Windows XP
(Part of the Microsoft Windows family)
Screenshot
Screenshot of Windows XP Service Pack 3
Developer
Microsoft
Web site: Windows XP: Homepage
Release information
Release date:	October 25, 2001 info
Current version:	5. Microsoft Windows is a series of Software Operating systems and Graphical user interfaces produced by Microsoft. Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. 1. 2600. 5512 Service Pack 3 (x86 SP3), April 21, 2008 info
Source model:	Closed source, Shared source
License:	MS-EULA
Kernel type:	Hybrid kernel
Platform support:	x86, x86-64, IA-64
Support status
Mainstream support (only with Service Pack 2 and 3)[1]
Further reading
Windows XP editions Features new to Windows XP Development of Windows XP Criticism of Windows XP

Windows XP is a line of operating systems developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, and media centers. Events 753 BC - Romulus and Remus found Rome ( traditional date) 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Proprietary software is Computer software on which the producer has set restrictions on use private modification copying, or republishing. Shared Source is Microsoft 's framework for sharing Computer program Source code with third parties A software license (or software licence in commonwealth usage is a Legal instrument governing the usage or redistribution of copyright protected software Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational Computer technology Corporation, which rose to dominate the Home computer In Computer science, the kernel is the central component of most computer Operating systems (OS Hybrid kernel is a kernel architecture based on combining aspects of Microkernel and Monolithic kernel architectures used in Computer In Computing, a platform describes some sort of Hardware architecture or Software framework (including Application frameworks, that allows See also X86 assembly language The generic term x86 refers to the most commercially successful Instruction set architecture in the history of Personal x86-64 is a Superset of the x86 instruction set architecture. Itanium is the brand name for 64-bit Intel Microprocessors that implement the Intel Itanium architecture (formerly called IA-64) Windows XP has been released in several editions since its original release in 2001 Windows XP has many features not found in previous versions of Windows Development of Windows XP started in 1999 in the form of Windows Neptune. For criticism applying to several or all versions of Microsoft Windows, see Criticism of Microsoft Windows. An operating system (commonly abbreviated OS and O/S) is the software component of a Computer system that is responsible for the management and coordination Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational Computer technology Corporation, which rose to dominate the Home computer A personal computer ( PC) is any Computer whose original sales price size and capabilities make it useful for individuals and which is intended to be operated A laptop computer, also known as a notebook computer, is a small Personal computer designed for mobile use. The term media center refers either to a dedicated Computer appliance or to a specialized Personal computer Software, both of which are adapted for The name "XP" stands for eXPerience. ^[2] Windows XP is the successor to both Windows 2000 Professional and Windows Me, and is the first consumer-oriented operating system produced by Microsoft to be built on the Windows NT kernel (version 5. Windows 2000 (also referred to as Win2K) is a preemptive, interruptible graphical and business-oriented Operating system designed to work with Windows Millennium Edition, or Windows Me (IPA pronunciation, iː is a hybrid 16-bit / 32-bit graphical Operating system released on 14 September Windows NT is a family of Operating systems produced by Microsoft, the first version of which was released in July 1993 In Computer science, the kernel is the central component of most computer Operating systems (OS 1) and architecture. Windows NT 31, Windows NT 35, Windows NT 351, Windows NT 40, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Windows XP was first released on October 25, 2001, and over 400 million copies were in use in January 2006, according to an estimate in that month by an IDC analyst. Events 1147 - The Portuguese, under Afonso I, and Crusaders from England and Flanders conquer Lisbon after a Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. January 2006: ← - January - February - March - April - May - June - July International Data Corporation ( IDC) is a Market research and analysis firm specializing in Information technology, Telecommunications and consumer ^[3] It is succeeded by Windows Vista, which was released to volume license customers on November 8, 2006, and worldwide to the general public on January 30, 2007. Windows Vista (ˈvɪstə is a line of Operating systems developed by Microsoft for use on Personal computers including home and business desktops Events 1519 - Hernán Cortés enters Tenochtitlán and Aztec ruler Moctezuma welcomes him with great a Celebration Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

The most common editions of the operating system are Windows XP Home Edition, which is targeted at home users, and Windows XP Professional, which has additional features such as support for Windows Server domains and two physical processors, and is targeted at power users and business clients. A Windows Server domain is a logical group of computers running versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system that share a central directory database In Computing, symmetric multiprocessing or SMP involves a Multiprocessor computer-architecture where two or more identical processors can connect to a single Windows XP Media Center Edition has additional multimedia features enhancing the ability to record and watch TV shows, view DVD movies, and listen to music. Windows XP has been released in several editions since its original release in 2001 Windows XP Tablet PC Edition is designed to run ink-aware applications built using the Tablet PC platform. Windows XP has been released in several editions since its original release in 2001 A Tablet PC is a Notebook or slate-shaped Mobile computer, equipped with a Touchscreen or Graphics tablet/screen hybrid technology which allows Two separate 64-bit versions of Windows XP were also released, Windows XP 64-bit Edition for IA-64 (Itanium) processors and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition for x86-64. '64-bit' CPUs have existed in Supercomputers since the 1960s and in RISC -based workstations and servers since the early 1990s. Windows XP has been released in several editions since its original release in 2001 Itanium is the brand name for 64-bit Intel Microprocessors that implement the Intel Itanium architecture (formerly called IA-64) Itanium is the brand name for 64-bit Intel Microprocessors that implement the Intel Itanium architecture (formerly called IA-64) Windows XP has been released in several editions since its original release in 2001 x86-64 is a Superset of the x86 instruction set architecture.

Windows XP is known for its improved stability and efficiency over the 9x versions of Microsoft Windows. Windows 9x is the family of Microsoft Windows Operating systems that comprises the hybrid 16/32-bit Windows versions Windows 95, Windows 98 Microsoft Windows is a series of Software Operating systems and Graphical user interfaces produced by Microsoft. It presents a significantly redesigned graphical user interface, a change Microsoft promoted as more user-friendly than previous versions of Windows. New software management capabilities were introduced to avoid the "DLL hell" that plagued older consumer-oriented 9x versions of Windows. In Computing, DLL hell is a colloquial term for the complications that arise when working with dynamic link libraries, (DLLs used with Microsoft Windows It is also the first version of Windows to use product activation to combat software piracy, a restriction that did not sit well with some users and privacy advocates. Product activation is a license validation procedure required by some proprietary Computer Software programs The Copyright infringement of Software (also known as software piracy) refers to several practices which involve the unauthorized copying of computer Windows XP has also been criticized by some users for security vulnerabilities, tight integration of applications such as Internet Explorer 6 and Windows Media Player, and for aspects of its default user interface. Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 (commonly abbreviated to IE6 is a graphical Web browser developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Later versions with Service Pack 2, and Internet Explorer 7 addressed some of these concerns.

During development, the project was codenamed "Whistler", after Whistler, British Columbia, as many Microsoft employees skied at the Whistler-Blackcomb ski resort. Microsoft codenames are the Codenames given by Microsoft to products it has in development before these products are given the names by which they appear on store Whistler is a Resort town in the southern Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in British Columbia British Columbia (ˌbrɪtɨʃ kəˈlʌmbiə ( BC) ( (la Colombie-Britannique C Snow skiing is a group of sports utilizing Skis as primary equipment ^[4]

Editions

Main article: Windows XP editions

Diagram representing the main editions of Windows XP. Windows XP has been released in several editions since its original release in 2001 It is based on the category of the edition (grey) and codebase (black arrow).

The two major editions are Windows XP Home Edition, designed for home users, and Windows XP Professional, designed for business and power-users. These releases were made available at retail outlets that sell computer software, and were pre-installed on computers sold by major computer manufacturers. As of mid-2008, both editions continue to be sold. A third edition, called Windows XP Media Center Edition was introduced in 2002 and was updated every year until 2006 to incorporate new digital media, broadcast television and Media Center Extender capabilities. Unlike the Home and Professional edition, it was never made available for retail purchase, and was typically either sold through OEM channels, or was pre-installed on computers that were typically marketed as "media center PCs". An original equipment manufacturer, or OEM is typically a company that uses a component made by a second company in its own product or sells the product of the second company

Two different 64-bit editions were made available, one designed specifically for Itanium-based workstations, which was introduced in 2001 around the same time as the Home and Professional editions, but was discontinued a few years later when vendors of Itanium hardware stopped selling workstation-class machines due to low sales. The other, called Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, supports the x86-64 extension of the Intel IA-32 architecture. x86-64 is implemented by AMD as "AMD64", found in AMD's Opteron and Athlon 64 chips, and implemented by Intel as "Intel 64" (formerly known as IA-32e and EM64T), found in Intel's Pentium 4 and later chips. The Opteron is AMD 's X86 server processor line and was the first processor to implement the AMD64 Instruction set architecture (known The Athlon 64 is an eighth-generation AMD64 architecture Microprocessor produced by AMD, released on The Pentium 4 brand refers to Intel 's line of single- core mainstream desktop and Laptop Central processing units (CPUs introduced

Internet Explorer 6 running in Windows XP Tablet PC Edition.

Windows XP Tablet PC Edition was produced for a class of specially-designed notebook/laptop computers called tablet PCs. A Tablet PC is a Notebook or slate-shaped Mobile computer, equipped with a Touchscreen or Graphics tablet/screen hybrid technology which allows It is compatible with a pen-sensitive screen, supporting handwritten notes and portrait-oriented screens.

Windows XP Starter Edition is a lower-cost edition of Windows XP available in Thailand, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Russia, India, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Mexico, Ecuador, Uruguay and Venezuela. The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. The Republic of Bolivia (República de Bolivia) named after Simón Bolívar, is a Landlocked country in central South America. Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Ecuador topics. Uruguay.(official full name in República Oriental del Uruguay;, Oriental Republic of Uruguay) is a country located in the southeastern part of South America Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the It is similar to Windows XP Home, but is limited to low-end hardware, can only run 3 programs at a time, and has some other features either removed or disabled by default. Each country's edition is also customized for that country, including desktop backgrounds of popular locations, localized help features for those who may not speak English, and other default settings designed for easier use than typical Windows XP installations. In Computing, Internationalization and localization (also spelled internationalisation and localisation, see spelling differences) are means of adapting The Malaysian version, for example, contains a desktop background of the Kuala Lumpur skyline. Kuala Lumpur (ˈkwɑːləlʊmˈpʊər Malay /kwɑlɑlʊmpʊ/ and locally /kwɑləlʊmpɔ/ or even /kɔlɔmpɔ/ or often abbreviated as K ^[5]

Microsoft also released Windows XP Embedded, an edition for specific consumer electronics, set-top boxes, kiosks/ATMs, medical devices, arcade video games, point-of-sale terminals, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) components. Windows XP has been released in several editions since its original release in 2001 A set-top box (STB or set-top unit (STU is a device that connects to a Television and an external source of signal, turning the signal into Voice-over-Internet protocol ( VoIP, vɔɪp is a protocol optimized for the transmission of voice through the Internet In July 2006, Microsoft released Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs, a version of Windows XP Embedded which targets older machines (as early as the original Pentium). Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs (" WinFLP " is a Thin client Operating system from Microsoft, based on Windows XP Embedded It is only available to Software Assurance customers. Microsoft Software Assurance (SA is a Microsoft maintenance program aimed at business users who use Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, and other server and desktop It is intended for corporate customers who would like to upgrade to Windows XP to take advantage of its security and management capabilities, but can't afford to purchase new hardware.

Editions for European and Korean markets

In March 2004, the European Commission fined Microsoft €497 million (US$603 million) and ordered the company to provide a version of Windows without Windows Media Player. The European Commission (formally the Commission of the European Communities) is the executive branch of the European Union. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been Windows Media Player ( WMP) is a digital media player and media library application developed by Microsoft that is used for playing The Commission concluded that Microsoft "broke European Union competition law by leveraging its near monopoly in the market for PC operating systems onto the markets for work group server operating systems and for media players". The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in In Economics, a monopoly (from Greek monos, alone or single + polein, to sell exists when a specific individual or enterprise has sufficient A server is a Computer dedicated to providing one or more services over a computer network typically through a request-response routine After unsuccessful appeals in 2004 and 2005, Microsoft reached an agreement with the Commission where it would release a court-compliant version, Windows XP Edition N. This version does not include the company's Windows Media Player but instead encourages users to pick and download their own media player. Microsoft wanted to call this version Reduced Media Edition, but EU regulators objected and suggested the Edition N name, with the N signifying "not with Media Player" for both Home and Professional editions of Windows XP. Due to the fact that it is sold at the same price as the version with Windows Media Player included, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo and Fujitsu Siemens have chosen not to stock the product. The multinational technology company Dell Inc develops manufactures sells and supports Personal computers and other computer-related products Lenovo Group Limited (,) is China's largest and the world's fourth largest Personal computer manufacturer after Hewlett-Packard and Dell of the U Fujitsu Siemens Computers Inc is a Japanese and German IT vendor, selling consumer and business computing products in the markets of Europe However, Dell did offer the operating system for a short time. Consumer interest has been low, with roughly 1,500 units shipped to OEMs, and no reported sales to consumers. An original equipment manufacturer, or OEM is typically a company that uses a component made by a second company in its own product or sells the product of the second company ^[6][7][8][9]

In December 2005, the Korean Fair Trade Commission ordered Microsoft to make available editions of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 that do not contain Windows Media Player or Windows Messenger. The Korea Fair Trade Commission ( KFTC) is South Korea's regulatory authority for economic Competition. Windows Server 2003 (also referred to as Win2K3 is a server Operating system produced by Microsoft. Windows Media Player ( WMP) is a digital media player and media library application developed by Microsoft that is used for playing Windows Messenger is a proprietary Instant messaging client by Microsoft that is included in the Windows XP Operating system ^[10] Like the European Commission decision, this decision was based on the grounds that Microsoft had abused its dominant position in the market to push other products onto consumers. Unlike that decision, however, Microsoft was also forced to withdraw the non-compliant versions of Windows from the South Korean market. This decision resulted in Microsoft's releasing "K" and "KN" variants of the Home and Professional editions in August 2006.

Languages

Windows XP is available in many different languages. ^[11] In addition, MUI packs and Language Interface Packs translating the user interface are also available for certain languages. Multilingual User Interface ( MUI) is the name of a Microsoft technology for Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office and other applications that In Microsoft terminology a Language Interface Pack (LIP is a localized skin for localizing software in emerging or minority language markets such as Catalan Lithuanian ^[12][13]

New and updated features

Main article: Features new to Windows XP

Windows XP introduced several new features to the Windows line, including:

• Faster start-up and hibernation sequences
• The ability to discard a newer device driver in favour of the previous one (known as driver rollback), should a driver upgrade not produce desirable results
• A new, arguably more user-friendly interface, including the framework for developing themes for the desktop environment
• Fast user switching, which allows a user to save the current state and open applications of their desktop and allow another user to log on without losing that information
• The ClearType font rendering mechanism, which is designed to improve text readability on Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and similar monitors
• Remote Desktop functionality, which allows users to connect to a computer running Windows XP from across a network or the Internet and access their applications, files, printers, and devices
• Support for most DSL modems and wireless network connections, as well as networking over FireWire, and Bluetooth. Windows XP has many features not found in previous versions of Windows Hibernate is a feature seen in many Operating systems where the contents of RAM is written to Non-volatile storage, such as the Hard disk (as In computing a device driver or software driver is a Computer program allowing higher-level computer programs to interact with a Hardware device Fast user switching is a feature on some modern Multi-user Operating systems such as Windows XP, ClearType is the Microsoft implementation of Subpixel rendering technology aiming to improve the appearance of text on certain types of Computer display The Internet is a global system of interconnected Computer networks IEEE 80211 is a set of standards for wireless local area network (WLAN computer communication developed by the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee ( IEEE 802 The IEEE 1394 interface is a serial bus Interface standard for high-speed communications and Isochronous real-time data transfer frequently Bluetooth is a wireless protocol utilizing short-range communications technology facilitating data transmission over short distances from fixed and/or mobile devices creating wireless

User interface

Windows XP themes

Default Blue (Luna)	Windows Classic
XP Royale	The new start menu design in the "Royale" theme.

The "task grouping" feature introduced in Windows XP

Windows XP features a new task-based graphical user interface. The Start menu and search capability were redesigned and many visual effects were added, including:

• A translucent blue selection rectangle in Explorer
• Drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop
• Task-based sidebars in Explorer windows ("common tasks")
• The ability to group the taskbar buttons of the windows of one application into one button
• The ability to lock the taskbar and other toolbars to prevent accidental changes
• The highlighting of recently added programs on the Start menu
• Shadows under menus (Windows 2000 had shadows under mouse pointers, but not menus)

Windows XP analyzes the performance impact of visual effects and uses this to determine whether to enable them, so as to prevent the new functionality from consuming excessive additional processing overhead. Windows indexing service is a service in the Windows NT (Separately in free Windows NT Option Pack Windows 2000 and later Windows NT -family of operating Users can further customize these settings. ^[14] Some effects, such as alpha blending (transparency and fading), are handled entirely by many newer video cards. In Computer graphics, alpha compositing is the process of combining an image with a background to create the appearance of partial transparency However, if the video card is not capable of hardware alpha blending, performance can be substantially hurt, and Microsoft recommends the feature should be turned off manually. ^[15] Windows XP adds the ability for Windows to use "Visual Styles" to change the user interface. However, visual styles must be cryptographically signed by Microsoft to run. Luna is the name of the new visual style that ships with Windows XP, and is enabled by default for machines with more than 64 MiB of video RAM. Luna is the codename for the default visual theme of Windows XP. A mebibyte (a contraction of me ga bi nary byte) is a unit of Information or Computer storage, abbreviated MiB. Luna refers only to one particular visual style, not to all of the new user interface features of Windows XP as a whole. Some users "patch" the uxtheme. dll file that restricts the ability to use visual styles, created by the general public or the user, on Windows XP.

In addition to the included Windows XP themes, there is one previously unreleased theme with a dark blue taskbar and window bars similar to Windows Vista titled "Royale Noir" available for download, albeit unofficially. ^[16] Microsoft officially released a modified version of this theme as the "Zune" theme, to celebrate the launch of its Zune portable media player in November 2006. The differences are only visual with a black taskbar instead of dark blue and an orange start button (instead of very dark blue). ^[17] Additionally, the Media Center "Royale" theme, which was included in the Media Center editions, is also available to download for use on all Windows XP editions. ^[18] It also shipped with New Zealand editions of Windows XP Home Edition.

The default wallpaper, Bliss, is a BMP photograph of a landscape in the Napa Valley outside Napa, California,^[19] with rolling green hills and a blue sky with stratocumulus and cirrus clouds. Bliss is the name of a BMP image produced from a photograph of a landscape in Napa County, California, east of Sonoma Valley. The BMP file format, sometimes called bitmap or DIB file format (for device-independent bitmap) is an Image file format used to store Napa County is a County located north of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U A stratocumulus Cloud belongs to a class characterized by large dark rounded masses usually in groups lines or waves the individual elements being larger than those in Cirrus clouds are characterized by thin wisplike strands often accompanied by tufts leading to their common (non-standard name of 'mare's tail'

The Windows 2000 "classic" interface can be used instead if preferred. Several third party utilities exist that provide hundreds of different visual styles.

System requirements

Designed for Windows XP computer hardware logo

System requirements for Windows XP Home and Professional editions as follows:^[20]

In addition to the Windows XP system requirements, Service Pack 2 requires an additional 1. 8 GB of free hard disk space during installation. A gigabyte (derived from the SI prefix Giga-) is a unit of Information or Computer ^[22] Service Pack 3 requires an additional 900 MB of free hard disk space during installation. A megabyte is a unit of Information or Computer storage equal to either 106 (1000000 Bytes or 220 (1048576 bytes depending on ^[23]

Service packs

Microsoft occasionally releases service packs for its Windows operating systems to fix problems and add features. A service pack (in short SP) is a collection of updates fixes and/or enhancements to a software program delivered in the form of a single installable package Each service pack is a superset of all previous service packs and patches so that only the latest service pack needs to be installed, and also includes new revisions. ^[24] Older patches need not be removed before application of the most recent one.

Service Pack 1

Set Program Access and Defaults was added in Service Pack 1.

Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows XP was released on September 9, 2002. Events 1000 - Battle of Svolder, Viking Age. 1379 - Treaty of Neuberg, splitting the Austrian See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. It contains post-RTM security fixes and hot-fixes, compatibility updates, optional .NET Framework support, enabling technologies for new devices such as Tablet PCs, and a new Windows Messenger 4.7 version. A software release is the distribution whether public or private of an initial or new and upgraded version of a Computer software product Windows Messenger is a proprietary Instant messaging client by Microsoft that is included in the Windows XP Operating system The most notable new features were USB 2.0 support, and a Set Program Access and Defaults utility that aimed at hiding various middleware products. Users can control the default application for activities such as web browsing and instant messaging, as well as hide access to some of Microsoft's bundled programs. This utility was first brought into the older Windows 2000 operating system with its Service Pack 3. The Microsoft Java Virtual Machine, which was not in the RTM version, appeared in this service pack. The Microsoft Java Virtual Machine is a proprietary Java Virtual Machine Computer program from Microsoft. ^[25]

On February 3, 2003, Microsoft released Service Pack 1a (SP1a). Events 1112 - Ramon Berenguer III of Barcelona and Douce I of Provence marry uniting the fortunes of those two states Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. This release removed Microsoft's Java virtual machine as a result of a lawsuit with Sun Microsystems. A Java Virtual Machine ( JVM) is a set of computer software programs and data structures which use a Virtual machine Sun Microsystems Inc ( is a multinational vendor of Computers computer components Computer software, and Information technology services ^[26]

Service Pack 2

Windows Security Center was added in Service Pack 2. The Windows Security Center is a component included with Microsoft 's Windows XP (beginning with Service Pack 2 and Windows Vista Operating systems

Service Pack 2 (SP2) (codenamed "Springboard") was released on August 6, 2004 after several delays, with a special emphasis on security. Events 1538 - Bogotá, Colombia, is founded by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " ^[27] Unlike the previous service packs, SP2 adds new functionality to Windows XP, including an enhanced firewall, improved Wi-Fi support, such as WPA encryption compatibility, with a wizard utility, a pop-up ad blocker for Internet Explorer 6, and Bluetooth support. Wi-Fi (ˈwaɪfaɪ is the trade name for the popular wireless technology used Wi-Fi Protected Access ( WPA and WPA2) is a certification program administered by the Wi-Fi Alliance to indicate compliance with the security protocol created by the Pop-up ads or popups are a form of online advertising on the World Wide Web intended to attract Web traffic or capture email addresses The new welcome screen during the kernel boot removes the subtitles "Professional", and "Home Edition" since Microsoft introduced new Windows XP editions prior to the release of SP2. The green loading bar in Home Edition was replaced with the standard blue bar, seen in Professional and other versions of Windows XP, making the line of operating systems resemble each other.

Service Pack 2 added new security enhancements, which include a major revision to the included firewall that was renamed to Windows Firewall and is enabled by default, Data Execution Prevention that takes advantage of the NX bit that is incorporated into newer processors to stop some forms of buffer overflow attacks, and removal of raw socket support (which supposedly limits the damage done by zombie machines). Windows Firewall is a Personal firewall, included with Microsoft 's Windows XP and newer operating systems Data Execution Prevention ( DEP) is a security feature included in modern Microsoft Windows Operating systems that is intended to prevent an application The NX bit, which stands for No eXecute, is a technology used in CPUs to segregate areas of memory for use by either storage of processor instructions (or code In Computer networking, a raw socket is a socket that allows direct access to packet 's headers. A zombie computer (often shortened as zombie) is a computer attached to the Internet that has been compromised by a hacker, a Computer virus Additionally, security-related improvements were made to e-mail and web browsing. Windows XP Service Pack 2 includes the Windows Security Center, which provides a general overview of security on the system, including the state of anti-virus software, Windows Update, and the new Windows Firewall. Third-party anti-virus and firewall applications can interface with the new Security Center. ^[28]

On August 10, 2007, Microsoft announced a minor update to Service Pack 2, called Service Pack 2c (SP2c). Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ^[29] The update fixes the issue of the diminishing number of available product keys for Windows XP. This update will only be available to system builders from their distributors in Windows XP Professional and Windows XP Professional N operating systems. SP2c was released in September 2007. ^[30]

Service Pack 3

Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) build 5512 was released to manufacturing on April 21, 2008 and to the public via both the Microsoft Download Center and Windows Update on May 6, 2008. A software release is the distribution whether public or private of an initial or new and upgraded version of a Computer software product Events 753 BC - Romulus and Remus found Rome ( traditional date) 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Windows Update is a service provided by Microsoft for users of Microsoft Windows which provides updates for the Operating system and its installed components Events 1527 - Spanish and German troops sack Rome; some consider this the end of the Renaissance. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common ^[31][32][33]

It will be automatically pushed out to Automatic Update users around June-July 2008. ^[31] A feature set overview which details new features available separately as standalone updates to Windows XP, as well as backported features from Windows Vista has been posted by Microsoft. Backporting is the action of taking a certain Software modification ( patch) and applying it to an older version of the software than it was initially created for ^[34] A total of 1,174 fixes have been included in SP3. ^[35] Service Pack 3 can be installed on systems with Internet Explorer versions 6 or 7, and Windows Media Player versions 9 and above. ^[36] Internet Explorer 7 is not included as part of SP3. ^[37]

The current release of Service Pack 3 is only for the 32-bit version of the operating system and not for the 64-bit version. ^[38]

New features

• Turns Black hole router detection on by default ^[39]
• Network Access Protection client
• Windows Imaging Component ^[40]
• Credentials Security Service Provider ^[41]
• Descriptive Security options in Group Policy/Local Security Policy user interface
• An updated version of the Microsoft Kernel Mode Cryptographic Module that is FIPS 140-2 certified ^[39]
• Installing without requiring a product key during setup for retail and OEM versions

Slipstreamed retail and OEM versions of Windows XP with SP3 can be installed and run with full functionality for 30 days without a product key, after which time the user will be prompted to enter a valid key and activate the installation. In networking, black holes refer to places in the network where incoming traffic is silently discarded (or "dropped" without informing the source A router ('rautər in the USA 'rutər in the UK and Ireland, or either pronunciation in Australia and Canada is a Computer whose software and hardware are usually Network Access Protection (NAP is a Microsoft technology for controlling network access of a computer host based on the system health of the host first utilized in Windows XP Service The Windows Imaging Component (WIC is a Component Object Model based imaging codec framework introduced in Windows Vista and Windows XP Service Pack 3 In Microsoft Windows, a Security Support Provider is a dynamic-link library ( DLL) that implements a Security Support Provider Interface (SSPI by making Group Policy is a feature of Microsoft Windows NT family of operating systems that provides centralized management and configuration of computers and remote users in an The Federal Information Processing Standard ( '''FIPS''') Publication 140-2 FIPS PUB 140-2 is a U In computer Jargon, to slipstream updates patches or Service packs means to integrate them into the installation files of their original Windows Product Activation is an anti-piracy measure created by Microsoft Corporation that enforces the Windows EULA (End User License Agreement and/or other Volume license (VLK) versions still require entering a product key before beginning installation. ^[42]

Although service packs have, until now, been cumulative, installing SP3 on an existing installation of Windows XP requires that the computer must at least be running with Service Pack 1 installed. ^[23] However, it is possible to slipstream SP3 into the Windows XP setup files at any service pack level—including the original RTM version—without any errors or issues. ^[43] Slipstreaming SP3 into Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 is not supported. ^[44]

Service Pack 3 does contain updates to the operating system components of Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE) and Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, and security updates for . NET Framework version 1. 0, which is included in these Windows XP SKUs. A Stock Keeping Unit, or SKU (pronounced either as an Acronym (ˈskjuː or as an Initialism (/ˌɛsˌkeɪˈjuː/ “S–K–U” is a However, it does not include update rollups for the Windows Media Center application in Windows XP MCE 2005. Windows Media Center is an application designed to serve as a home-entertainment hub. ^[45] SP3 also omits security updates for Windows Media Player 10, although the player is included in Windows XP MCE 2005. ^[45] The Address Bar DeskBand on the Taskbar is no longer included due to legal restrictions. In Computing, the taskbar is a term for an application desktop bar which is used to launch and monitor applications ^[46]

Support lifecycle

Support for Windows XP without a service pack ended on September 30, 2004^[47] and support for Windows XP Service Pack 1 and 1a ended on October 10, 2006. Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Events 680 - Battle of Karbala: Shia Imam Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is decapitated Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ^[48][49]

Windows XP Service Pack 2 will be retired on July 13, 2010, almost six years after its general availability. Events 1174 - William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173-1174, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to For the film see 2010 The Year We Make Contact. For the book see 2010 Odyssey Two. ^[50] As per Microsoft's posted timetable, the company will stop general licensing of Windows XP to OEMs and terminate retail sales of the operating system on June 30, 2008, 17 months after the release of Windows Vista. Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, is defeated and killed by troops of the Usurper 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common ^[51][52] However, an exception was announced on April 3, 2008, for OEMs installing to subnotebooks or UMPCs either until June 30, 2010, or one year after the availability of the next client version of Windows, code-named Windows 7 — whichever date comes later. Events 1043 - Edward the Confessor is crowned King of England. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common A subnotebook is a small and lightweight portable Computer, with most of the features of a standard Laptop computer but smaller In Personal computers Ultra-Mobile PC (often abbreviated UMPC) is a small Form factor (a standard size and shape for Tablet PCs and subnotebook/ Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, is defeated and killed by troops of the Usurper For the film see 2010 The Year We Make Contact. For the book see 2010 Odyssey Two. Windows 7, (formerly codenamed Blackcomb and later Vienna) is the working name for the next major version of Microsoft Windows and ^[53][54][55]

On April 14, 2009, Windows XP will begin its "Extended Support" period that will last for 5 years until April 8, 2014. Events 43 BC - Battle of Forum Gallorum: Mark Antony, besieging Julius Caesar 's assassin Decimus Junius Brutus in This article is about the year For the film see 2009 Lost Memories. Events 217 - Roman Emperor Caracalla is Assassinated (and succeeded by his Praetorian 2014 ( MMXIV) will be a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ^[56]

Common criticisms

Main article: Criticism of Windows XP

Security issues

Windows XP has been criticized for its susceptibility to malware, viruses, trojan horses, and worms. For criticism applying to several or all versions of Microsoft Windows, see Criticism of Microsoft Windows. Malware, a Portmanteau word from the words '''mal'''icious and soft'''ware''', is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without A computer virus is a Computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without permission or knowledge of the user This article refers to a form of Malware in computing terminology A computer worm is a self-replicating Computer program. It uses a network to send copies of itself to other nodes (computer terminals on the network and it may do so without Security issues are compounded by the fact that users of the Home edition, by default, receive an administrator account that provides unrestricted access to the underpinnings of the system. If the administrator's account is broken into, there is no limit to the control that can be asserted over the compromised PC.

Windows, with its large market share, has historically been a tempting target for virus creators. Security holes are often invisible until they are exploited, making preemptive action difficult. Microsoft has stated that the release of patches to fix security holes is often what causes the spread of exploits against those very same holes, as crackers figured out what problems the patches fixed, and then launch attacks against unpatched systems. In common usage hacker is generic term for a computer criminal often with a specific specialty in computer intrusion Microsoft recommends that all systems have automatic updates turned on to prevent a system from being attacked by an unpatched bug, but some business IT departments need to test updates before deployment across systems to predict compatibility issues with custom software and infrastructure. This deployment turn-around time also lengthens the time that systems are left unsecure in the event of a released software exploit.

User interface performance

Critics have claimed that the default Windows XP user interface (Luna) adds visual clutter and wastes screen space while offering no new functionality and running slower. Users can easily switch back to the Windows Classic theme. ^[57]

Integration of operating system features

In light of the United States v. Microsoft case which resulted in Microsoft being convicted for abusing its operating system monopoly to overwhelm competition in other markets, Windows XP has drawn fire for integrating user applications such as Windows Media Player and Windows Messenger into the operating system, as well as for its close ties to the Windows Live ID service. United States v Microsoft There were many civil actions taking place in May 18 1998 Windows Live ID (originally Microsoft Passport, then.NET Passport, then briefly Microsoft Passport Network) is a Single sign-on service developed

Backward compatibility

Some users switching from Windows 9x to XP disliked its lack of DOS support. Windows 9x is the family of Microsoft Windows Operating systems that comprises the hybrid 16/32-bit Windows versions Windows 95, Windows 98 DOS, short for "Disk Operating System" is a shorthand term for several closely related Operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market Although XP comes with the ability to run DOS programs in a virtual DOS machine, it still has trouble running many old DOS programs. Virtual DOS machine (VDM is Microsoft 's technology that allows running legacy MS-DOS and 16-bit Windows programs on Intel 80386 or higher computers This is largely due to the fact that it is a Windows NT system and does not use DOS as a base OS. Some DOS programs that cannot run natively on XP, notably programs that rely on direct access to hardware, can be run in third-party virtual machines, such as DOSBox. In Computer science, a virtual machine (VM is a Software implementation of a machine (computer that executes programs like a real machine DOSBox is an Emulator which simulates a computer running MS-DOS.

Product activation and verification

Windows Genuine Advantage

Main article: Windows Genuine Advantage

A Windows Genuine Advantage notification indicating a failed validation. Windows Genuine Advantage ( WGA) is an anti- piracy system created by Microsoft that enforces Microsoft Windows online validation of the authenticity Windows Genuine Advantage ( WGA) is an anti- piracy system created by Microsoft that enforces Microsoft Windows online validation of the authenticity

While product activation and licensing servers are common for business and industrial software, Windows XP gave many casual computer users their first introduction to it, under the name "Windows Genuine Advantage" (WGA). The system was introduced by Microsoft to curb unauthorized distribution of Windows XP. Activation requires the computer or the user to activate with Microsoft within a certain amount of time in order to continue using the operating system. If the user's computer system ever changes — for example, if two or more relevant components of the computer itself are upgraded — Windows may refuse to run until the user reactivates with Microsoft.

WGA comprises two parts, an activation/verification system based in part upon the computer's hardware, and a user notification system. Hardware is a general term that refers to the physical artifacts of a Technology. WGA for Windows was followed by verification systems for Internet Explorer 7, Windows Media Player 11, Windows Defender, and Microsoft Office 2007. Windows Media Player 11 is the most recent version of Windows Media Player. Windows Defender, formerly known as Microsoft AntiSpyware, is a software product from Microsoft to prevent remove and Quarantine Spyware Microsoft Office 2007 (officially called 2007 Microsoft Office system) is the most recent Windows version of the Microsoft Office system, Microsoft's Recently Microsoft removed the WGA verification from the installer for Internet Explorer 7 saying that the purpose of the change was to make IE7 available to all Windows users. ^[58][59]

If the license key is judged not genuine, it displays a nag screen at regular intervals asking the user to buy a license from Microsoft. Nagware (also known as begware or annoyware) is a type of Shareware that reminds (or nags the user to register it by paying a fee ^[60] In addition, the user's access to Microsoft Update is restricted to critical security updates, and as such, new versions of enhancements and other Microsoft products will no longer be able to be downloaded or installed.

Common criticisms of WGA have included its description as a "Critical Security Update", causing Automatic Updates to download it without user intervention, its behavior compared to spyware of "phoning home" to Microsoft every time the computer is connected to the Internet, the failure to inform end users what exactly WGA would do once installed (rectified by a 2006 update^[61]), the failure to provide a proper uninstallation method during beta testing (users were given manual removal instructions that did not work with the final build^[60]), and its sensitivity to hardware changes which cause repeated need for reactivation in the hands of some developers. Such content will be deleted Specific software is to be mentioned in this article only Phoning home is unsually surreptitious communication between applications or hardware installed at end-user sites and their manufacturers or developers

Strictly speaking, neither the download nor the install of the Notifications is mandatory; the user can change their Automatic Update settings to allow them to choose what updates may be downloaded for installation. If the update is already downloaded, the user can choose not to accept the supplemental EULA provided for the Notifications. In both cases, the user can also request that the update not be presented again. Newer Critical Security Updates may still be installed with the update hidden. However this setting will only have effect on the existing version of Notifications, so it can appear again as a new version.

As of 2006, Microsoft is currently involved in a class action lawsuit brought forth in California, on grounds that it violated the spyware laws in the state with its Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications program. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. In Law, a class action or a representative action is a form of Lawsuit where a large group of people collectively bring a claim to court ^[62]

Product key testing

In addition to activation, Windows XP service packs will refuse to install on Windows XP systems with product keys known to be widely used in unauthorized installations. A Product key (also referred to as a CD key) is a specific software-based key for a certain program or a Computer game. These product keys are intended to be unique to each boxed (or bundled) copy of Windows XP and are included with the product documentation, but a number of product keys were posted on the Internet and were then used for a large number of unauthorized installations. The service packs contain a list of these keys and will not update copies of Windows XP that use them.

Microsoft developed a new key verification engine for Windows XP Service Pack 2 that could detect illicit keys, even those that had never been used before. After an outcry from security consultants who feared that denying security updates to illegal installations of Windows XP would have wide-ranging consequences even for legal owners, Microsoft elected to disable the new key verification engine. This article describes how security can be achieved through design and engineering Service Pack 2 only checks for the same small list of commonly used keys as Service Pack 1. This means that while Service Pack 2 will not install on copies of Windows XP which use the older set of copied keys, those who use keys which have been posted more recently may be able to update their systems.

Currently Microsoft provides security updates to Windows XP without validating if it is legal. For all non-security updates, a user must have a verified copy of Windows.

Protection 'cracking'

"Key generator" programs, commonly called "keygens", exist to randomly generate Windows XP product keys (thus, there are no longer any commonly used keys to block) and then activate Windows without contacting Microsoft. A key generator is used in many cryptographic protocols to generate a sequence with many pseudo-random characteristics A keygen (a portmanteau of " Key generator " is a small program that will generate a Cryptographic key for These may or may not allow the user to receive updates although Microsoft has allowed major security updates to be downloaded and applied through Windows Update and its downloads site, even in pirated or non-genuine copies of Windows. ^[63] In addition, a range of cracks and cracked versions of WGA exist, enabling a computer running a non-genuine copy of Windows to be detected as a genuine Windows system and access all appropriate Microsoft updates and enhancements.

License and media types

There are three main types of Windows XP licenses: Retail, Volume (VLK), and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). All three types of licenses are available for Windows XP Professional (32-bit and 64-bit) and Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. Windows XP Home Edition is limited to Retail and OEM licenses whereas Windows XP Media Center Edition is exclusively available through OEM licenses.

Each type of license has a different installation CD. For customized or retail media, there is a very tiny difference on each type of disc that will only allow that installation disc to accept one type of product key.

Only retail and volume licenses include support for end-user installation scenarios from Microsoft. OEM software is pre-installed on systems and is supported by the system manufacturer rather than Microsoft. The price of such software is reduced to aid computer manufacturers in reducing costs of their computer system production. The cost of OEM software products bundled with systems is not disclosed by Microsoft or by its partners as each system manufacturer will define its own bundling price. Microsoft does not support OEM licenses because it cannot guarantee compatibility with every system configuration possible and it is the responsibility of each system manufacturer to ensure that its hardware is compatible.

Microsoft recommends that system manufacturers have their systems tested, for a fee, as part of the Windows Quality Online Services (Winqual) which includes extensive testing so that no component will cause instability in the Windows operating system due to incompatibility with the Windows operating system or with other system components or their respective drivers. Having a system tested and approved will allow the manufacturer to bear the "Certified for Windows" logo sticker on the exterior of the system, and there are additional benefits for having a tested product. This includes the product's being listed on the Windows Marketplace. Because of the fees and extensive requirements, Microsoft acknowledges that smaller system manufacturers may not opt in to the program until they produce computer systems at a modest rate and on recurring designs.

Retail

Retail licenses, those purchased from a retail store in full packaging, are of two sub-types: "Upgrade" and "Full Purchase Product", often abbreviated by Microsoft as FPP. FPP licenses are transferable from one computer to another, provided the previous installation is removed from the old computer. Although upgrade licenses are also transferable, a user must have a previous version of Windows even on the new computer to which they are moving the installation. Retail licenses include installation support for end-users, provided directly by Microsoft.

Volume License

A Volume License is the license given to a software version sold to businesses under a direct purchase agreement with Microsoft, and is sold as an upgrade license only, meaning that a previous license must be available for each new volume license. Volume license versions of Windows XP use a Volume License Key (VLK) which is a product key that does not require Windows Product Activation. Volume License key ( VLK) is a term used by some computer software companies to denote the product key used when installing software licensed Windows Product Activation is an anti-piracy measure created by Microsoft Corporation that enforces the Windows EULA (End User License Agreement and/or other The term "Volume License Key" refers to the ability to use one product key for multiple systems, depending on the type of agreement. Since Windows XP Volume License versions do not require product activation, this led to leaked copies of VLK media and product keys from businesses leading to piracy of Windows XP which quickly spread across the internet upon early release. Beginning with Service Pack 1, Microsoft's active attempts to search out and blacklist known pirated VLK product keys became well known due to the inability to install the service pack on a system with one of the blacklisted keys. Later, this led to the Windows Genuine Advantage program.

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) licenses are pre-installed on, and sold with, pre-assembled computers from system manufacturers. An original equipment manufacturer, or OEM is typically a company that uses a component made by a second company in its own product or sells the product of the second company There are two types of OEM product types: those used for "Direct OEMs" (major name brands that buy through a direct contract with Microsoft and produce and brand their own media from a Microsoft "Gold Master Copy" by using an Authorized Microsoft Duplication Partner), and those used for "System Builders" (local computer shops that buy generic, unbranded kits through Authorized Microsoft Distributors). Direct OEM product keys will often not activate with System Builder installation media because Direct OEMs are now required by Microsoft to pre-activate their copies in the factory using their own internal mechanism before delivery to the customer. It is recommended that System Builders also pre-activate their systems before delivery, but this is not mandatory.

OEM installations can be customized using the Microsoft OEM Preinstallation Kit with branding, logos, additional applications, optional services, alternate applications for certain Windows components, Internet Explorer links, and various other customizations. All OEM customers must include support and contact information for the initial installation of Windows because it is the responsibility for the OEM to support the Windows installation, and is not provided by Microsoft to the end-user. Direct OEMs must create their own media, but have the option of creating their own custom recovery solution, which may or may not be similar to a generic installation. OEMs may provide a recovery partition on the hard drive as the custom recovery solution rather than providing disc-based media with the computer.

Some end-users have found this to be a troublesome option, because in the event of an out-of-warranty hard drive failure, they may not have access to reinstall Windows on a new hard drive. System Builders are not allowed the option to create a custom recovery CD/DVD media. The only deliverable media available for a System Builder to give to the end-user is the unbranded OEM System Builder hologram media kit. Because of this, when end-users reformat their hard drives and re-install from the installation media, they lose all the custom branding and support information that the System Builder would have included.

As a supplemental recovery method to a CD/DVD-based installation, a System Builder may employ a fully customized recovery solution on the hard drive. Whether utilizing a recovery partition or not, a System Builder must still include the original generic OEM System Builder hologram CD/DVD media kit. OEM licenses are not transferable from one computer to another. Every computer sold/resold with an OEM license must include all of the original installation media or recovery solution, documentation, Certificate of Authenticity, and product key sticker with the sale. Microsoft requires that all OEM system manufacturers include as part of the configuration the Windows Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE), which is the initial setup wizard encountered the first time Windows boots-up. It is also required that Value-Added Resellers (VAR's), retailers, and general resellers not tamper with the OEM's customized OOBE mechanism unless under permission by the OEM, and it is a recommended configuration for systems that are privately resold so that a customer will have a like-new computer experience upon first boot-up.

OEM licenses are to be installed by professional system manufacturers only. Under Microsoft's OEM License Agreement, they are not to be sold to end-users under any circumstance, and are to be pre-installed on a computer using the OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK) before shipment to the customer, and must include at the very least the manufacturer's support contact information. They are therefore designed for installation only on a single computer and are not transferable, even if the original computer is no longer in use. This is not usually an issue for users who purchase new computer systems because most pre-assembled systems ship with a pre-installed operating system. There are few circumstances where Microsoft will allow the transfer of an OEM license from one non-functioning system to another, but the OEM System Builder License Agreement (SBLA), as well as the OEM End User License Agreement (EULA) do not contain any allowance for this, so it is entirely up to Microsoft's discretion, depending on the situation. ^[64]

See also

• List of operating systems
• Comparison of operating systems
• History of operating systems
• List of Windows XP's typefaces (fonts)

Literature/Books

• Microsoft Windows XP Plain & Simple - J. Operating systems can be categorized by technology ownership licensing working state usage and by many other characteristics --> UserSecuniBot permission to update The history of computer Operating systems recapitulates to a degree the recent History of computer hardware. Joyce and M. Moon, Microsoft Press, USA, 2005. ISBN 0-7356-2112-8

References

External links

• Microsoft Windows XP Home Page
• Using Windows XP Operating System
• Microsoft Windows XP Reviewers Guide - August 2001 (PDF format)