Chapter 15: Windows XP

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Overview of Windows XP

On October 25, 2001, Microsoft finally accomplished what had been sought after for approximately six years; with the release of Windows XP, the consumer-oriented Windows 9.x and business-oriented Windows NT families had been successfully merged into one Windows platform based on Windows 2000.

Windows XP comes in two flavors: Home and Professional. Windows XP Home Edition is the replacement for Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Millennium Edition. Windows XP Professional serves as an upgrade for the same versions Windows Home Edition supports, as well as including Windows NT 4.0 Workstation and Windows 2000 Professional. The Professional edition offers extra networking capabilities and hardware/software options not found in the Home Edition. It is important to note that neither version of Windows XP will support an upgrade from Windows 95 or versions of Windows NT prior to 4.0.

Windows XP Home Edition includes some key new features, while expanding on some of the existing Windows Me/2000 features:

• System Restore. System Restore allows the OS to be turned back to a saved point in time, restoring lost or changed data and Registry entries.

• Remote Assistance. Windows XP Home provides software to grant an authorized technician or friend (using Windows XP Professional) to assist you with troubleshooting or demonstrate procedures.

• Network Setup Wizard. This wizard provides a step-by-step, end-user interface for installing or setting up networked printers, sharing files, adding network connections, and performing Internet Connection Sharing (ICS).

• Codename Luna and Common Tasks. The new looks of the Start menu and Explorer allow the most frequently used programs and commands to be accessed quickly and consistently.

• Windows File Protection. As mentioned in Chapter 13, WFP protects critical operating system files from being changed or deleted improperly.

• Expanded Multimedia Support. Windows Media Player 8, enhanced DVD playback, built-in CD writer and audio CD ripping support all provide users with rich multimedia experiences.

• Internet Explorer 6 (IE6). IE6 contains enhanced security and encryption, per-site third-party cookie blocking, and integrated multimedia capabilities using Windows Media Player 8.

• Internet Connection Firewall (ICF). ICF is the first integrated firewall included in a consumer version of Windows, guarding the computer from intrusion from the Internet.

• Fast User Switching. User switching allows multiple local user accounts to be active and running software simultaneously on a single computer.

• Roll Back Driver. In the event that a hardware driver causes a software or hardware problem, you now have the option of returning to the previous driver, or like previous versions of Windows, completely uninstalling the existing one.

Windows XP Professional also includes the following supplemental features for business or workstation use:

• Encrypted File System (EFS). Windows XP Professional offers key-encryption transparently for sensitive data and for multiple users, simultaneously.

• Remote Desktop. Windows XP Professional can create a virtual machine of a remote computer on your local machine via a network or the Internet, allowing you to see and control it.

• Hibernation and Fast Resume. Hibernation is a battery-saving mode similar to Standby, freezing the running processes and reducing energy usage until you are ready to quickly resume them again. However, with Hibernation, processes and system memory are dumped to the hard drive, and the computer is shut down. When you start the system again, Windows XP then loads the image from the hard drive.

• IEEE 802.1x. This offers secure wireless networking through authentication and key management.

• Enhanced Driver Signing and Verification. This version of driver signing is based on Windows 2000; however, it provides tougher stress-testing and more rigorous standards for device driver certification, such as WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality Labs).

• IP Security (IPSec). IPSec provides enhanced data protection and security, which is especially vital to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

• Kerberos Support. Kerberos is an Internet industry-standard high-strength authentication for Windows 2000, Windows XP, and enterprise-level resources.

• Windows XP also supports up to 4GB of RAM and two Symmetric Multiprocessors (SMP).

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