Updated: July 10, 2020 (November 21, 2005)
Charts & IllustrationsPrevious Windows Timelines
Although there are no prescribed schedules for specific milestones in the development of software, the following charts show the historical durations for various milestones during the development of Windows versions.
For a release with significant architectural changes, such as Windows 2000 which included Active Directory, the total time from announcement to release is approximately 40 months. For a more incremental release, such as Windows XP, the time can be shortened to approximately 22 months.
Microsoft indicates it is confident that changes to the Windows development process implemented during the development of Windows Vista will reduce these durations, even for a project like Windows Vista, which includes significant architectural changes.
| Event | Date | Duration |
| Windows 2000 Announced | Nov. 1996 | |
| Windows 2000 Beta One | Sept. 1997 | 15 Months |
| Windows 2000 Beta Two | Aug. 1998 | 11 Months |
| Windows 2000 Release to Manufacturing |
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