Document:Windows XP build 2458 release notes

Interim Build 2458 is available for download

We are pleased to announce availability of Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 'Codename' Whistler interim build 2458 for electronic download. This build contains numerous fixes and tweaks, but is not yet a candidate for Beta 2.

Microsoft has recently announced that the official product name for Whistler will be Windows XP. However the code name "Whistler" will continue to be used in the product code until after Beta 2. Whindows XP is the next release of the Windows operating system for both consumers and corporate users, based on Windows 2000 technology.

This build will NOT be made generally available on CD.

FEEDBACK ON 2458

We're looking for serious issues on this build. Bluescreens, crashes and hangs and such. We'd appreciate bug reports on issues like this as soon as possible. We would like you to refrain from reporting non serious issues until Beta 2 is released. We're close enough to Beta 2 that we won't be making many changes unless the problem is very very serious. By only reporting the most serious of issues you will give us the time we need to investigate these before we release Beta 2 instead of having to wade through reports of things that ultimately we don't have time to fix anyway. Thanks for your help in this area.

PRODUCT KEYS

Microsoft Windows Whistler requires a product key to complete installation. Each Technical Beta ID will be issued a unique product key for their use in testing Windows Whistler. If you have not yet gotten your assigned product key, log on to http://windowsbeta.microsoft.com/support/key.asp.

The product key previously issued to you should be used to install this build. Your product key can be used to install all editions of Whistler (e.g. Personal, Professional, Server, and Advanced Server).

This product key is assigned to you and should be used by you only (or only your designated representatives if you are a corporate site). Your product key is a representation of your Technical Beta privileges. You may lose your Technical Beta privileges if your product key is published on an Internet site or otherwise becomes publicly available.

WINDOWS PRODUCT ACTIVATION
 * You have up to 14 days from installation to activate Windows. The prior registry key to disable activation no longer works.
 * Activation can be accomplished via two different connection methods: Internet and telephone.  Customer service centers supporting telephone activations for other countries are now available.
 * You may install Whistler on as many PCs as your End User License Agreement (EULA) allows. Please see your EULA and the supplemental EULA posted here and on the web site for exact details.
 * For beta, the grace period by which you must activate is set to 14 days. For RTM, it will be 30 days as previously stated.
 * Please use the ".beta.whistler.product-activation" newsgroup to post any problems or technical questions pertaining to product activation.

INTERIM BUILD

This is an interim build we are releasing for ongoing development efforts. Microsoft does not recommend that you install this build. This is an "external test release interim build" provided primarily for hardware and software developers to use in lab test environments to verify recent code fixes and application and device compatibility with the upcoming Beta 2 release. If your connection to the Internet is such that you can download a build of this size, you are welcome to download, install and report any critical problems to us as soon as possible. However, this release is interim developmental code between standard release milestones. As such, much work is in-progress and many features may not be fully functional. In addition, this release has not been fully tested to the same level as a full external beta release.

This build may not be as stable or reliable as a beta milestone release. It may contain fixes and improvements in some areas while it may have new problems in other areas that we will address prior to Beta 2. You are welcome to install and try this build at your own risk, recognizing these limitations. This build may in fact work better in some cases for a limited set of beta users.

If you have dedicated test machines, we encourage you to try this build out. If you do have the opportunity to download and install this build, please use the regular bug reporting and newsgroups to provide us with feedback and issues as soon as possible so that we have the opportunity to address key new issues prior to the broader Beta 2 release. Also, please complete an install survey for this build once you have installed it. (http://windowsbeta.microsoft.com/Survey/Install_Survey.asp)

You are not required to download or install this build as a part of the Whistler beta test. Interim builds are provided on an as-is basis for hardware and software developers, and for those beta testers that are interested in interim build updates.

Special notes on this release: 


 * This release is not Beta 2. Most of the artwork and help files in the product have already been updated in preparation for Beta 2, but again, this is not Beta 2.
 * This build will not be available on CD. The download files are only available as CD image files (.ISO)
 * You can:
 * Use many third-party CD burning applications to burn this as a CD (refer to the individual product documentation on how to do this)
 * Use our VCD program to "mount" the CD image as virtual CDROM
 * See the VCD quick start at http://windowsbeta.microsoft.com/documentation/vcd.asp
 * Use a third party program to extract the contents of the \i386 directory to a local hard drive and run setup from there.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Please note this release is provided in an effort to facilitate your development and test initiatives only. As this is a limited interim release, it is provided as is, and unsupported except via online beta newsgroups. We recommend that you install this build on a test machine at your own risk. This build will expire 180 days after initial installation is complete.

**IMPORTANT: Upgrading Previous Whistler Builds

Do not use this build to upgrade any previous Whistler builds. Upgrades from Beta 1 are now blocked. If you upgrade over a previous Whistler build, a number of features and applications may not work correctly. However, you may upgrade Windows 9x, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows NT Version 4.0 and Windows 2000, or you may perform a clean installation.

LICENSE CONDITIONS

Review the online pre-release license agreements carefully before proceeding with the installation of this build. By installing this release, you agree to the terms and conditions of these agreements. As a reminder, all pre-release licenses expire when the product becomes commercially available.

In addition, please see the Supplemental EULA terms posted in the announcements newsgroups and on the windowsbeta web site.

Using the WindowsBeta Build Download tool


 * Register with WindowsBeta at http://windowsbeta.microsoft.com/ by logging in with your Microsoft Passport.
 * If you do not have a Passport, you can get one for free by following the links from WindowsBeta. Once logged in with your Passport ID you will be prompted for your Microsoft BetaID.
 * After logging in with your BetaID, the contact information we have for you will be displayed. Please take a moment to verify this contact information and click "Submit".
 * You are now registered to use WindowsBeta.
 * Follow the link under the "Downloads" menu to download the build.
 * Please note: You must use a Win32 based operating system (Windows 9x, Me, NT or 2000). We do not currently have clients for alternate operating systems.  If you do not have access to one of the above operating systems to download the build, please email winbsite@microsoft.com for additional instructions.
 * Find the content you wish to download in the left hand content menu.
 * Click on the plus signs to expand the tree. Click on the links to display the related content.
 * Click on the file name to download
 * If this is the first time you have used the system on this computer, you will be prompted to accept the File Transfer Manager application which will quickly download and be install on your system before launching itself to download your requested content.
 * Please report issues or send feedback on the file transfer system to our WindowsBeta administration alias: winbsite@microsoft.com. We do not currently plan on making this build of Whistler available for download via FTP.  An on-line version of this document may be found at http://windowsbeta.microsoft.com/howto.asp

Thank you in advance for your participation.

Sincerely, Microsoft Windows Whistler Product Team