Microsoft Windows XP

Windows XP is a line of operating systems Multitâche owner developed by Microsoft for any use of the computer. Including/understanding the fixed computers, portable and Media Center. The letters " XP" come from e' XP' érience . It has for Code name " Whistler" and was famous finally in Windows XP. Windows XP is officially the successor of Windows Me and Windows 2000 and is the first family operating system developed by Microsoft based on the core of NT and the architecture of Windows NT. Windows XP left on October 25th, 2001 and in January 2006, according to an estimate of an American statistical institute, it was sold with nearly 400 million copies. It from now on is replaced by Windows Vista since January 30th, 2007.

The most current edition of Windows XP is the Familiale version which is designed for the domestic users while the Professional one who includes/understands the advanced division and the Symmetric multiprocessing moreover is intended to the users with being able (on the network) and with the computers of company. Windows XP Media Center has complementary functionalities Multimédia to make it possible for example to see and to record the TV, more comfortably to look at of DVD 'S,… Windows XP for Tablet PC is a version especially designed for the Tablet PC' S. Two versions distinct from Windows XP in 64 bits left, for the processors Itanium and for the processors X86-64.

The development of Windows XP started in 1999, when the development of Windows Neptune started, an operating system which tried to be the version " familiale" of Windows 2000. This project was abandoned and new started: Whistler which became Windows XP. A great number of ideas of the projects Neptune and Odyssey were integrated into Windows XP.

Editions

The most current edition of Windows XP is the Familiale version which is designed for the domestic users while the Professional one is intended to the users with being able and with the computers of company. The average costs of the Familiale version were of 89,90 Euro S and 144,89 € for the professional version under license OEM.

Other versions of Windows XP exist, especially versions for a specific material and limited editions for the emerging countries.

Windows XP Professionnel offers a certain number of functions not included in the version " familiale" such as:

the possibility of being member of a field and the possibility that the computer is managed by a waiter;
an access control specific to certain files to be able to avoid the access of certain users (but it can be circumvented by another system of exploration): to see NTFS, Access Control List;
the remote office makes it possible to control the computer by another system under XP in a Lan or by Internet;
a function which makes it possible to make an automatic copy of the files of another computer;
the Encrypting Spins System, which encrypte automatically data of the Hard drive what makes it possible to make it illegible without entering the password;
functions of maintenance of the computer as the patchs which are used as updates;
the support of several processors, the support of the processors bi-cœurs^,.

Windows XP for specific material

Microsoft also created versions of Windows XP for various material markets/. Five versions and two variations for processors 64 bits were created.

; Windows XP for processors 64 bits: Two variations of this edition for processors 64 bits exist, a X86-64 and a IA-64. Second was stopped beginning 2005, after Hewlett-Packard, last distributer of the work stations Itanium, ceased selling system baseds on Itanium launched on the market as “work stations”. However, Itanium is always " supported " in the editions of waiter of Windows.

; Windows XP Édition Media Center: This edition is indicated for the computers of the type Media Center. Originally, it was not to be sold, but in 2005, after many updates, Windows MCE was put on sale for the general public.

; Windows XP Édition Tablet PC: This version was created especially for the Tablet PC, it is compatible with the vertical touchscreens, manuscript writing and screens. It cannot be bought only (There does not exist in version box).

; Windows XP Embedded: This one is an edition for mobile electronics such as for the medical kiosks, automatic teller machines, apparatuses, cash registers, components of Voix on network IP, etc

; Windows Fundamentals for Legacy GCV: In July 2006, Microsoft introduced a version created for the old computers which want a safety increased while avoiding changing material.

Windows XP Édition Choke

Windows XP Édition Choke is a less expensive version of Windows XP available in Thailand, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Russia, India, Colombia, Brésil, Argentine, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Mexico, Ecuador, Uruguay and Venezuela. It is similar to Windows XP Family Édition, but the material is very limited, it can only carry out 3 programs at the same time and removes some other functions.

According to Microsoft, this edition is a solution good-market to fight illegal copyings of Windows XP and the fast development of the free alternate in Asia and South America.

Windows XP Édition NR

In March 2004, the European commission condemned Microsoft to pay a fine of 497 million Euro S and ordered with the company to provide a version of Windows without Lecteur Windows Media. The Commission concluded that Microsoft violated the laws by preventing competition because it had the quasi-monopoly in fact of the operating systems. Microsoft appealed. While waiting, a version in conformity with the European regulations was left. This version does not include the Windows Media Player of the company. But, this one encourages the users to choose his Multimedia player. Microsoft wanted to call this edition Reduced Media Edition , but the commission of the EC objected and suggested the name of " N" edition; , with the NR meaning “without multimedia player” for the Family and Professional edition of Windows XP. Since it is sold with the same price as the not modified version, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo and Fujitsu - Siemens chose not to modify the product. However, Dell used it for one short period. ,

News and modifications of the functionalities

See also: New functionalities of Windows XP

-->

Windows XP introduced a number of new functions such as:

Put in day before and fast restarting;
the possibility of integrating new pilot for Windows XP;
a more pleasant interface and the necessary one to create its own topics;
fast Change of the personal office (not of closing of session necessary);
the engine of returned characters ClearType was creates for a better reading on the screens LCD;
the remote office which makes it possible to be connected remotely to the computer to use the printer, files, peripherals,…
the support of the majority of connections by modems ADSL, WiFi or by FireWire.

User interface

Windows XP comprises a news graphic Interface user. The menus and the module of research were reorganized and much of visual effects were added, such as:

a translucent blue rectangle which makes it possible to carry out operations of files in the Explorateur Windows;
a transparency on the icons of files which indicates its contents;
Of the shades for the icons in the Windows explorer;
a regrouping of the similar applications in a button;
Windows automatically blocks the Barre of the tasks to avoid the accidental changes;
the surlignage of the programs recently installed in the menu to start;
shades under the menus;
etc…

Windows XP analyzes the impact of the visual effects automatically to determine if this graphic function does not use too many resources. But the users can use the function all the same. Certain effects such as Alpha Blending (transparency in combination of several colors) are only controlled by the recent graphics cards. But if the graphics card is not compatible the function is in any event activated (nevertheless Microsoft advises to decontaminate it manually).

Windows XP ensures the possibility of changing the user interface by using visual styles. However the styles must have a numerical signature of Microsoft to be launched. Luna is the name of the graphic style integrated in Windows XP, this one is activated as soon as the computer has more 64MO of Random access memory. Luna is only one visual style and does not modify the functionalities which remain accessible although the topic is the Classic . Certain users modify the file uxtheme.dll which blocks the installation of new topics create by the public or an unknown user.

The Papier painted by defect, called Bliss is a Photo with the format Bitmap of a landscape in the Napa Valley near Napa in California. This one consists of fatty grass and a blue sky with some clouds (Stratocumulus and Cirrus).

The traditional interface coming from Windows 2000 can be used if wished. A great number of third utilities can provide you hundreds of different topics. Moreover, Microsoft has creates another topic called Royale which was used in the Media Center Edition and the Edition for Tablet PC. According to the company of Redmond, the traditional topic, would consume 4 MB of less than the version Luna . For Zune, the Walkman of Microsoft, a topic was creates and can be downloaded on their site.

More than 100 news icons one be creates by the more known company The Iconfactory for his icons create for Graticiel S under Mac OS.

Windows XP has also a customer who is used as Interface in line of order this one is named Cmd.exe . Windows makes it possible to carry out scripts under DOS in the form of direct order or of file batch. Syntaxes of order neither are supported in the assistance nor on their site Internet. A list of basic orders is available by typing " help" or " nom_de_la_commande/? " for a specific order.

A dialog box invites the users in a friendly way to finish their installation of Windows by activating it, creating accounts of users or by indicating the data for connection Internet. The basic music was creates by Brian Eno.

Necessary configuration

Necessary configuration system to be able to launch Windows XP:

To note that constitutes only the vital minimum to make turn a system to vacuum. In practice, 256 of RAM, 2 GB of hard drive, as well as a processor of 700 MHz or more are recommended in order to have a system usable.

Service packs and updated

Microsoft left several Service pack S for the Windows systems to repair the problems and to add functions.

Service Pack 1 (SP1)

The Service Pack 1 for Windows XP left the September 9th 2002. Its greater news functions is the support of the port USB in version 2.0 and modulates it which manages the programs by defect.

For the first time, the users can choose their application of Instant messaging and them Navigateur Web by defect replacing the old made applications of office. These functions also were integrated in the Service Pack 3 of Windows 2000.

The version 1a of the SP made it possible Sun Microsystems to gain place with Java by obliging Microsoft to remove its virtual Machine Java.

From a material point of view, it makes it possible to recognize and use thehard ones of more than 137 GB and supports from now on the Serial ATA by defect.

Microsoft offered a support of assistance until the October 10th 2006 for these two versions which are the SP1 & SP1a.

Service Pack 2 (SP2)

The SP2 (in the past named " Springboard") the August 6th 2004 left after several carryforwards with a specific target which Computer security is the . The service pack has new applications such as the Pare-feu Windows, an integral support of the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and a blocker of Pop-up for Internet Explorer. The principal improvements of safety relate to the fire wall which from now on is activated By defect and a module which blocks the improper use of the applications in Random access memory and of CPU. Moreover, other modules of safety were integrated in the Navigateur Web and the Client of transport and includes the Center of safety Windows which gives an outline of the safety of the computer and updates. A Anti-virus software and a Pare-feu third can be used and their outline is indicated above.

Windows Movie Maker 2 has a new user interface, transitions from image, video effects or of the new options. A complete listing of the updates is available on their site.

The company AssetMetrix announced that a computer on ten has interferences with their applications^,.

The SP2 includes also great updates for the editions for Tablet PC and Media Center and nearly 25 supported Langue S.

It creates also many visual differences on the level such as the suppression of designation " (C) 1985-2001" , the edition is not posted any more and bars it indicating the loading is blue for all the editions. Still another detail, the icon of Wi-Fi connection which before was symbolized by two computers as for connections by LAN from now on is represented by only one with symbol of wave on the right-sided.

The SP2 also introduced a severe incompatibility of the pack with the processors Prescott what made these PC impossible to booter. However, Intel and Microsoft found solutions to remove the problem.

Service Pack 3 (SP3)

Waited for the first six-month period 2008, the SP3 of Windows XP should integrate more than one hundred of corrective measures and make functional improvements. This SP3 is made wait since 2006. And due: Forever hidden Bill Gates that the main competitor of Vista is not other than Windows XP SP2.

But let us not forget either that the development teams of the editor are not extensible ad infinitum. They work in this moment even on Windows Server 2008 and famous Vista SP1. But seven reasons push Microsoft to update its XP.

1 - Already more than one hundred patchs since the SP2

Since Service Pack 2 of Windows XP in September 2004, more than one hundred corrective measures came to enrich the operating system via its service by update automatic Windows Update. The actualization of a XP SP2 lately installed is consequently rather long, not to say painful. And this as well for a private individual as for a company.

2 - To improve the stability of the system

This SP3 should contain a currently known extension under the name of XP Explorer Reliability Pack. Objective: primarily to improve the stability of the Windows Explorer.

3 - To reinforce safety

The SP3 should comprise out of standard a version improved of Security Center (adapted of Vista) and last grinding of Windows Defender. In the beginning, Microsoft also envisaged to incorporate in the SP3 the renovated fire wall of Vista.

4 - To integrate the new software house

The editor of Redmond should install automatically not only Windows Media Player 11 and Internet Explorer 7 but also Windows Live Mail (currently in beta). This last would thus advantageously replace Outlook Express, since it integrates anti-phishing protection mechanisms and anti-spam, as well as the support of flows RSS. Windows Live Photo Gallery, the new version of the Gallery Photograph present in Vista would be also of the part.

5 - To take into account the needs for the companies

For the companies, the SP3 will include/understand Unified Access Control and Network Access Protection (already present in Vista), two technologies in particular intended to insulate the portable PC trying to connect itself to the corporate network. Interest? To check that their protections are up to date and that the machines were not infected since their last internal network connection.

6 - To support the Windows applications to come

The SP3 should propose out of standard version 3.5 of the .NET Framework (currently in beta), which comprises many improvements on the part 3D of WPF (Windows Presentation Fundation, successor of the GDI). In other words, the whole of the new applications 3D based on this new architecture of Windows Vista should function on Windows XP.

7 - Not to compete with Vista

Contrary to the rumors circulating on Internet, it is very little probable until DirectX 10 is born under XP, the more so as the version 10.1 of the famous ludic platform of Microsoft (it also waited at the end of 2007) is associated with audio and video specificities of Vista.

Microsoft does not indicate either if the SP3 will profit from a test program Beta, nor which will be exactly the functional innovations or the corrections as regards safety.

Microsoft Windows XP SP3 was made available for the testers beta. The weight of the remote loading is of 350 MB and the SP3 of XP should correct some 900 problems of the operating system.

According to all probabilities, the SP3 will integrate an update improving the stability of the explorer Windows, update which recently was published by Microsoft near the testers of Windows Server 2008 Beta.

In addition, Microsoft indicated in the current of May that the SP3 would benefit from a new technology of control unified network.

The SP3 is made wait from the exit in August 2004 of Service Pack 2 of Windows XP, more than one hundred of corrective measures were made public by Microsoft. To gather in a Service Pack will be thus welcome whereas the mitigated success of Windows Vista in the world of the company pushes Microsoft not to be dropped immediately its old system high-speed motorboat.

Criticisms frequent

Security breaches

User interface and performance

Critics affirmed that the interface owing to lack of Windows XP ( Luna ) is visually detrimental and wastes space on the screen whereas it does not offer any new functionality and is carried out more slowly. Some of these criticisms go until calling it “the interface Fisher-Price”, as one invites of order resembling more a window DOS of Windows 9x that CMD, a great number of old applications DOS meet errors. These errors are due to the fact that XP is based on core NT and thus does not use any more MS-DOS as basic operating system. There exist solutions Open Source such as DOSBox and FreeDOS, although in rare cases a true MS-DOS environment is always necessary.

Activation of the product

Whereas activation becomes an increasingly frequent thing, many problems can remain. Windows XP introduced the user S occasional with the activation of their product by creating a bubble announcing to them that the product must be activated. The system was presented by Microsoft to limit the illegal distribution of Windows XP. Activation obliges the user to activate the product on the waiter Microsoft after a certain time to continue to use the Operating system. If the user changes computer or if two or more components are changed, the waiter can refuse to activate the software because it does not correspond to the original configuration.

Windows Genuine Advantage

WGA is a tool which analyzes the version of Windows XP to know if it is legal or not. If the n° of license is not authentic, it reveals with the user a bubble which advises to him to buy a legal version at Microsoft, and the users who reach Windows Update will be able to download only the priority updates, but the new versions of DirectX, Windows Defender, Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player and others will refuse installer^,.

It is important to announce that this tool, when it is downloaded on networks P2P, is often cracké and illegal, which makes it possible to easily distort the results of report/ratio of the software.

References

See too

External bonds

Official site;

Simple: Windows XP Zh-min-nan: Windows XP

Random links: