Beta 1
Build 2296 (Beta 1, with a build tag of 2296.beta1.001024-1157) was released on October 31, 2000. This is the first pre-beta of Windows XP. In this build, the Start Panel has been replaced by a new simple Start Menu, an MMC-based taskpad that is intended to make it easier to find frequently-accessed applications. This was the first build to group similar taskbar buttons and hide inactive icons in the system tray. Backward compatibility has been also added to this build. User switching was enabled in this build. In this stage of development, on November 13, 2000, Microsoft misannounced that "Whistler" will be called Windows 2001. This name was later dropped.
Build 2410 (with a build tag of main.001208-1937 and idx02.001212-1507) was released to testers on January 4, 2001. It included a number of new features, such as some new high-color icons, a renaming of the Professional theme to "Watercolor", minor changes to the simplified Start Menu, new icons as featured in the final, a new sample visual style, dubbed Sample Test Visual Style, some tweaks and fixes and the inclusion of Internet Explorer 6 with the new Media and IM Explorer bars, Outlook Express 6, Windows Movie Maker 1.1 (not included with server editions), MSN Explorer 1.1 (not included with server editions), Windows Media Player 8.0, and Internet Information Services 5.1.
Build 2416 (with a build tag of idx01.010104-1958) was released to testers on January 16, 2001. It featured a more attractive Help and Support Center, MP3 support in Windows Media Player 8, a new File and Transfer Settings Wizard, a cascading Start Menu, new performance options, and System Restore integration with System Properties.
Build 2419 (with a build tag of idx02.010113-1154) was released to testers on January 23, 2001. It debuted the final Windows XP Setup routine, and much of the final Windows XP wallpaper selection. It was the first build to contain Windows Product Activation, which was added to help cut down on piracy. It was also the last build to contain the "Watercolor" theme. It also introduced a new boot screen with the loading bar consisting of the 4 Windows colors. This boot screen was however replaced in the next build.
Build 2428 (with a build tag of idx01.010129-1827) was released to testers on January 25, 2001. It removed the 'Watercolor' theme (and the 'Classic' theme as a whole) and was the first build with the new Luna theme, as featured in the final version of XP. It also featured a new Control Panel background, and the UI in general was very similar to the final. This build also introduced a new boot screen, with the new Windows logo.
Read more about this topic: Development Of Windows XP