Free Windows (XP & Vista) Add-Ons & Updates
updated 07-02-07
--sectioned by Vista, Vista & XP, and XP below. There is also a free CD/DVD and Books/Training section.
(this page is updated constantly as MS continues to release new stuff at no cost; "Disclaimer: nearly all of what is listed below is not available in a cardboard box. Instead you must use the modern marvel, the internet, to download the goods. Box nuts need to go to their local store to cop a feel.")
***Vista went RTM on 11-08-06 and hit mainstream availability January 30, 2007. I imagine the growth of the XP section will slow substantially now that Vista is the the primary OS from MS, but we can expect several more years of add-ons and enhancements. In fact, mainstream support for XP runs until 2009 and extended support goes until 2014, per MS.***
I read an article and commentary at http://osnews.com/story.php?news_id=10163 and http://www.freep.com/money/tech/mwendland31e_20050331.htm that got me to thinking yet again about the difference between how XP and X have been updated and upgraded over recent years. I then compare my thoughts to what I read at http://www.unsanity.org/archives/000377.php (brief commentary on this at http://pcnmac.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=293), and I realize once again what a good buy Windows is-- both at the outset and over time. As you can see below, Microsoft has added tons of value to XP since it's release in October, 2001. Some of it may be trivial (WMP skins or desktop images) for some users, but some of it has a real dollar figure attached to it: Windows Defender used to cost $30 when sold by Giant, Windows Desktop Search compares to X1 Search that cost over $75 or Spotlight for OS X that costs $129 with an OS upgrade to Tiger, Services for Unix used to cost $149 (v2), PhotoStory 3 was the main component of a package (Plus!) that cost $30, Lookout used to cost $30, Onfolio used to cost $100, Virtual Server Enterprise Edition used to cost $999, Visual Studio 2005 Standard is $299, Virtual PC 2004 (and now VPC 2007 too) was $129, Expression used to cost $149 when sold by Creature House....it all adds up to a lot of value being provided free...consistently, over a long period of time. Now that XP has passed its 5 year anniversary, I find it safe to say that XP is the best desktop OS ever released for consistency, reliability, value, vendor support, free add-ons...Vista will have a hard time topping XP's total package (message to MS, please leave Vista like XP for the next five years. Five years is better than two for a paid OS upgrade to stay current with the latest and greatest).
***From October 26th, 2006 until March 15th, 2007 one can buy a PC with XP (or a standalone copy of XP) and it will include a free upgrade coupon to the corresponding version of Vista (there is a $10 charge to ship the media, though some resellers like Circuit City are even covering the shipping charge). All coupons must be redeemed by March 31st, 2007.***
Ultimate Extras (only for owners of Vista Ultimate)
SilverLight DreamScene Dusk (Wide and Standard)
DreamScene Content Pack (4 Scenes) (March '07)
DreamScene (1 Scene) (February '07)
Language Packs (15 add-on languages) (February '07)
Bitlocker and EFS Enhancements (January '07)
Hold 'Em Poker Game (January '07)
Sidebar Gadgets
Microsoft Office 2007 Recently Used Documents
Miscellaneous Programs
SUA - Utilities and SDK for Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications in Microsoft Windows Vista
Windows NT Backup - Restore Utility
Experience Pack (Media Transfer, Ink Crossword, Equation Writer, and Ink Flash Cards)
Origami Experience Pack (Origami Experience, Sudoku, and Touch Settings)
Windows Help 1.0 (WinHlp32.exe - legacy help file viewer)
Database Gear
Programming Gear
Development Kits
Windows Movie Maker and Windows DVD Maker SDK
Game Gear
Security Gear
Vista and XP Add-Ons and Updates
Miscellaneous Programs
XML Paper Specification Essentials Pack (follows beta 1 & 2 and RC 1) (XPS Document Viewer, iFilter, iPreview, & XPS Document Writer)
Office Accounting Express 2007 (also available via shipped CD [free])
Office Migration Planning Manager
Windows Easy Transfer (migrate from an XP PC to a Vista PC)
Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) (can be run on XP but used for deploying Vista)
Business Desktop Deployment 2007 (follows v3.0, 2.5, & 2.0)
Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.0 (follows v. 4.1, 4.0, 3.0, 2.6, and 2.0)
User State Migration Tool 3.0 (follows v2.6.1, 2.6, & 2.5)
Threat Analysis & Modeling v2.1.1
Snip IT Add-On for Internet Explorer
Report Viewer Redistributable 2005 SP1
Captions Language Interface Pack
Virtual Earth 3D (Beta v1.1)
Communications Gear
Font Gear
8 Redistributable Fonts (Kootenay, Lindsey, Miramonte Regular, Miramonte Bold, Pericles Light, Pericles Regular, Pescadero Roman, & Pescadero Bold)
3 Fonts (Segoe Light, Regular, & Bold)
Font Properties Extension, version 2.30 (follows v2.1)
Virtualization Gear
Virtual PC 2007 (follows VPC 2004 SP 1 and VPC 2004)
Windows XP Svc Pk 2 w/ IE 6 VHD
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 VHD
Exchange Server 2007 VHD
SQL Server 2005 VHD
Windows Server 2003 R2 VHD
ISA Server 2006 VHD
Visual Studio Code Name "Orcas" -
January CTP VHD
Visual Studio 2005 Team System Basics Training VHD
Database Gear
SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Service Pack 2
SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services Service Pack 2
SQL Server 2005 Express Edition Toolkit Service Pack 2
SQL Server 2005 Management Studio Express Service Pack 2
SQL Server 2005 Best Practices Analyzer February 2007 CTP
Visual FoxPro "Sedna" February 2007 CTP
SQL Server Migration Assistant for Oracle V3.0
SQL Server Database Publishing Wizard 1.1
Programming Gear
XML NotePad 2007 [2.4] (follows v2.3, v2.1, v2006 [2.0], v1.5, and v1.0)
Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition (SP1 for Vista Only)
Visual C# 2005 Express Edition (SP1 for Vista Only)
Visual J# 2005 Express Edition (SP1 for Vista Only)
Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition (SP1 for Vista Only)
Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition (SP1 for Vista Only)
Visual Studio Code Name "Orcas" - March 2007 CTP
Visual C# 2005 Keyboard Shortcut Reference Poster
Visual C++ 2005 Keyboard Shortcut Reference Poster
Visual Basic 2005 Keyboard Shortcut Reference Poster
.NET Compact Framework 2.0 Service Pack 2 Redistributable
Consolas Font Pack for Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 (including Express)
Shared Source Common Language Infrastructure 2.0 Release
Device Emulator 2.0 (run Windows Mobile on your PC) (follows Beta 2 v2 release)
Development Kits
Windows SDK Update for Windows Vista
Windows Mobile 6 SDKs (Standard and Pro)
Visual Studio 2005 SDK version 4.0
MapPoint Web Service SDK version 4.1 (follows v4.0)
Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Applications (VSTA) SDK
Game Gear
Match-Up (XP Compatibility mode required)
Security Gear
Baseline Security Analyzer v2.1 Beta
Data Encryption Toolkit for Mobile PCs
Wallpapers
Silverlight (2 versions and 16 total by size)
Start Button (3 sizes)
Strands (3 sizes)
Windows XP Media Center Edition (13)
Digital Photography Winter Fun Pack 2003 (6)
Dungeon Siege Legends of Arrana (5)
Rise of Nations Thrones & Patriots (6)
Shadowrun (4 x 4 sizes)
Sysinternals Suite (60 Tools & Utilities)
Free Books
Introducing Visual Basic 2005 for Developers (e-book) ($30 in paper) (code used in book)
Introducing ASP.NET 2.0 (e-book) ($30 in paper)
Writing Secure Code, 2nd Edition (e-book) ($40 in paper)
Upgrading Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 to Microsoft Visual Basic .NET (e-book) ($60 in paper)
Microsoft® ASP.NET Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic® .NET Version 2003 Step By Step (e-book) ($40 in paper)
Building Web Solutions with ASP.NET and ADO.NET (e-book) ($60 in paper)
Windows XP Professional Resource Kit (e-book) ($60 in paper)
Microsoft® Windows Server 2003 Deployment Kit: A Microsoft Resource Kit (e-book) ($160 in paper)
Migrating from Windows NT Server 4.0 to Windows Server 2003 (e-book) ($30 in paper)
Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Server Resource Kit (e-book) ($300 in paper)
Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional Resource Kit (e-book) ($70 in paper)
CodeNotes for J# (e-book) ($20 in paper)
Microsoft Windows 2000 Scripting Guide (e-book) ($50 in paper)
Microsoft Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition: Build a Program Now! (e-book) ($17 in paper)
Microsoft Visual C# 2005 Express Edition: Build a Program Now! (e-book) ($17 in paper)
Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition: Build a Web Site Now! (e-book) ($17 in paper)
TCP/IP Fundamentals for Microsoft Windows
First Look 2007 Microsoft Office System
Live Communications Server 2005 SP1: WROX Publishing Pro Guide ($40 in paper)
Total value above: $1040 in free e-books
All Patterns & Practices e-books (43 currently)
Free Training Courses, Clinics, Virtual Labs and Hands On Labs
Visio 2007 Solution Development Workshop
Clinic 2551:
Introduction to Visual Studio Team System ($45 course free)
Course 2924: Building Data Components in Microsoft® Visual Studio® 2005
($99 course free)
Course 2925: Building Managed Code for SQL Server 2005 and Creating SOA Apps
($99 course free)
Course 2926:
Building Windows® Forms Applications with Microsoft® Visual Studio® 2005
($99 course free)
Course 2927: Building Web Applications with ASP.NET 2.0
($99 course free)
Course 2929: Implementing Wizards, Site Navigation, State Management, and
Configuration in ASP.NET 2.0 ($99 course free)
Course 2930: Implementing Master Pages, Personalization, and Web Parts with
ASP.NET 2.0 ($99 course free)
Course 2928: Implementing Data Access and Security in an ASP.NET 2.0 Web
Application
($99 course free)
Course 2936:
Installing and Securing Microsoft® SQL Server 2005 ($99 course free)
Course 2937: Administering and Monitoring Microsoft® SQL Server 2005
($99 course free)
Course 2938: Data Availability Features in Microsoft® SQL Server 2005
($99 course free)
Course 2939: Programming Microsoft® SQL Server 2005
($99 course free)
Course 2940: Building Services and Notifications Using Microsoft® SQL Server
2005 ($99 course free)
Course 2941: Creating the Data Access Tier Using Microsoft® SQL Server 2005 ($99 course free)
Course 2942: New
Features of Microsoft® SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services ($99 course free)
Course 2943: Updating Your Data ETL Skills to Microsoft® SQL Server 2005
Integration Services ($99 course free)
Course 2944: Updating Your Reporting Skills to Microsoft® SQL Server 2005
Reporting Services ($99 course free)
Course 2913: Creating Your First Microsoft® ASP.NET 2.0 Web Application ($45 course free)
Course 4336: Upgrading from Microsoft® Visual Basic® 6.0: Introduction to the Microsoft .NET Framework ($45 course free)
Clinic 2263: Exam Preparation for the MCDST Certification
Visual Studio Hosted Experience Virtual Labs (21 areas featured, dozens and dozens of labs total)
Absolute Beginner's Video Series to Visual Studio 2005 Express Editions (16 Lessons for both VB and C#)
Getting Started with Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition
Dozens of approx. 30-60 minute MS Office Training Courses (typically cover one specific function)
Developing Applications in Visual C# .NET Training CD (downloadable ISO)
Exploring ASP.NET 2.0 Using Visual C# 2005 Training CD (downloadable ISO)
Microsoft ASP.NET Using Visual C# .NET Training CD (downloadable ISO)
Course 2274: Managing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment ($349 course free)
Simplified Data Access with ASP.NET 2.0
Developing Microsoft ASP.NET Web Applications with Visual Studio.NET ($349 course free)
13 XP Video Tutorials for Beginners
Scott Guthrie Looks at ASP.NET 2.0 and Visual Studio 2005
ASP.NET Learning for VB .NET Developers
What's New in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0
What's New in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 Technical course
Clinic 2954: First Look: Microsoft® BizTalk® Server 2006 for Developers
Clinic 2955: First Look: Microsoft® BizTalk® Server 2006 for IT Professionals
Course 2952: Deploying and Managing Microsoft® System Center Data Protection Manager
Clinic 5135 AE: Introduction to Developing with Windows Presentation Foundation
and Visual Studio 2005
Clinic 5136 AE: Introduction to Developing with Windows Workflow Foundation and
Visual Studio 2005
Clinic 5137 AE: Introduction to Developing with Windows Communication Foundation
and Visual Studio 2005
Course 3392: Working with Windows Vista
Course 3404 – What's New in Windows Vista
Course 3036: Getting Started with Microsoft® Small Business Accounting
Course 3037: Managing Customer and Vendor Data with Microsoft® Small Business Accounting
Course 3038: Managing Cash Flow with Microsoft® Small Business Accounting
Course 3039: Reporting and Administering with Microsoft® Small Business Accounting
Course 3040: Managing Business Contacts and Payroll Data with Microsoft® Small Business Accounting
Vista and Office 2007 Hands On Labs and Webcasts
Exchange 2007 Training
Exchange Server 2007:
Installing Exchange Server 2007 Labcast (Level 200)
Virtual Lab Express:
Introduction to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007
Exchange Server 2007: Using
Management Console and Shell Labcast
Exchange Server 2007: Remote
Client Access with Exchange Server 2007 Labcast
Exchange Server 2007:
Compliance and Retention Labcast
Exchange Server 2007: Using
Local Continuous Replication
Exchange Server 2007: Using
Cluster Continuous Replication
Exchange Server 2007:
Configuring an Exchange Server 2007 Edge Server
Forefront Security for Exchange Server
Office Communications Server 2007 Training
BizTalk Server 2006 Training
Clinic 2955: First Look: Microsoft® BizTalk® Server 2006 for IT Professionals
Windows Security Training
Clinic 2801: Microsoft® Security Guidance Training I
Clinic 2802: Microsoft® Security Guidance Training II
Clinic 2803: Microsoft® Security Guidance Training III
Clinic 2804: Microsoft® Security Guidance Training IV
Clinic 2808: Microsoft® Security Guidance Training V
Clinic 2855: Managing Security Enhancements in Windows Server™ 2003 Service Pack
1
Clinic 2806: Microsoft® Security Guidance Training for Developers
Clinic 2807: Microsoft® Security Guidance Training for Developers II
Windows Server 2003 Training
Clinic 4360: Getting Started with Microsoft® Windows Server™ 2003 R2
Clinic 2855: Managing Security Enhancements in Windows Server™ 2003 Service Pack
1
.NET 3.0 Training
Total value above: more than $5000 in free online training available in recent years.
***The main part of this page is contained below and was compiled over about two years showing free add-ons for Windows XP, some Office, some dev software, and some server tools. Some of the material will apply above and be compatible with both Vista and XP and as I have time, I will clean this up.***
XP Add-Ons and Updates (all at zero cost, and many have had numerous iterations; likewise, many items have been deleted from this page as newer versions or replacements were made available)
Miscellaneous Programs
Virtual Server Enterprise Edition R2
Virtual Server Migration Toolkit VSMT
Virtual Server 2005 R2 Management Pack
Windows Update is now up to version 6
Package Installer for Windows version 6.1.22.4
Agent Characters (Genie, Merlin, Peedy, and Robby)
Agent Linguistic Sound Editing Tool
Agent Speech Recognition Engine
Lernout & Hauspie TTS3000 Text to Speech Engines (11 languages: American English, British English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish; Documentation)
Microsoft Agent Core Components
Agent Language Components (29 languages)
MSN Search Toolbar with Windows Desktop Search 2.0 (includes Pop Up Blocker and tabs for IE 6)
Windows Desktop Search 2.6.5 (Enterprise version also available)
FolderShare (share and store up to 2 GB files; unlimited file transfers for quantity or size of files)
MSN Weather Add-in for MSN Search Toolbar
Microsoft USB Flash Drive Manager
Wireless Network Setup Wizard
Remote Desktop Web Connection
Microsoft Partner Pack (includes Play: Super Slyder, Serpentine; Share: PhotoSite AlbumBuilder, Microsoft Time Zone; Protect: Computer Associates eTrust Anti-Virus 2005; Explore: Google Deskbar, Desktop Media Gallery, Onfolio Express; Do More: Post-it Software Notes, PayPal Payment Wizard, and Microsoft USB Flash Drive Manager)
Lookout 1.2.8 (only adds value to XP search if Outlook is
also owned)
Windows Journal Viewer 1.5 (provides access to Tablet PC Journal files)
MSN Spaces (free online storage [500 photos
per month] and blog)
MSN Groups (free 3 MB online storage)
MSN Search (internet search readily available from numerous system points)
MSN
Encarta (free use of Encarta when using MSN Search)
MSN Search Toolbar 1.2 (includes Pop Up Blocker)
Microsoft Plus! Dancer LE
MDAC Utility: Component Checker 2.0
Microsoft Time Zone 2.1.30
MS Windows Memory Tester
Windows XP Service Pack 2 Support Tools (includes 80 tools)
Windows XP Service Pack 2 Deployment Tools
Microsoft Reader 2.1.1 plus
Dictionaries (9) and text to speech
Read in Microsoft Reader (only has value for owners of Word)
Reader Dictionary Authoring Kit
Internet Explorer Web Controls
Keyboard Layout Creator (MSKLC) 1.4 (follows v1.3.4073)
Keyboard Convert Service 1.0
WEFT 3
Port Query UI
Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel v2.0.1.1
Fotovision
ActiveSync 4.5 (follows v 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, 3.8, 3.7.1, 3.7, 3.6, and 3.5)
Windows 2000 Resource Kit Tools (nearly 300 tools)
Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit
Tools (126 tools)
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 Administration Tools Pack
Office 2003 Word Viewer (view, print, and copy document contents to another program)
Office 2007 PowerPoint Viewer (view and print)
Office 2003 Excel Viewer (view, print, and copy document contents to another program)
Office 2007 Visio Viewer (view and print)
Office 2003 Access Snapshot Viewer
Windows Installer 3.1 (follows v3.0 and 2.0 [shipped with XP])
User Profile Hive Cleanup Service
Autoplay Repair Wizard
File Checksum Integrity Verifier
Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) v2.0
SMS Sender for GSM Mobile Phones
Microsoft Research (dozens of downloads)
Microsoft Management Console 3.0
Microsoft Software Inventory Analyzer
Internet Explorer Administration Kit 7 Beta 3
Enterprise Update Scan Tool v3
**Below are updates that have been placed in categories. Though many could fit in different areas, I placed them in the section I thought was the best fit.**
UI Related
IconBuffet Studio Edition Icon Suite
Communications Related
Remote Desktop Connection (Terminal Services Client 6.0)
Outlook Express 6.00.2900.2180
Windows Messenger 5.1
MSN Messenger 7 (since replaced by Live Messenger)
3 Degrees (since replaced by MSN Messenger 7)
Hotmail (upgraded from 2MB to 250MB storage, 10 MB attachments, free anti-virus, and spam controls; 11-17-06 storage expands to 1 GB)
Live Mail (free e-mail service with 2GB storage)
Live Mail Desktop Beta 8.0.0783 (free e-mail service with 2GB storage)
Web Serving Related
IIS Resource Kit Tools (14 tools)
Authentication and Access Control Diagnostics 1.0
ComponentScience WebPlanner 2005
Database Related
SQL Server September 2005 CTP (Enterprise, Standard, Workgroup, or Developer)
SQL Server Web Data Administrator
SQLIO Disk Subsystem Benchmark Tool
Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE 2000) Release A
SQL Server Health and History Tool (SQLH2)
MSDE Web Resource Kit Visual Basic .NET and Web Matrix Version
MSDE Web Resource Kit - C# and Web Matrix Version
Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express CTP Nov 2005
SQL Server 2005 CTP DVD/CD Kit
SQL Server Centric .NET Code Generator (OlyMars)
SQL Server 2005 JDBC Driver Beta 1
Feature Pack for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 - November 2005
SQL Server 2005 Upgrade Advisor- CTP September 2005
SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services
Security Related
Microsoft AntiSpyware (free until at least 07-31-06 [over 1.5 years of free use])
Windows Firewall (replaces Internet Connection Firewall, part of Service Pack 2)
Malicious Software Removal Tool (released monthly beginning January, 2005)
Internet Explorer Pop Up Blocker (part of Service Pack 2)
Security Center (part of Service Pack 2)
Microsoft Security Risk Self-Assessment Tool (MSRSAT)
Microsoft Security Assessment Tool (MSAT)
Microsoft Office Visio 2003 Connector for the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (only has value for Visio owners)
Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit for Windows XP v 1.1
Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer v2
Phishing Filter Add-in for MSN Search Toolbar
Windows Defender v1593 (follows v1592, beta 2 v1347, & beta 1/Microsoft AntiSpyware) (Defender is in Vista and on by default)
Game Gear
Allegiance multiplayer space-combat game
MS Game Advisor and Benchmark Utility
Media Related
Digital Image Starter Edition 2006
Windows Movie Maker 2.1.4026.0 (part of Service Pack 2)
Windows Media 9 codecs (and all older codecs)
Windows Media Player 10.00.00.3646 (MP3 encoding support added)
Microsoft RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer for Windows XP
Ink Art (part of Tablet PC Experience Pack but works on all versions of XP)
MS Creature House Expression 3.3 (free since 06-06 and being replaced by Expression Design [$])
Expression Design Beta 2 (follows Beta 1 and other Acrylic CTPs)
Expression Blend Release Candidate (follows Beta 2, Sparkle CTPs, & Interactive Designer)
Windows Media Bonus Pack for XP
Windows Media Professional Exhibitor Version 3
Windows Media Encoder 9
Producer 2003 (only adds value to PowerPoint owners)
Decades Auto Playlist Pack for WMP
Ratings Migration PowerToy for WMP
Windows Media Audio 9 Professional Channel Mask Mapping Tool
Windows Media Mono to Multichannel Wave Combiner
Windows Media Audio 9 Lossless to PCM Converter
Media Transfer Protocol Porting Kit
Plus! Portable Audio Devices Power Toy
Enterprise Deployment Pack (EDP) for Windows Media Player
Windows XP Video Decoder Checkup Utility
Corbis Image Pack (250 images)
Windows Media ASF Viewer 9 Series
HD DVD Interactivity Jumpstart
Media Encoder Studio Edition Beta 1
Scripting
Do-It-Yourself Script Center Kit
Script Debugger
Script Encoder
Scriptomatic 2.0
Portable Script Center
Windows Script Component Wizard
Thousands of Scripts in VBScript, Perl, Python, Kixtart, Object REXX, and JScript
Microsoft Developer Support OLE File Property Reader 2.0
Windows Script Control 1.0.8825
Programming and Related
User Mode Process Dumper Version 8.1
XNA Framework Redistributable 1.0
Visual Studio 2005 Standard ($299 value)
Microsoft Developer Security DVD
.Net Framework 1.1 (the .Net Framework did not ship with XP at release, but has been included since Service Pack 1)
Visual Basic Language Specification 8.0
Debugging Tools for Windows v6.5.38 (32 & 64 bit Versions)
Kernel Streaming Debugger Extension
Embedded Source Tools for Bluetooth Technology
ASP.NET
ASP.NET Resource Kit v1.1
ASP.NET Web Matrix
.NET Terrarium 1.2 Game Client and Server
Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2 on CD/DVD
Visual Studio .NET Partner Product DVD
Personal Web Starter Kit & here
IronPython 1.0 Beta Release Candidate 2
WinFX Runtime Components Beta1
Web Services Enhancements (WSE) 3.0 for Microsoft .NET 2.0
Web Services Enhancements 2.0 Service Pack 3
Refactor! for Visual Basic 2005 Beta 2
PowerToys for the Visual Studio 2005 Class Designer and Distributed System Designers
Visual Studio Extensions for WinFX Beta 1
Internet Explorer Developer Toolbar Beta 3 (follows Beta, Beta 2)
/n software IP*Works! ADO.NET Data Provideration Verifier 3.2.0038
Product Feedback Mapping Tool 1.0
Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Package
Internet Explorer 7 Readiness Toolkit
Consolas Font Pack for Microsoft Visual Studio 2006
Standalone Device Emuator 1.0 with Windows Mobile OS Images
Virtual Machine Network Driver for Microsoft Device Emulator
MSDN Library (updated regularly: current is May 2006)
Development Kits
SQL Server 2005 Mobile Edition Device SDK
MSXML (Microsoft XML Parser) 3.0 SDK
Windows Desktop Search SDK/API (beta)
Microsoft Speech SDK 5.1 (includes full voice recognition and text-to-speech capabilities for the end user)
Microsoft Office Small Business Accounting 2006 SDK 1.2
Microsoft Component Installer SDK (Spring 2005)
Mobile Application Development Toolkit
Windows Server 2003 SP1 Platform SDK
SharePoint Products and Technologies 2003 SDK
Windows SharePoint Services 2003 SDK
Windows
Media Player 10 SDK
Windows Media Format 9.5 SDK
Windows Media Format 9.5 SDK x64 Edition
Windows Media Device Manager 10 SDK
Windows Media Rights Manager 10 SDK
Windows Media Player 9 Series SDK
Windows Media Format 9 Series SDK
Windows Media Device Manager 9 Series SDK
Windows Media Encoder 9 Series SDK
Windows Media Rights Manager 9 Series SDK
Windows Media Services 9 Series SDK
.NET Framework 2.0 SDK Beta 1 x86 or
x64
WinFX SDK
Microsoft WinFX SDK for "Longhorn" Beta 1 (Windows Vista)
Office 2003 Research Services SDK
Office 2003 Smart Document SDK
Windows Mobile 2003-based Smartphones SDK
Utilities and SDK for UNIX-based Applications
MapPoint Location Server SDK, Version 1.0
MapPoint Web Service SDK, Version 4.0
Rights Management Services Service Pack 1 SDK
Microsoft Office Information Bridge Framework 1.5 SDK
Windows Embedded Introductory Kit
Systems Management Server 2003 SDK v2.0
Software Rasterizer for the Microsoft DirectX 9.0 SDK
Volume Shadow Copy Service SDK 7.2
Display Compatibility Test 5.3
SQL Server 2005 Mobile Edition Device SDK
Component Installer SDK for Windows (x86) Version 2.0
Windows Vista and .Net 3.0 SDK
Windows Mobile 5.0 Developer Resource Kit
Vista Media Center Edition SDK
Service Packs
(generally not very catchy, but mostly underlying
code overhaul and bug & security fixes)
1 (released September 9, 2002)
1a (released February 3, 2003)
2
x86 (released August 6, 2004)
2 x64 (released March 13, 2007)
New Themes
(spruce up the look of XP)
Energy Blue (part of Tablet PC Experience Pack but works on all versions of XP)
Halo
Christmas
2004
Images of
Ireland
Age of Mythology (includes free Windowblinds)
Combat Flight Simulator 3 (includes free Windowblinds)
4 Patas (dogs)
Praias do Brasil (4 beaches)
Ontario
Screen Savers
Images of Ireland
European Union Flags
Hector Protector Button
Windows XP Media Center Edition
Tom Clancys Rainbow Six 3 Black Arrow (2)
XP Power Toys
RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer
Windows XP Fun Packs
Windows Media Player 9 Series Fun Pack
Windows Media Player 9 Series Winter Fun Pack 2003
Windows Media Player 9 Series Spring Fun Pack
Windows Media Player 9 Series Winter Fun Pack
Digital Photography Winter Fun Pack 2003
Windows Movie Maker 2 Creativity Fun Pack (53 sound fx, 8 songs, 14 title slides, 6 title transitions)
Windows Movie Maker Creativity Kit (136 sound fx, 18 sound loops, 26 title slides, 3 video transitions)
Windows Movie Maker 2 Creativity Kit (129 sound fx, 67 title slides)
Windows Movie Maker 2 Winter Fun Pack 2003 (92 sound fx, 7 songs, 10 title slides, 8 animations)
Digital Video with Windows Movie Maker 2 Winter Fun Pack (48 sound fx, 8 songs, 10 title transitions)
Windows XP Creativity Fun Pack for Windows Movie Maker 2: Audio (50 sound fx)
Windows XP Creativity Fun Pack for Digital Photography and Web Browsing
Windows Media Player Skins (Windows Media Player 10 SDK allows you to make your own)
Main Repository of Skins and
here (186 skins as
of 06-29-05)
24 - Season 3
Age of Mythology
Alien
Alienware Teleport
All That You Can't Leave Behind
Amped 2
Anemone
Anime
AOE
Back to the Future Trilogy
BioMechanical
Black Me
Blinx
Blue Crush
BlueGrid
Blue Machine
BoA Kwon
Bowie Hits
Brute Force
Busted
Cablemusic
Cadmus Bubbles
Catwoman
Cerulean
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle
Chunky Kustard
Circle
Circulus
Classix Player - DSB
Claw
Color Chooser
Combat Flight Simulator 3v1
Combat Flight Simulator 3v2
Constantine
Craig David
Crystal Ball
Crystal WMP
Deep Blue Something
'Delic Skin
Digital DJ
Dimension Media Player
DreamCatcher
Ducky
Eclipse
Elvis
Erektorset
Fairy and Apple
Falstaff Expanded
Frostbite
Futurama
Gadget
GearMan
Geri Halliwell
Gingerbread Man
Gingerbread Woman
Glow
Gnome
Gold
Goo
Gorillaz
Half Life 2
Halloween
Halo 2
Harry Potter
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
HearItFirst.com
I, Robot
Ice
iMusica
iRiver
Israel
Izdata
Kenwood KDC-X959
Kids
Kung Fu Chaos
Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life
Last Samurai
Livin' It
Lollapalooza 2003
Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth
Machine Color Pack
Main Street
Man on Fire
McAlmont & Butler
MechAssault
Melvin
MicroPlayer
Military
Millennium
Miller Genuine Draft
MiniSkin
Modern Blue
Molecula
MSN
Music Mixer
Nautical
Neuxs
Nicole Saba
NV
Ocean
Penguin
PenKnife
Pharaoh
Pick Me
Pioneer AVIC-N1
Player One
Plus! The Bionic Dot LE
Pod
Polygon
Portals
Press the Green Button
Primitive
Project GSI
Project: Snowblind
Quantum Redshift
QuickSilver
RAD
Radio
Raptor
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Resident Evil
Robbie Williams
Roxette
Science
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
Secura
Shex
Silver Player
Simmish
SleekMP
SleekMP v2
SleekMP v3
Slim LCD
Smart Display Blue
Smart Display Silver
Spider
Spider-Man
Splat
Splinter Cell
Sports
Spring Flower
Starsailor
Stealth
Sugababes
TCM Camera
TCM City
TDK Digital MixMaster
Television
Terminator 3
The Girl Next Door
The Sentinel
The Stick
The Stick v2
The Thing
The Unit
The War of the Worlds
To End All Wars
Toothy
Tube Frame
United States Air Force
United States Army
United States Coast Guard
United States Marine Corps
United States Navy
Ursula
Valentine's Day
War Dog
Weeplayer
Wild Well Control
Windows XP Media Center Edition (3 skins)
World Wrestling Network
Xbox
Xbox Live
XSN Sports
X-Steel
xXx
Zen Garden
Zero Bar
Windows Media Player Visualizations
Main Repository for Visualizations
Animator
Barr
Blazing Colors
Color Cubes
Creativity Fun Pack for MP9S
Dungeon Siege
Energy Bliss
Flashes
G-Force
Grind
Home of the Brave
Ice Storm
Kris the Holiday Elf
Looney Tunes
MuseOn: Music Detection
Phthalo's Corona
Picture Viz I
Picture Viz II
Pulsing Colors
Softie the Snowman II
SonicSelector
Star Time
Terminator III
Trilogy I
Trilogy II
Trilogy III
Twisted Pixel
Whitecap
WhiteCap Holiday Edition
Windows Media 9 Series Viz for Windows XP
Windows Media Bonus Pack for Windows XP
WMPKaraoke Plug-in
Messenger Icons
Crimson Skies High Road to Revenge (4)
Messenger Theme Packs
Live Services and Programs (all free)
Encarta Premium Online Encyclopedia
MSN Spaces (blogging/web hosting/photo sharing)
MSN Groups (web hosting)
MSN Hotmail (1 GB e-mail storage, address book, and calendar)
Office Live (free domain name, 25 two GB e-mail accounts, and 500 MB online web storage)
Live Mail (2 GB e-mail storage)
Games for Windows Live (Silver level is free, Gold is a pay service; launches 05-07)
What has apparently stayed the same since release (though much of XP was recompiled for Service Pack 2)
Windows Explorer
WordPad
Notepad
Backup (SyncToy has been added however)
Synchronize (though ActiveSync has been updated many times, now up to v4.2)
Paint (Acrylic/Expression has been added however)
Calculator (though MS now provides two new separate calculators listed above)
Address Book
Fax Services
Character Map
Disk Defragmenter
Disk Cleanup
System Info
System Restore
Scheduled Tasks
Sound Recorder
Netmeeting
HyperTerminal
Remote Desktop (updated w/ Svc Pk 1 and Remote Desktop Web Connection was added)
Remote Assistance
Magnifier
Narrator
On Screen Keyboard
Font Management
IIS 5.1 (XP Pro x64 now has IIS 6 however)
What came on default XP install in October 2001 (that has since been updated and the new versions are listed above)
MSN Explorer 6.10.16.1624
Internet Explorer 6.0.2600.0
Outlook Express 6.00.2600.0
Movie Maker 1.1.2427.0
Windows Media Player 8.00.00.4477
Windows Messenger 4.0
DirectX 8.1
Internet Connection Firewall (became Windows Firewall with Service Pack 2)
Released free on CD/DVD via no charge mailings
Vista Business ($299 value) (free by watching/participating in three training videos and/or hands on labs) (open to the public)
Office 2007 Pro ($499 value) (free by watching/participating in three training videos and/or hands on labs) (open to the public)
Office 2007 Pro ($499 value) and Groove 2007 ($229 value) free by attending MS Launch events held all over the world (open to the public)
Visual Studio 2005 Standard ($299 value) and Microsoft Developer Security DVD (free via watching some training videos) (and here)(open to the public)
October 2003 Security Update CD (I don't have one of these CDs at hand to view the contents but my understanding is it had everything the same as the February 2004 CD except for the Computer Associates one year free Anti-Virus and Firewall software) (open to the public)
February 2004 Security Update CD (included DirectX 9.0b, XP Service Pack 1a, Windows Media Player 9, MDAC 2.8, and Computer Associates EZ Armor Anti-Virus and Firewall Bundle [one free year of updates]. This CD was mailed free of charge from February, 2004 until the release of Service Pack 2 in August, 2004) (open to the public)
Do Amazing Things DVD (included DirectX 9.0b, XP Service Pack 1a, Windows Media Player 9 and its PowerToys, WMP 9 Codecs, Bliss Screen Saver, Windows 3d Logo Screen Saver, Windows Winter Fun Pack Screen Savers, XP Power Toys, Windows Movie Maker 2, and Windows Movie Maker 2 Creativity Kit) (this DVD is available at thousands of retailers like Circuit City) (open to the public)
Windows XP Service Pack 2 CD (includes .Net 1.1 Framework) (mailed at no cost from August 2004 until ...[still shipping as of July, 2005]) (open to the public)
Visual Basic .Net Standard Version 2003 (included Internet Explorer 6 Svc Pk 1, .Net 1.1 Framework, J# Framework 1.1, MDAC 2.7, Windows Installer 2.0, and the MSDN Library) (free via watching some training videos or here or here) (open to the public)
Visual Basic Resource Kit CD (what's included) (open to the public)
Visual Studio 2005 Beta 2 on CD/DVD (includes Visual Studio 2005 Tools for the Microsoft Office System, Visual SourceSafe 2005, and SQL Server 2005) (open to the public)
SQL Server 2005 CTP DVD/CD Kit (open to the public)
Visual Studio .NET Partner Product DVD (free DVD includes 67 tools, components, and languages from Visual Studio Industry Partners valued at over $2400 for the full versions that are on the DVD) (the complete list of included materials can be viewed here) (open to the public)
Office Accounting 2007 Express CD (also available via download) (open to the public)
Vista Beta 2 DVD ISO download (Vista has had numerous iterations available as free beta and release candidate downloads. For those that don't have the bandwidth, it was made available on a shipped DVD for $10) (open to the public)
If you own a 64 bit extended CPU from AMD or Intel, Microsoft also provided a $12 upgrade to Windows XP Pro x64 for current license owners of XP Pro (this also applied to Server 2003 owners). An all new OS, built on the Windows 2003 kernel, for a $12 shipping charge. Likewise, owners of Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and Windows XP Media Center Edition have also gotten all new versions since inception for free. I see a theme here; Microsoft keeps giving substantial updates and upgrades away at zero cost. Compare that to the norm on the Mac side, paid upgrades annually (9 in 8 years) (with some updates mixed in), and you see that owning Macs gets very expensive if you would like to have all of the latest bells and whistles.
It is night and day folks: MS, buy once and get five years of consistent updates at no cost. Apple, buy annually to get some nice enhancements but at a huge cost. Apple could learn from MS, and I hope MS continues this trend after Vista ships (take note of how infrequently users want to pay to update by looking back at the large numbers of people that have stayed on NT 4 and Windows 2000 even after substantially better products were released). Better is not always "better". Lower cost is of supreme importance to many people and is therefore better.