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Windows XP (codename Whistler, also known as Windows NT 5.1) is the latest desktop version of the Windows operating system from Microsoft. It was made publicly available on October 25, 2001. Two editions of Windows XP are most commonly available: Windows XP Home Edition which is targeted at home users and Windows XP Professional which has additional features such as dual-processor support and the ability to join a domain, a grouping of centrally managed Windows computers. The letters "XP" originate from the word "Experience."

Development

Before Windows XP, Microsoft had sold two separate lines of operating systems. Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Me were designed for home desktop computers but did not have reliable memory protection, while Windows NT and Windows 2000 were aimed at the corporate, professional, and server markets but were less well-supported by game and multimedia developers. Windows XP is an evolution of Windows 2000 with additional features for home users; it represents Microsoft's shift to using a single code base for all its operating system products.

Windows XP includes an integrated firewall. It is part of a major new Microsoft security effort following a long history of security issues and vulnerabilities.

Editions

Microsoft released two main editions of Windows XP. Windows XP Home Edition is designed for home users, and Windows XP Professional is designed for business use. Windows XP Home Edition has a subset of the features of Windows XP Professional.

These are prominent differences between the two editions:

• Windows XP Home Edition cannot become part of a Windows Server domain, a group of computers which are remotely managed by one or more central servers. Most businesses that use Windows have a Windows Server and a domain.

• Windows XP Home Edition has a simplified access control scheme which doesn't allow specific permissions on files to be granted to specific users under normal circumstances. This can be accomplished while the operating system is in safe mode, a troubleshooting feature of Windows.

These features are present in Windows XP Professional but absent in Windows XP Home Edition:

• Remote Desktop, software which lets users control a PC over the Internet.

• Offline Files and Folders allows a PC to automatically store a copy of files from another networked computer and work with these files while disconnected from the network.

• Encrypting File System encrypts files stored on the computer's hard drive so they cannot be read by another user.

• Symmetric multiprocessing, the ability to divide work between multiple processors (CPUs). Windows XP Professional supports up to two CPUs.

• Centralized administration features, including Group Policies, Automatic Software Installation and Maintenance, Roaming User Profiles, and Remote Installation Service (RIS).

New and updated features

Windows XP introduces several new features to the Windows operating system line:

• Fast User Switching, allowing another user to log in and use the system without logging the previous user off or quitting his or her applications. (This requires more system resources than having only a single user logged in at a time.)

• Improved device support for Firewire, PCI, USB and high-density storage devices and media (DVDs and CDs).

• Windows Image Acquisition services, replacing the traditional TWAIN support. Still Image (STI) support is provided as a compatibility layer within the WIA subsystem.

• Windows Side-by-Side, in the form of a WinSxS folder to store multiple versions of DLL files so as to counter DLL hell.

• Remote Assistance, which lets support staff temporarily take over a remote Windows XP computer to resolve issues.

• Power Management improvements include CardBus Wake-on-LAN, processor power control, Wake on Battery (when the system is about to run out of power, Windows XP will put itself into Hibernate mode), and the ability of Windows XP to turn off the power to the screen when the lid is closed and to dim the screen when the laptop has low battery power

• Remote Desktop, available only in Windows XP Professional, is built on Terminal Services technology (RDP) and is similar to Remote Assistance but lets remote users access local resources (such as printers). . Any Terminal Services client, a special "Remote Desktop Connection" client, or a web-based client using an ActiveX control may be used to connect to the Remote Desktop. (Remote Desktop clients for earlier versions of Windows have been made available by Microsoft. ) There are several resources that users can redirect from the remote server machine to the local client, depending upon the capabilities of the client software used:
  • File System Redirection allows users to use their local files on a remote desktop within the terminal session.
  • Printer Redirection allows users to use their local printer within the terminal session as they would with a locally or network shared printer.
  • Port Redirection allows applications running within the terminal session to access local serial and parallel ports directly.
  • Audio allows users to run an audio program on the remote desktop and have the sound redirected to their local computer.
  • Clipboard can be shared between the remote computer and the local computer.

• Driver Rollback keeps a copy of an old driver when a new version is installed. If the new driver has problems, the user can return to the previous version. (This feature does not work with printer drivers.)

• CD Burning technology from Roxio is included, providing the ability to burn files and audio tracks to CD.

• Kernel improvements and other under-the-hood tweaks.

• Boot in 30 seconds was a design goal for Windows XP. Many people have found that without extra services Windows XP can boot from the PC's power on self-test (POST) to the Windows GUI in about 30 seconds. You can check how long your Windows machine takes to boot by using the now unsupported BootVis program.

• ClearType font antialiasing, which makes onscreen fonts smother and more readable, especially when italicized.

User interface

Windows XP features a new task-based graphical user interface. The Start menu and search capability were redesigned and many visual effects were added, including:

• A transparent blue selection rectangle in Explorer
• A watermark-like graphic on folder icons, indicating the type of information stored in the folder.
• Drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop
• Task-based sidebars in Explorer windows
• The ability to group the taskbar buttons of the windows of one application into one button
• The ability to lock the taskbar and other toolbars to prevent accidental changes
• The highlighting of recently-added programs on the Start menu

Windows XP analyzes the performance impact of visual effects and uses this to decide whether to enable them, so as to prevent the new functionality from consuming substantial additional processing overhead. These settings can be further customized by users. Some effects, such as alpha-blending (transparency and fading), are handled entirely by many newer video cards. However, if the video card is not capable of hardware alpha-blending, performance can be substantially hurt and Microsoft recommends the feature should be turned off manually .

Windows XP adds the ability for Windows to use "Visual Styles" to change the user interface. However, visual styles must be cryptographically signed by Microsoft to run. Luna is the name of the new visual style that ships with Windows XP, and is enabled by default for machines with more than 64MB of RAM. (Luna refers only to one particular visual style, not to all of the new user interface features of Windows XP as a whole.)

The Windows 2000 "classic" interface can be used instead if preferred.

Special versions

Microsoft has customized Windows XP to suit different markets and there are now several different versions available.

Windows XP for specialized hardware

In November 2002, Microsoft released four new versions of XP for specific hardware:

• Windows XP Media Center Edition for special Media Center PCs. Windows XP Media Center Edition must be bundled with one of these computers; it cannot be purchased separately. This received an update in 2003, "Windows XP Media Center Edition 2003", which added additional features such as FM radio tuning. Another update was release in 2004, along with the release of MCE 2005, which was the first edition available for System Builders.
• Windows XP Tablet PC Edition for specially designed notebook/laptop computers with a pen-sensitive screen supporting handwritten notes and portrait-oriented screens. It cannot be purchased separately from a Tablet PC.
• Windows XP Embedded for specific consumer electronics, set-top boxes, kiosks/ATMs, medical devices, point-of-sale terminals, and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) components. This version is based upon the same binaries as Windows XP Professional.
• Windows XP 64-bit Edition (released on March 28, 2003) for manufacturers to install on computers with Intel Itanium 2 processors. Currently, a version of Windows XP 64 Bit Edition that is designed for AMD Athlon 64 and Opteron systems is in beta testing.

Windows XP Starter Edition

Windows XP Starter Edition (also called "XP Lite," not to be confused with Shane Brooks's XPLite) is a lower-cost version of Windows XP available only in Asia, including Russia. It is similar to Windows XP Home, but has some features removed and some limitations added: display resolution can only be up to 800x600 pixels, only three applications may be run at the same time, PC-to-PC home networking and printer sharing is not available and only a single user account is allowed. Added to the operating system are localized help features, country-specific wallpapers and screensavers and certain pre-configured settings to make it easier for novices to use.

According to a Microsoft press release, Windows XP Starter Edition is "a low-cost introduction to the Microsoft Windows XP operating system designed for first-time desktop PC users in developing countries." It is seen as an effort to fight unauthorized copying of Windows XP, and also to counter the spread of the open source Linux operating system which has been gaining popularity in Asia.

Service packs

Microsoft infrequently releases service packs for its Windows operating systems to fix problems, and add features.

Service Pack 1

Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows XP was released on September 9, 2002. Its most notable new features were USB 2.0 support and a Set Program Access and Defaults applet which allowed the user to control the default application for activities such as web browsing and instant messaging, as well as allowing the user to hide some of Microsoft's bundled programs.

A Service Pack 1a was later released to remove Microsoft's Java virtual machine due to a loss in a lawsuit with Sun Microsystems.

Service Pack 1 also allowed Serial-ATA Drives to be detected during an Install from CD, but also blocked the 2 most used pirated Volume License CD-Keys used in Windows XP Professional to bypass Product Activation.

Service Pack 2

Service Pack 2 (SP2) was released on August 6, 2004 after several delays and it focuses on security. Unlike previous service packs, SP2 adds new functionality to Windows XP, including a new firewall, improved WiFi support and a wizard utility, a pop-up ad blocker for Internet Explorer, and Bluetooth support. It also includes a new API to allow third party virus scanners and firewalls to interface with a new security center application which provides a general overview of security on the system. This helps to suppress spyware and viruses. Other features include enhancements to the Internet Connection Firewall (ICF), now the Windows Firewall (which is also turned on by default), advanced memory protection that takes advantage of the NX instruction that is incorporated into newer processors to stop buffer overflow attacks, removal of raw socket support, (which has caused a drop in "zombie" machines, which are machines that can be used remotely to launch denial of service attacks) and improvements to email and web browsing (a full list of service fixes and modifications for SP2 is available on Microsoft's website). However, when the service pack was released some programs did stop working and Microsoft officially listed several of them that on their website . The company AssetMetrix reports that one out of ten computers that upgraded to SP2 had severe compatibility problems with their applications .

SP2 also includes major updates to Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and Windows XP Media Center Edition.

SP2 also supports 24 new locales, including languages of Europe, South America, South Africa, Oceania and South Asia .

Service Pack 2 is not without its critics. Thomas Greene from The Register claimed that SP2 was merely a placebo of sorts in terms of features, fixes, and security updates. The Register claims Microsoft did increase Windows XP's security, however:

"While we found that there are indeed a few minor improvements worthy of acknowledgment, in particular, some rather low-level improvements that don't show to the admin or user, overall, SP2 did little to improve our system's practical security, leaving too many services and networking components enabled, bungling permissions, leaving IE and OE vulnerable to malicious scripts, and installing a packet filter that lacks a capacity for egress filtering."

Common criticisms of Windows XP

See also: Common criticisms of Microsoft

Security issues

Security concerns have long been an issue with Microsoft products. Windows XP has been criticized for its susceptibility to buffer overflows, malware, viruses and worms.

Many attacks against Windows XP systems come in the form of e-mail trojan horses which are sent by worms. A user who opens one of the file attachments sent to him will unknowingly infect his own computer, which then e-mails the worm to more people. Notable worms of this sort which have infected Windows XP systems include Mydoom and Bagle.

In August 2003 the Blaster worm, which became one of the most well-known Windows worms, exploited a vulnerability which is present in every unpatched installation of Windows XP and can compromise a system even without user action. Even security-conscious users can have trouble with Blaster, since it can infect a computer with a newly installed copy of Windows XP before the user has time to download security fixes . Windows XP was also vulnerable to the Sasser worm, spread by using a buffer overflow in a remote service present on every installation. In May 2003, Sasser quickly spread through computers running Windows XP and Windows 2000.

Spyware and adware, are a continuing problem on Windows XP and other versions of Windows. These usually unwanted programs can cause system instability, display pop-up ads, and track a user's activities for marketing purposes. Often these programs are included with seemingly harmless downloads. Spyware is also a concern for Microsoft with regards to service pack updates. Barry Goff, a group product manager at Microsoft, said some spyware could cause computers to freeze up upon installation of Service Pack 2 .

Windows XP offers some useful security benefits, such as Windows Update, which can be set to install security patches automatically, and a built-in firewall. SP2 sets the firewall to be turned on by default, and also adds increased memory protection to let the operating system take advantage of new NX technology built into 64-bit CPUs such as the AMD 64. This allows Windows XP to prevent code from being executed on areas of memory flagged with an NX bit, and thereby to stop buffer overflow exploits from running arbitrary code.

Windows, with its large market share, has traditionally been a tempting target for virus creators. Also, security holes often aren't visible until they are exploited, making preemptive action difficult. Microsoft executives have stated that the release of patches to fix security holes is often what causes the spread of exploits against those very same holes, as crackers figured out what problems the patches fixed then launch attacks against unpatched systems.

Perhaps the greatest threats against Windows security are the actions of Windows users themselves. There is little defense against a user opening an e-mail attachment without realizing that it is malicious (the default setting of Windows XP to hide file extensions doesn't help in this regard), or failing to keep reasonably current on Windows Update patches.

Product activation

Windows XP has been criticized for its product activation system. The system was introduced by Microsoft to curb illegal distribution of Windows XP , but while product activation and licensing servers are common for business and industrial software (especially software sold on a per-user basis for large sums of money), Windows XP gave many casual computer users their first introduction to "phone home" protection that requires the computer or the user to activate with Microsoft within a certain amount of time in order to be allowed to continue using the operating system. If the user's computer system ever changes - for example, if two or more relevant components (see list below) of the computer itself are upgraded - Windows may refuse to run until the user reactivates with Microsoft.

Privacy fears were raised about the nature of the data transmitted to Microsoft. Microsoft then released details about the nature of the information transmitted . It includes a cryptographic hash of the following ten values:

• Display adapter name
• SCSI adapter name
• IDE adapter name
• Network adapter MAC address
• RAM amount (as a range, e.g. 0-64MB, 64-128MB, etc.)
• Processor type
• Processor serial number (if applicable)
• Hard drive device
• Hard drive volume serial number
• CD-ROM/ CD-RW/ DVD-ROM identification

This information is used to seed the generation of a number which, along with the CD Key and country of installation, is transmitted to Microsoft. According to Microsoft, no specific details about the hardware are transmitted.

User interface and performance

Critics have claimed that the default Windows XP user interface (Luna) adds visual clutter and wastes screen space while offering no new functionality and running more slowly. Supporters of the new interface praise its task-oriented nature and the automatic grouping of related windows on the taskbar to reduce clutter, and point out that the higher system requirements of Windows XP allow it to easily handle the increased processor demand. With its default highly coloured buttons, cartoonish search aids and a grassy hill as the Desktop Image among other things, it is often compared to the Teletubbies by the computer press in the United Kingdom.

CNET's web site lists hundreds of positive and negative reviews of Windows XP Home and Professional from users. David Coursey, Executive Editor of ZDNet's AnchorDesk , and Paul Thurrott, who runs SuperSite for Windows have both written positive reviews of the operating system.

Integration of operating system features

In light of the Microsoft antitrust case which resulted in Microsoft being convicted for illegally abusing its operating system monopoly to overwhelm competition in other markets, Windows XP has drawn fire for integrating user applications such as Windows Media Player and MSN Messenger into the operating system, as well as for its close ties to the Microsoft Passport network service.

In 2001, ProComp claimed that the bundling and distribution of Windows Media Player in Windows XP was a continuance of Microsoft's anticompetitive behavior , and that the integration of Passport into Windows XP was a further example of Microsoft attempting to gain a monopoly in web services . Both of these claims were rebutted by the Association for Competitive Technology (ACT) and the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) . ProComp is a group including several of Microsoft's rivals, including Oracle, Sun, and Netscape. ACT and CompTIA are both funded by Microsoft. The battle being fought by fronts for each side was the subject of a heated exchange between Oracle's Larry Ellison and Microsoft's Bill Gates.

Microsoft responded on its "Freedom to Innovate" web site, pointing out that in earlier versions of Windows, Microsoft had integrated tools such as disk defragmenters, graphical file managers, and TCP/IP stacks, and there had been no protest that Microsoft was being anticompetitive. Microsoft asserted that these tools had moved from special to general usage and therefore belonged in its operating system.

To avoid the possibility of an injunction which might have delayed the release of Windows XP, Microsoft changed its licensing terms to allow PC manufacturers to hide access to Internet Explorer. (but not remove it) Competitors dismissed this as a trivial gesture . Later, Microsoft released a utility as part of the SP1 which allows icons and other links to bundled software such as Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, and MSN Messenger to be removed. The components themselves remain in the system; Microsoft maintains that they are necessary for key Windows functionality (such as the HTML Help system and Windows desktop), and that removing them completely may result in unwanted consequences. One critic, Shane Brooks, has argued that Internet Explorer could be removed without adverse effects, as demonstrated with his product XPlite. [[ Dino Nuhagic created his nLite software to remove many components from XP prior to installation of the product.

In addition, the first release of Windows XP, the "Buy Music Online" feature always used Microsoft's Internet Explorer rather than any other web browser (see comparison of web browsers) the user may have set as his default. Whether this flaw was intentional or simply an oversight is unclear. Under pressure from the United States Department of Justice, Microsoft released a patch in early 2004, which corrected the problem .

Windows XP and Piracy

Windows XP service packs are designed so that they will not install on computers running an unauthorized copy of Windows XP. These installations are identified by the "product key" which the user typed in during installation; this product key is unique to each boxed (or bundled) copy of Windows XP and is included with the product documentation, but a small number of product keys have been posted on the Internet and are responsible for a large number of unauthorized installations. The service packs contain a list of these keys and will not update copies of Windows XP which use them. This posed a problem because unauthorized installations of Windows XP could not be protected against viruses, worms and other malware which took advantage of secuirity exploits fixed in SP2 to infect PCs. As a compromise between its desire to discourage piracy and its desire to improve secuirity for Windows XP users, Microsoft chose not to update its blacklist of keys when it released Windows XP SP2. This means that SP2 will still not install on copies of Windows XP which use the older set of copied keys, but those who use keys which have been posted more recently may be able to update their systems.

See also

• Operating system
• Comparison of operating systems
• History of computing hardware
• Primary Domain Controller
• FCKGW
• OS-tan

References

• AssetMatrix (2004). Are you READY for SP2?. Technical report on compatibility issues with Windows XP Service Pack 2. Retrieved September 5, 2004.
• Anderson, Starr (Technical Writer); Abella, Vincent (Technical Editor) (August 9, 2004). Changes to Functionality in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2. Microsoft TechNet.
• Anonymous (June 20, 2004). Ask Slashdot: How To Avoid Viruses At Windows Install Time?. Slashdot.org.
• CNet Reviews (2003 - ongoing). Microsoft Windows XP - Home Edition. Retrieved 30 August, 2004.
• CNet Reviews (2003 - ongoing). Microsoft Windows XP - Professional. Retrieved 30 August, 2004.
• Coursey, David (March 26, 2001). My first look at Windows XP: It's great. Here's why. ZDNet. Retrieved 30 August, 2004.
• Greenem, Thomas C. (September 2, 2004). WinXP SP2 = security placebo?. The Register.
• Kleinbard, David (June 28, 2000) Oracle CEO rips into Gates. CNN Money.
• Leyden, John (September 2, 2004). XP SP2 glitches to trip up one in 10 upgrades - report. The Register.
• McCullagh, Declan (May 31, 2001). MS Launches Counter PR Attack. Wired.
• Microsoft (2004). Remote Desktop FAQ. Retrieved Aug. 30, 2004.
• Microsoft (2004). To change Windows visual effects. Microsoft Windows XP Professional documentation. Retrieved Aug. 30, 2004.
• Microsoft (2004). Microsoft Product Activation website. Marketing/Technical article. Retrieved 30 August, 2004.
• Microsoft (2004). Microsoft Product Activation FAQ. Online FAQ. Retrieved 30 August, 2004.
• Microsoft (Feb. 5, 2001). Microsoft Announces Windows XP and Office XP. Press release.
• Microsoft (May 1, 2001). Windows XP technical overview , Microsoft TechNet article.
• Microsoft (July 2, 2001). Windows XP Home Edition Comparison Guide.
• Microsoft (Aug. 11, 2004). Microsoft Announces Windows XP Starter Edition Pilot Program in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, Microsoft fact sheet for Windows XP Starter Edition Pilot Program in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Press releases.
• Microsoft (Last reviewed: 25 August, 2004). 833998: The "Shop for music online" link starts Internet Explorer instead of your default Web browser in Windows XP. Microsoft Knowledge Base article.
• Microsoft (Aug. 26, 2004). Windows Imaging Architecture - WIA. Microsoft WinHEC 2004 article.
• Microsoft (Last reviewed: October 18, 2001). Q234737: Architecture of fast user switching. Microsoft Knowledge Base article.
• Microsoft (Last reviewed: October 18, 2001). 294770: Computer slows when you click multiple icons in Windows XP. Microsoft Knowledge Base article.
• Microsoft (Last reviewed: October 30, 2003). Q293356: Windows XP: List of scanners that are supported by Windows Image Acquisition. Microsoft Knowledge Base article.
• Microsoft (Last reviewed: October 5, 2004). Q300546: Overview of Remote Assistance in Windows XP. Microsoft Knowledge Base article.
• Microsoft (Last reviewed: October 27, 2002). Q306546: HOWTO: Use the driver roll back feature to restore a previous version of a device driver in Windows XP. Microsoft Knowledge Base article.
• Microsoft (Last reviewed: 8/27/2004). 811113: List of fixes included in Windows XP Service Pack 2. Microsoft Knowledge Base article.
• Microsoft (Last reviewed: 8/25/2004). 842242: Some programs seem to stop working after you install Windows XP Service Pack 2. Microsoft Knowledge Base article.
• ProComp (April 26, 2001). Microsoft's Plan to Condition the Sale of Media Player on the Sale of Windows XP is Just the Latest Example of a Pattern of Continued Violations by Microsoft of both the 1995 Microsoft Consent Decree and the Sherman Act. Whitepaper.
• ProComp (June 21, 2001). Passport to Monopoly: Windows XP, Passport, and the Emerging World of Distributed Applications. Whitepaper.
• Russell, Charlie (Feb. 18, 2002) Application Compatibility in Windows XP, Microsoft Windows XP Expert Zone.
• States mull new antitrust suit against Microsoft (20 June, 2001). USA Today.
• TechRepublic: (2004) PC makers: Look before taking SP2 leap
• Thurrott, Paul (September 5, 2001). Windows XP Home Edition and Professional Reviewed. Retrieved 30 August, 2004.
• Wilcox, Joe (Last modified: July 11, 2001). Microsoft changes Windows license terms. news.com.
• Windows needs to be clean for new patch (September 3, 2004). The Sydney Morning Herald.
• WinNetMag (2004) Application Problems in Windows XP SP2

External links

• Microsoft Corporation
• Microsoft Windows XP Home Page
• Microsoft Windows XP Expert Zone Community
• Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection web connection software download site
• Microsoft Windows XP Deployment
• Open Directory Project: Windows XP

Windows XP Editions and Special Versions

• Microsoft Announces Windows XP Starter Edition Pilot Program in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand

Service Packs

Service Pack 2

• Microsoft: Windows XP SP2 Support Site for IT Professionals and for Consumers
• Windows XP Service Pack 2 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers - for installation on multiple computers simultaneously.
• Microsoft list of changes to functionality in Windows XP Service Pack 2

Useful Sites

• Overclockers Club Guides
• Windows Related News Site - Neowin.net
• Windows Guides - PC Review
• Microsoft Software Forum Network (MSFN)
• Also see the Newsgroup microsoft.public.windowsxp.general

• Google News link

• Windows