Windows XP is a version of Microsoft’s Windows operating system. It is available in multiple editions, including Home and Professional. It can run on single or dual-processor computers. It also supports Internet connectivity.
Once you have selected the partition you want to install Windows XP on, press any key to start the Setup program. The program will then load files necessary for installation, which may take a while.
Minimum Requirements
Windows XP is available in several editions to fit the needs of various hardware configurations. The lightest edition is Windows XP Home Edition, which requires a minimum of 233 MHz processor and 64 MB of RAM. It also requires a 1.5 GB hard disk for installation of the operating system files. Modern hard drives are usually larger than this amount.
The professional version of windows xp is more advanced and adds features to help businesses work more efficiently. It supports multiple processors and allows users to encrypt their files. It also has a feature called protected memory, which keeps unstable programs from crashing other applications or even the operating system.
Microsoft issues minimum requirements for hardware performance and capabilities, and if your computer does not meet these requirements, XP will refuse to install. However, the company also recommends far more stringent specifications that should result in optimum performance. Some devices, such as electroencephalographs, still run on XP because the device manufacturers have not updated their drivers to be compatible with newer versions of Windows.
Installation
The next screen in the installation process asks you to select a partition or drive on which you want Windows XP to install. If you choose the drive option, the program will perform a quick installation. This can reduce the amount of time it takes to install Windows, but may not provide as much flexibility if you later decide to change your mind about installing programs on the drive or moving files.
The program then displays a list of all the partitions on your computer and their file systems. If you have unpartitioned space available on your hard disk, you can use the arrow keys to select it and press C. This creates a partition on which Windows XP will be installed, and it sets the partition size to the maximum available space.
The program then copies system files to the partition you selected and creates a system directory for the operating system. This can take several minutes. After the file transfer is complete, the program restarts your computer.
Compatibility
Older software applications stood a rather better chance of running under XP than hardware, and the operating system had a few tricks up its sleeve to make them think they were running on previous versions of Windows. Its ‘Program Compatibility Mode’ is similar to the options offered by Windows 98/Me but far more comprehensive.
It allows an older application to either use a private version of a shared Windows system file, safely stored in the program’s folder, or a newer shared version from the Windows SxS folder, without interfering with the more up-to-date versions used by other XP applications. This can solve all sorts of problems, including choppy sound (timing problems) and slow or incomplete graphics updates.
Unfortunately, it can also cause a variety of problems, such as unresponsive mouse pointers and various USB errors or even complete software lockups. Those who have accidentally set the wrong application to run in compatibility mode will probably experience the same problems as they would if the option had never been enabled at all.
Final Words
XP was the first version of Microsoft’s consumer-oriented Windows operating system to be built on the Windows NT kernel, making it more resilient and secure than earlier versions. It also introduced new error reporting mechanisms that helped to combat DLL Hell and other common Windows bugs.
In addition, XP introduced a number of new security features, including an improved product activation system and a new antivirus program. However, determined and modestly competent pirates were still able to defeat this copy-protection technology.
Despite this, the OS was popular with users and critics alike upon its release, particularly for its ease of use, advanced features, and its logically designed user interface. Unfortunately, it seems that Microsoft no longer prioritizes users’ needs in the way that XP did. This has resulted in newer Microsoft Windows releases being more bloated and slow than XP, while losing the feature continuity that IT professionals and power users need. Moreover, modern drivers often won’t work on them.