After the failure of Windows Vista, many users reverted back to windows xp. It’s a stable operating system that provides good functionality with a simple and intuitive user interface.
It also comes bundled with many programs for getting real world work done, such as Internet connection software (dial-up and cable modems), an e-mail program, a Web browser, instant messaging software, word processing and other applications.
What is Windows XP?
Windows XP is an operating system that lets you run different types of applications (programs for getting real-world work done). It has graphical pictures that you use to communicate with your computer and it can run multiple applications at the same time, called multitasking.
XP comes bundled with a few programs that aren’t part of the operating system, such as Internet connection software for dial-up connections, an e-mail program, a simple word processing application and a Web browser. It also includes utilities that help with hard-disk housekeeping.
There are two versions of XP, XP Home and XP Professional. XP Home is designed for household use and can be used to run a single stand-alone computer or a small peer-to-peer home network. XP Professional adds capabilities that would be useful in a business environment, such as the ability to log on to a client-server network and encrypt files. Both versions of XP include all the accessibility utilities that were available in previous Microsoft Windows operating systems.
System Requirements
XP requires at least a 233-megahertz (MHz) processor, 64 megabytes of random-access memory and 1.5 gigabytes of free hard disk space. It also requires a monitor that supports a 800 by 600-pixel resolution and a CD ROM drive. The system comes with a variety of programs that can help you get real-world work done, including Internet connection software, an e-mail program, a Web browser, instant messaging, local area network support and utilities to do things like keep your hard disk housekeeping up to date.
There are several versions of Windows XP, with Home Edition being best for household computers. XP Professional is aimed at business users and has advanced management features, such as backup recovery and Group Policy. It can support up to two central processing units and lets you encrypt files. The Media Center Edition adds support for DVD playback and streaming of TV shows. A Tablet PC Edition was available for users of pen-based laptops and early tablet PCs.
Installation
Once the program is done checking your computer it will begin to install windows xp. This will take some time depending on your computer and the size of your hard drive. While it is installing you will see a screen that looks like the first picture on this page. It will ask you to choose a partition size for the new hard drive. This is the main drive that all of your software and files will reside on (unless you have set up additional partitions).
Once you select a partition size it will begin formatting the new hard drive. This will again take some time depending on your computer and the speed of the hard drive.
It will then restart your computer and start loading the necessary files for XP to boot up. This will take a few minutes and then you should be taken to the Windows XP desktop. At this point the program will ask you for your product key – this is located on the sticker on the box of your XP CD.
Troubleshooting
There are a number of things that can cause Windows XP configuration problems. These include changes to the registry, software installations and hardware failures. In some cases, these configuration problems can render the system unbootable.
When that happens, administrators can use the Windows XP System Restore feature to restore the system back to a point just prior to the configuration change that caused the problem. This is a simple, reliable troubleshooting technique.
Other troubleshooting techniques for Windows XP involve using the centralized console for configuring system hardware called the Device Manager. This console is prone to error messages that contain cryptic codes, but they usually offer some insight into what’s wrong.
Administrators can also manually roll back device drivers, which is useful if an incorrect driver has caused anything from a single piece of hardware to become unresponsive to rendering the entire system unbootable. This is a more in-depth procedure that requires reinstalling a fresh copy of Windows, but it is sometimes necessary for troubleshooting certain problems.