Multiple Projects Focused on Reloading Pre-Windows Vista Longhorn

Longhorn Reloaded is not the only project focused on resurrecting the initial concept of the Microsoft operating system abandoned by the company back in 2004 for Windows Vista. Three years ago, the Redmond Company introduced a series of alterations to its Longhorn development project and reset the operating system starting on the way to Vista. However, Microsoft move was not welcomed by all users and by 2004 Longhorn had gathered a consistent pool of supporters.

Consequently, seven enthusiast developers known as the Joejoe group, have formed the core Longhorn Reloaded team and announced at the end of 2006 that they will be bringing Longhorn back to life. The Joejoe group dug the pre-release Build 4074 of Longhorn out of the Windows beta graveyard and began hammering away at the code in order to produce Microsoft's original vision. And at the end of the past week Jemaho, (JeanMarie Houvenaghel), founder of Joejoe and leader of Longhorn Reloaded revealed that the team had managed to achieve Milestone 1 of Longhorn Reloaded.

Following the Milestone 1 stage, Longhorn Reloaded was released to the general public and is now available for download. Microsoft has not commented on the project specifically, but it stated that no outside parties could modify and redistribute the Redmond Company's code. Still, Longhorn Reloaded is not the only project reminiscent of a pre-Vista era. The Vista Customization Square - Retrophase project from AeroXP focuses on a similar initiative.

"Is there hope out there for Longhorn fans? Yes! Incubating in our very forums is a project called "Retrophase". Think the reverse of "Longhorn Reloaded". Instead of bringing Windows Vista capabilities to the rotting Longhorn 4074 platform, the community is bringing Longhorn goodness to the shiny new Windows Vista platform. You can find more on this project and customization of Windows Vista in general by checking out our Windows Vista Customization Square," revealed a member of AeroXP.

The Retrophase project was birthed back in June 2006, and as such it pre-dates Longhorn Reloaded, but it plans to deliver the Longhorn experience to Windows Vista rather than resurrecting abandonware. "The general outline of this project is to duplicate the 40xx experience as fully as possible on Windows Vista Beta 2, since the community will be stuck with this build for a while. This project will bring together the three kinds of developers here at AXP: gadget developers, skinners, and application developers," reads a fragment of the Retrophase's description.