Windows XP build 2442

Windows XP build 2442 is a build of Windows XP, which was shared on the BetaWorld blog on 15 August 2021. It is only available in Simplified Chinese. Before being shared, it was mentioned on the Chinese website BetaWorld on 18 December 2014.

Before BetaWorld, this build has been mentioned in various posts on the Chinese Software Developer Network (CSDN), including a thread about installing drivers for a modem from May 2001 and two threads about timebomb removal from July 2001, implying that the build was once shared between its compile date (17 February 2001) and the date of the first post (22 May 2001).

On 20 October 2020, a BetaWorld user by the name of MacAdmin uploaded a picture of a Chinese warez CD labeled "KEE-044" containing the build. On 24 October 2020, a BetaWorld user by the name of 随便问我 uploaded a higher-resolution picture of the same CD.

Changes

 * The CD Player application was removed in this build and replaced with Windows Media Player. The branding in the setup and out-of-box experience has been modified to use the then-new Windows flag first introduced in build 2428.


 * A flat blue color is used in place of the default Red moon desert wallpaper seen the in most Beta 2 builds; however, the wallpaper itself is still present. This change would later be reverted in the next build.


 * The system crash screen layout has been changed.


 * Contrary to popular belief, this is the earliest available build to include Windows XP branding, but only one reference, in, reading.

Bugs and quirks

 * The system crash screen text is mostly garbled, due to the Chinese strings being displayed with the wrong font.

Installation

 * On some configurations, setup will freeze when performing a full format.