Windows 2000

Windows NT 5.0 (early Windows 2000 beta builds)

1st Screen (March 17, 1997-February 11, 1998)

• 
  Pre-Beta 1 (Workstation)
• 
  Beta 1 (Workstation)
• 
• 
  Server

Visuals:

• Workstation: Similar to the NT 4.0 screen, with some differences. The Windows flag logo is positioned further to the left, the "Windows NT Workstation" text is now gray and placed near the top-right, with the Microsoft logo and copyright information below it. Below them is the large "5.0", in semi-transparent white. The surrounding outline is now changed to the shape of a square passing behind the middle of the Windows flag and the right end of the "5.0" text. At the left of the outline, the "This product is protected by US and International copyright laws as described in the About Box." text is shown in blue within a four-line paragraph.
• Server: Same as the previous screen, with the italic "with Active Directory" text below "Server". The version text now reads "Version: 5.0", with "5.0" being larger. The "Beta 1 Evaluation Copy" text is seen in orange.

Variants: Several versions of the screen exist.

Technique: A real-time computer graphic.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on computers running Windows NT 5.0 builds from Builds 1515-1745.

2nd Screen (March 18-October 19, 1998)

• 
  Early Interim's Developer Release (Workstation)
• 
  Later Interim's Developer Release (Workstation)
• 
  Beta 2 (Workstation)
• 
  Interim's Developer Release (Server)
• 
  Pre-Beta 2 (Server)
• 
  Beta 2 (Server)

Visuals:

• Workstation: Over a white background is the Windows flag logo inside a blue box, and there are some blue boxes next to it. There is the same text from the previous 4.0 screen, except the text reads "5.0", which is larger.
• Server (build 1773-1814): Same as the previous two screens, except with a larger "5.0".
• Server (build 1848-1911): Same as the Workstation screen, but the square with the Windows logo is black and "Workstation" is swapped with "Server".

Variants: There are several versions of the screen.

Technique: Real-time computer graphics.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on computers running Windows NT 5.0 from builds 1773-1911.

Windows 2000

1st Screen (December 13, 1998-April 26, 1999)

• 
  Professional
• 
  Server

Visuals:

• Professional: Over a white background, the logo starts with the Windows flag from the next screen in the top-left corner (without the blue square behind) with other colored boxes in orange, green, and blue, with the blue square being a cloudy sky image. There is the same text from the next screen.
• Server: There are multiple interlocked blue square outlines with the Windows logo seen off-center in one of them. Below is the text from the next Server screen, with "Built on NT technology".

Technique: Real-time computer graphics.

Audio: None.

Availability: The normal version was seen on Builds 1946-1969 Windows 2000. The server version was used until Build 2031.

2nd Screen (February 18, 1999-September 13, 2005 (end of production), July 13, 2010 (extended support))

• 
  Professional
• 
  Windows XP build 2210 (Professional)
• 
  Server Family (beta)
• 
  Server Family
• 
  Windows XP build 2210 (Server Family)

Visuals:

• Professional: On a white background, four squares are layered over each other in the same panel colors (red-orange, blue, green, and yellow). On top of the top square is the then-current Windows flag logo. Below the squares are the words "Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional", arranged much like the fourth and fifth screens, with "Professional" on the bottom. Below this is the text "Built on NT Technology." At the top-right corner of the screen is the then-current Microsoft logo. At the very bottom of the screen, there is a gray bar, with the words "Starting up..." and a progress-style bar, and beneath that is a copyright notice.
• Server Family: On a white background, three beveled blue squares are layered over each other with the square in the front having a white fill with the Windows flag on the center of it. Below the squares are the words "Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Family" arranged together, with the "Built on NT technology" text at the right. There is the typical progress bar scrolling below.

Variants:

• On early beta builds of Server Family, the text is shortened to just "Servers".
• On Windows XP build 2210, the number "64" is spray-painted onto the boot screen. On the Professional variant, the "64" is orange with an underline below it, and spray painted on the black text. On the Server Family variant, the "64" is maroon, and spray painted next to the Windows logo.
• With the /noguiboot parameter added into boot.ini, it instead shows the text "Starting Windows...". Below is a black-gray striped progress bar, and underneath is the text "For troubleshooting and advanced startup options for Windows 2000, press F8.", with the text being gray. Once the progress bar starts animating, the latter text is removed.

Technique: Real-time computer graphics.

Audio: None.

External Links

• Windows 2000  on Wikipedia
• Windows 2000 on BetaWiki

Windows NT 4.0

Windows 2000

Windows XP