Windows XP offers many features that make it a very accessible operating system. Some of these features are especially useful to users with visual impairments.
Depending on your hardware, you may need to change the boot order in your BIOS to boot from your DVD or CD. This can be done by selecting the correct option in your BOOT menu.
Requirements
A PC with at least a 300 megahertz processor and 128 megabytes of RAM is required to run windows xp. Microsoft also recommends a DVD or CD-ROM drive and an 800 x 600 super VGA monitor. Unlike some previous versions of Windows, XP is a true plug and play operating system that automatically installs drivers (software that communicates with hardware devices) when the system detects new hardware.
XP features a number of new components never before bundled in Windows, including Remote Desktop, which allows an XP user to log into another computer running XP and control it remotely – similar to VNC or PCAnywhere. Also included are a built-in firewall and support for 32-bit x86-based processors.
Despite a few initial security vulnerabilities, Microsoft kept XP up-to-date with a series of service packs that added features such as the Windows Security Center and a pop-up blocker (which didn’t work very well). However, once technical support ends for XP, it becomes five times more vulnerable to viruses, spyware, and other risks.
Performance
Windows XP, though designed in a different time than today’s systems, was cutting edge for its time. It had a better user interface and improved stability compared to its predecessors, and it supported modern hardware.
But over the years, XP has grown to require far more resources than Microsoft’s minimum system requirements suggest. Even the recommended 1.6 gigahertz processor and 128 megabytes of RAM is not enough to keep up with XP and its apps.
Moreover, XP does not take advantage of multicore CPUs or large amounts of memory the way Vista and 7 do. The OS rattles the hard drive and spends a lot of time waiting in places where Vista and 7 just blast through. Fortunately, there are a number of tweaks that can improve the performance of windows xp. These include cleaning the prefetch folder, disabling unused programs and disconnecting unused network devices. These steps can improve the overall speed and responsiveness of the system.
Security
Although many IT admins are preparing for the end of support date, it may be possible to keep Windows XP systems running safely and without risk for quite some time. It is important to remember that the security of these systems depends on the overall setup, such as network protection and software used.
A common attack on XP systems is trojan horse e-mail attachments that contain worms. Once a user executes the attachment, the worm spreads to other users from their contact lists and infects more computers. Windows XP with Service Pack 2 provides the Attachment Execution Prevention service to detect such malware and prevent the execution of these programs.
Additionally, Windows XP with SP2 improves the configuration management capabilities by decreasing memory footprint, improving the handling of locks and reducing fragmentation in the Registry. In addition, a new key verification engine is introduced to help mitigate the risk of unauthorized distribution of patches and updates by detecting illicit copies of the operating system.
Updates
As of April 8, 2014, Windows XP will not receive Microsoft security updates. This leaves computers running XP vulnerable to attack by hackers who target unsupported operating systems to steal sensitive information, install malware and compromise systems. To help protect your data, we recommend upgrading to a supported operating system such as Windows 7 or 8.1.
For example, antivirus solutions that haven’t been updated since XP was end-of-lifed won’t be able to detect and stop new attacks. In addition, software manufacturers can no longer support products that run on XP and may stop producing drivers for older hardware.
Fortunately, there are still some updates available for classic Windows versions. One example is the free Windows Update Restore website, which provides direct links to individual updates for XP and other classic Windows versions like Windows 95. The site isn’t affiliated with Microsoft and doesn’t restore the Auto Update feature function, however. Another option is to use third-party tools such as Stardock’s WindowBlinds, which lets you configure Windows 11 to look and feel like classic versions of Windows.