3 ms·

The Windows 11 installer is basically Windows 7 for the first part too, though this might be changing soon.

userbinator 3y ago
I'm not sure about 2K and before, but starting with XP all of the NT-based Windows use some version of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Preinstallation_Environment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Preinstallation_Enviro... for their installer.
- EvanAnderson 3y ago
  Windows 2000, 2003, and XP still used a lot of the install components from earlier NT versions. Vista was the first incarnation of the "modern" Windows setup that we still use today. PE was built using XP but the XP installer was mostly the NT installer (text mode then Mini-Windows).
- Dalewyn 3y ago
  As mentioned already by a sibling commenter, installers for NT4 through XP/2003 were all based off earlier NT installers with text mode and all. WinPE has its roots in NT5.1 (XP), but it was from NT6.0 (Vista) that we got the "modern" installer, and it last saw a UI overhaul during NT6.1 (7). Throughout 8 through 11 so far, the first part of the installer was and is basically Windows 7. The screenshot[1] of WinPE 10.0 on that Wikipedia article showcases the Windows Basic[2] theme in all its glory, including even the Windows 7 and prior Task Manager. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Windows_PE_screenshot.png https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Windows_PE_screenshot.png [2]: https://betawiki.net/wiki/Windows_Basic https://betawiki.net/wiki/Windows_Basic
p_l 3y ago
It's just little changed in theme/resource files, it boots straight to windows 11 for installer. Before Vista, the installer process on NT had three phases: 1. Optional DOS phase to bring minimal NTLDR environment up 2. "Micro" NT without Win32 API that ran only NTAPI (NE format executables et al) applications in the minimal console support (with the characteristic default of white on blue). This would do equivalent of "minimal install" on unices to the target disk, setting up proper HAL.DLL, boot time drivers, and setting up registry hives. 3. GUI installer that booted from hard disk with Win32 subsystem enabled.

I'm not sure about 2K and before, but starting with XP all of the NT-based Windows use some version of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Preinstallation_Environment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Preinstallation_Enviro... for their installer.

EvanAnderson 3y ago
Windows 2000, 2003, and XP still used a lot of the install components from earlier NT versions. Vista was the first incarnation of the "modern" Windows setup that we still use today. PE was built using XP but the XP installer was mostly the NT installer (text mode then Mini-Windows).
Dalewyn 3y ago
As mentioned already by a sibling commenter, installers for NT4 through XP/2003 were all based off earlier NT installers with text mode and all. WinPE has its roots in NT5.1 (XP), but it was from NT6.0 (Vista) that we got the "modern" installer, and it last saw a UI overhaul during NT6.1 (7). Throughout 8 through 11 so far, the first part of the installer was and is basically Windows 7. The screenshot[1] of WinPE 10.0 on that Wikipedia article showcases the Windows Basic[2] theme in all its glory, including even the Windows 7 and prior Task Manager. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Windows_PE_screenshot.png https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Windows_PE_screenshot.png [2]: https://betawiki.net/wiki/Windows_Basic https://betawiki.net/wiki/Windows_Basic

p_l 3y ago

It's just little changed in theme/resource files, it boots straight to windows 11 for installer. Before Vista, the installer process on NT had three phases: 1. Optional DOS phase to bring minimal NTLDR environment up 2. "Micro" NT without Win32 API that ran only NTAPI (NE format executables et al) applications in the minimal console support (with the characteristic default of white on blue). This would do equivalent of "minimal install" on unices to the target disk, setting up proper HAL.DLL, boot time drivers, and setting up registry hives. 3. GUI installer that booted from hard disk with Win32 subsystem enabled.