Template:Did you know/Facts
- ...that Windows XP has been supported in various forms for almost 18 years, which is the longest compared to any other version of Microsoft Windows?
- ...that the IA-64 compile of Windows Server 2003 build 2462 includes login banners for a Personal edition of Windows 2000?
- ...that in 1985, Microsoft produced a multitasking MS-DOS that natively supported preemptive multitasking and would later become the base for OS/2?
- ...that the Windows XP team created a decoy theme in order to prevent any leaks about Luna?
- ...that the Neptune project was a cancelled version of Windows that ought to bring a new user interface reminiscent of the Metro elements later introduced in Windows 8?
- ...that an updated version of Reversi (normally not preinstalled) is included in the Windows 3.1 Driver Library?
- ...that while the first shipping 64-bit version of Microsoft Windows was for the Itanium, the 64-bit port was actually developed on DEC Alpha systems?
- ...that the Gizmo theme that was present in Mac OS 8.5b6 originates from Copland as "Z Theme" and was intended for testing the theming service for both versions?
- ...that there were multiple Shell Technology Previews that backported the Windows Explorer to a stock installation of Windows NT 3.5x?
- ...that a series of terrorist attacks caused a major sudden change to Windows XP's advertising campaign?
- ...that versions of Microsoft Windows for DEC Alpha and ARMv7 platforms continued to be maintained internally even after official end of support, as the systems proved valuable for specific projects?
- ...that the United States government once filed an antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft over its decision to bundle the Internet Explorer web browser with the Windows operating system?
- ...that Windows Vista build 5000 (vbl_core.040803-2000) was compiled earlier than the official development reset build?
- ...that there was an E variant planned for Windows 7 in addition to K, N and KN, which didn't include Internet Explorer?
- ...that the Start button in Windows 95 build 302 says "Ship It!", as a developer temporarily renamed the button in December 1994 for a joke?
- ...that Paint was once on the second disk of Windows 1.0 Alpha Release but later deleted by either Microsoft or the owner for unknown reasons?
- ...that the special actors in Microsoft Bob generally still have existing code that allows them to be used as normal actors outside of their apps?
- ...that Windows XP build 2223 had commented out code in its Business theme file that would allow the user to configure different colors based on its settings?
- ...that Apple has officially released several developer releases of what would later become Mac OS X for the x86 architecture as a part of its NeXT legacy, and secretly continued to maintain the port until Tiger?
- ...that Windows NT 3.5 build 612 has a debug flag for
winnt.exe
,/I_am_TedM
, in order to bypass the error to run the DOS-based setup in NTVDM? - ...that some builds of Windows 98 and Windows 2000 contained a Show Desktop button on the taskbar, which would be scrapped later until Windows 7 build 6568?
- ...that the supposed Longhorn sound scheme in fact wasn't included in any Windows build and actually originated from a Samsung OEM theme for Windows XP?
- ...that Windows 1.0 and Windows 2.x have a hidden easter egg with a list of members of the Windows team?
- ...that Windows Server 2003 has been renamed four times during development, before settling on its final name?
- ...that the boot animation used in Windows 11 2022 Update builds first appeared in Windows 10X and Windows 10 build 19587?
- ...that Windows Longhorn build 4088 includes an early version of the .NET Managed rewrite of Desktop Window Manager that is not installed by default?
- ...that Windows 98 build 1387 has a hidden button in display properties to enable title bar gradients, and is also the first build of Windows to support this feature?
- ...that the WarpCenter shell included in OS/2 Warp 4 build 9.012 refers itself to as Lotus SmartCenter?
- ...that early builds of Windows Me replaced the safe to shutdown screen with a blue screen due to the removal of real-mode MS-DOS?
- ...that every Classic Mac OS version since Mac OS 7 renames the "Special" menu to a unique word beginning with S in beta builds for easy identification of such?
- ...that Windows 95 build 58s includes a hidden tabbed mode in the Cabinet?
- ...that Windows Longhorn build 4015 (main) includes an early iteration of transparent window borders?
- ...that Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server Edition is the only released version of Windows to use the login screen originating from beta 2 builds of Windows 2000?
- ...that Windows XP build 2257 supports the ability to render the newly animated boot screen used in later builds?
- ...that Reversi in the Windows NT 3.1 April 1991 build displays square pieces, because the code for drawing circles wasn't implemented yet?
- ...that a Nashville Plus Pack build of Internet Explorer 4 had its page loading animation being a humorous banner of the Internet Explorer icon kicking the Mozilla mascot to jab at its competition with Netscape at the time?