The Windows Longhorn Upgrade Saga! (Upgrading Through Pre-Reset Builds)

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Today's video takes the "Massive Windows Upgrade" to a new level. Instead of going through final releases of Windows, we're going to try to upgrade through some Windows Longhorn Builds!
Builds Used:
M3 - 3603.Lab06
M4 - 4005.main
M5 - 4020.idx02
M6 - 4032.Lab06
M7 - 4042.Lab06
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#MichaelMJD #WindowsLonghorn #WindowsVista

[@WindowsOnWindows]

"Yes" to more off-topic ramblings!

[@dan55800]

Wow, I remember you watching in 2014... And also Michael MJD, he didn’t have even 5000 subs in those times...

[@leaeughfish5944]

AEUGH

[@fiverZ]

I still cri that WoW removed the old intro from his videos :c

[@rebeccadale6335]

Yes

[@rchltmedia]

wtf WoW is here???

[@amarioguy]

Regarding the “componentized” build vs “noncomponentized“ build thing: during LH development, Microsoft decided to split the os into different components (kinda the predecessor sorta to the dism model and “turn windows features on or off”) where different editions consist of different components and one can build on the other. Most longhorn builds weren’t componentized until the 408x era so you can only really upgrade to a 408x or 409x build from a 408x build that was componentized. 4074 and earlier all were so called “inf” builds aka not componentized

[@qreeves]

Thanks for sharing 😄

[@Peeps40836]

I don’t know if it’s pointed out yet, but a little known fact is that Windows Longhorn can actually help you install a little known software that’s called: System board.

[@pawer_official1245]

SyStEm BoArD xd

[@QuantumScratcher]

Why would you need to install software for a motherboard?

[@B5DIN]

Well.. recently on my 2001 Athlon XP build, I found out that if you don't install your motherboard drivers, your AGP video card would set itself back to AGP0x speed, despite supporting AGP8x. After installing mobo drivers.. let's say I was surprised TrackMania Nations ran on my Radeon 9550 at 60fps instead of 10fps on the same settings :'D Old PCs are whack.

[@extremegrief1525]

@@B5DIN always good to install newest drivers on ANY PC :D

[@B5DIN]

@@extremegrief1525 I mean, yeah :'D But I was so used to Windows 10 supplying all the drivers for me, that I would have never thought that, at least in an old PC, you'd have to install other drivers than those for GPU, sound card, RAID and that one proprietary thing xD

[@ilikemtrain]

One thing I just really like about pre-windows 8 operation system is that they would provide a progress bar during the installation progress, not just the "forever spinning circle". The progress bar really tells me the % done of the process.

[@mishterkirby]

17:55 Accessibility themes in a nutshell

[@DJGioGio]

Almost every kid in class: have Windows 7 and 10 The special kid in the class: have Windows LongHorn

[@PotatoMan23]

My gaming PC is triple booting win vista, 7 and 10 so, I guess that’s kinda weird

[@matthiaswang]

@@PotatoMan23 add xp to the list

[@namesurname4666]

@@PotatoMan23 it's sad that modern pc don't support vista and 7 so... i can't do that

[@resucutie]

me: * uses linux *

[@ShiroCh_ID]

well i have quad boot kde neon,android x86,windows 10 and arch linux

[@feandesign]

38:27 That theme modification surely is professional!

[@amarioguy]

The reason those “found new hardware” wizards are popping up is because while they’re signed the signature has expired when comparing system time to certificate validity

[@x_voxelle_x]

I like the ramblings. It feels like they fit the really casual dive into these alpha builds.

[@noahbeaudin6478]

Yay! A video about upgrading Windows Longhorn. Realy enjoy the Windows upgrade videos!

[@TheFakeVIP]

The later m7 builds introduced componentisation, which basically made the windows codebase a lot more modular. Almost every large feature or program was separated from the main OS. This was done to allow Microsoft to more easily create different SKUs of Windows, like Home, Professional, etc. I'm assuming that since Vista and 7 had so many versions, that they later did this again post-reset, but that's why you can't upgrade from 4042 to 4093 or 4086. The entire structure of Windows was significantly changed. This is, in fact, why 4093 has so few programs in it: they've all been stripped out and separated into components that aren't included in the base OS.

[@rogehmarbi]

I don't know who wrote the english captions for this video, but if someone other than Michael wrote it, hats off to you good mate, you're a legend

[@donk2c]

Wait this isn’t LGR...

[@Sentanaa]

That wipe at the beginning reminded me of him

[@RavenholmZombie]

LGR, Druaga1, and MichaelMJD. That would be the ultimate crossover

[@fiverZ]

HEY SMOKERS

[@justinduren95]

I would love to see him collab with LGR!

[@auto1lija]

@@Sentanaa Same

[@justanenderman9668]

Couldn’t spend my Friday evening better than I am watching your nice videos.

[@SkyeWeeb]

Michael: *tries to replicate Vinesauce* Build 4005: No.

[@HBC101TVStudios]

More like replicating LGR

[@floatingsanvich4819]

Needed build 4001

[@RetroArcadeGuy]

I used to be a Longhorn beta tester. It was rather functional and cozy to use. Then Vista happened.

[@user-mo3js1yo9u]

Prove it.

[@RetroArcadeGuy]

@@user-mo3js1yo9u If you've never been a Longhorn beta tester, then you probably should've bought a real Windows license.

[@cosmon_]

anatomy of this video 10% upgrading and installing longhorn 90% messing around with title bars

[@imeepysleepy]

hey smokers, Michael MJD here

[@ErdrickHero]

And welcome to an MJD thing.

[@commentarysheep]

"And today, we're gonna upgrade through all pre-reset builds of Longhorn on an SSD. And yes, I've prepared a Maxtor SSD for it, but if it fails, then I have the Bigfoot around, at least that hard drive works."

[@RisingRevengeance]

I want a podcast with this guy, Druaga and Akbukuku

[@imeepysleepy]

@@RisingRevengeance OH MY GOD YES

[@ErdrickHero]

@@RisingRevengeance and LGR, duh.

[@videotape2959]

2:27 What a beautiful ROM setup screen. I had never seen that one before.

[@daniel-andersson]

Classic Dell laptops have those. I way prefer Dell BIOS menus over contemporary HP/etc. ones, they're very intuitive

[@RedstoneRuler]

Nobody: Michael's desktop: fOxFiRe oh also system board

[@refioyt6238]

RedstoneRuler you forgot the microsoft ac adapter

[@farmervillager1376]

@@refioyt6238 m i c r o s o f t a n t i - c o o k i n g u n i t

[@BilisNegra]

Absolute yes for post-reset builds, too, please! Thanks for what you do.

[@justinsinger2505]

I love the ramblings. Makes the video feel so cozy

[@alexander1989x]

Michael's PC after 4 alpha Windows upgrades: **kill me!*

[@UN4YA_Content]

4 beta* Windows

[@lorrewatkins5925]

Just wanted to say Michael that I think your doing a fenomenal job with these vids, I just Love theme, not only for the entertainment, but they are very educational and a beautiful trip down memory lane in the name of computer science ! Thanks again and keep up the good vids !

[@AlejandroFerrariMc]

You laughed a lot in this video, it's always nice to see you having fun while you do these :)

[@blainepalmerza]

Wow, that's a surprise! Keep up the great content, Michael!

[@seshpenguin]

That little swipe in the intro was perfect!

[@speedinguyrcr24]

I would love to see the post reset builds. Ive always been a fan of windows in general. ive had the most experience on win7 and later. i actually remember when they first introduce win 8 i was using the preview for at least a year before they released it. it kinda cool learning the development process from when i was younger.

[@BurnedPinguin8630]

omg yes yes yes yes thank you so much this is the kind of content I need in quarantine, 40+ minutes, druaga1 experiment style. Thanks for keeping my entertained for the night!

[@suenky1991]

OMG 41:52 seconds of Michael MJD, could I be happier? 😍😂 Chandler Bing’s “semi-citations” aside great video, I really like this style with live reactions and troubleshooting

[@rabitec.]

Yes!! Another one. I really love these Windows upgrading videos.

[@ThePenguinOfTime]

I personally enjoy the rambling. Makes me realize I'm not the only one who does it lol

[@fizzyizzy05]

I actually quite enjoy your off topic ramblings to be honest, they provide a nice break(really for the lack of a better word) from the rest of the video. Also I'd enjoy watching this for Post-reset builds.

[@cristiserban5179]

I frickin missed Longhorn....And finally i couldn't wait to check this out when it first popped up!

[@ExecooteOfficial]

windows longhorn's startup prompt screen clock and date is not bad actually and neat idea.

[@quentin2217]

Keep the rambling!!! Also keep up the great videos, I'm looking forward to the Motorola Retrospective! 😊

[@gilly5809]

MJD you have the best geeky videos that I'm interested in. You're the best ♥

[@MichaelMJD]

Glad you like them!

[@tsimeone]

Love the ramblings 😊

[@chrisrlillo]

dude those off topics are amazingly interesting, keep up the good work bro

[@NostalgiaWindows1]

great video! at the time, I had so high expectation to Longhorn at the time.

[@adastrapgh]

Apparently the "pig latin" build string at 21:38 was done for testing purposes and not as a joke, they had to test new code that would change the OS's name in every place it appears; if the OS's name didn't change, something was wrong. This also exists in a few other builds as far as I know

[@GumSkyloard]

I assume it was both, actually. Yes, they needed to test code, but also, Pig Latin is funny.

[@dumb5308]

didn't know how most these builds of longhorn looked like, nice video :)

[@kevinwong_2016]

Nice your enby im Genderfloren-abrosexual

[@lorrewatkins5925]

By the way, I at least have No problem hearing you Ramble ! You have a very calm and soothing voice in my opinion.

[@FSM_Reviews]

I really like these style of videos! You should make one where you just tinker with the Inspiron 6400s. There is a modded BIOS floating around that gives them SLIC 2.1. And I installed said modded BIOS, and it actually works!

[@erwynnipegerwynnipeg8455]

Gonna be honest, I love your content. Your voice is also great, however, when studying/working, as background noise. You're a very nice person and not screaming or anything so it helps make it less sad. I rate offtopic ramblings 11/10 cant wait for motorola!

[@nicholashogan4704]

I’m addicted to your videos!

[@Kitsudote]

The design went from completely experimental to just dark XP

[@JessicaFEREM]

2:18 Username: "m" nice

[@joekerr9150]

Me after the M

[@derrerrrr]

m

[@acumenium8157]

Off-topic bits aren't usually something I'm interested in, but I don't think it's a problem in cases like this where little editing is being done to the video, and you were trying to illustrate how long a process (installation, etc.) was taking anyway. Regardless, we can just fast-forward through parts we don't like if we don't like them so it's not the biggest deal. Most of your video was very accurate and I'm kind of intrigued by how you spent that time... I usually just tap on a desk when I'm waiting for something to finally install lol. This was a real neat look into history. I love Windows 7 SO much and Vista truly was Longhorn for it. MS came up with "Whistler" for XP (in reference to the two ski resorts "Whistler" and "Blackcomb") and "Longhorn" (a location between the two resorts) for, well, this OS in the video, because it was supposed to be the "step-upgrade" like ME was to 2000. Instead, development on Longhorn was so bad, it had to be reset, again, like how the video said (the documentation here was really good!). Post-reset is called Windows Vista, which is what the follow-up to "Longhorn" was supposed to be. Instead, Vista ended up BEING Longhorn, the interrim OS. Blackcomb later came out as Windows 7. Ironically, Vista was supposed to be Blackcomb, with Longhorn being an intermediate OS bridging XP to Vista. Instead, it never came out, due to the protracted development of pre-reset or "Longhorn" as the video shows, and internally there was concern it'd never come out similar to the "Cairo" OS Microsoft tried to make in the 1990s (although almost all of its features ended up in Windows 95). So the reset occurred, but then this left them with a really long development time and no "step-upgrade" OS... well, none until Vista was so maligned and mishandled that Microsoft went "oh okay, sorry guys, this was Longhorn, you know, temporary upgrade. Pinky swear for realsies we have a new OS coming out with Vista features but BETTER!" and then Windows 7 came out. Now I feel like _I_ rambled a bit, but this video was not only very intriguing, but relating to my favorite OS. :) Ah... I'd sell my soul to have that gorgeous Aero theme again... it was so nice.

[@chrisrlillo]

those jokes and zoom ins hahahaha dude you really make my quarantine suck less. for the record, i'm a closet nerd

[@lopezg8475]

This is the video I didn't know I needed

[@jrhaven]

Just noticed the icons at 2:12. Nice.

[@kevinsahm5577]

I like the off topic stuff adds more fun to the video

[@oglothenerd]

I like the rambling!

[@arteonyx]

Yay more longhorn related stuff!

[@johnlawson1252]

Yes, I would like to see a post reset follow up. Also keep the the random off topic tangents.

[@PandacularExpress]

Hey Michael, great content! I happened to come across your channel after your Longhorn Reloaded video from a year ago. I was curious to know if you had ever tried out Longhorn 2008 (sometimes simply referred to as Longhorn '08)? This was the follow-up to Longhorn Reloaded. After Microsoft sent the C&D the LHR team split into two groups, one of which created Longhorn '08 which patched an unmodified 4074 build (the user had to get 4074 themselves thus side stepping the issue addressed in the C&D). The other team if you were curious that the LHR team split into was called Longhorn Fusion, which aimed to make Windows Vista feel like Longhorn. Other than a complete recreation of the Explorer file browser which acted just like Longhorn's that project simply devolved into simply being a theme for Vista/7. There's also another similar project called Longhorn 4074 TWIWMTB which added the animated aurora to the preview pane along with some other fixes. Curious to know if you've heard of that or tried it as well.

[@MichaelMJD]

I've actually never heard of those projects but will have to look into them! Thanks : )

[@colawin]

19:59 I love this

[@markithenoob]

I WAITED AN ETERNETY TO GET AN UPGRADING WINDOWS LONGHORN AND IT'S HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS

[@JessicaFEREM]

I'm thankful that you're using RW's and not wasting a crap ton of R's

[@friedgpu]

Oh yeah the Motorola MPX220, I dreamed about having one of those back in the day.

[@jargon343]

THANK YOU! I LOVE LONG VIDEOS!

[@EneaX6]

Ikr :D

[@kevinwong_2016]

Me too ☺️

[@lancerdeltarune]

off topic ramblings are the best

[@moved8575]

00:08 I thought that was one CD which was thick and I can't unsee it now

[@mishterkirby]

xD Compact Disk evolved into Thicc Disk

[@mnetobr]

That's really cool

[@mario-mx9dm]

Wait what I literally just finished watching your old Longhorn videos lol

[@MrVagrod]

Looks like Motorola V300/V330 ;) Actually I have a V635 in mint condition which I assembled out of two half-dead V635s and a new factory-sealed shell. So I am driving two phones now: first and the main one is Samsung S8, and second one is Motorola V635 with working sim-card, with internet, bt, calls, sms/mms, camera and everything. Love it! ;)

[@donmahoney8023]

Wow! I have the same laptop with Windows Xp too.

[@kaitlyn__L]

The stuff about how long Longhorn took to make reminds me of having a Haynes manual from 2003 or 2004 or something saying you should consider holding off on upgrading from 98 or 2K because "a new version called Longhorn is rumoured to come out soon" or something to that effect... I feel sorry for anyone who really hung onto 98 based on that advice! (This is just vaguely remembered of course, I think I actually do still have the book, I think it was called The Haynes PC Manual or something, bought for me based on their reputation with bicycles and cars, but it's packed away in a box somewhere so I'm not digging it out to fact-check my memory haha) I remember thinking Longhorn was a really odd name, and then years later when Vista finally came out and magazines started to hype it in the months ahead of release, I thought it was a much better name and also remember thinking: what happened to Longhorn? Is Vista Longhorn?? All because of one little aside in a top tips kind of sidebar thing mentioning Longhorn is known about. Of course nowadays I think, these companies are always building their next version by the time they release anything, the fact that something is coming up some time in the future isn't really a good reason to not but the current one. If it's definitely a few months away maybe, though I suppose the author could be forgiven for thinking it would have the same release cadence as 95 into 98 into Me into XP.

[@kaitlyn__L]

The slate theme looks almost identical to the "Zune theme" that was available to download for XP. Though that had I think an orange start button. I've got to wonder if the development of that theme came about as a result of this beta build. It's not like the Zune theme was a straight colour swap like the olive or silver default XP theme, it had new gradients similar to the XP Media Center Edition redesign, which this build also seems to have (though it may not be the exact same gradients). Very interesting

[@bartoszborowczak4647]

You also might wanna try external HDD case with CD drive emulation instead RW discs Zalman ZM-VE350 It supports ISO and probably something else (personally tried only ISO) and it's faster to install form it than form normal CD/DVD (even on USB 2.0)

[@lorumipsum1129]

Windows vista and longhorn have some of the most beautiful windows theme of all time

[@deenguyenfamily2468]

You deserve way more then 66k subscribers

[@MichaelMJD]

Thank you!

[@truckerallikatuk]

A modicum of off topic rambling is fine. Leave them in when they vaguely relate to tech and upcoming vids. The detour with the Monorail keyboard was fun :)

[@hgdagon]

I vote FOR the rumblings. And I'd also like to see some Shorthorn stuff in your videos!

[@thatkindofboi9955]

REALLY EPIC

[@ez2958]

I love the off topic ramblings.

[@procta2343]

i remember getting my hands on a version of long horn, and having a play with it. I found it was just windows XP with a bit of a make up job, but i do wonder if microsoft ended up going back to this with windows 7

[@VY_Canis_Majoris]

What if you did the same but with ALL builds of all windows versions? Would that even have a chance of being possible?

[@TobiasTimpe]

I remember doing this back in the day. On my main system.

[@-GameHacKeR-]

Epic :) Reminds me of when I went through 3683 something build to 4074 build on my first pc which was a windows 98 pc at first which I used till xp. I've been planning on attempting this on PCem just to see how far I can get :D Builds I ran on my computer during the pre reset era where, 3683,4008,4015,4051,4053,4074, In order of when I tested them 4015,3683,4008,4051,4053,4074 XD

[@tfruba]

@Michael - do you know is the longhorn build 3 theme can be ported to win XP? I still use my XP machine almost everyday with Royale theme, but it's starting to be boring :) This would be a really exiting to discover something new in my old system ;)

[@aw8qn]

these Longhorn builds have an awesome design tho

[@jmfindorff]

Man I just realized the Longhorn development history video I watched in the past was made by you

[@REPOMAN24722]

Notice how the buttons in the early builds look like windows 11 buttons? Even rounded edges. My personal fav theme is the whistler Watercolor theme.

[@anidnmeno]

"It's not 4am when I'm recording this." Yes it is.

[@Dragonfire511]

Nice easter egg you put on the desktop on windows 7 there.

[@OnlyFantastically]

17:55 I did that to my Windows XP computer when I was about 4 and my dad thought the thing was ruined lol

[@andreytop1gg]

2:13 did you see those words that Michael MJD says when the video starts?

[@et_yt_official]

I've never set a bios date but it has worked it switched the expires to in the current time period

[@UgolinoV42346]

This makes we want Windows Longhorn 😭

[@lopezg8475]

You could have used a program called easy2boot. It enables you to select what operating system that you want to install that's on your USB. I'm not sure if longhorn works but it probably would. And if the computer can't boot from USB, then use that one program that enables old computers to boot from USB. This would save you a bunch of time not having to burn all those discs

[@itsstudytimemydudes4345]

when I saw the old dell latitude my eyes lit up, kid me used to drag around one of those with me everywhere to play games on and draw

[@mirelmoisa3918]

Nice video :)

[@MichaelMJD]

Thanks!

[@Lethaltail]

1. Yes to rambling! Ramble ramble! 2. Iirc the m3 build contains a wallpaper from Longhorn Alpha. It's the same image but with alpha written on it.

[@reinoutdegeest881]

Very interesting to see! Could anyone explain me what ‘the reset’ of the development was? And why would they make soo many dev builds? Feels like they were building a car and test driving it every time one new wheel or bolt was fitted.

[@zerolinkyoshi]

The reset was a point when longhorn got so bloated and buggy that they scrapped what they had and started from square one. Dev builds are made so that changes can be tested by many different users in many different systems. The more frequently you make builds, the less changes in each one, meaning less variables that could cause new bugs.

[@Komas19Gaming]

doing the same thing in a vm, and oh boy, so many windows longhorn builds.

[@aubymori]

when i heard that music i thought dani was gonna tell me about how he used unity's particle system

[@wadmodderschalton5763]

Hey MJD, can you do a video on the official Microsoft downloadable desktop themes for Windows XP that were released between 2004 and 2006? So that way people can find these desktop themes very easily and not have to hunt these down.

[@RavenholmZombie]

Nobody: Absolutely Nobody: Not a living soul: Michael: System board

[@ragalthor]

Mate, I got a Nokia Booklet what OS do you recommend to install on?