Windows XP build 2257

5.1.2257.1.idx01.000810-2103
Build of Windows XP
Screenshot
OS familyWindows NT
Version number5.1
Build number2257
Build revision1
Architecturex86
Build labidx01
Compiled on2000-08-10
Expiration date
Timebomb+90 days after original install date
Cert. expiry2001-08-01 (+356 days)
SKUs
Personal
Professional
About dialog
Whistler2257Per Winver.png
TCB.png TCBGallery.png

Windows XP build 2257 is a build of Windows XP. This build was released on 24 August 2000 as a 'final preview' before Beta 1, which was due in October at that time.[1] This build was released in the Personal and Professional SKUs, just like build 2250.

New features and changes[edit | edit source]

Setup[edit | edit source]

Clean-install[edit | edit source]

Setup now refers itself as Windows Whistler instead of Windows 2000. The OS itself now also examines the disk before formatting. This however only happens once, as after the examine, if the user deletes the desired partiton, the disk won't be examined again, unlike in the following build.

The GUI setup now includes 5 steps instead of 3, with Collecting Information and Dynamic Update being added. The Microsoft logo was also added to the bottom left. After copying files, a progressbar appears on the sidebar, with a similiar style to Windows 98 and Me. However, if errors are encountered during installation, it can fallback to text mode. Setup now also includes billboards located in the empty space where the installation program window previously was. The "Completing the Windows Setup Wizard" was replaced with a "Windows is now installed" window, which automatically restarts after 15 seconds.

If setup is using the classic appearance (like while running SysPrep), the wallpaper has been changed again to this wallpaper, based on the setup wallpaper of Windows 2000 Server.

Upgrade setup[edit | edit source]

The upgrade setup received an overhaul. An installation timer was added, saying that the Installation will complete in 90 minutes or less. The installer now also contains two options, Express and Advanced. Express upgrades the existing installation of Windows while Advanced installs Windows to a new location. While copying files, simliarly to the clean install, Express displays billboards where the Setup once was and a progressbar on the sidebar. However, after copying finishes, a restart indicator isn't present. Instead, Windows automatically restarts after 15 seconds.

The text-mode section has been hidden, as Windows now boots to a 16-color copying stage, resembling the Windows Me setup, with billboards and a sidebar while the Setup copies files; however, any file copy error will cause SETUPDD to revert back to text mode. The Windows logo is also displayed in the bottom left corner with the colors of said logo progressing underneath. After the GUI portion of setup, an out-of-box experience will run before greeting the user with the desktop.

Boot screen[edit | edit source]

The boot screen has been updated, replacing the original Windows 2000 branding with a "Microsoft Codename Whistler" wordmark as well as removing the "Built on NT Technology" tagline. The modified Windows 2000 boot screen would be soon replaced in client builds as of build 2264, however, it was still being used as late as build 2433 in server builds.

This is also the first known build to partially implement support for newer boot animation included in build 2264 and later, although it doesn't include the necessary resources. When loading the kernel, the boot loader tries to load boot.bmp and dots.bmp from the Windows directory, where the former is a full screen logo with an empty progress bar, while the other is a bitmap including only the highlighted dots. If both files exist, then the "Starting Windows" text mode progress bar is replaced with a particularly glitchy animation. The kernel still ends up drawing the proper boot screen unless the /NOGUIBOOT boot switch is enabled, in which case the custom boot screen remains onscreen (although the animation stops) and a progress bar is drawn in the top left corner of the screen as the system boots.

This is the only known build to implement the newer animation in the boot loader, as build 2264 already implements it in the kernel as usual. However, support for loading a custom logo from a bitmap file was kept in the boot loader, eventually becoming the undocumented /BOOTLOGO switch.

Hardware Update[edit | edit source]

Hardware Update received another update. The custom installation option now looks nearly identical to the final release, with the device driver's name and icon being removed.

Out-of-box experience[edit | edit source]

The Out-of-box experience has been oddly reverted to the design seen in Windows Me Beta 3 builds, though with Windows Me branding replaced by Windows Whistler. A new "Windows Whistler" intro also plays beforehand. Merlin is still not functional.

User interface[edit | edit source]

Almost all references to Windows 2000 were replaced with Windows Whistler. The Professional theme has been given a makeover, with it now being a gradient and a ligher blue. Inactive windows are now also colored red instead of gray. The scroll bars also received 4 horizontal lines on them.

Login screen[edit | edit source]

The login screen received minor updates, such as a "Please wait..." message while shutting down and the user logging in is shown during the login process. Some elements of the login screen are now also slightly moved over compared to build 2250. "Turn off computer" is now capitalized for every word, now being "Turn Off Computer". "Click on your user account to log on" was also renamed "To log on, click your user account".

Start Panel[edit | edit source]

The Start panel (now called the Personal Start Menu) has received a makeover, with the blue topbar being moved to the side, the opening animation being changed from a fade in to slide in animation, as well as the power options being moved to the bottom right. The Start panel is now also enabled by default in the Personal SKU. The Professional SKU does not have it enabled by default, but it can now be enabled or disabled in the Taskbar and Start Menu properties. Notably, on the preview pane for the Personal Start Menu, there is an image of a concept of the Sample Test Visual Style, which debuted later in build 2410. Taskbar and Start menu properties are now also mostly finished, with the Start portion containing options to customize the personal or classic start menu, while the taskbar menu being mostly simple, with Auto hide, show clock and lock the taskbar options.

Control Panel[edit | edit source]

Most applets from the Control Panel received new features, with some being removed. Network Time has been added to the Date/Time applet, now allowing for network time synchronization, "Hot Pluggable Devices" was removed, however it can still be accessed from the notification tray if a USB disk is present, System Locale is now named Secondary Language in the Regional and Language Options, and the User Accounts Control Panel has received slight rewords to the text.

The Speech applet was updated, with it now being named just "Speech". However, it only contains options for Text-to-speech. Windows Keyring has now also received a UI, with it now being named as Credential Manager in the Control Panel. The Integrated Windows Authentication option was also added to the Internet Options applet.

The Voice Chat, Disk Usage and Installation tabs were removed from the Gaming Options applet, while the Remote tab from the System applet is absent in this build.

Display Properties[edit | edit source]

Display Properties now includes Themes and Appearance theme previews. However, at this point in development, both are mostly broken, as they can display a black screen for everything except for the Windows and desktop icons. "Theme Settings" in the Theme applet was also removed and moved to the Appearance tab, where it is now seperated into Effects and Advanced.

Miscellaneous[edit | edit source]

  • There is now a user interface to enable and disable ClearType in the Desktop Properties.
  • Starting from this build, the kernel has support for the /MININT argument for booting into Windows Preinstallation Environment.
  • The copyright date in the about dialog of winhlp32.exe has been updated from 1990-1995 to 1990-2000.
  • A status bar has been added to Notepad, which can be enabled by an option in the new View menu.
  • A new Security menu has been added to Registry Editor, which contains an options to view permissions of registry keys. It is non-functional though, as it either reports Unable to display security information. or shows an error due to the registry key not being accessible.

Bugs and quirks[edit | edit source]

Installation[edit | edit source]

The Professional SKU of this build cannot be installed normally as the Security Accounts Manager (forming part of the Local Security Authority Subsystem) will fail to associate existing account names with existing security IDs (SIDs). This error does not allow critical system settings to be changed by the user.

Setup[edit | edit source]

The MS-DOS-based setup (WINNT.EXE) refers to the OS as "Windows Whistler Server".

Theming[edit | edit source]

The theming service has rendering problems and will often fail to redraw the theme borders correctly.

Upgrading from previous builds[edit | edit source]

Due to a faulty versioning check present in the updated Dynamic Setup, the option to upgrade from any applicable Windows NT-based operating system release will not be available. Despite this, upgrades work properly under Windows 9x and Windows NT releases (the latter being possible through use of an external tool). To bypass the bug, perform either of the following:

  • Use build 2250's installation media and launch the setup application. Immediately after Setup initializes, swap disc images to this build's installation media.
  • Alternatively, use the WinExplorer application to enable the upgrade option.

OOBE[edit | edit source]

Due to internal changes done to the OOBE, Merlin does not appear.

File differences[edit | edit source]

The following files have been introduced or removed compared to build 2250 Professional:

Added files
Name Description Version
bridge.sys MAC Bridge Driver 5.1.2257.1 (idx01.000810-2103)
certobj.dll CertObj Module 1
certtmpl.dll Certificate Templates 5.1.2257.1 (idx01.000810-2103)
cpu.inf
dbmsgnet.dll Winsock Oriented Net DLL for SQL Clients 2000.080.0184.00
defrag.exe Defrag Module 5.1.2257.1 (idx01.000810-2103)
drvvfp.chm
duser.dll Windows 2001 DirectUser 5.1.2239.1
esent97.dll Microsoft(R) Windows NT(TM) Server Database Storage Engine 6.0.3940.7
fsutil.exe fu.exe 5.1.2257.1 (idx01.000810-2103)
g200.inf
geo.nls
hotplug.dll Unplug/Eject device applet 5.1.2257.1 (idx01.000810-2103)
ident1.htm
ident2.htm
intro.asf
keymgr.cpl Keyring Manager Application 5.1.2257.1 (idx01.000810-2103)
keymgr.dll Keyring Manager Application 5.1.2257.1 (idx01.000810-2103)
mgau.inf
mqad.dll Windows NT MQ Client AD Access 5.01.0920
mqdssvc.exe Windows NT MQ DS Service 5.01.0920
mqise.dll MSMQ ISAPI EXTENSION 5.01.0920
mqmaps.xml
mqoa.tlb Windows NT MQ 2.0 ActiveX Type Library 5.01.0920
mqoa20.tlb Windows NT MQ 2.0 ActiveX Type Library 5.01.0920
mscpx32r.dll Microsoft ODBC Code Page Translator Resources 3.511.0320
msdaorar.dll Microsoft Data Access - OLE DB Provider for Oracle Resources 2.60.6520.0
msdart.dll Microsoft Data Access - OLE DB Runtime Routines 2.60.6520.0
msoauth.msi
msorc32r.dll Microsoft Data Access - ODBC Driver for Oracle Resources 2.60.6520.0
mstsc.cnt
mstsc.hlp
mstvgs.dll GuideStore Module 1
msxml2a.dll XML Resources for Win32 8.00.6518.1
msxml2r.dll XML Resources for Win32 8.00.6518.1
mtxvideo.inf
netbrdgm.inf
netbrdgs.inf
odbcp32r.dll Microsoft Data Access - ODBC Driver Manager Resources 3.520.6520.0
pchsvc.dll Microsoft PCHealth Service Holder 5.1.2257.1 (idx01.000810-2103)
pro.mst Professional Theme for Windows 1
profdef.dll Microsoft (R) Visual Studio VSA Inproc Event Creator 7.00.8861.0
qasf.dll DirectShow ASF Support. 6.03.01.0123
qedit.dll DirectShow Editing. 6.03.01.0123
qedwipes.dll DirectShow Editing SMPTE Wipes 6.03.01.0123
raspppoe.sys RAS PPPoE mini-port/call-manager driver 5.1.2257.1 (idx01.000810-2103)
repdrvfs.dll WMI 5.1.2257.1 (idx01.000810-2103)
rsop.msc
sc.exe A tool to aid in developing services for WindowsNT 5.1.2257.1 (idx01.000810-2103)
scersop.mof
shimeng.dll Shim Engine DLL 5.1.2257.1 (idx01.000810-2103)
shimengv.dll Shim Engine DLL 5.1.2257.1 (idx01.000810-2103)
sniffpol.dll PPServer Module 3
sqlunirl.dll String Function .DLL for SQL Enterprise Components 2000.080.0184.00
srsvc.dll System Restore Service 5.1.2257.1 (idx01.000810-2103)
sstub.dll SStub Module 3
testroot.cer
tshoot.dll TSHOOT Module 3.2.0.17
uihelper.dll iisuihelper Module 1
usbehci.sys EHCI eUSB Miniport Driver 5.1.2257.1 (idx01.000810-2103)
usbohci.sys OHCI USB Miniport Driver 5.1.2257.1 (idx01.000810-2103)
usbport.inf
usbport.sys USB 1.1 & 2.0 Port Driver 5.1.2257.1 (idx01.000810-2103)
verifier.hlp
vssadmin.exe Command Line Interface for Microsoft® Volume Snapshot Service 5.1.2257.1 (idx01.000810-2103)
watchdog.sys Watchdog Driver 5.1.2257.1 (idx01.000810-2103)
wdma_es3.inf
wdma_m2e.inf
wmiscmgr.dll SchemaManager Module 1
Removed files
Name Description Version
appman.dll Application Manager 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
appmandp.dll Application Manager Script Interface 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
asr_fmt.exe Windows Automated System Recovery Utility 1
asr_ldm.exe Logical Disk Manager ASR Utility 2250.1.503.0
attag.gpd
attenum.gpd
badpid.htm
business.mst business Theme for Windows 1
buslogic.sys BusLogic SCSI Controller Driver 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
certmgrw.chm
cim20.dtd
cmconw.chm
command.gpd
complus.flg 2000.5.4107.2
compmgtw.chm
congrats.htm
connect.htm
cpqfws2e.sys Compaq 32-Bit Fast-Wide SCSI-2/E Controllers SCSI Miniport Driver 5.1.2231.1 (Lab01_N(peterwie).000503-0921)
datatag.gpd
dcomcnfg.chm
dcomcnfg.exe Distributed COM Configuration 5.00.1447.1
dcomcnfg.hlp
defragw.chm
devmgrw.chm
diskmgtw.chm
dsfolder.dll Directory Service UI 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
dskquow.chm
elsw.chm
encinst.exe Encrypted Installer Engine 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
encinst.inf
eula.htm
eulawarn.htm
fd16_700.sys FD 1660/1680/600/700 SCSI Controller Driver 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
filesvrw.chm
fireport.sys Diamond Multimedia Systems Inc. SCSI Miniport Driver Version FLINT-4.04.01a.2-DIAMOND
flashpnt.sys FlashPoint Adapter Miniport Driver 6.02
getstart.chm
glosw.chm
gpeditw.chm
hotplug.cpl Unplug/Eject device applet 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
hplj21p6.gpd
hplj40p6.gpd
infrarew.chm
installd.htm
instdss5.dll High strength upgrade 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
instips5.dll High strengt 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
instlsa5.dll High strength upgrade 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
instndi5.dll High strength upgrade 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
instrsa5.dll High strength upgrade 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
instsch5.dll High strength upgrade 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
intro.swf
ipseconw.chm
ipsesnpw.chm
keymgr.exe Keyring Manager Application 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
ler.dco
locsecw.chm
macme.htm
mdmess.inf
mdmsonix.inf
mf3c562.inf
mga64.inf
mispopt.htm
mispsgnu.htm
mmcw.chm
mmdet.dll Multimedia Detection Module 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
mmefxe.ocx Microsoft Multimedia Controls Effects Library 6.01.09.0727
mmouse.htm
modew.chm
moemadd.htm
moemhw.htm
moemlega.htm
moemreg.htm
mpconw.chm
msdart32.dll Microsoft Data Access - OLE DB Runtime Routines 2.60.5129.0
msidpe.dll Microsoft RSVP Identity Policy Element 1.0 DLL 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
msmq.cpl Windows NT MSMQ Control Panel 5.00.0703
msmqconw.chm
msmqcpl.chm
msmqcpl.hlp
msmqw.chm
msnconst.htm
msneula.htm
msnidpss.htm
msninfo.htm
msnpymnt.htm
msnsign.htm
msobshel.js
mspeedy2.htm
mspeedy3.htm
mstaskw.chm
m_msn.htm
ncrc710.sys NCR 53C710 Driver 5.1.2231.1 (Lab01_N(peterwie).000503-0921)
net3c562.inf
netcfgw.chm
netngr.inf
netpnic.inf
ntartw.chm
ntbackup.exe Windows Backup Utility 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
ntbackup.hlp
ntbckupw.chm
ntfs40.sys NT File System Driver 4.00
offlfdrw.chm
optag.gpd
p6cmn.gpd
p6disp.gpd
p6font.gpd
passact.htm
passreg.htm
passsign.htm
pax.exe Posix Archive Application 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
pclxl.dll PCL-XL Printer Driver 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
pclxl.gpd
pid.htm
pjl.gpd
posix.exe Posix Start Application 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
psxdll.dll Posix Client DLL 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
psxss.exe Posix Subsystem Application 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
rapilib.dll RSVP Libary 1.0 DLL 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
reged32w.chm
regeditw.chm
register.htm
regkb.htm
regkbcmt.htm
rel.cdo
rsmconw.chm
rsmw.chm
rstorage.inf
sceconw.chm
scew.chm
scmconw.chm
scmw.chm
scw.chm
secsconw.chm
secsetw.chm
sendmsgw.chm
smlgcfgw.chm
sndblst.dll Configuration driver for Creative Labs Sound Blaster 5.00.2186.1 built by: chuckl
sndblst.sys Generic Creative Labs SoundBlaster driver 5.00.2186.1 built by: chuckl
spconw.chm
start.htm
synth.dll Synthesizer driver for Ad Lib and OPL3 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
synth.pat
synth.sys Synthesizer kernel driver for Ad Lib and OPL3 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
sysmonw.chm
syspropw.chm
syssvrw.chm
tapi.htm
tcpipw.chm
tdnetb.sys NetBios Transport Driver 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
template.htm
themes.inc
thumbvw.dll Thumbnail View Extension 5.60.2250.0000 (main.000628-2110)
troublew.chm
tscmsi02.w32
tscmsi07.w32 Terminal Services Client (Export Version) 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
tscmsi08.w32
tscmsi09.w32 Terminal Services ActiveX Client (US/Canada Only Not for Export)
tscn3201.w32 Microsoft Setup Tool 3.01
tscn3202.w32
tscn3203.w32
tscn3204.w32
tscn3205.w32 Setup Custom Action Dll 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
tscn3206.w32 Client Connection Manager 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
tscn3207.w32
tscn3208.w32 Setup DLL 3.01
tscn3209.w32
tscn3210.w32 Terminal Services Client (Export Version) 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
tscn3211.w32
tscn3212.w32
tscn3213.w32
tscn3214.w32
tscn3215.w32 Terminal Services ActiveX Client (US/Canada Only Not for Export)
tscn3217.w32
tscn3218.w32
tscn3219.w32
tscn3220.w32 MSTSC Trace DLL 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
tscn3232.w32 MS-Setup Setup Exe 3.01
tscsetup.w32 Terminal Services Client Setup 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
tsctrc.dll MSTSC Trace DLL 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
tshoot.chm
tshoot.hlp
tshoot.ocx TSHOOT OLE Control Module 1
tshoot_w.chq
unattend.txt
upwizun.chm
upwizun.exe UpWizUn Application 5.1.2250.1
usemodem.htm
userinfo.htm
uxctrl.dll User Experience Controls Library 5.82 (main.000628-2110)
wdma_ava.inf
wdma_azt.inf
wdma_wss.inf
welcome.exe Welcome to Windows NT 5.1.2250.1 (main.000628-2110)
wind_w.chq
wmi20.dtd
wmixmlt.dll Windows Management Instrumentation 1.50.1680.0000
wmixmlt.tlb Windows Management Instrumentation 1.50.1680.0000

Gallery[edit | edit source]

Setup[edit | edit source]

Interface[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Thurrott, Paul. Whistler Build 2257 Preview, Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows (via Wayback Machine). 4 September 2000.