Screenshot of new bootscreen: https://www.betaarchive.com/wiki/images/f/f0/2474boot.png
(the loading... flashes)
Both builds Identify themselves as Windows XP RC1.
Author: Blue Horizon
Things are starting to come together, and the last bells and whistles are being added. But let's see what's finalized this time.
BUILD 2474
The setup now identifies itself as XP on the top left. Not noticeable if you're doing an upgrade from a previous build.
The setup process identifies itself as "Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional RC1". I'm not sure what "RC" stands for, but the R might stand for Release.
Q-Mark now has new animations, but the font he says is still in Comic Sans (rofl), and Q-Mark's sounds aren't finalized.
Since MS can't figure out how to put their tour in the start menu yet, they flat out tell the user to search for the file to play it.
Oh, almost forgot.
The very first Windows XP bootscreen. It says "loading ..." instead of the famous three colored squares that move across.
Why not keep the loading bar from Windows NT/2000 in here? Oh, that's right. The bible tells us to simplify everything.
Here's yet another example of MS abusing their monopoly.
Did nothing on the desktop for a while and got this advertisment to use Microsoft's .NET service. Yes, I said advertisment. There's no other word to describe the abuse of services from a company that someone many not want or need.
The activation dialog now looks just like what it should in the final. Just a tool to lock novices out of their own computers and preventing them from accessing their files.
The classic start menu removes the red "xp" letters from the side. And they really push activation on users so hard they put it at the first level of the start menu.
BUILD 2475
The "File a bug report" icon is now gone so it's safe to say that this is the final desktop minus the build string at the bottom.
Windows XP now has two Games folders. The first containing the regular ones, and the containing being the "Internet enabled" ones.
Trying to move the Games folder to the first level of All Programs seems silly, but it's understandable that Games aren't accessories.
An animated Windows flag! It waves! IT WAVES! I wonder what today's society would be like if they kept that in the final...
A new version of the Windows Tour. It automatically goes full screen once you open it, and there doesn't appear to be any obvious way to close it.
At least ALT+F4 works.
You can download this tour below if you really want: