Windows Beta Versions

## **Windows Chicago** (early Windows 95 beta builds)

(August 10, 1993-January 13, 1995)

Codename: Same as title ("Chicago")

Unofficial Nickname: "Windows 93"

Background: Microsoft Chicago is the development codename for Windows 95. This operating system introduced one of the most iconic desktop interface designs, including the introduction of the Start menu (created by Danny Oran), which allows easier access to desktop applications and settings. This UI is still used in current Windows builds.

Nicknames: "Windows Flag II", "Classic Windows Flag II", "Moving Windows Flag", "TADA! II", "Cheesy Moving Windows Flag"

Screen: On a black background, we see the text "**CHICAGO**", in a bold weight of Futura, with a shining light next to the "**G**". Above it is "Microsoft", in purple above CHICAGO and below it is the release type (preliminary, beta, Chinese beta, Test Release) and date (August/November 1993, January/May/September/October 1994, January 1995). We see the Windows logo randomly appearing around the text, colorized in the same pattern as the Windows logo would usually go (blue, yellow, green, red) in each move.

Variants:\*Sometimes, the release tag only contains the date of the release.

* During setup, the release tag is replaced with "Please wait while Setup updates your configuration files. This may take a few minutes."
* Later Variant: As of September 1994, the "**CHICAGO**" text is replaced with "Windows 95" in a lighter weight of Futura. The texture of the text is a cloud background.

FX/SFX: The logo dancing around and changing color.

Music/Sounds: Completely the same as Windows 3.1.

Availability: Ultra rare. Originally only in the hands of people given the operating system by Microsoft to test out, but copies have leaked to the beta community.

Editor’s Note: None.

## Windows NT 5.0 Beta Releases

The boot screen used in the Interim Developer's Release of Windows NT 5.0.The boot screen used in Windows NT 5.0 between builds 1835 and 1906.Background: "Windows NT 5.0" was the original in-development name for Windows 2000. The name was changed to "Windows 2000" in Beta 3 (around version 5.00.1946 to be specific). While early test builds of Windows NT 5 were very similar to Windows NT 4, they gradually began to develop their own visual and sound elements.

(1997-1998)

**WARNING: The sounds used in this startup are very loud, so please turn down your volume before watching the video.**

Nicknames: "The Most Interesting Way To Start Your Computer Experience", "THX on Windows"

Screen: On the Windows 95 desktop background, there is the Windows logo on a nighttime background like the one in the Windows NT Workstation 4.0 startup. The text on the top right says "Windows NT Workstation", and the text on the bottom right says "5.0". In this screen, "Beta 1/2/3 etc." and "Evaluation Copy" are placed on the left side, alongside the protection notice from Windows NT 4.0.

FX/SFX: None.

Sounds:

* Startup: A THX-like whoosh that segues into a beeping melody.
* Shutdown: Same as the NT 4.0 shutdown.

Availability: Extremely rare. Windows NT 5 releases were originally only available to participants of Microsoft's beta testing programs, but copies of certain builds have since leaked to the beta community. Builds known to be available of NT 5 are build 1729 (the Interim Developer's Release), build 1877 (Beta 2), build 1902 (Beta 2), and build 1906 (Beta 2), among other earlier and later builds that may or may not have this specific startup.

Scare Factor: Low to high for the startup. The sudden, very loud THX-esque startup noise on a blank desktop is more than enough to startle someone.

## Windows NT 5.0 (Interim's Developer Release onwards) (1997-1999)

Background: From version 5.00.1946 onwards, "Windows NT 5.0" donned its new and more familiar name, Windows 2000. The visual and sound elements, however, continued to evolve.

1st Screen

(1997-1999)

Screen: A dialog box type screen is seen. Depending on the build:

* **Interim's Developer Release and Beta 2**: A multiple of squares in shades of blue appear. In one of the squares is the Windows logo, albeit untilted. The text says: "Windows NT 5.0 Workstation" in Franklin Gothic with the words "5.0" in a regular weight and the rest in a black weight. For Interim's Developer Release, the same protection notice appears to the left of "5.0" and the background is cyan. For Beta 2, it basically says which beta version it is and the background is blue. The Microsoft logo appears at the upper right corner of the dialog box.

* **Beta 3**: The Windows logo appears surrounded by a partial orange square border in the upper left. On the left-center, a pale two-tone inset orange box is seen. Clouds are seen in the upper center, and a dark green two-tone inset square is seen in the lower right next to a gray trail. "Microsoft" appears in the lower-left corner of the clouds in a small font. Underneath that is the words "Windows 2000." Still underneath that is the word "Professional" in a slightly smaller font. The Microsoft logo appears in the upper right corner of the white portion of this box. The background is blue.

Underneath the graphics is a gradient blue bar that continually moves to the right. Still underneath that are the words "Starting up..." To the right of the words is the all-too-familiar "download bar." This entire box is surrounded by a black border.

Shutdown Variant: A dialog box, with a slightly somewhat rearranged positioning of the above elements. The Microsoft logo is absent from the upper right corner, replacing it with a navy blue bar. Underneath the now-still gradient bar, the words "It is now safe to turn off your computer." appear in a gray area.

FX/SFX: The gradient bar moving, the "download bar" incrementing. None for the shutdown version.

Startup Sound (Music/Sounds): The same beeping arpeggio from Windows NT 5.0's The Microsoft Sound, but faster and high-pitched, and backed by a chorus pad. Much more pleasant than the original startup sound, and its shutdown sound. This was originally going to be used for the Beta 1 shutdown sound.

**NOTE:** People say that this startup sound is the shutdown to NT 5.0 after the Beta. This is completely wrong. The actual shutdown is the NT 4.0 shutdown.

Shutdown Sound (Music/Sounds): A somewhat creepy sudden whoosh sound effect.

Music/Sounds Trivia: Builds 1983-2000 have both the final startup and shutdown sound, but noticeably re-arranged.

Availability: Extremely rare. Seen from version 5.00.1946 to at most 5.00.1978 (or possibly 5.00.1982). Builds 1946, 1964, 1965 and 1969 have been leaked. The next leaked build, 1983, introduced a new startup screen, which looks closer to the final release. The rest of the builds are presumed lost at this time. Some, however, like build 1978, are mentioned in Google Groups discussions.

Scare Factor: None for the start-up version, as it is very soothing and very tame, compared to its shutdown counterpart. Low to High for the shutdown version, as most would not likely be expecting the sudden whoosh, which is re-used, however if you're used to it, the rating might be lower.

## Windows Neptune

Background: Neptune was to be Microsoft's next-generation operating system targeted at home users. It differed from previous consumer-oriented Windows versions in that it was built on the Windows NT code base. However, Neptune was shelved and home users were treated to Windows ME instead.

(1999)

Nicknames: "Rainbow Dots", "Dots from Neptune"

Screen: Same as the Windows 2000 startup, but the Windows logo is removed and the dots to the left of it, in rainbow colors, appears to the left of the text, now grey and changed to: "Microsoft **Neptune**". Below the text says "**under construction**".

FX/SFX: The progress bar and the top bar moving.

Music/Sounds: Same as the Windows 2000 sounds.

Availability: Near extinction, as it is only available on Neptune build 5.50.5111. Other builds may exist, but only the existence of this one has been proven. 5111 is the only leaked build, and it's **NOT** easy to find, however you can find it in software preservation sites like WinWorld. Earlier builds might contain the Windows 2000 boot screen, but there's no info (at least yet).

Scare Factor: None.

## Windows Whistler (Windows XP betas) (1999-2001)

The boot screen used in build 2257.The boot screen used between builds 2264 and 2416.The boot screen used in build 2419.The boot screen used between builds 2428 and 2469.The boot screen used in build 2474 and 2475.The boot screen used in build 2481.
Background: "Whistler" was the in-development name for Windows XP after the Neptune and Odyssey projects were scrapped/merged.

Nicknames: "The White Flag", "Scrapped Windows XP", "Rainbow Bar", "White Fading Dots"

Logo: Depending on the build:

* 2257: Same as the Windows 2000 startup, but the text has changed to "Microsoft Codename Whistler".
* 2264 to 2416: Same as last bullet, but the copyright info has removed itself, the squares are gone and the logo is white (excluding the colored panels). The progress bar has been changed to a set of dots that fade into filled, then back to outlined.
* 2419: Same as last bullet, but the logo is all grey and moved to the left of the Whistler text. The progress bar has now changed to 4 lines colored with the Windows logo's colors.
* 2428 to 2469: Same as the Windows XP boot screen, but there are a few differences: the progress bar has been changed to the one from 2419, the copyright info is centred, the logo is white, the text has changed to "Microsoft Codename Whistler" and there is the following text on top of the info: "Beta 2 Release".
* 2474 and 2475: Same as the Windows XP boot screen, but the progress bar has changed to text saying "Loading..."
* 2481: See Microsoft Windows.

FX/SFX: The progress bar.

Music/Sounds: Early Betas/Builds until build 2481 used the Windows 2000/ME sounds, while Build 2481 introduced the Windows XP sounds. Build 2485 is the first build to use Windows XP sounds by default. The fake startup is a reverse Windows 98 shutdown sound ending in a ascending vibraphone melody (taken from Windows CE, however it has been slowed down) and ends with the Windows 2000 startup sound from beta 3 reversed. The fake shut down is a descending guitar melody ending with a few twinkling notes.

Availability: Very rare. Seen on Windows Whistler builds and betas beginning from build 2257.

Scare Factor: None to low. The text is a bit odd, especially for a startup screen.

## Microsoft Longhorn (Windows Vista betas) (2002-2006)

The boot screen used between builds 3683 and 4008.Background: Microsoft Longhorn is the codename of beta builds of Windows Vista before build 5112.

Nicknames: "The White Flag II"

Logo: On a black background, near the bottom we see a white Windows XP logo. To the right of it is the text "Microsoft" in a weight of Franklin Gothic, following a trademark sign at the top right of the text, and below said text is "Longhorn", in the same weight of Franklin Gothic. Below all of that is the Windows XP progress bar.

Variant: In build 4042, there is a small version of the Windows XP logo; below is the text "Microsoft® Windows® Code Name" and below aforementioned text is "Longhorn". Also, the progress bar is orange. In build 5048, there is also a screen with the white Windows XP logo at the bottom with the text "Windows® Code Name" followed by the text "Longhorn" below that, and the progress bar is white.

FX/SFX: The progress bar.

Music/Sounds: Same as the Windows XP sounds. In build ????, the sounds were changed to the Windows Vista sounds. The fake startup and shutdown are taken from a Windows XP Samsung theme.

Availability: Rare. Seen on Windows Vista builds from 4008 onwards.

Scare Factor: None, as the boot screen is the Windows XP boot screen, which many have seen before.

## Windows 7

Logo: We see the words "Starting Windows..." and a progress bar with a white gradient going from left to right.

FX/SFX: The progress bar.

Music/Sounds: Same as the Windows Vista startup and shutdown.

Availability: Fairly rare. Seen in betas of Windows 7.

Scare Factor: None, unless the sudden sound scares you, but people are already used to the Vista startup won't have any troubles for this screen.

## Windows 8

Nicknames: "Fish of Annoyance"

Logo: Against a black background, we see a fish on an aqua square. Around the fish is 2 bubbles connected to each other (which look like an 8). There are the circular dots spinning around as the screen loads.

FX/SFX: The dots spinning.

Music/Sounds: Same as the previous OS or any other sound.

Availability: Somewhat rare. The screen was used in most of the Consumer Preview and Release Preview builds.

Scare Factor: None to minimal. The fish may get to some, but it is very repetitive that it can become annoying.