Windows Beta Versions

Windows NT 5.0 Beta Releases
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"

Screen : Just the Windows logo on a nighttime background like the one in the NT Workstation 4.0 startup, with all of the text. The only exception is that 4.0 is replaced with 5.0. "Beta 1/2/3 etc." and "Evaluation Copy" are placed on the side.

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 startup noise on a blank desktop is more than enough to startle someone.

Windows NT 5.0 (Beta 3 onwards) (1997-2000)
Background : From version 5.00.1946 onwards, "Windows NT 5" donned its new and more familiar name, Windows 2000. The visual and sound elements, however, continued to evolve.

1st Scr

(5.00.1946-1969 (possibly until build 1982)), (1997-1999)



Screen : On a blue background (same color as the desktop), a dialog box type screen is seen. 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 "Windows2000." 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. 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.

Shutdown Sound (Music/Sounds) : A somewhat creepy 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. 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. High for the shutdown version, as most would not likely be expecting the sudden whoosh, which is re-used.

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 : We see dots of different colors from the then-current Windows logo (red, gold, green, light blue (only a dot) and blue) and the text "Microsoft Neptune 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 WinworldPC.

Scare Factor : None.

Windows Whistler (Windows XP betas) (1999-2001)
Background : "Whistler" was the in-development name for Windows XP after the Neptune and Odyssey projects were scrapped/merged. Nicknames : "The White Flag", "The Coloured Progress Bar", "Scrapped Windows XP" Logo : Just a white version of the Windows logo of the time on a black background, with "Whistler" in the corporate font below it.

Variants :
 * In the Windows Whistler Build 2267, the logo is colored and the progress bar is different.
 * Starting in Build 2428, the logo changes to the white 2001-2007 Windows logo.

FX/SFX : The colored (or circular) progress bar.

Music/Sounds : Early Betas/Builds until build 2481 used the Windows 2000/ME sounds. Builds 2481 Introduced the Windows XP sounds. Build 2485 is the first build to used Windows XP Sounds by default.

Availability : Very rare. Seen on Windows Whistler Builds and Betas.

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

Windows Longhorn (Windows Vista betas) (2002-2006)
Background : Windows Longhorn is the codename of beta builds of Windows Vista.

Nicknames : "The White Flag II"

Logo : We see the words "Windows Code Name Longhorn" and the White version of the Windows Logo.

Variant : Before Build 4042, there was a small version of the XP logo and the text "Microsoft Windows Code Name Longhorn". There is also a screen with the white Windows XP logo at the bottom with the text "Microsoft Longhorn" and the progress bar below it.

FX/SFX : The progress bar.

Music/Sounds : TBA.

Availability : Rare. Seen on Windows Longhorn, and Windows Vista Beta.

Scare Factor : None.

Windows 7


Logo : We see the words "Starting Windows" and the progress bar.

FX/SFX : The progress bar.

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

Availability : Fairly rare. Seen in the Betas of Windows 7.

Scare Factor : None, unless the sudden sound scares you.

Windows 8


Nicknames : "Fish of Annoyance"

Logo : We see a fish on a blue square against a black background and 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 : Ultra rare. Seen in betas of Windows 8.

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