Microsoft Windows NT (pre-merge)

(October 12, 1992-October 5, 1994 [end of production], December 31, 2000 [discontinued])
Codename: "NT OS/2"

Nicknames: "Windows Flag", "Classic Windows Flag", "Tada!"

Screen: Same as Windows 3.1's startup, but the rectangle is light gray and the text is carved in the rectangle. "Times" is added next to "Times".

Variants:
 * On preliminary developer releases, "PRELIMINARY RELEASE FOR DEVELOPERS" is seen in an Army font, covering up "Version 3.1". The rectangle is also light gray.
 * Beta releases of Windows NT 3.1 contained the text "BETA -" (pretty much the same thing as "PRELIMINARY RELEASE FOR DEVELOPERS"). Following it would be the beta release month and year (OCTOBER 1992, MARCH 1993).
 * Server operating systems contained "Times" below the text.
 * On a beta version of Windows NT Advanced Server 3.5, the logo changed to a white flag with the Windows logo in it.

FX/SFX: None.

Sounds: Same as Windows 3.1.

Availability: Very rare. Only on computers running on Windows NT 3.1.

(August 1, 1994-December 31, 2001)
Workstation=

Nicknames: "Windows Flag II", "Classic Windows Flag II", "3D Windows Flag", "Tada! II"

Screen:
 * Workstation: On a white background, we see the flag logo in CGI. Underneath, in a narrow serif font, is "Times". At the bottom is written, in the same font, "Times".
 * Server: TBA.

Variant: On computers running Windows NT 3.51, the background is a shady pale green, and the bottom now says "Times".

FX/SFX: None.

Sounds: Same as Windows 3.1.

Availability: Very rare. Only on computers running on Windows NT Workstation 3.5 or 3.51.

(June 21, 1996-July 11, 2006)
Nicknames: "Windows Flag III", "Classic Windows Flag III", "Nighttime Windows"

Screen: Just the Windows logo with the first panel being red-orange with the text "Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 with Microsoft Internet Explorer" below it on a star-to-sky gradient background, with the sky half resembling the Windows 95 background. On the upper-right corner of the screen, we see the text "Copyright 1985-1996 Microsoft Corporation" under the then-current Microsoft logo. Below is the text "The product is protected by US and International copyright laws as described in the About Box.".

Variant: There's a version where without the text "with Microsoft Internet Explorer" and "Embedded" replaces "Workstation". Below is the text "The product is protected by US and International copyright laws as appropriate.".

FX/SFX: None.

Sounds:
 * Startup: A "soaring" synth/uplifting piano sounder throughout, combined with synth chimes and a flourish at the end.
 * Shutdown: Same as the startup sound, but in reverse.

Availability: Rare. Seen on computers running Windows NT 4.0, which was not a popular version of Windows.

(March 17, 1997-October 19, 1998)
Nicknames: "Windows Flag IV", "Classic Windows Flag IV", "Nighttime Windows II"

Screen: TBA.

FX/SFX: TBA.

Sounds:
 * Startup: On the pre-beta, same as the last screen. Starting with beta 1, a rising note reminiscent of the THX Deep Note, followed by an arpeggio of sci-fi sounding beeps.
 * Shutdown: Same as the last screen for both beta versions.

Availability: Rare. Seen on computers running Windows NT 5.0.

1st Screen (December 13, 1998-January 29, 1999)
Nicknames: "Windows Flag V", "Classic Windows Flag III", "The Squares", "The Progress Bar"

Screen: TBA

FX/SFX: TBA

Sounds:
 * Startup: A shortened, sped-up and higher-pitched version of the post-Beta Windows NT 5.0 startup, with a synth choir pad.
 * Shutdown: A low-pitched, unidentifiable noise, sounding like wind blowing with digital effects.

Availability: Extremely rare. It was seen on the Beta 3 builds of Windows 2000.

2nd Screen (February 18, 1999-September 13, 2005 [end of production], July 13, 2010 [discontinued])
Codename (64-bit version only): "Janus"

Nicknames: "Windows Flag VI", "Classic Windows Flag IV", "The Squares II", "The Progress Bar II"

Screen: On a white background, four squares are layered over each other in the same panel colors (red-orange,, , 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.

FX/SFX: The scrolling of the progress bar.

Sounds:
 * Startup: A piano arpeggio, followed by some string tones.
 * Shutdown: A string theme based off the startup sound.

Sounds Variant: During the earlier beta builds (1983-2000.3) featuring this screen, a different arrangement of the sounds was used.

Availability: Uncommon. Can be seen on computers that run Windows 2000.

Background
Neptune was planned to be the first version of Windows NT for home use until the project was merged with the Odyssey (planned professional release) project to form Whistler.

(1999)
Screen: Essentially the same as before, but instead of the Windows 2000 logo, we see the left trails of the Windows flag with a gradient effect. To the right of it is "Microsoft Neptune" arranged like before, in gray. Below it is "under construction" also in grey

FX/SFX: Same as before.

Sounds: Same as before.

Availability: Rare, considering this version was never released.

1st Screen (August 10-25, 2000)
Nickname: TBA.

Screen: Same as Windows 2000. But instead of the Windows 2000 wordmark, it now reads as "Microsoft Codename Whistler". Arranged like before, with "Codename" being in light gray.

FX/SFX: The progress bar.

Sounds: Same as Windows 2000, Neptune and ME.

Availability: Seen on build 2257 and 2264 of Windows XP.

2nd Screen (September 9, 2000-January 4, 2001)
Nickname: TBA.

Screen: We see the then-current Windows flag, but with a white outline instead of black. Below it is the same wordmark as below, but in white, and the word "Codename" in dark grey. Below all this, there is a progress bar, which consists of a dotted line, with some dots glowing white, scrolling from left to right.

FX/SFX: The progress bar, which is different.

Sounds: Same as the previous screen.

Availability: Seen on builds 2267-2416 of Windows XP.

3rd Screen (January 15, 2001)
Nickname: TBA.

Screen: We see the same wordmark from before, but behind it to the left is the Windows flag, this time in dark gray, and without its colors. Below the wordmark is a progress bar, which consists of four rectangle lines, each one bearing one of the windows colors, lighting up one by one.

FX/SFX: The progress bar, which again is different.

Sounds: Same as the last two screens.

Availability: Only seen on build 2419 of Windows XP

4th Screen (January 29-May 8, 2001)
Nickname: TBA.

Screen: Essentially the same as Build 2267, but the wordmark is now much more in line with the final Windows XP wordmark, with the word "Codename" now being grey, the progress bar being the same as Build 2419, and the Windows flag now bearing its new modernized design, (designed by Casey Potter Design, which by then had been finally completed after a bunch of prototypes were made,) but in white. At the bottom of the screen is the text "Beta 2 Release" which is above the copyright info, with it, along with the Microsoft logo in the upper-right-hand corner, being in gray.

FX/SFX: The progress bar, which is the same as the previous screen.

Sounds:


 * Before build 2481: Same as the last four screens.
 * Build 2481-2542: The sounds from the next screen.

Availability: Seen on builds 2428-2542 of Windows XP.

5th Screen (May 8, 2001-April 14, 2009 [end of production], April 8, 2014 [discontinued])
Nicknames: "Windows Flag VII", "New Windows Flag", "The Progress Bar III"

Screens: On a black background, the then-current Windows flag logo (which has been redesigned to have only the colored "panels" the first panel might be red-orange or orange), along with the text below:

Microsoft Windowsxp

fading in. Below that is a progress bar (a la Windows 2000). In the bottom-left corner is a copyright notice, and on the bottom-right is the then-current Microsoft logo.

Variants:
 * Prior to Service Pack 2 of XP, the edition name would appear on the bottom of the XP wordmark (on the Home Edition however, the progress bar would appear ).
 * On computers running the 64-bit version of Windows XP, either the word "64-Bit Edition" (for the Itanium version) or "x64 Edition" (for the AMD64 version) is added under the XP logo.
 * On Windows Server 2003, the name was changed to its appropriate title. The progress bar is gray.
 * When Windows XP is first installed, the normal logo is seen with the progress bar replaced with the words "Please wait..."

FX/SFX: The scrolling of the progress bar.

Sounds:
 * Original Version:
 * Startup: A six-note piano tune with a rising string section at the end. Composed and conducted by Bill Brown and performed by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.
 * Shutdown: A four-note piano tune with similar strings, based off the startup sound.
 * Microsoft Plus! Sounds:
 * Default:
 * Startup: Same as original.
 * Shutdown: Same as original.
 * Aquarium:
 * Startup: An ascending xylophone/synth tune, with a synth note held in.
 * Shutdown: Water sounds and clicking.
 * Da Vinci:
 * Startup: A 3-note harp tune.
 * Shutdown: A 5-note harpsichord tune.
 * Nature:
 * Startup: Bugs, with a bird chirping.
 * Shutdown: Crickets chirping and a wolf howling.
 * Space:
 * Startup: A 3-note trumpet theme, followed by a deep bass synth note. May remind some of "2001: A Space Odyssey".
 * Shutdown: Melodic electronic warbling.

Availability: Uncommon, due to the fact that until August 2012, Windows XP was the most commonly used operating system. Support ended in April 2014. Also seen in Windows Server 2003 and the last few Windows Whistler betas. It can still be seen on computers running Windows Embedded 2009, as a small few kiosks in retail stores and banks still contain the OS. Support for the embedded OS was fully discontinued on April 9, 2019.

1st Screen (March 5, 2003-December 18, 2005)
Nicknames: TBA.

Screens: TBA.

FX/SFX: Same as Windows XP.

Sounds: Same as Windows XP.

Availability: TBA.

2nd Screen (February 2, 2006-April 10, 2012 [end of production], April 11, 2017 [discontinued])
Nicknames: "Windows Flag VIII", "New Windows Flag II", "Windows Orb", "The Flashing Orb"

Screen: On a black background, a light blue orb with the then-current Windows flag logo with the first panel being orange quickly fades in. Then, the edges of the "panes" begin to glow, until the glow reaches outside of the orb and stops at corners, forming a square shape.

FX/SFX: The flashing.

Sounds: Sounds Trivia: The system sounds, including the startup and shutdown sounds, were composed by Robert Fripp, the lead guitarist of the progressive rock band King Crimson.
 * Before build 5840.16389: Same as Windows XP.
 * Shutdown (build 5469-build 5840.16384): A two-note synth chime theme, which will go on to be the logoff sound in Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11.
 * Startup: Four high pitched synth chimes, followed by a mellow synth pad.
 * Shutdown: A synth chime note.

Availability: Rare, due to Windows Vista rapidly losing usage following the release of Windows 7, as well as it not being used as much as other versions of Windows to begin with. This precedes the logon screen, as the actual boot screen is very similar to the previous one.

3rd Screen (November 2, 2008-July 1, 2011 [end of production], January 14, 2020 [discontinued]
Nicknames: "Windows Flag IX", "New Windows Flag III", "The Orbs"

Screen: On a black background, we see the words "Starting Windows" and a copyright notice. Suddenly, four colored orbs appear and move around a bit until they form the "panels" of the then-current Windows logo. The edges of the panels glow for a little bit.

Variants:
 * If the computer is resuming from a previous session, the text will say "Resuming Windows".
 * When a system running Windows 7 in the middle of an update, after a few seconds "Starting Windows" changes to "Applying update operation of  (filename.filetype)", wherein  is the number of the active update, whereas  is the total amount of updates to the system.

FX/SFX: The orbs and flashing. Impressive animation for a startup graphic. It's an improvement over the previous screens as well.

Sounds: Same as Windows Vista.

Availability: Common. As with Windows XP, some public machines still run this version of Windows.

Background
Windows 8 introduced a major overhaul in the desktop UI, including completely revamping the Start menu. In 2021, Windows 11 introduced another major overhaul in the desktop UI, including completely revamping the Start menu.

(April 22, 2011- )
Codenames:
 * Windows 8.1: "Blue"
 * Windows Server 2012: "8 Server"
 * Windows 10: "Threshold", "Redstone"
 * Windows 10X: "Santorini", "Windows Lite"
 * Windows 11: "Sun Valley"

Nicknames: "Windows Flag X", "The Loading Circle"
 * Windows 8-10: "The Simple Flag"
 * Windows 11: "The Front-Facing Flag", "The Front-Facing Window", "The Microsoft Logo"

Screen:
 * Milestone 3 (build 7989): On a black background, we see a beta fish, with bubbles coming out of its mouth (in a static image). At the bottom of the screen, we see the word "Welcome". Then, we see dots going around in a circle.
 * Developer Preview (build 8102): Same as build 7989, except the beta fish is replaced with the words "Windows Developer Preview", in white. The trademark symbol, an "R" enclosed inside a circle, is seen next to the word "Windows". The word "Welcome" is also omitted.
 * Consumer Preview (build 8250): Same as build 7989, except the beta fish is rendered in a flat bitmap file, itself rendered inside a blue square. Inside the square is a barely-legible "8", resembling Windows 8. The word "Welcome" is also omitted.
 * Release Preview (build 8400): Same as the Developer Preview, except this time "Developer Preview" is omitted.
 * Windows 8-10:
 * RTM (build 8888) and onward: Same as the Release Preview, except the text is replaced with the current Windows logo (consisted of a simple window tilted to the left), colored light-blue.
 * build 9431 (Windows 8.1): TBA.
 * Windows 11 and onward: Same as build 8888, except the Windows logo is replaced with the Microsoft squares, in dark blue (bearing a resemblance to the Microsoft logo or the front-facing Windows flag, consists of a simple window tilted to the front).

Variants:
 * On some computers, the computer manufacturer's logo (i.e. MSI, Lenovo, Hewlett-Packard etc.) replaces the Windows logo.
 * On the Surface Studio all-in-one desktop, the background is colored dark grey.
 * Starting with the Sun Valley 2 (22H2) Update of Windows 11, the dots are replaced with a loading bar going around in a circle as previously seen in Windows 10X.

Trivias:
 * The 2012 Windows logo (starting with the RTM (build 8888) and onward) was unveiled in February 2012 and was created by Wolff Olins and Pentagram.
 * The 2021 Windows logo is very similar to the Windows 95 commercials from the mid-1990s, the Microsoft Store logo from 2009, and Microsoft's 2012 logo, but retains the color of Windows 10's logo.

FX/SFX: The dots going in a circle.

Sounds:
 * Startup:
 * Windows 8-10: None by default, though when enabled it's the same as Windows Vista and Windows 7.
 * Windows 11: A 3-note theme.
 * Shutdown: None.

Availability: Very common. Can be found on any computer running Windows 8, 8.1, 10, or 11.