Twenty years after its release, windows xp remains one of the most popular operating systems ever. It was designed to be easy to use and prioritise users’ needs.
The windows xp desktop displays a variety of icons that represent applications and files. The left side of the screen shows programs and the right side provides access to common Windows folders such as My Documents.
Windows XP Requirements
The release of Windows XP coincided with a time when Microsoft was making its highest revenue and dominating the PC market. Many computers came with a complete suite of Windows software pre-installed. The operating system was well-received upon its release, and set the stage for advancements in computer software and hardware.
Windows XP was available in a number of editions, including the Media Center Edition, which was primarily designed for home entertainment systems. Unlike most other editions, this version of the OS was updated on an annual basis and included features such as support for Media Center Extenders, new visual styles, and the ability to control the system via remote controls or an infrared receiver.
Windows XP was also available in a 64-bit version for Intel Itanium processors. These versions were binary identical, but the main difference was that a standard 32-bit process could only allocate 2 gigabytes of virtual memory, while a 64-bit operating system can address as much as 8 terabytes of physical memory.
Windows XP Installation
Once Windows XP is installed you will be asked to enter the user names and passwords for each account. This allows Microsoft to set up and load all of the necessary files and configure the computer for use. You will also have the option to register with Microsoft.
You will then be given the choice of which partition on your hard drive to install XP on. Depending on your computer’s setup you may have several partitions. In this case you should choose the partition that has the most space available and is unallocated. XP can be installed on FAT32 or NTFS, NTFS is preferred for stability reasons.
Once you select the partition the program will display the current partition size and the amount of space that is free. From this you can decide to format the partition and if so what size to make it. The program will then begin installing the XP files to that partition.
Windows XP Security
Using an outdated system like Windows XP poses serious security risks. It’s no longer supported by Microsoft and doesn’t get regular security updates. So it’s a target for hackers who can exploit the flaws in the operating system to steal private information, including passwords and bank account numbers.
Until April, when the end of XP support arrives, IT professionals must take steps to minimise risk, such as disabling USB and DVD drive access and keeping XP systems off networks. The most important precaution is to ensure that only known-good applications can run on the machines and that memory protection measures such as Data Execution Prevention or the Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit are enabled.
Some cynics have labelled Microsoft’s recent claims that XP users are six times more likely to contract malware as a scare tactic, but experts agree that organisations must plan for the transition away from the OS. They should perform a detailed risk assessment and monitor the plan as the issues evolve.
Windows XP Maintenance
Windows XP requires regular maintenance to keep it running at peak performance. This includes removing programs through add/remove programs, running disk cleanup regularly and keeping your system defragmented. In addition, make sure you have a good anti-virus program installed and that it is updated. Finally, never forget to remove unnecessary programs from your Windows startup. Many software and hardware programs put utilities and pre-loaders in the startup that aren’t necessary for the proper operation of XP.
When setup asks for user names, enter the account names that will be using Windows. Setup will then finish the repair process by deleting old copies of system files and installing new ones.
Once the repair is complete, you must run Windows Update to install all available patches and fixes. This step is important because it ensures that your repaired installation of Windows XP has the most up-to-date versions of all its files. This will also help reduce security risks.