If you're upgrading from Windows 2000, the architectural changes in Windows XP are subtle and in some instances practically invisible. But if you're moving up from Windows 95/98 or Windows Me, you'll have to deal with new system utilities (using the Disk Management snap-in instead of FDISK to create and format hard disk partitions, for instance). You'll also face unfamiliar setup options, such as whether to choose NTFS or stick with FAT32 as the file system for hard disk partitions. And you'll need to understand the new file-sharing system, which is considerably more secure than the minimal password protection used in Windows 95/98 and Windows Me.
For a full explanation of your file-sharing options, see Chapter 13, "Securing Files and Folders."
The payoff for this added complexity is a dramatic decrease in system crashes, hangs, lockups, and mysterious error messages-thanks to the following improvements:
System Restore is an integral part of a comprehensive data-protection program that should also include a regular backup schedule. Although this utility can help you recover from common configuration errors, it will not protect data files from corruption or accidental deletion, and it can't do anything to recover data that's damaged by a hard drive failure or electrical spike.
For detailed instructions on how to keep crashes from occurring, see Chapter 24, "Performing Routine Maintenance." To minimize damage caused by crashes that happen in spite of your best efforts, see Chapter 25, "Recovering After a Computer Crash."
For more information about hardware and Windows XP, see Chapter 6, "Setting Up and Troubleshooting Hardware."
Figure 1-2. Use the System Restore utility to undo system configuration changes that cause headaches. Windows XP automatically saves files and settings (called restore points) at regular intervals; you can create checkpoints manually as well.
For a detailed explanation of how Windows XP lets you control what each user can and can't do, see Chapter 3, "Controlling Access to Your Computer." To learn how to restrict access to personal and sensitive files and folders, see Chapter 13, "Securing Files and Folders." Need instructions on how to share files and printers over a network? You'll find those details in Chapter 31, "Managing Shared Folders and Printers."