Windows 2000 build 1946

5.0.1946.1

Build of Windows 2000
Release name	Beta 3 Release Candidate 0
OS family	Windows NT
Version number	5.0
Build number	1946
Build revision	1
Architecture	x86, DEC Alpha
Compiled on	1998-12-13
SKUs
Professional Server
About dialog

Windows 2000 build 1946 is the official Beta 3 Release Candidate 0 build of Windows 2000, released by Microsoft on 17 December 1998 and leaked the same day by Pirates with Attitudes. It is notably the earliest available build of Windows 2000 to introduce the final name across varying operating system surfaces, including branding.

The Server edition of this build was scene-leaked by warez group Pirates with Attitudes two days prior on 17 December 1998 in the form of a 33×10-megabyte archive set containing the full disc image, although the currently available copy is missing several archive parts and is therefore incomplete.

NFO files

Server SKU leak

					     ▄▓▄
	      ▄█▄                          ▄▀▒▓▌
	     ▐██▄▀▀▄              ▄      ▄▀ ░▒▓
	     ██████▄▀▄          ▄▀▓▌   ▄▀   ░▓▌ ▄▄
	    ▐███████▌▐▌       ▄▀ ▒▓    ▐▌  ░▒▓ ▐▌▐██▄▄        .
	   ▄█████████▌█     ▄▀  ░▓▌     █ ░▒▓▌ █ █████▀▀▄▄   ■
	    ▀▀█████████▌  ▄▀   ░▒▓      ▐▌░▒▓  ▐▌▐██▀  ▄  ▀▄▀
	       ▀████████   █  ░▒▓▌      █░▒▓▌   ▀▄██▌   ▀▄
	  ▌     ▐██████▌   ▐▌░▒▓▀  ▄▀  ▐░▒▓▀    ▄ ▀█▀     █▄
	  ▐▌ ▐   ██████    █░▒▒▀ ▄▀ ▀ ▄▀▄▀     ▐▓░▄   ▄▄  ▐▀▄
 ───────── ▓▄▀▌ ▐█████▌───▐░▒▒ ▄▀   ▄█▀▀ ───── ▓▒░▐▌ ▀   ─ █▓█ ───-───-─· ·
	   ▐▓ ▀▄█████▀    █▄▀     ▄▀    ▀▄    ▐▓▒  █      ▐▌▒▓▌
	    ▄▓▓████▀     ▐▀      ■            ▓▒░  ▐▌    ▄▀ ░▒▓
	  ▄▓▓██▀▀ ▄▄    ▄▀      .            ▐▓▒░   ▀▄    ▀▄ ░▓▌
	 ▐▓▓▀ ▄▓    ▀▀▄▄▄                    ▓▒░     ▄▀     ▀▄▒▓
	 ▓▒▌  ▐▓▒        ▀▀▀▄               ▐▓▒░░  ▄▀         ▀
	 ▐▓▄   █▓▒       ░▄▀                ▀▓▓▒▒░▀
	  ▀▓▀  ▐▓▒░    ░▄▀                    ▀▓▀     ..R.Noble <MiRAGE>
		█▓▒░░░▄▀
		█▓▒▒▒▀     ... Pirates With Attitudes
	       ▐▓▓▒▀
	      ▄▓▓▀           Proudly Presents ...
	       ▀
╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ [ Microsoft Windows 2000 Server               ]         December 17, 1998 ║
║ [ Release Candidate 0 of Beta 3 - Build 1946  ]                           ║
╟───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Supplier .....: PWA                  │ Type .....: OS                     ║
║ Cracker ......:                      │ Video ....:                        ║
║ Packager .....: Murmillius           │ Audio ....:                        ║
║ Protection ...: N/A                  │ # Disks ..: 33 x 10 meg            ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Release Notes:

Well, its the OS formerly known as Windows NT Server.  Microsoft has
gone and ruined a good thing by changing the name to Windows 2000.  Anyway,
rather than get into an editorial about that, here is Release Candidate 0
of Beta 3 of Windows 2000 Server.  Beta 3 is expected in the February 1999 
timeframe, this is just a beta of the beta that MS released looking for 
feedback from their technical beta sites to prep for the final Beta 3 
(confused yet?  I am).


  			            -/ This is PWA \-
                                   < 16 October 1998 >

┌──────────────────┬─────────────────--- -   -  · · ··   ·
│ Council .........│ Code3, Dark Lord, Dream Weaver, Murmillius, Rambone,
│                  │ Shiffie
├──────────────────┼─────────────────--- -   -  · · ··   ·
│ Senior Members ..│ Akasha, Mercy, Oyl Patch, The Technic 
├──────────────────┼─────────────────--- -   -  · · ··   ·
│ Members .........│ Acidman, Actarus, Aironz, Animal, BadBrad, Bassu, Brbla,
│                  │ Charlie, Chowdery, Codebreaker, Corrosion, Corv8,  
│                  │ DaPhantm, Denon, Disc Killer, Disk Killer, DJpaul,   
│                  │ DVST8, El Cid, EzD, Gogolie, Guip, Gumby, HiTop, IceB, 
│                  │ Ivan, Kewe, Lost Soul, Frost, Marduk, MindFink, 
│                  │ Mindreader, Nagumo, neTyx, Ofd, Patriarch, Prozac, Ryu, 
│                  │ Shadowman, Shark, Skylark, Single Minded, Slonny, 
│                  │ Sparhawk, SpyNut, Stoned, Sugar, The Jerk, Virtual Power, 
│                  │ Vanisher, Voltan, Warlock
├──────────────────┼─────────────────--- -   -  · · ··   ·
│ Senior Couriers .│ Bass, Diamond Dog, Gizmo, Mario Lemieux, Psyber, Skitch
├──────────────────┼─────────────────--- -   -  · · ··   ·
│ Couriers ........│ Anthrax, Cabdriver, Darkforce, Faithmuse,  
│                  │ Insanity, Mavian, Satan, Scuzi, Snap, TC, Trix, WsS
└──────────────────┴─────────────────--- -   -  · · ··   ·
			     
			      PWA Boards/Sites

┌────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────┬──────────────────────┐
│ FTP Site Names         │ Status ·················· │ SiteOP  ············ │
├────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────┼──────────────────────┤
│ Sentinel ············  │ World HQ ················ │ Xxxxxxx ············ │
│ The Rock ············  │ US HQ ··················· │ Xxxxxxx ············ │
│ Ataraxia ············  │ EURO HQ ················· │ Xxxxxxx ············ │
│ Nemesis ·············  │ World Courier HQ ········ │ Xxxxxxx ············ │
│ Althea ··············  │ US Courier HQ ··········· │ Xxxxxxx ············ │
│ Major Malfunction ···  │ EURO Courier HQ ········· │ Xxxxxxx ············ │
│ Snowland ············  │ Release World HQ ········ │ Xxxxxxx ············ │
│ The Cellar ··········  │ Release US HQ ··········· │ Xxxxxxx ············ │
│ Magnetic Fields ·····  │ Release EURO HQ ········· │ Xxxxxxx ············ │
│ OTFW ················  │ World Member HQ ········· │ Xxxxxxx ············ │
│ Evil Echo ···········  │ US Member HQ ············ │ Xxxxxxx ············ │ 
│ Dagobah ·············  │ EURO Member HQ ·········· │ Xxxxxxx ············ │ 
│ Inner Lake ··········  │ EURO Member Site ········ │ Xxxxxxx ············ │ 
└────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────┴──────────────────────┘
	     If you are going to do it ... Do it with an ATTITUDE!

                PWA..... a juggernaut that rolls on thru 1998


  *  Please note that PWA is NOT accepting pay sites of any nature.. We're *
  *  in this for fun and entertainment, not to try to make ourselves rich. *

  *  PWA also does not accept new BBS', FTP sites, net couriers, graphics  *
  *  artists or programmers (including PPE's... PCB, may it rest in peace) *

┌───────────────────────────────┤ Final Note ├─────────────────────────────┐
│ Support the software companies! If you enjoy using a program or using a  │
│ Util, consider buying it! Someone has to make it worth the programmer's  │
│ effort to keep up the high standards.. They made it, so they DESERVE it! │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Professional SKU leak

					     ▄▓▄
	      ▄█▄                          ▄▀▒▓▌
	     ▐██▄▀▀▄              ▄      ▄▀ ░▒▓
	     ██████▄▀▄          ▄▀▓▌   ▄▀   ░▓▌ ▄▄
	    ▐███████▌▐▌       ▄▀ ▒▓    ▐▌  ░▒▓ ▐▌▐██▄▄        .
	   ▄█████████▌█     ▄▀  ░▓▌     █ ░▒▓▌ █ █████▀▀▄▄   ■
	    ▀▀█████████▌  ▄▀   ░▒▓      ▐▌░▒▓  ▐▌▐██▀  ▄  ▀▄▀
	       ▀████████   █  ░▒▓▌      █░▒▓▌   ▀▄██▌   ▀▄
	  ▌     ▐██████▌   ▐▌░▒▓▀  ▄▀  ▐░▒▓▀    ▄ ▀█▀     █▄
	  ▐▌ ▐   ██████    █░▒▒▀ ▄▀ ▀ ▄▀▄▀     ▐▓░▄   ▄▄  ▐▀▄
 ───────── ▓▄▀▌ ▐█████▌───▐░▒▒ ▄▀   ▄█▀▀ ───── ▓▒░▐▌ ▀   ─ █▓█ ───-───-─· ·
	   ▐▓ ▀▄█████▀    █▄▀     ▄▀    ▀▄    ▐▓▒  █      ▐▌▒▓▌
	    ▄▓▓████▀     ▐▀      ■            ▓▒░  ▐▌    ▄▀ ░▒▓
	  ▄▓▓██▀▀ ▄▄    ▄▀      .            ▐▓▒░   ▀▄    ▀▄ ░▓▌
	 ▐▓▓▀ ▄▓    ▀▀▄▄▄                    ▓▒░     ▄▀     ▀▄▒▓
	 ▓▒▌  ▐▓▒        ▀▀▀▄               ▐▓▒░░  ▄▀         ▀
	 ▐▓▄   █▓▒       ░▄▀                ▀▓▓▒▒░▀
	  ▀▓▀  ▐▓▒░    ░▄▀                    ▀▓▀     ..R.Noble 
		█▓▒░░░▄▀
		█▓▒▒▒▀     ... Pirates With Attitudes
	       ▐▓▓▒▀
	      ▄▓▓▀           Proudly Presents ...
	       ▀
╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ [ Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional         ]         December 17, 1998 ║
║ [ Release Candidate 0 of Beta 3 - Build 1946  ]                           ║
╟───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╢
║ Supplier .....: PWA                  │ Type .....: OS                     ║
║ Cracker ......:                      │ Video ....:                        ║
║ Packager .....: Murmillius           │ Audio ....:                        ║
║ Protection ...: N/A                  │ # Disks ..: 31 x 10 meg            ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Release Notes:

Well, its the OS formerly known as Windows NT Workstation.  Microsoft has
gone and ruined a good thing by changing the name to Windows 2000.  Anyway,
rather than get into an editorial about that, here is Release Candidate 0
of Beta 3 of Windows 2000 Professional (formerly Workstation).  Beta 3
is expected in the February 1999 timeframe, this is just a beta of the beta
that MS released looking for feedback from their technical beta sites to
prep for the final Beta 3 (confused yet?  I am).


  			            -/ This is PWA \-
                                   < 16 October 1998 >

┌──────────────────┬─────────────────--- -   -  · · ··   ·
│ Council .........│ Code3, Dark Lord, Dream Weaver, Murmillius, Rambone,
│                  │ Shiffie
├──────────────────┼─────────────────--- -   -  · · ··   ·
│ Senior Members ..│ Akasha, Mercy, Oyl Patch, The Technic 
├──────────────────┼─────────────────--- -   -  · · ··   ·
│ Members .........│ Acidman, Actarus, Aironz, Animal, BadBrad, Bassu, Brbla,
│                  │ Charlie, Chowdery, Codebreaker, Corrosion, Corv8,  
│                  │ DaPhantm, Denon, Disc Killer, Disk Killer, DJpaul,   
│                  │ DVST8, El Cid, EzD, Gogolie, Guip, Gumby, HiTop, IceB, 
│                  │ Ivan, Kewe, Lost Soul, Frost, Marduk, MindFink, 
│                  │ Mindreader, Nagumo, neTyx, Ofd, Patriarch, Prozac, Ryu, 
│                  │ Shadowman, Shark, Skylark, Single Minded, Slonny, 
│                  │ Sparhawk, SpyNut, Stoned, Sugar, The Jerk, Virtual Power, 
│                  │ Vanisher, Voltan, Warlock
├──────────────────┼─────────────────--- -   -  · · ··   ·
│ Senior Couriers .│ Bass, Diamond Dog, Gizmo, Mario Lemieux, Psyber, Skitch
├──────────────────┼─────────────────--- -   -  · · ··   ·
│ Couriers ........│ Anthrax, Cabdriver, Darkforce, Faithmuse,  
│                  │ Insanity, Mavian, Satan, Scuzi, Snap, TC, Trix, WsS
└──────────────────┴─────────────────--- -   -  · · ··   ·
			     
			      PWA Boards/Sites

┌────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────┬──────────────────────┐
│ FTP Site Names         │ Status ·················· │ SiteOP  ············ │
├────────────────────────┼───────────────────────────┼──────────────────────┤
│ Sentinel ············  │ World HQ ················ │ Xxxxxxx ············ │
│ The Rock ············  │ US HQ ··················· │ Xxxxxxx ············ │
│ Ataraxia ············  │ EURO HQ ················· │ Xxxxxxx ············ │
│ Nemesis ·············  │ World Courier HQ ········ │ Xxxxxxx ············ │
│ Althea ··············  │ US Courier HQ ··········· │ Xxxxxxx ············ │
│ Major Malfunction ···  │ EURO Courier HQ ········· │ Xxxxxxx ············ │
│ Snowland ············  │ Release World HQ ········ │ Xxxxxxx ············ │
│ The Cellar ··········  │ Release US HQ ··········· │ Xxxxxxx ············ │
│ Magnetic Fields ·····  │ Release EURO HQ ········· │ Xxxxxxx ············ │
│ OTFW ················  │ World Member HQ ········· │ Xxxxxxx ············ │
│ Evil Echo ···········  │ US Member HQ ············ │ Xxxxxxx ············ │ 
│ Dagobah ·············  │ EURO Member HQ ·········· │ Xxxxxxx ············ │ 
│ Inner Lake ··········  │ EURO Member Site ········ │ Xxxxxxx ············ │ 
└────────────────────────┴───────────────────────────┴──────────────────────┘
	     If you are going to do it ... Do it with an ATTITUDE!

                PWA..... a juggernaut that rolls on thru 1998


  *  Please note that PWA is NOT accepting pay sites of any nature.. We're *
  *  in this for fun and entertainment, not to try to make ourselves rich. *

  *  PWA also does not accept new BBS', FTP sites, net couriers, graphics  *
  *  artists or programmers (including PPE's... PCB, may it rest in peace) *

┌───────────────────────────────┤ Final Note ├─────────────────────────────┐
│ Support the software companies! If you enjoy using a program or using a  │
│ Util, consider buying it! Someone has to make it worth the programmer's  │
│ effort to keep up the high standards.. They made it, so they DESERVE it! │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

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 default color scheme is now consisting of beige hue and lighter shades of blue for title bar caption, which will remain in use for subsequent builds. The previous color scheme is still available under the "Windows Classic" name.
• The appearance of winver.exe has been updated largely, 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 SETUP.EXE and is located in the root of the disc. The previously used application, AUTORUN.EXE 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.
• The minimum disk size for installation increased from 605 to 653 MB.
• Common controls now have a lighter appearance while in 16 colors, though this change became reverted in build 1989.
• This build introduces the Shutdown Event Tracker, though being disabled by default.
• The following HALs have been removed:
  • Corollary C-bus Architecture (HALCBUS.DLL)
  • Corollary C-bus Micro Channel Architecture (HALCBUSM.DLL)
  • IBM PS/2 or other Micro Channel-based PC (HALMCA.DLL)
  • NCR System 3000 Model 3360/3450/3550 (HALNCR.DLL)
• Additionally, "ACPI Uniprocessor" and "ACPI Multiprocessor" are now referred to as "ACPI Uniprocessor PC" and "ACPI Multiprocessor PC".
• Along with the removal of the PS/2 HAL, the driver for the Micro Channel-based IBM Spock SCSI adapter (SPOCK.DLL) has been removed as well.

Control Panel

• The Add/Remove Programs control panel applet (APPWIZ.CPL) 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 (NETPLWIZ.EXE).
• 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 was 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 CPU triple fault while loading the NTFS driver. If this occurs, use 86Box or a similar emulator.
• The application icon in the shell about dialog 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 drvman_reg.bat included with System Stress 1.0 for Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000.

echo HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\DriverManager
echo     DriverSource
echo         Windows NT x86
echo             1381 = \\ntbuilds\release\usa\1946\x86\fre.wks\printers\NT4.0\i386
echo             %curbuild% = \\ntbuilds\release\usa\%curbuild%\alpha\fre.wks\i386
echo         Windows NT Alpha_AXP
echo             1381 = \\ntbuilds\release\usa\1946\alpha\fre.wks\printers\NT4.0\alpha
echo             %curbuild% = \\ntbuilds\release\usa\1946\alpha\fre.wks

Gallery

Setup

• 

  Preparing setup

• 

  Welcome to setup

• 

  Installing devices

• 

  Completing setup

• 

  Setup finished

Interface

• 

  Boot screen

• 

  CHKDSK on boot

• 

  "The network is starting..."

• 

  Login prompt

• 

  First boot

• 

  Desktop with winnt256.bmp bitmap

• 

  Control Panel

• 

  System properties

• 

  Internet Explorer

• 

  Logon screen saver

• 

  Shutdown Event Tracker

• 

  Resuming from hibernation

• 

  Safe to shutdown screen

Server SKU

• 

  Preparing setup

• 

  Licensing modes

• 

  Data storage location

• 

  Installing network

• 

  Completing setup with command prompt

• 

  Boot screen

• 

  "The network is starting..."

• 

  Login prompt

• 

  CHKDSK on boot

• 

  Configure server

• 

  Configure server on Internet Explorer

• 

  Desktop with lanma256.bmp bitmap

• 

  System properties and winver with timebomb

• 

  winver.exe and lanma256.bmp bitmap wallpaper

• 

  Windows NT Diagnostics

• 

  Demo

• 

  Help

• 

  Command prompt

• 

  Windows Upgrade

• 

  Windows Information

• 

  Shutdown Event Tracker

• 

  Safe to shutdown screen

External links

• Windows 2000 Build 1946 Pro @ BetaArchive Screenshots Gallery