Windows 7 build 6608

6.1.6608.1.winmain_win7m2.080511-1400
Build of Windows 7
Screenshot
Release nameMilestone 2
OS familyWindows NT
Version number6.1
Build number6608
Build revision1
Architecturex86, x64
Build labwinmain_win7m2
Compiled on2008-05-11
Expiration date
Timebomb2008-10-03 (+145 days)
SKUs
Starter
Home Basic (N)
Home Premium
Business (N)
Ultimate
Edition Upgrade only:
Home Premium N
Ultimate N
Enterprise (N)
About dialog
Windows7-6.1.6608-About.png
TCB.png TCBGallery.png

Windows 7 build 6608 is the official Milestone 2 build of Windows 7, the x86 version of which was uploaded to BetaArchive on 16 June 2010.[1] Components from the x64 architecture were later found on the Microsoft Symbol Server on 19 June 2022, with the x64 variant of the full build itself being then shared on 14 September 2024 along with its server counterpart.

New features and changes[edit | edit source]

  • More references of Windows Vista have been changed to Windows 7. Vista is still referenced in Windows Media Center and about box in Windows Mail.
  • As of today, this is the earliest available build which uses the "Deployment Imaging and Servicing Tool" (DISM) to install Windows.
  • Aero theme had some changes. The glass texture has been replaced with a new smoother one, the same as seen in final releases.
  • The context menu entry for the Gadget Gallery is now placed between the Display and Personalize items.
  • Minor visual tweaks were made to elements within Windows Explorer.
  • Windows Media Player has been updated with a new color scheme.
  • Some Control Panel items have been changed since build 6519.

Console[edit | edit source]

This is the first known build to outsource console window handling from the Windows subsystem server process (csrss.exe) to the new Console Window Host (conhost.exe) component. Upon launching a console application, the Windows subsystem now automatically spawns a console host process in the user's security context, which then creates and owns the console window. Before the change, console windows were created and owned directly by subsystem process itself, which runs in a highly privileged security context. Any changes to the console subsystem therefore had to be carefully curated as to not impact the security of the system.

This change enabled several minor improvements to the console subsystem. Files can now be dragged and dropped onto console windows. This functionality was previously disabled in Windows Vista, as it presented a security risk with the previous architecture. Additionally, console windows are now properly themed as opposed to deliberately falling back to the classic theme due to csrss.exe being exempt from theming for security and reliability purposes.

Bluepill enhancements[edit | edit source]

With Bluepill enabled, this build includes multiple new additions that would make it to the RTM. Among one of these is an updated Superbar, which includes the new jump list menu options, although it is obtained in this build by pressing the arrow next to the application icon. The Superbar also no longer shows the application's name and only displays just the icon by default (though it is possible to enable this behavior in older builds starting from build 6519 by editing the registry). WordPad has been updated to include the ribbon from Office 2007. New icons have been added into Calculator. Aero Snap has also been introduced in this build.

Superbar[edit | edit source]

The superbar can be enabled by merging the following content into the registry, then restarting Windows.

Enable Superbar

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\9d80fd12-3d92-40fe-af28-4f0e41372d2c]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\9d80fd12-3d92-40fe-af28-4f0e41372d2c\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:a0100004

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:a0100004

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:a0100004

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{2559A1F1-21D7-11D4-BDAF-00C04F60B9F0}]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{2559A1F1-21D7-11D4-BDAF-00C04F60B9F0}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:a0100004

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{2559A1F3-21D7-11D4-BDAF-00C04F60B9F0}]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{2559A1F3-21D7-11D4-BDAF-00C04F60B9F0}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:a0100004

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{2559A1F4-21D7-11D4-BDAF-00C04F60B9F0}]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{2559A1F4-21D7-11D4-BDAF-00C04F60B9F0}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:a0100004

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{2559A1F5-21D7-11D4-BDAF-00C04F60B9F0}]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{2559A1F5-21D7-11D4-BDAF-00C04F60B9F0}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:a0100004

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{3080F90D-D7AD-11D9-BD98-0000947B0257}]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{3080F90D-D7AD-11D9-BD98-0000947B0257}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:a0100004

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{35786D3C-B075-49B9-88DD-029876E11C01}]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{35786D3C-B075-49B9-88DD-029876E11C01}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:a0100004

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{5399E694-6CE5-4D6C-8FCE-1D8870FDCBA0}]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{5399E694-6CE5-4D6C-8FCE-1D8870FDCBA0}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:a0100004

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{59031A47-3F72-44A7-89C5-5595FE6B30EE}]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{59031A47-3F72-44A7-89C5-5595FE6B30EE}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:a0100004

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{640167B4-59B0-47A6-B335-A6B3C0695AEA}]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{640167B4-59B0-47A6-B335-A6B3C0695AEA}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:a0100004

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{865E5E76-AD83-4DCA-A109-50DC2113CE9A}]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{865E5E76-AD83-4DCA-A109-50DC2113CE9A}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:a0100004

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D}]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:a0100004

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{9113A02D-00A3-46B9-BC5F-9C04DADDD5D7}]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{9113A02D-00A3-46B9-BC5F-9C04DADDD5D7}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:a0100004

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{B155BDF8-02F0-451E-9A26-AE317CFD7779}]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{B155BDF8-02F0-451E-9A26-AE317CFD7779}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:a0100004

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{ED228FDF-9EA8-4870-83B1-96B02CFE0D52}]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\{ED228FDF-9EA8-4870-83B1-96B02CFE0D52}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:a0100004

Aero Peek[edit | edit source]

Aero Peek can be enabled by merging the content below into the registry, then restarting Windows.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\6214949A-5BE4-4568-A383-E2126CFDCF9C]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\6214949A-5BE4-4568-A383-E2126CFDCF9C\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:a0100004

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\BE2CDE86-D165-4107-A26A-A102AFC1A638]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\BE2CDE86-D165-4107-A26A-A102AFC1A638\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:a0100004

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\D3F37E19-619D-4F38-8D4B-72AE35626C9E]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CLSID\D3F37E19-619D-4F38-8D4B-72AE35626C9E\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:a0100004

Bugs and quirks[edit | edit source]

Start orb[edit | edit source]

Start orb appears after the startup sound plays.

LogonUI[edit | edit source]

The buttons on the login screen appear to have jagged edges.

DWM[edit | edit source]

Desktop Window Manager requires either compatible hardware or using 9.x compatibility or older in VMware Workstation with 8.x drivers.

Control Panel[edit | edit source]

The Windows Update control panel page will fail to load if using Classic theme.

Gallery[edit | edit source]

Setup[edit | edit source]

Upgrade[edit | edit source]

Interface[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]