Beta version compiled with -DWINVER=0x0500

Hi there,

When compiled with options -D_WIN32_WINNT=0x0500 -D_WIN32_IE=0x0400 -DWINVER=0x0500,
why there is NOTE message as "Windows NT 5.0 beta 1 and Windows 98 beta 2.1 were the current versions",
even Visual Studio Service pack 5 was applied? What does the note mean: beta?

Code:

        cl -Ox -c -W3 -DCRTAPI1=_cdecl -DCRTAPI2=_cdecl -nologo -D_X86_=1 -D_WINNT 
-D_WIN32_WINNT=0x0500 -D_WIN32_IE=0x0400 -DWINVER=0x0500 -DWIN32  -D_WIN32 util.c

NOTE: WINVER has been defined as 0x0500 or greater which enables
Windows NT 5.0 and Windows 98 features. When these headers were released,
Windows NT 5.0 beta 1 and Windows 98 beta 2.1 were the current versions.

For this release when WINVER is defined as 0x0500 or greater, you can only
build beta or test applications.  To build a retail application,
set WINVER to 0x0400 or visit http://www.microsoft.com/msdn/sdk
to see if retail Windows NT 5.0 or Windows 98 headers are available.

Thanks,

it means that you're using a 10 year old compiler and runtime library to compile your programs which were released before Windows 98 and Windows 2000 were released.

Even it was upgrade to Visual Studio service pack 5?

Thanks,

vc6 is an old compiler. Given that microsoft have released both vc2003 toolkit and their 2005 c++ express products for free, there seems to be little reason not to upgrade, unless your hardware/software is a restriction.

If you favour a non-microsoft compiler then the MinGW port of gcc is very good; dev-cpp is a popular ide for it and code::blocks seems to be growing in popularity as an ide, too.