Windows 2000 build 1946

Windows 2000 build 1946 is the official Beta 3 Release Candidate 0 build of Windows 2000. The Server edition of this build was shared online as well, but is missing several archive parts and is thus incomplete. This is last available build of Windows 2000 which used some icons from Windows 98.

New features and changes

 * This is the first known build to introduce Windows 2000 branding, although the name of Windows NT 5.0 is still referenced in various places.
 * It is the first known build since 1592 to use Tahoma as the default font for the user interface.
 * The appearance of  has been changed massively, now featuring a banner with the Windows version and SKU instead of the Windows NT logo. Despite this, the copyright date remains 1981-1997 despite being built nearly at the end of 1998, a change that first took effect way back in build 1515. The copyright date would finally be updated in build 1983.
 * It is no longer possible to change screen resolution and color depth during Setup as the page to configure these settings has been removed.
 * This build introduces new startup and shutdown sounds which were used until build 1969, as well as a new login prompt, which persisted until Windows Vista build 5048.
 * When the disc is inserted, a new autorun program is used, which already has the design used in the RTM. It is named  and is located in the root of the disc. The previously used application,   located in the i386 folder, however is still available and retained its design from Windows NT 4.0 with its branding. This is the last build to contain this program.
 * Common controls now have a lighter appearance while in 16 colors, though this change became reverted in build 1989.

Control Panel

 * The Add/Remove Programs control panel applet has been redesigned to look nearly identical to the final version. This is also the first known build to introduce the Users and Passwords applet.


 * Several applets also have been renamed:
 * Network Connections ⟶ Network and Dial-Up Connections
 * Power Management ⟶ Power Options
 * Modems ⟶ Phone and Modem Options
 * Sounds ⟶ Sounds and Multimedia
 * Internet ⟶ Internet Options
 * Add/Modify Hardware ⟶ Add/Remove Hardware


 * The Telephony applet has been removed and its functionality split between the newly renamed network and modem applets. The ODBC Data Sources applet has been removed as well.

Bugs and quirks

 * On VirtualBox, setup causes a Guru Mediation while loading the NTFS driver. If this occurs, use 86Box or a similar emulator.
 * If the Version Reporter Applet is launched from an application, its icon will be shown in the top left corner of the banner rather than next to the version number.

DEC Alpha build reference
A reference to a DEC Alpha compile of this build can be found in  included with.