 1, Released July 27th, 2005

5112.9 (winmain_beta1.051012-1700)

Beta 2 Fork

5201.vbl_wcp_mobile.050705-2115

5202 (vbl_wcp_um_d2_drivers(hirokisa).050504-0921)

5203.winmain.050702-1000

5204.winmain(jaganv).050708-1819

5206.0 (vbl_srv_crpt(nide).050622-1331)

5206.0 (vbl_srv_crpt(pingxie).050607-2121

5206.NT.050715-1210

5208.vbl_ndt(paulsi).050519-1852

5208.vbl_core_etw(josesua).050721-0034

5209.vbl_core_gift(sunggch).050620-1902

5209.vbl_media_core.050728-1800

5212.vbl_ux_nisd.050802-1700

5212.vbl_ux_dev_checkin.050808-1730

5213.0 (vbl_wcp_um_d2_drivers(hirokisa).050504-0921) Aeden

5214.vbl_srv_rpc(yongqu).050809-1352

5217.vbl_tools_build(jaykrell).050811-1208

5217.vbl_core_sls_sep(nide).050812-1014

5219.0 (vbl_wcp_um_d2_drivers(skatari).050822-2034) Aeden

5219.winmain_idx02.050824-2010

5219.winmain_idx02.050828-2010

5219.winmain_idx02.050830-2010, Released September 13th, 2005

5221.vbl_wcp_avalon.050822.1825

5215 (winmain_oob/avalon_wap_PDC_2005(avdrt).050818-1524)

5221.winmain.050819-1615 TheVista.ru

5221.wcp_avalon.050822-1835

5221.vbl_ux_partners.050831-1831

5222.winmain.050822-1800 TheVista.ru

5223.vbl_ndt(paulsi).050811-0134

5223.winmain.050824-0010 TheVista.ru

5224.winmain.050826-1920 TheVista.ru

5224.vbl_core_security_crpt.050901-1900

5225.winmain.050830-2130

5225 (vbl_core_sls(nide).050831-2016)

5226.vbl_wcp_gfx_wgf(amarp).050830-1830

5226.winmain.050831-2255 TheVista.ru

5226.vbl_wcp_avalon_dev.050908-1459 Sidebar session during PDC

5227.winmain.050905-2000 TheVista.ru

5228.winmain.050906-2350 TheVista.ru

5228.0 (vbl_wcp_um_d2_drivers(skatari).050919-1101) Aeden

5228.0 (vbl_wcp_um_d2_drivers(hirokisa).050919-1149) Aeden

5228.0 (vbl_wcp_um_d2_drivers_ihvs(hirokisa).050921-0220) Aeden

5228.0 (vbl_wcp_um_d2_drivers(hirokisa).050921-0225) Aeden

5228.0 (vbl_wcp_um_d2_drivers(hirokisa).050921-0242) Aeden

5229.winmain.050908-1830 TheVista.ru

5230.winmain.050909-2225 TheVista.ru

5231.winmain.050912-2010

5231.winmain.050912-2020

5231.winmain.050913-2205 TheVista.ru

5231.winmain.050918-2000 TheVista.ru

5231.winmain_idx03.051004-2120, Released October 17, 2005

5232.winmain.050913-2110 TheVista.ru

5232 (vbl_tools_locstudio.050920-0920)

5233.winmain.050918-1800 TheVista.ru

5234.winmain.050921-1018 TheVista.ru

5235.winmain.050923-1902 TheVista.ru

5236.winmain.050926-1840 TheVista.ru

5237.winmain.050927-2050 TheVista.ru

5238.winmain.050928-1830 TheVista.ru

5239 (vbl_core_mig(davj).050909-1453)

5239.winmain.050930-2215 TheVista.ru

5240.winmain.051003-1818 TheVista.ru

5241.winmain.051004-2135 TheVista.ru

5242.0 (vbl_wcp_um_d2_drivers(gishtaki).050919-1101) Aeden

5242.0 (vbl_wcp_um_d2_drivers(gishtaki).050919-1149) Aeden

5242.0 (vbl_wcp_um_d2_drivers_ihvs(gishtaki).050921-0220) Aeden

5242.0 (vbl_wcp_um_d2_drivers(gishtaki).050921-0225) Aeden

5242.0 (vbl_wcp_um_d2_drivers(hirokisa).050921-0242) Aeden

5242.winmain.051006-1842

5244.vbl_media_core.050929-1011

5244.winmain.051011-1737 TheVista.ru

5245.winmain.051012-2130 TheVista.ru

5246.winmain.051013-2210 TheVista.ru

5247.0 (vbl_core_gift(sunggch).051003-1758)

5247.winmain.051017-2015 TheVista.ru

5247.vbl_ux_dev(stevevd).051103-1648

5248.winmain.051019-1910 TheVista.ru

5249.0 (vbl_wcp_um_d2_drivers(gishtaki).050921-0225) Aeden

5249.winmain.051020-2015 TheVista.ru

5249.vbl_wcp_avalon_dev(avdrt).051022-1616

5250.winmain.051021-2000 TheVista.ru

5250.vbl_core_sls(nide).051028-2000

5251.winmain.051025-2145 TheVista.ru

5252.winmain.051026-1836 TheVista.ru

5253.winmain.051027-2040 TheVista.ru

5253.vbl_wcp_mobile_auxcpl(bcheek).051031-1255

5253.winmain.051028-2030 TheVista.ru

5254.winmain.051101-2045 TheVista.ru

5255.winmain.051102-1745 TheVista.ru

5256.winmain.051103-1700 TheVista.ru

5257.winmain.051104-2330 TheVista.ru

5258.winmain.051105-2145 TheVista.ru

5259.winmain.051107-2030 TheVista.ru

5259.winmain_idx02.051113-2100, Leaked November 30, 2005 This build was oriented to registered partners of Microsoft. Supplemental Drivers Pack is no longer included in the main Windows DVD.

5259.winmain_idx02.051117-1715, Leaked December 07, 2005 Official recompile for TAP members

5260 (winmain.051108-2040)

5261.winmain.051109-2150 TheVista.ru

262.winmain.051110-1830 TheVista.ru

5264.winmain.051112-2100

5265.winmain.051114-1900 TheVista.ru

5266.winmain.051115-2130 TheVista.ru

5267.winmain.051116-1717 TheVista.ru

5268.winmain.051117-2200

5269.winmain.051118-2030 TheVista.ru

5270.winmain_idx03.051207-1830

5270.winmain_idx03.051212-1830

5270.winmain_idx03.051214-1910, Released December 19, 2005

5275.vbl_tools_build_cleanup(jaykrell).051203-1440 luX

5276.vbl_wcp_mobile.051109-1726

5276.winmain.051205-2006

5284.vbl_core_platarch(nicjudge).050907-1021

5285.vbl_media_core.051101-2045

5295.vbl_tools_locstudio.060111-1900

5296.vbl_core_sls(sepbld-s).060113-1157

5297.winmain.060112-1755 Stephen

5299.vbl_tools_build(skupec).051219-1332

5300.0 (winmain_oob/avalon_wap_FEB_CTP_2006.060131-1602) MagicAndre1981

5305.vbl_ux_partners_wmdconnect.060125-1530 Michael

5306.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers.050921-0220) Aeden

5308.winmain_idx01.060126-1800

5308.17.winmain_idx01.060217-2200, Released February 22, 2006

5308.60.winmain_idx01.060223-2145 Stanimir Stoyanov

5310.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers.060212-0047) Aeden

5310.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers.060216-1934) Aeden

5310.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers.060222-1727) Aeden

5320.vbl_wcp_mobile.060207-1930

5321.vbl_core_gift(sunggch).050928-1156

5322.vbl_ux_nisd_dev(alexop).060222-1322

5324.0

5325.0

5325.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers.060227-1053) Aeden

5325.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers.060228-2316) Aeden

5325.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers.060309-1613) Aeden

5325.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers.060317-1111) Aeden

5328.vbl_core_mig(davj).051130-1810

5331.0

5335.vbl_media_apps.060307-1800

5335.5 (winmain(wmbla).060317-1722)

5355.vbl_media_ehome.060330-2100

5339.vbl_core(karand).060309-2233

5339.vbl_Tools_Build(corebldr).060310-0015

5340.0

5341.vbl_media_ehome_dev(a-karenp).060316-1929 luX

5342.vbl_ux_partners_winapps.060316-0000 Stephen

5342.winmain_idx04.060321-1730, Released March 24, 2006

5346.winmain(wmbla).060222-0941

5347.0

5349.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers.060623-0429) Aeden

5349.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers.060628-0719) Aeden

5349.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers.060629-1619) Aeden

5350.0

5350.winmain.060323-1900 MagicAndre1981

5352.vbl_media_apps.060328-2141

5353 jono3000

5355.vbl_media_ehome.060330-2100 Only screenshots were ever published. Demonstrated various features and additions to Windows Media Center.

5355.vbl_ndt_dmi_dev(jamesca).060331-0100 Colonel.Cool

5356.winmain.060330-1450

5361.winmain.060405-1900

5362.vbl_core(sepbld-s).060407-1147

5364.0 (vbl_wcp_avalon.060409-1347) MagicAndre1981

5364.vbl_wcp.060409-1612 gcnaddict

5365.winmain.060410-1730

5365.winmain_idx05.060416-1900

5365.8.winmain_idx05.060419-1800

5366.vbl_media_apps.060415-1800

5369.0

5370.vbl_core(sepbld-s).060417-1736

5370.vbl_wcp_avalon.060417-1826

5371.0

5372.0 (winmain.060418-1800)

5373.vbl_ndt_dmi_dev(jamesca).060425-0140 Colonel.Cool

5374.0

5376.0

5378.vbl_wcp_avalon.060426-1453

5381.winmain_beta2.060501-1900, Leaked May 3rd, 2006

5381.2.winmain_beta2(nide).060502-2006

5381.3

5382.2 (unbootable)

5383

5383.1.060511-1900

5384.winmain_beta2.060516-1930 VistaRELOADED

5384.winmain_beta2.060518-1455 Offical Beta 2 build of Windows Vista.

5384.20.winmain_beta2.060531-1915 xplode

[Guest Prayaas Aggarwal]

Part 2

Release Candidate 1

5420.0 (winmain.060427-1900)

5421.0 (winmain.060428-1900

5422.0 luX

5423.0 (vbl_media_core.060511-1323) VistaRELOADED

5424.vbl_ux_nisd_dev(alexlop).060506-1811 luX

5425.0

5428.0

5428.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers(tsegawa).060512-0032) Aeden

5428.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers(tsegawa).060512-1452) Aeden

5428.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers(tsegawa).060515-2332) Aeden

5430.vbl_core_gift(tarekms).060313-1619 luX

5434.winmain.060515-1710

5434.vbl_core_sls(nide).060519-1654 luX

5435.0 (vbl_ux_nisd_dev_acw(nirajsh).060518-1858) TheWahbinator

5437.0

5437.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers.060607-1639) Aeden

5438.0 (winmain(wmbla).060621-1115) xplode

5439.0 (vbl_media_core.060511-1323) VistaRELOADED

5441.0 (winmain(wmbla).060628-1735) xplode

5442.vbl_wcp_um_dev.060529-1949 Michael

5443.0

5443 (vbl_media_apps.060606-1800) xplode

5444.0 (vbl_ux_partners_wmdconnect_app_dogfood(a-mblake).060607-1130 xplode

5445.0 This build down through 5451 had severe bugs with some essential C++ based apps.

5446.0

5447.0

5448.0

5449.0

5450.0

5450.4 (winmain(wmbla).060623-0309) Lost Soul™

5451.0 the_ubernated

5451.90.winmain(wmbla).060804-1722 luX

5456.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers.060616-1927) Aeden

5456.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers.060621-1529) Aeden

5456.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers.060627-0905) Aeden

5456.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers.060627-0127) Aeden

5456.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers.060629-0011) Aeden

5456.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers.060630-1140) Aeden

5456.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers.060630-1509) Aeden

5456.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers.060705-2316) Aeden

5456.2 the_ubernated

5456.5.winmain_idx03.060620-1700, Leaked June 24, 2006 Interim build released to testers

5458.winmain.060615-1715 Karl

5460.0 (vbl_ux_partners_wmdconnect_app_dogfood(a-mblake).060628-0900) VistaRELOADED

5461.vbl_media_apps.060620-1900 luX

5464.vbl_tools_build(jaykrell).060624-0544 luX

5464.vbl_core(sepbld-s).060625-2150 luX

5464.0 Ernham

5465.0 (winmain.060623-1715) Aeden

5465.vbl_core_gift.060624-1900 luX

5456.0 (vbl_wcp_d2_drivers.060705-2316) Aeden

5466.0.winmain.060626-2000 Micha

5466.vbl_media_ehome.060627-2030 TheWahbinator

5467.0.winmain.060627-1800 Utakz

5467.0.vbl_ux_nisd_dev(alexlop).060706-1023 luX

5469.0 NetRolller 3D

5472.0.winmain.060705-1830 Utakz

5472.1.winmain_idx01.060706-???? Utakz

5472.2.winmain_idx01.060707-???? Utakz

5472.3.winmain_idx01.060710-???? Utakz

5472.4.winmain_idx01.060711-1900 Utakz

5472.5.winmain_idx01.060712-1900 Utakz

5472.5.winmain_idx01.060713-1900, Leaked July 17, 2006 Interim build released to testers. Actually the sixth recompile of the build, but mislabeled as 5472.5 due to human error in the build process.

5473.0.winmain.060706-???? Utakz

5474.0.winmain.060707-???? Utakz

5474.vbl_core_mig.060708-0100 sdrls

5474.vbl_ux_dev_checkin.060711-1730 Erhnam

5475.0.winmain.060710-???? Utakz

5476.0.winmain.060711-1900 Halford

5477.0.winmain.060712-???? Utakz

5478.winmain.060713-1830 luX

5479.0.winmain.060714-1900 oZZy

5479.vbl_ndt.060714-2215 luX

5480.0.winmain.060717-1900 Utakz

5482.0 NetRolller 3D

5483.0.winmain.060720-1900 luX

5484.0.winmain.060721-???? Utakz

5485.5.x86fre.winmain.060724-1900 Bruno Silva

5486.0.winmain.060725-???? Utakz

5487.0.winmain.060726-1810 oZZy

5488.0.winmain.060727-1845 Utakz

5489.0 (winmain) Aeden

5489.vbl_core_mig(davj).060629-1518 luX

5490.0.winmain.060731-???? Utakz

5491.0.winmain.060801-???? Utakz

5492.0.winmain.060802-1900 BoyToy

5492.vbl_ux.060802-2047 Stephen

5493.0.winmain.060803-???? Utakz

5496.vbl_wcp_gfx.060808-1900 Colonel.Cool

5504.0 Colonel.Cool

5504.16385.vista_rc1 Utakz

5505.1 luX

5505.0.vista_rc1.060731-2200 Utakz

5505.vista_rc1.060803-2130 Aeden

5505.4.vista_rc1(sepbld-s).060804-2233 luX

5505.5 Colonel.Cool

5506.1 luX

5506.6.vista_rc1_dmd.060810-2240 luX

5520.16384.vista_rc1.060812-2235 NetRolller 3D

5536.16385.vista_rc1.060821-1900, Leaked August 24, 2006 Interim build released to testers.

5552.16384.vista_rc1.060822-1900 Colonel.Cool

5564 NetRolller 3D

5568 jono3000

5584.16384 (vista_rc1) Aeden

5600.16384.vista_rc1.060829-2230, Released September 1, 2006 The first Release Candidate of Windows Vista

Release Candidate 2

5700.0.winmain.060810-1900 XDude

5707.winmain.060817-1900 Spencer

5708.winmain.060818-1900 Aeden

5709 Paul Thurrott

5710.vbl_tools_build(miker).060823-1900 luX

5712.0.winmain.060824-1900 XDude

5714 TheWahbinator

5716.32 (winmain(wmbla).060928-1756) xplode

5717.0.060831-1830 thevista.ru

5718.0 Aeden

5720.vbl_core(sepbld-s).060907-1401 luX

5720.winmain.060907-1715 Aeden

5721 Aeden

5721.vbl_media_apps.060910-1800luX

5724.0 (winmain.060913-1900)Raiker / Peteski

5728.16384 luX

5728.16385 luX

5728.16386 Bryant

5728.16387.060917-1430, Interim build given to testers

5729.vbl_core(sepbld-s).060915-1111 luX

5730.11 (winmain(wmbla).061017-1135) Michael

5733.vbl_tools_build(jeremyru).060926-1453 luX

5736.vbl_tools_build.060925-1215 luX

5739.0.060926-1900 Raiker

5740.vbl_tools_build(jaykrell).060928-0749 luX

5744.16384.x86fre.vista_rtm_edw.061003-1945, Released October 6, 2006 Release Candidate 2

Release-to-Manufacturer

5750.0.vista_rtm.061001-1400 Bruno Silva

5754.1.061006-1810 Raiker

5755.0 luX

5756.0 luX

5757.0 Raiker

5757.1.061010-1900 Raiker

5759.0 luX

5808.16384.vista_rtm.061012-1900 luX / psychochromatic

5808.16385 XDude

5824.16384 luX

5824.16385 Tony

5824.16386 Tony

5824.16387 Bryant

5825.debuggers(dbg).061030-1853 luX

5840.16384.vista_rtm.061018-1900 Raiker

5840.16385 Tony

5840.16386 (vista_rtm_wcp.061020-1904) TheWahbinator

5840.16387 Tony

5840.16388 XDude

5840.16388 (winmain(wmbla).061024-1209) XDude / TheWahbinator

5840.16389.VISTA_RTM(sepbld-s).061025-1421 XDude

5920.16384 Bryant

5920.16385

5920.16386

6000.16384

6000.16385.vista_rtm.061030-1720

6000.16386.vista_rtm.061101-2205, Leaked November 1, 2006 Final build of Windows Vista.

Service Pack 1

6001.16338 (longhorn_mc_dev(yongjunw).071015-1301 Michael

6001.16406.longhorn_idx01.061208-1900, Leaked December 20, 2006 December 2006 CTP

6001.16435 (jaykrell.061213-2319) luX

6001.16437 (lh_ndt_core(farhanah).070108-1654) luX

6001.16438.070103-1915 deeper2k

6001.16440 (debuggers(dbg).070129-1130) luX

6001.16442 (lh_core1.070109-2128) luX

6001.16443.070110-1630 deeper2k

6001.16451.070123-1830 deeper2k

6001.16455.070201-1630 deeper2k

6001.16460 (lh_ndt_wdk(kiranm).070201-1224) luX

6001.16461.longhorn_idx02.070209-1510, Leaked February 19. 2007 February 2007 CTP

6001.16464.070214-1830 deeper2k

6001.16470.070221-1800 deeper2k

6001.16475.070228-1640 deeper2k

6001.16480.070307-1750 deeper2k

6001.longhorn.070308-1600 luX

6001.16487 (lh_tools(jaykrell).070317-1032) luX

6001.16489.070320-1740 deeper2k

6001.16497 (longhorn_beta3.070330-1720), Leaked April 5, 2007 April 2007 CTP

6001.16500 (longhorn_beta3.070404-1915) TheWahbinator

6001.16502.070411-1950 deeper2k

6001.16510 (longhorn_beta3.070417-1740), Leaked April 26, 2007 Beta 3

6001.lh_core2_platarch.070418-1400 Bryant

6001.16512 (lh_tools(jaykrell).070427-1949) luX

6001.16514.070501-1545 deeper2k

6001.16521.070510-1650 deeper2k

6001.16524.070515-1150 deeper2k

6001.16528.070523-1915 deeper2k

6001.16530.070525-1855 deeper2k

6001.16537.070605-2100 deeper2k

6001.16543.070614-1950 nexus

6001.16549 (longhorn_sp1beta1.070628-1825) MagicAndre1981 / nexus

6001.16606 (longhorn.070619-1930), Leaked June 26, 2007 June 2007 CTP

6001.16616.070705-1655 deeper2k

6001.16618.070710-1830 deeper2k

6001.16621.148 MagicAndre1981

6001.16622.070717-1805 deeper2k

6001.16624.070719-1900 deeper2k

6001.16629 deeper2k / MagicAndre1981

6001.16630.070731-1740 deeper2k

6001.16630 (lh_tools(jaykrell).070801-0017) luX

6001.16633 (longhorn.070803-1655) MagicAndre1981 / M118LR

6001.16634.070807-1830 deeper2k

6001.16637.070810-2300 deeper2k

6001.16642 (longhorn.070818-16xx) BoyToy

6001.16648 (longhorn_rc0.070827-1405), Leaked accidently September 6, 2007 September 2007 CTP

6001.16655 (longhorn_rc0.070907-1905) BoyToy

6001.16656.070909-1920 deeper2k

6001.16659 (longhorn_rc0.070916-1443), Leaked September 29, 2007 Vista SP1 Beta/Windows Server 2008 RC0

6001.17001.070904-1733 deeper2k

6001.17014 (lh_tools_devdiv_wpf.071009-1043) MagicAndre1981

6001.17015 deeper2k

6001.17020 (071005) deeper2k

6001.17027.071016-1902 deeper2k

6001.17030 M118LR

6001.17036 (longhorn.071027-1905)

6001.17042 (longhorn_rc1.071107-1618)

6001.17044 (longhorn_sp1.071112-1910) deeper2k

6001.17048 (longhorn_rc1.071119-2049) luX

6001.17051 (longhorn_sp1.071121-2029) deeper2k

6001.17052 (longhorn_rc1.071129-2315)

6001.17118 (longhorn_sp1.071207-1900) deeper2k

6001.17119.071210-1916 MagicAndre1981

6001.17120 (longhorn_sp1.071211-1914) deeper2k

6001.17121 (longhorn_sp1.071212-1922) TheWahbinator / deeper2k

6001.17128 (longhorn.080101-1935)

6001.17129 (longhorn_sp1.080104-1910) deeper2k

6001.17138 (longhorn_sp1.080117-2025) deeper2k

6001.18000 (longhorn_rtm.080118-1840), Released March 18, 2008 Final build of Windows Vista SP1.

[Guest Prayaas Aggarwal]

Screenshots - A picture is worth a thousand Build numbers.

Plex Theme

[img width=560 height=420]http://www.betaarchive.com/screenshots/Longhorn%203683%20Media%20Center%20Edition/Setup_12.JPG

[img width=560 height=420]http://www.betaarchive.com/screenshots/Longhorn%203706%20VLK%20No%20Timebomb/Setup_06.JPG

[img width=560 height=420]http://www.betaarchive.com/screenshots/Longhorn%203706%20VLK%20No%20Timebomb/Setup_18.JPG

[img width=560 height=420]http://www.betaarchive.com/screenshots/Longhorn%203718/3718-system.properties.PNG

[img width=560 height=420]

[img width=560 height=420]

[img width=560 height=420]http://www.betaarchive.com/screenshots/Longhorn%204033/Setup_04.PNG

[img width=560 height=420]http://www.betaarchive.com/screenshots/Longhorn%204033/Setup_20.PNG

[img width=560 height=420]

Jade theme

[img width=525 height=420]

[img width=560 height=420]

Post-Reset

[img width=560 height=420]

[img width=560 height=420]

[img width=560 height=420]

[img width=560 height=420]

[img width=557 height=420]

[img width=525 height=420]http://www.betaarchive.com/screenshots/Longhorn%205112/Games.PNG

[img width=560 height=420]http://www.betaarchive.com/screenshots/Longhorn%205384.4/2.PNG

[img width=560 height=420]http://www.betaarchive.com/screenshots/Longhorn%205384.4/28.PNG

[img width=560 height=420]

[img width=560 height=420]

[img width=560 height=420]

[img width=525 height=420]

[img width=560 height=420]

[Guest Prayaas Aggarwal]

Updated!

[NiharG]

Great thread! +1..

[Guest Prayaas Aggarwal]

Great thread! +1..

Thanks for appreciation..

[sajrockz]

great :)

[Guest Prayaas Aggarwal]

great :)

Thank you..

[Guest Prayaas Aggarwal]

What do you guys think? Longhorn vs. Vista? I mean Pre-Reset longhorn vs. Post-reset (Vista).. Share your views..