Windows XP is the next version of
Microsoft Windows beyond Windows 2000 and Windows Millennium. Windows XP brings
the convergence of Windows operating systems by integrating the strengths of
Windows 2000—standards-based security, manageability and reliability with the
best features of Windows 98 and Windows Me—Plug and Play, easy-to-use user
interface, and innovative support services to create the best Windows yet.
This article provides a broad technical
overview of what’s new in Windows XP. It shows how new technologies and
features make it easier to get work done, share information, manage your
desktop, stay productive while traveling with a mobile computer, obtain help and
support, and perform many other computing tasks.
Windows XP is built on an enhanced Windows
2000 code base, with different versions aimed at home users and business users:
Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional. Unless otherwise noted,
this article addresses technologies and features common to both versions of the
operating system.
While maintaining the core of Windows
2000, Windows XP features a fresh new visual design. Common tasks have been
consolidated, and simplified, and new visual cues have been added to help you
navigate your computer more easily. This section introduces the innovations in
the user interface that make it easier to use your computer at work or at home.
Designed for the home, Fast User Switching
lets everyone use a single computer as if it were their own. There is no need to
log someone else off and have to decide whether to save another user’s files.
Instead Windows XP takes advantage of Terminal Services technology and runs each
user session as a unique Terminal Services session, enabling each user’s data
to be entirely separated. (The additional memory overhead for each session is
approximately 2 megabytes (MB) of RAM; however, this size does not account for
any applications that may be running in the sessions. In order to run reliable
multi-user sessions, a total of at least 128 MB of RAM is recommended.)
Enabled by default if you’re using
Windows XP Home Edition, Fast User Switching is also available on Windows XP
Professional if you install it on a stand alone or workgroup-connected computer.
If you join a domain with a computer running Windows XP Professional, you will
not be able to use Fast User Switching.
Fast user switching makes it easier for
families to share a single computer. For example, if a mother uses the computer
to work on finances and has to leave for a short period of time, her son can
switch to his own account and play a game. The financial application is left
running and open in the mother's account. All of this is done without logging
off. Switching users is easy with the new Welcome screen easily customizable
with pictures for each user who logs on to the computer, as shown in Figure 1
below.
Figure 1. Welcome Screen in Windows XP
Windows XP has new visual styles and
themes that use sharp 24-bit color icons and unique colors that can be easily
related to specific tasks. For example, green represents tasks that enable you
do something or go somewhere, such as the Start menu.
The Start menu was designed to adapt to
the way you work. Your five favorite programs display first, and your default
e-mail and Web browser are always available, as shown in Figure 2 below. It
groups your most frequently used files and applications together for quick and
easy access. One click also gets you to Help and Support, and tools to configure
your system. In addition, you can further customize the Start menu to suit your
needs.
Figure 2. Windows XP provides a redesigned Start menu that
groups frequently used applications
Windows XP makes it easier to search by
grouping search related tasks into a Search Companion as shown in Figure 3
below.
Figure 3. Searching is made easier with the Search Companion
Windows XP makes it easy to keep track of
your files by letting you arrange them in various groups. You can view your
documents by type as shown in Figure 4 below. You can also group files according
to the last time you modified them such as today, yesterday, last week, two
months ago, earlier this year, or last year.
Figure 4. Windows XP can arrange files in groups
Windows XP uses Webview technology helping
you better manage files and the file namespace. For example, if you select a
file or folder, you see a list of options allowing you to rename, move, copy,
e-mail, remove it, or publish to the Web. This functionality is similar to what
you see in Windows 2000 if you right-click on a file or folder; Windows XP takes
this information and brings it into view directly on the desktop, as shown in
Figure 5 below.
Figure 5. Webview provides easy access to tasks
Windows XP introduces an easier-to-manage
taskbar by grouping multiple instances of the same application. For example,
instead of having nine instances of a Microsoft Word file each arranged
horizontally on the taskbar, Windows XP groups them together on one taskbar
button. In this scenario, you see only one taskbar button, showing the number of
files that are open for the application. Clicking the button shows the vertical
list of all file names, as shown in Figure 6 below. In addition, the files can
all be cascaded, tiled, or minimized at the same time.
Figure 6. Windows XP groups applications together on the
taskbar
The new user interface takes the Windows
operating system to a new level of usability, enabling you to complete tasks
more easily and faster than ever before. The rest of this article highlights new
technologies in Windows XP.
This section introduces technical
enhancements in Windows MediaTM
Player 8 and briefly describes new capabilities for digital image processing.
Windows XP features Windows Media Player
8, which brings together common digital media activities including CD and DVD
playback, jukebox management and recording, audio CD creation, Internet radio
playback, and media transfer to portable devices.
Windows Media Player 8 includes new
features such as DVD video playback with rich media information and full screen
controls, CD-to-PC music copying and automatic conversion of MP3 files. Windows
Media Audio 8 provides nearly three times the music storage of MP3 with faster
audio CD burning and intelligent media tracking for more control over digital
media. Within Windows XP, the new “My Music” folder makes common music tasks
easier to perform.
In addition, Windows Media Player 8
includes the following:
§
Ability to
lock down Windows Media Player features in a managed network. Windows Media
Player has a standard corporate skin that can be deployed in a network. If the
Active Directory® service is enabled, administrators can specify a corporate
skin, restrict playback formats and codecs, and specify other customizations on
a per-group or per-user basis. (This requires client computers to run Windows XP
Professional.)
§
Digital
broadcast support. Supports analog and digital TV (including HDTV). This
includes signal demodulation, tuning, software de-multiplexing, and guide store.
In addition you can enable IP data broadcasting such as extract streams from a
digital TV signal.
§
Accelerated
video rendering. Standardized MPEG-2 video acceleration provides smoother and
faster playback using a subset of DirectX® APIs.
§
Video mixing
renderer. This supports alpha blending letting you phase in multiple videos,
overlay them, or integrate close captioning of text. Video is treated as a
texture and can take advantage of 3-D graphics. For example, you could overlay
videos on each side of a cube as it rotates.
§
Expanded
support for more audio cards and their features. For example, card manufacturers
can provide support for Dolby Digital.
Windows Movie Maker version 1.1 provides
base-level features for Windows Media capture and file creation, simple editing
of video and audio, and the saving and publishing of Windows Media files.
Although the utility produces output only in the Windows Media format, it will
import all file formats and compression types supported by the DirectShow
architecture.
If your computer does not contain any
video capture hardware, all other non-video capture-related features of the
application are fully functional and they allow for the importing and editing of
media assets that exist on your computer.
Windows Movie Maker has many practical
uses. If you want to archive your home video library collection onto the hard
drive of a PC, you can record, edit, organize, and share the home video library
from a PC. You could also share the home video with family and friends via
e-mail or over the Web. If you want to make a video slide show, you can combine
still images and publish into a Windows Media format.
Windows XP makes it easier to use digital
devices and provides many options to manipulate images such as publishing
pictures to the Web, e-mailing photos (with an option of compressing them for
you for smaller file size), displaying pictures in an automatic slideshow, and
allowing you to zoom in on images.
This section shows how Windows XP makes it
easier to install and operate devices and outlines some of the newer hardware
technologies supported by the operating system. It also discusses how advances
in application compatibility ensure that most applications will run on the new
operating system.
Device and hardware support has been
improved in many ways for Windows XP, underlining the support for greater system
stability and device compatibility. Like Windows 2000 before it, Windows XP
simplifies the process of installing, configuring, and managing computer
hardware. Windows XP includes Plug and Play support for hundreds of devices not
covered by Windows 2000, and enhanced support for Universal Serial Bus (USB),
IEEE 1394, Peripheral Component Interface (PCI), and other buses.
Plug and Play—the way the operating
system detects hardware and installs drivers for it—has been improved in
Windows XP, resulting in better usability and performance, especially when
installing devices. And while the driver model is largely unchanged from Windows
2000, Windows XP draws from the Windows Millennium driver model to add Windows
Image Acquisition (WIA), a rich interface that facilitates image acquisition
from still image and serial devices such as scanners and digital cameras built
on the small computer system interface (SCSI), IEEE 1394, and USB standards. WIA
replaces TWAIN at the application services layer to provide better communication
between applications and devices.
Several new features of the operating
system are designed to make it easier to install and work with devices,
including:
§
AutoPlay.
This enables you simply to connect a new device or insert media, and start using
it right away. When Windows detects the connection of new devices or
media—such as flash cards, Zip disks, and CDs—it determines the content,
such as pictures, music, or video, and automatically starts the appropriate
application. AutoPlay is configured in the Properties dialog box for the media
device, as shown in Figure 7 below.
Figure 7. Configuring Autoplay
§
Windows XP
Uninstall. This
provides an added safeguard if you upgrade from Windows 98 or Windows Me and you
find that important devices or applications that worked under the previous
operating system do not work as expected under Windows XP. This option is not
available for those who upgrade from the Windows NT® Workstation 4.0 or Windows
2000 Professional operating systems.
Windows XP also supports many new hardware
technologies including:
§
Expanded PS/2
and USB interface keyboards, which have additional keys for multimedia
functions, Web browsing, power management, and/or other functions.
§
New
audio/visual (A/V) devices using the IEEE 1394 interface such as digital VHS
recorders.
§
New USB array
microphones (of the type used in conferencing applications and Internet
telephony) that mix audio streams through kernel-mode Global Effects (GFX).
§
Wireless
networking devices, in particular two adapters from Sierra: the AirCard 300,
which enables 19.2 kilobit per second (kbps) Internet connections wherever
digital cell phone service is available; and the AirCard 400, which enables 128
kbps connections in cities served by the new Ricochet network.
§
Support for
high resolution monitors built to display up to 200 dots per inch (dpi).
§
The Intel
Itanium 64-bit processor, for which Microsoft has developed the 64-bit version
of Windows XP. For more information see 64-bit support below.
§
USB
microphones, which benefit from Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC), a signal
processing feature that reduces feedback, echo and other ambient noise from an
input channel.
§
Multifunction
devices, such as scanner-fax-printer combinations, which benefit from greater
driver coverage and simplified driver installation.
§
Still-image
devices that conform to WIA architecture.
§
High-density
storage devices and media (DVDs and CDs).
Recent advances in storage technology have
made it easier and more affordable to work with CDs and DVDs. Windows XP
introduces native support for reading and writing to DVD-RAM drives, and can
read the soon-to-be-adopted Universal Disk Format (UDF) 2.01, the common
standard for DVD media, including DVD-ROM discs and DVD videos. (In contrast,
Windows 2000 can only read UDF 1.02– and 1.5–compatible disks).
Further, by means of the image mastering
API (IMAPI), Windows XP allows you to master CDs in the CD-R or CD-RW formats,
using simple drag-and-drop functionality and wizard-facilitated processes.
When you save or copy a file to CD, the
operating system first pre-masters the complete image on your hard drive, and
then streams the data to your CD burner for recording. Pre-mastering effectively
minimizes the buffer underruns that generate errors in the recording process and
render media useless (an all-too-frequent occurrence when recording "on the
fly").
As Windows XP represents the convergence
of the consumer line of Microsoft operating systems (Windows 95, Windows 98, and
Windows Millennium) and the business line of Microsoft operating systems
(Windows NT, Windows 2000), the new operating system offers extensive
compatibility with third-party applications for both home and business users.
Windows XP will be compatible with almost all of the top 1,000 applications that
ran under Windows 9x, and almost every application that ran under Windows 2000,
with the exception of anti-virus programs, system utilities, and backup
applications (for which in most cases updates will be available from their
manufacturers when Windows XP is released). For the various specialized
applications not tested by Microsoft in the development of Windows XP, Microsoft
will offer an Application Compatibility Toolkit through the MSDN® developer
program, which will help developers make their applications Windows
XP–compatible.
Application fixes included in Windows XP
help resolve application compatibility problems, such as those that occur when
applications incorrectly detect the operating system version or when they
reference memory after it has been freed. Fixes are invoked automatically by the
operating system to make otherwise incompatible applications function; no user
intervention is required.
In addition, as new applications appear or
new fixes become available, application updates can be downloaded automatically
from the Windows Update Web site using the Automatic Updates feature (introduced
with Windows Millennium).
For applications originally designed for
earlier versions of Windows that do not work on Windows XP, you can take
advantage of an application compatibility mode as shown in Figure 8. below. This
works by emulating the environment of an earlier OS dating back to Windows 95.
Figure 8. Windows XP can simulate conditions of earlier
operating systems
Windows XP has a new folder under Windows
called “WinSxS” (Windows Side-by-Side). This area is used to store versions
of Windows XP components that are built to reduce configuration problems with
Dynamic Link Libraries (DLL) (DLL hell). Multiple versions of components are
stored in this folder. Windows XP allows Win32® API components and applications
to use the exact version of Microsoft components with which they are tested and
not be impacted by other application or operating system updates. It does this
by relying on XML files that contain metadata about application configuration
such as COM classes, interfaces, and type libraries.
This section introduces file and print
features in Windows XP.
Windows XP enables lets you publish
documents on Internet servers and update them later. This is done using WebDAV
(Web Digital Authoring & Versioning) technology—a standard Internet file
access protocol that travels via HTTP over existing Internet infrastructure
(firewalls, routers, and so on.). Windows XP includes a WebDAV redirector which
means you can access servers on the Internet just as you would a file share or
server share at home or at work.
While traditional file sharing protocols
are limited in their ability to provide you with access to your data in every
location, WebDAV uses Internet protocols that enable access to data repositories
anywhere on the Internet. WebDAV lets you get to your data from wherever you are
while using standard software applications.
For example, if you wanted to share a file
with a colleague located at another location, you could use WebDAV over the
Internet to collaborate on the same file; or maybe you’re an ISP and you want
to host storage for customers that they can access directly using their own
applications, then WebDAV is your solution. In general, you can use the WebDAV
redirector to publish your own Web data, or to use Internet repositories for
storing data and sharing information.
You now have the option to encrypt the
Offline Files database—also known as the Client-side Cache (CSC). This is an
improvement over Windows 2000 where the cached files could not be encrypted.
Windows XP offers you the option of encrypting the Offline Files database to
safeguard all locally-cached documents from theft while at the same time
providing additional security to your locally cached data.
For example, you can use offline files
while keeping your sensitive data secure. And if you're an IT administrator you
can use this feature to safeguard all locally-cached documents from theft. CSC
is an excellent safeguard if your notebook computer gets stolen with
confidential data saved in the offline files cache.
This feature supports the encryption and
decryption of the entire offline database. Administrative privileges are
required to configure how the offline files will be encrypted. To encrypt
offline files go to Folder Options under Tools in My Computer and check
"Encrypt offline files to secure data" under the Offline Files tab.
Figure 9. Configuring Offline Files
This feature enables recognition,
mounting, and formatting of 32-bit File Allocation Table (FAT32) volumes on
Digital Video Disk-Random Access Memory (DVD-RAM) disks in super-floppy format.
You can use a DVD-RAM disk with a FAT32
format and Windows XP will recognize, mount and format your FAT32 volumes on DVD-RAM
disks in super-floppy format; that is, the disk volume has no partition table.
You can use a DVD-RAM disk with FAT32 formatting with any common removable media
drive; (for example: magneto-optic and Jazz). FAT32 formatting also provides
built-in, reliable support for DVD-RAM media, and allows these devices to plug
into Windows XP and 'just work'.
Print Access with NetCrawler enables
NetCrawler to find and automatically install and connect to all of the shared
printers that it finds on a home or business network. The NetCrawler enables
users who are unfamiliar with networking to have easy, automatically configured
access to the computers and devices in a workgroup. It does this by searching
out and providing links to network resources. NetCrawler "crawls" the
"Entire Network" folder.
For example, if you set up a new computer
at the office (or at home) and you want to print some documents, NetCrawler
finds the available printers and displays them for you. Shares that have not
been seen by NetCrawler in 48 hours will be aged-out of My Network Places by
deleting shortcuts to those resources.
NetCrawler is on by default when you
install Windows XP Home Edition, and on Windows XP Professional when your
computer is in workgroup-mode and not logged on to a domain.
NetCrawler checks for new resources
whenever you log on to a network, and whenever you open or refresh your Printers
and My Net Places folders. It doesn’t "crawl" in the following
situations: when a Remote Access Server (RAS) or Virtual Private Network (VPN)
connection is active; when you are logged on to a Terminal Server session; if
your machine is a member of a domain; or if the shell restriction "NoNetCrawling"
is set.
Fax Sharing lets you send and receive
faxes using your fax hardware (a fax-capable modem or fax board)-or over a
computer network offering fax sharing services. You can send a fax using the
Microsoft Outlook? messaging and collaboration client, or from any other
application that supports printing. The Windows XP fax sharing feature set
provides tight integration with the contact list in the Outlook, the ability to
preview a fax before it is sent, and, when faxing over a network, the option to
receive an e-mail confirming the fax was received. Fax Sharing also lets you
send a separate fax cover page or attach one to any document you’re sending.
The ability to track and monitor your fax service is also part of the package.
New wizards make it simple to configure fax software and send a fax.
Administrators can fully control fax capabilities using the Microsoft Management
Console (MMC), and the COM API, while developers can use the object model to
send faxes programmatically. Fax sharing in Windows XP is fully interoperable
with the Back Office Server (BOS)/Small Business Server (SBS) 2000 shared fax
service.
This section shows how Windows XP makes it
easier to set up networks without having to be an expert in networking.
With the addition of Device Plug and Play
capabilities to the operating system, it’s much easier to set up, configure,
and add peripherals to a PC. Universal Plug and Play extends this simplicity to
include the entire network, enabling discovery and control of devices, including
networked devices and services, such as network-attached printers, Internet
gateways, and consumer electronics equipment.
Universal Plug and Play is more than just
a simple extension of the Plug and Play peripheral model. It is designed to
support zero-configuration, "invisible" networking, and automatic
discovery for a breadth of device categories from a wide range of vendors. With
Universal Plug and Play, a device can dynamically join a network, obtain an IP
address, convey its capabilities, and learn about the presence and capabilities
of other devices-all automatically; truly enabling zero configuration networks.
Devices can subsequently communicate with each other directly; thereby further
enabling peer to peer networking.
The varieties of device types that can
benefit from a Universal Plug and Play enabled network are large and include
intelligent appliances, wireless devices, and PCs of all form factors.
The scope of Universal Plug and Play is
large enough to encompass many existing, as well as new and exciting scenarios
including home automation, printing and imaging, audio/video entertainment,
kitchen appliances, automobile networks, and proximity networks in public
venues.
Universal Plug and Play uses standard
TCP/IP and Internet protocols, enabling it to seamlessly fit into existing
networks. Using these standardized protocols allows Universal Plug and Play to
benefit from a wealth of experience and knowledge, and makes interoperability an
inherent feature. Because Universal Plug and Play is a distributed, open network
architecture, defined by the protocols used, it is independent of any particular
operating system, programming language, or physical medium (just like the
Internet). Universal Plug and Play does not specify the APIs applications will
use, allowing operating system vendors to create the APIs that will meet their
customer needs.
Introduced in Windows 98, Internet
Connection Sharing (ICS) provides a convenient and economical method for more
than one computer to be connected in a home by using a single dial-up connection
as a gateway, whether for access to the Internet or to a corporate network.
Instead of requiring that each device behind the gateway have a globally unique
IP address, it is possible to allocate private addresses to such devices, and
the gateway can translate private IP addresses in all traffic that passes
through the dial-up connection.
The Home Networking Wizard automates
network configuration and Internet Connection Sharing. It uses bridging mode to
allow you to set up a local area network (LAN) without requiring you to know
about networking protocols and physical networking requirements.
The wizard:
§
Enables PCs
on the network to use friendly names such as "Den Computer."
§
Automatically
sets up and configures Internet Connection Sharing, Internet Explorer, and the
Personal Firewall.
§
Automatically
detects which NIC card is your Internet connection.
§
Uses the DHCP
allocator to automatically detect network configurations and update settings as
required.
Home users often want to use different
network media to connect their computers; for example, users may want a wireless
infrared network connection for a notebook computer and an Ethernet connection
from the computer in the den to the computer in the kitchen. In the past, the
typical multi-segment IP network required assigning a subnet number to each
segment, configuring hosts on each subnet, and configuring packet forwarding
between the subnets.
Microsoft sought to simplify the setup and
administration of a multi-segment home network.
Windows XP includes a media-access control
(MAC) bridge component that can transparently interconnect network segments
using the Spanning Tree Algorithm (STA). The MAC bridge incorporated in Windows
XP allows the entire home network to operate as a single IP subnet.
Windows XP simplifies the setup and
administration of a multi-segment home network with a media-access control (MAC)
bridge component. This uses a Spanning Tree Algorithm (STA) that can
transparently interconnect network segments. The MAC bridge incorporated in
Windows XP allows the entire home network to operate as a single IP subnet.
A bridge is a network device to connect
two or more physical networks. It maintains a list of hardware devices on the
network and checks the address of each data transmission to see if the recipient
is on the network.
The primary installation method for the
bridge is through the Home Networking Wizard. However advanced users can quickly
install, configure, and remove the bridge without having to run the wizard.
You may want to manually configure the
bridge in the following scenarios if you have:
§
Multiple
adapters on your computer and want to bridge them.
§
An existing
bridge and want to remove it.
§
An existing
bridge on an ICS host and later want to remove a segment from the bridge.
This section introduces how Microsoft's
unified Help and Support Services Center brings together all support services in
one place—with access to Remote Assistance, automatic updates, online Help,
and other tools. As shown in Figure 10 below, Windows XP makes it easier to find
the assistance you need.
Figure 10. Windows XP provides one place to access help and
support.
Computer users, particularly users without
much technical expertise, often have configuration problems or usage questions
that are difficult for a support professional or even just a friend or family
member to diagnose and fix over the phone. Remote Assistance provides a way for
users to get the help they need and makes it easier and less costly for
corporate helpdesks to assist their users. Plus, experienced users can tap
Remote Assistance to directly help their friends and family members.
The fastest way to use Remote Assistance
is via instant messaging using the MSN® Messenger Service. You can also
initiate Remote Assistance sessions via e-mail or you can fill out a form and
save it as a file and then e-mail it using Web-based services such as Hotmail.
After receiving a request for Remote
Assistance, the helper can remotely connect to a problem-PC and view the screen
directly to fix the problem. When you initiate a request for help, the Remote
Assistance client sends an encrypted ticket based on XML to the helper who is
prompted to accept the invitation. This process works as shown in Figure 11
below.
Figure 11. The Remote Assistance Session
A sample remote assistance session is
shown in Figure 12 below. The helper's Start menu appears in the lower left hand
corner. The inset screen shows the desktop of the user requesting Remote
Assistance. The helper can view this desktop, chat with the user and send files
such as a patch or hotfix. In this mode, the user retains full control of the
mouse and keyboard. Or the user can grant a higher level of temporary permission
to the helper by enabling remote control of the keyboard and mouse.
Figure 12. Remote Assistance provides interactive, real-time
support.
The RA client has multiple security
features to protect against unauthorized access to your computer and the remote
session:
§
The ticket
providing access to the remote session is encrypted: only the target recipient
can decode the ticket.
§
The RA
session expires based on the duration that you specify when you request the
session. This timeout can be as short as a minute or as long as 99 days. The
default period is one hour.
§
When the
session expires all authentication information is deleted automatically.
§
By default,
the RA client requests the user to create a password. You can either send this
password in a separate e-mail to your helper or use a password that you know
will be familiar to both you and your helper.
An extensible search mechanism will make
it possible to find content from multiple remote and online providers who
provide support content. A standard set of interfaces enables the Help and
Support Services tool to accommodate and communicate easily with most search
engines. For example, if you have problems setting up a new cable modem, you
would be able to search for the term "cable modem" and receive links
to local Help files, articles from the Microsoft Knowledge Base, or documents
from a participating manufacturer's Web site.
Getting precise Help information is
further enhanced by full text capabilities that let you search across the entire
Windows user assistance compiled HTML Help files database, using Boolean
operators. For example, if you’re an IT administrator looking for help in
deploying Active Directory using Group Policy, you can use this feature to
obtain a more complete and precise search in Active Directory. And if you want
to submit incident reports and look at Help or system information at the same
time, multiple instances capabilities let you open two sessions of Help and
Support Services.
Finding the arcane details of your OS is
made easier with system information in the Help and Support Center. You now have
an easy-to-comprehend, highly accessible view of personalized software and
hardware information specific to your computer. For example, this is especially
useful if you are on the telephone with a product support engineer and you need
to relate BIOS information about your computer. Now you can access system
information and quickly relate relevant BIOS information to help resolve the
issue.
Network administrators have the option of
placing a support URL for specific applications in the Add/Remove Programs
dialog box. When the application appears in the Add/Remove Programs on target
computers, users can select the Support Information URL and go to a support Web
page. This feature can assist in reducing calls to a Helpdesk or support team.
For example, users could be directed to a page containing the top 10 frequently
asked questions for an application.
This diagnostic tool (Msconfig.exe)
simplifies troubleshooting tasks that might normally be beyond the ability of
many users. By automating the standard troubleshooting steps, the tool walks
users through basic troubleshooting steps from one location. It’s the same
tool used by Microsoft Product Support Services technicians when diagnosing
issues with the Windows configuration. You can use this tool to modify the
system configuration through a process of elimination with check boxes, reducing
the risk of typing errors.
The System Configuration Utility can also
create a backup copy of your system files before you begin a troubleshooting
session. Creating backup copies of your system files ensures that the
modifications made during your troubleshooting session can be reversed. You can
also restore a backup file using the System Configuration Utility.
This section explains how Windows XP
builds on the innovations for mobile users built into Windows 2000 such as power
management and extensive hardware support. It also discusses usability
improvements that make mobile computing easier and more efficient.
As in Windows 2000, power management in
Windows XP is based on the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI)
specification. Windows XP builds on the Windows 2000 implementation of ACPI to
offer additional power management features that enable the operating system to
control the use of power by computers and hardware. Many of the new power
management features are beneficial to mobile computer users, such as:
§
Processor
power control.
While the CPU runs at full speed on AC power, the mobile computer can be made to
run with lower CPU speeds while on battery power. The reduced CPU speeds save on
battery power, giving mobile users extended use of their notebook computers.
§
CardBus
Wake-on-LAN.
Windows XP introduces support for CardBus Wake-on-LAN, a technology that allows
IT departments to better manage notebook computers plugged into corporate
networks. With CardBus Wake-on-LAN, notebook computers in Standby mode can be
"woken up" for system updates, software installations, and so forth,
and then returned to Standby. This function allows system administrators to
address networked notebook computers as needed without requiring the notebooks
to be left on full power. (Wake-on-LAN technology for desktop computers is also
improved in Windows XP, allowing more refined control of wake-up events.)
§
Wake on
Battery. When a
system in Standby is running on batteries and power drops to low, a wake event
can be triggered that allows the system to enter Hibernation mode and preserve
data.
§
Lid power
and display dimming.
When the lid of a mobile computer is closed, the display is powered off, thus
conserving battery power. And when a mobile computer is running on battery
power, the LCD monitor is dimmed. Upon reconnection to AC power, the original
brightness in the LCD resumes.
Several new features make it easier to get
work done when you’re on the road including:
§
ClearType
Support.
ClearType, a new text display technology triples the horizontal resolution
available for rendering text through software resulting in clearer display of
text on a standard LCD screen with digital interface.
§
Automatic
Configuration for Multiple Networks.
This provides easy access to network devices and the Internet, allowing you to
connect your mobile computer to both office and home networks without having to
manually reconfigure TCP/IP settings. If a DHCP server is not found, TCP/IP will
use an alternate configuration. The alternate configuration is useful in
situations where the computer is used on more than one network and one of those
networks does not have a DHCP server and an automatic private IP addressing
configuration is not desired.
§
Connection
Manager Favorites.
The Favorites feature for Connection Manager lets you eliminate repetitive
configuration of the Connection Manager properties when switching between common
dialing locations. This makes it easy to store and access settings. For example,
if you travel between a home office and a business partner’s site, you can use
Connection Manager to establish settings for each location, including the
nearest access telephone number, area code and dialing rules. You can then
choose between saved settings to quickly set up network connections from each
location.
§
Infrared (IrComm)
Modem. IrComm
Modem is a driver that exposes the IrDA stack to cellular telephones. This lets
you use legacy cellular telephones that have IrCOMM virtual serial ports. If you
have an infrared-enabled cellular telephone with IrCOMM protocol and want to use
it as a modem to access the Internet, the mobile computer will recognize the
cellular telephone, enumerate it and install it as a modem. This lets you dial
to the Internet in the same way you would with a built-in modem.
In addition, mobile users benefit from
other features designed to enhance their experience with hardware, such as
DualView, which is an extension to the multiple monitor support built into
Windows 98, Windows Me, and Windows 2000. Some high-end display adapters and
many notebook computers support two interfaces to the same display adapter.
DualView enables the two interfaces to display different outputs at the same
time. For example, on a notebook, you can connect a monitor and use both the
notebook computer display and the external monitor to expand your desktop space.
Or, if you are using your notebook for a presentation, you can use the notebook
display to look up data or documents, without interfering with the presentation
on the second monitor.
Remote Desktop is based on Terminal
Services technology. Using Remote Desktop, you can run applications on a remote
computer running Windows XP Professional from any other client running a
Microsoft® Windows® operating system. The applications run on the Windows XP
Professional–based computer and only the keyboard input, mouse input, and
display output data are transmitted over the network to the remote location.
Figure 13. Starting Remote Desktop
Remote Desktop lets you take advantage of
the flexibility provided by a distributed computing environment. A standard
component of Windows XP Professional (although not included in Windows XP Home
Edition), Remote Desktop lets you access your Windows XP computer from anywhere,
over any connection, using any Windows-based client. Remote Desktop gives you
secure access to all your applications, files, and network resources—as if you
were in front of your own workstation. Any applications that you leave running
at the office are running when you connect remotely—at home, in a conference
room, or on the road.
Using Remote Desktop you can, for example,
connect to your office computer from home and access all your applications,
files, and network resources as though you were in front of your computer at the
office. This ability allows more people in an organization to take advantage of
the flexibility provided by a distributed computing environment.
Remote Desktop works well even under low
bandwidth conditions because all your applications are hosted on the terminal
server. Only keyboard, mouse, and display information are transmitted over the
network.
If you’re an IT administrator, Remote
Desktop provides you with a rapid response tool: it lets you remotely access a
server running Windows 2000 Server or Whistler Server and see messages on the
console, administer the computer remotely, or apply headless server control.
The features provided by Remote Desktop
are made available through the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). RDP is a
presentation protocol that allows a Windows-based terminal (WBT), or other
Windows-based clients, to communicate with a Windows-based terminal server. RDP
is designed to provide remote display and input capabilities over network
connections for Windows-based applications running on your Windows XP
Professional desktop. RDP works across any TCP/IP connection including a dial-up
connection, LAN, WAN, ISDN, DSL, or VPN.
When you use Remote Desktop from a Windows
XP-based client, or another RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) 5.1-enabled client,
many of the client resources are available within the Remote Desktop connection.
These resources include:
§
File
System Redirection.
This makes the local file system available on the remote desktop within a
terminal session. The client file system is accessible through the Remote
Desktop as if it were a network-shared drive; and no network
connectivity—except the Remote Desktop—is required. The client drives appear
in Windows Explorer with the designation "<driveletter> on tsclient".
§
Printer
Redirection.
This routes printing jobs from the Terminal Server to a printer attached to the
local computer. When the client logs on to the remote computer, the local
printer is detected and the appropriate printer driver is installed on the
remote computer.
§
Port
Redirection.
This enables applications running within a terminal session to have access to
the serial and parallel ports on the client. Port redirection allows these ports
to access and manipulate devices such as bar code readers or scanners.
§
Audio.
You can run an audio-enabled application on your remote desktop and hear the
audio output from speakers attached to the computer you’re working on.
§
Clipboard.
The Remote Desktop and the client computer share a clipboard that allows data to
be interchanged.
This section explains how Windows XP
builds on the reliability breakthroughs in Windows 2000 by making it easier for
you to maintain your system.
This feature helps ensure system
stability, much like the Last Known Good Configuration option first available in
Windows 2000 Safe Mode and the System Restore, explained earlier. When you
update a driver, a copy of the previous driver package is automatically saved in
a special subdirectory of the system files (for every driver that you back up, a
new value is added to the Backup keys located in the appropriate section of the
registry). If the new driver does not work properly, you can restore the
previous driver by accessing the Driver tab for the device in the Device
Manager, and clicking Roll Back Driver as in Figure 14 below. Driver Rollback
permits only one level of rollback (only one prior driver version can be saved
at a time); this feature is available for all device classes, except printers.
Figure 14. Windows XP
supports easy roll back of drivers.
System Restore lets you restore your
computer to a previous state in the event of a problem, without losing personal
data files such as documents, drawings, or e-mail. System Restore actively
monitors changes to the system and some application files and automatically
creates easily identifiable restore points so you do not have to remember to
backup. Windows XP creates restore points each day by default as well as at the
time of significant system events such as installing an application or driver.
You can also create and name your own restore points at any time. System Restore
does not monitor changes to or recover your personal data files.
Automated System Recovery (ASR) feature
provides the ability to save and restore applications. This feature also
provides the Plug and Play mechanism required by ASR to back up Plug and Play
portions of the registry and restore that information to the registry. This is
useful in a variety of disaster recovery scenarios; for example, if a hard disk
fails and loses all configuration parameters and information, ASR can be applied
and the backup of the server’s data is restored.
Reliability is enhanced with dynamic
updates which provide application and device compatibility updates, driver
updates, and emergency fixes for setup or security issues—when you run setup.
Once the need for a Dynamic Update package has been determined by Microsoft, it
is provided via the Windows Update Web service.
This is useful for users who may be
installing Windows XP some time after it has been released. If you choose the
Dynamic Update option in Setup, Setup downloads the updates for device and
applications from Microsoft instead of the original files from the CD.
Organizations will also benefit: IT administrators can download a Dynamic Update
package, which may include an applications compatibility or security fix for
their users. They can use the Dynamic Update package to ensure all users who
install the operating system get these updated files.
AutoUpdate is an option for updating your
computer without interrupting your Web experience. You don’t have to visit
special web pages, interrupt web surfing to allow bits to be downloaded or
remember to periodically check for new updates. These downloads are throttled to
minimize impact to network responsiveness, and are automatically resumed if the
system is disconnected before an update is fully downloaded. Once the update has
been downloaded to the PC, the user can then choose to install it.
Windows Update offers device driver
support that supplements the extensive library of drivers available on the
installation CD. Windows Update is an online extension of Windows XP, providing
a central location for product enhancements, such as service packs, device
drivers, and system security updates. For example, if you install a new device,
Plug and Play will search for a driver locally and—if your computer is
connected to the Internet—online at Windows Update. If your computer is not
connected to the Internet and no suitable driver is found locally on the system,
you will be prompted to go online and search for a driver. If an updated driver
is found on Windows Update, the driver’s .cab file is downloaded and the
Windows Update ActiveX® control points Windows Plug and Play to the .inf file
for installation.
Businesses can override or turn off this
function and restrict use of Windows Update to system administrators, who have a
section of Windows Update dedicated to searching, collecting and downloading
updates that can then be distributed within a business using its own procedures.
This section introduces some of the new or
enhanced security features in Windows XP.
Windows XP provides Internet security
through a built-in feature called Internet Connection Firewall that’s designed
for home users and small businesses. Internet Connection Firewall is a dynamic
packet filter. It protects computers directly connected to the Internet, or
connected behind an Internet Connection Sharing host computer that is running
Internet Connection Firewall. When enabled, the Internet Connection Firewall
blocks all unsolicited connections originating from the Internet. To accomplish
this, the firewall uses the logic of the Network Address Translator (NAT) to
validate incoming requests for access to a network or the local host. If the
network communication did not originate within the protected network, or no port
mapping had been created, the incoming data will be dropped.
Internet Connection Firewall is available
for the following types of connections: Local Area Network (LAN), Point-to-Point
Over the Ethernet (PTPOE), Virtual Private Network (VPN), or Dial-up. Internet
Connection Firewall prevents the scanning of ports and resources (file and
printer shares) from external sources. For example, if someone on the Internet
runs a scanning program on your public connection, or attempts to connect to
your system’s resources, the firewall prevents release of any information from
the ports and services available on your network.
Windows XP provides built-in security to
keep intruders out by limiting anyone trying to gain access to your computer
from a network to "guest" level privileges. If an intruder attempts to
break into your computer and gain unauthorized privileges by guessing passwords,
they will be unsuccessful or obtain only limited, guest-level access.
Software restriction policies in Windows
XP provide a transparent way to isolate and use untrusted, potentially harmful
code in a way that protects you against various viruses, trojans, and worms that
are spread through e-mail and the Internet. These policies allow you to choose
how you want to manage software on your system: software can be "strictly
managed," (you decide how, when, and where code gets executed), or software
can be "unmanaged," (specific code is prohibited from executing).
By executing untrusted code and scripts in
a segregated area (known informally as the sandbox) you get the benefit of
untrusted code and scripts that prove to be benign, while the tainted code is
prevented from doing any damage. For example, untrusted code would be prevented
from sending e-mail, accessing files, or performing other normal computing
functions until verified as safe.
Software restriction policies protect
against infected e-mail attachments. This includes file attachments that are
saved to a temporary folder as well as embedded objects and scripts. You’re
also protected against URL/UNC links which can launch Internet Explorer, or
another application, and download a Web page with an untrusted embedded script.
ActiveXTM
controls downloaded from the Web are also monitored, and neutralized if
necessary.
Secure Wireless/Ethernet LAN enhances your
ability to develop secure wired and wireless local area networks (LANs). This is
done by enabling the deployment of servers on Ethernet or Wireless LANs.
With Secure Wireless/Ethernet LAN, a
computer will not usually be able to access the network until the user logs on.
However, if a device has “machine authentication” enabled, then that
computer can obtain access to the LAN after it has been authenticated and
authorized by the IAS/RADIUS server.
Secure Wireless/Ethernet LAN in Windows XP
implements security for both wired and wireless LANs that are based on IEEE
802.11 specifications. This process is supported by the use of public
certificates which are deployed by auto-enrollment or smart cards. This enables
access control for wired Ethernet and wireless IEEE 802.11 networks in public
places such as malls or airports. This IEEE 802.1X Network Access Control
security feature also supports authentication of computers within the Extensible
Authentication Protocol (EAP) operating environment.
IEEE 802.1X enables an administrator to
assign permission for a server to obtain authenticated access to both wired
Ethernet and wireless IEEE 802.11 LANs. So if a server is placed on a network,
the administrator would want to ensure that it can only access the network if it
has been successfully authenticated. For example, access to a conference room
could only be provided to specific servers and denied to others.
In Windows XP, the Passport authentication
protocols have been added to WinInet, the DLL that allows your computer to
retrieve data from different locations, allowing the OS to transparently use
Passport authentication. If you have a Microsoft Passport account, you can
automatically use Passport for numerous tasks such as logging into any Web site
that supports Passport or purchasing products on participating Web sites.
The Credential Management feature provides
a secure store of user credentials, including passwords and X.509 certificates.
This provides a consistent single-sign on experience for users, including
roaming users. If you access an application within a company network, your first
attempt requires authentication and you’re prompted to supply a credential.
After providing this credential, it will be associated with the requesting
application. In future access to this application, the saved credential will be
re-used without having to re-enter the credential. It has three components: the
Credential Manager itself which provides secure storage for credentials; the
Credential Collection User Interface which provides a set of APIs that prompt
the user for credentials; and the Keyring which allows users to add, remove, and
modify credentials in Credential Manager.
The Encrypting File System (EFS) is based
on public-key encryption and takes advantage of the CryptoAPI architecture in
Windows XP. The default configuration of the EFS requires no administrative
effort—you can begin encrypting files immediately. EFS automatically generates
an encryption key pair for a user if one does not exist.
EFS can use either the expanded Data
Encryption Standard (DESX) or Triple-DES (3DES) as the encryption algorithm.
Encryption services are available from Windows Explorer.
You encrypt a file or folder by setting
the encryption property for files and folders just as you set any other
attribute, such as read-only, compressed, or hidden. If you encrypt a folder,
all files and subfolders created in or added to the encrypted folder are
automatically encrypted. It is recommended that you encrypt at the folder level.
Windows XP lets you store encrypted files
on Web servers. These files get transmitted over the Internet and are stored on
servers as encrypted bits. When you want to use your files, they're
transparently decrypted on your computer. This lets you securely store sensitive
data on Web servers without having to worry about your data being stolen or read
while being transmitted. No one who has access to the Web server—not even the
server administrator—can read your files. You can share these securely stored
files with anyone you want: family members, friends, or team members at work.
This section introduces how Windows XP
makes it easier to manage your files, folders, and desktop as well as quickly
migrate files and settings to a new computer. In addition, it explains how
Terminal Services technology enables Remote Desktop and Fast User Switching.
If your Windows XP computer is part of a
network using the Active Directory™ service, you could have access to
IntelliMirror® management technologies, which provides “follow-me”
functionality for your personal computing environment. You have constant access
to all your information and software, regardless of which computer you are using
and whether or not you are connected to the network—with the assurance that
your data is safely maintained and available.
Group Policy settings simplify the
administration of users and objects by letting IT administrators organize them
into logical units, such as departments or locations and then assign the same
settings, including security, appearance, and management options, to all
employees in that group. This approach also ensures that settings are consistent
across all members of a group. There are over 300 new polices available for
Windows XP Professional, in addition to those already available for Windows 2000
Professional.
The Resultant Set of Policy (RSoP) tool in
Windows XP Professional allows administrators to see the effect of Group Policy
on a targeted user or computer. With RSoP, administrators have a powerful and
flexible base-level tool to plan, monitor, and troubleshoot Group Policy.
Windows XP Professional adds more policies
to Local Group Policy, a benefit that enables you to better customize user and
computer settings. This powerful management feature lets you lock down and fine
tune your desktop, introducing the possibility of many different customized
scenarios. With Local Group Policy you can:
§
Customize the
user interface specifying configurations for the desktop, Start menu, and
taskbar.
§
Prohibit use
of specific operating system components such as Personal Firewall or Windows
Messenger.
§
Protect
against virus’s using Software Restriction Policy Settings.
Note If
your computer is part of an Active Directory-enabled network, domain-based Group
Policy may override Local Group Policy settings. In addition, Windows XP Home
Edition does not provide Local Group Policy.
Windows XP makes replacing an old computer
easier with the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. It enables you to migrate
files, documents, and settings via a floppy disk (or other removable media),
home LAN, or a known UNC path. The wizard on your Windows XP computer walks you
through the steps to run the wizard on your old computer to collect and transfer
the settings, files, and documents. It also walks you through the application of
those files, settings and documents, on your new computer. The wizard also
enables you to select addition files, file types, or folders to transfer.
A limited set of application settings are
also supported including Microsoft Office. Note the wizard does not migrate the
applications; you will have to re-install the applications on the new computer
(if they are not already installed).
Items migrated by default include:
Internet Explorer settings, Outlook Express settings, store Outlook settings,
store dial-up connections, phone and modem options, accessibility, classic
desktop (optional) screen saver settings, fonts, folder options, taskbar
settings, mouse and keyboard settings, sounds settings, regional options, office
settings, network drives and printers desktop folder, my documents folder, my
pictures folder, favorites folder, cookies folder, common office file types.
More applications are expected to be supported for migration by the time Windows
XP ships.
Windows XP also includes an updated
version of the command-line tool, User State Migration Tool (USMT), that was
available as part of the Resource Kit for Windows 2000. Both the wizard and the
new version of the command-line tool, are driven by INF files, which can be
customized by IT professionals to more specifically fit a particular business
environment or target the migration of additional items.
The account management feature of the
Control Panel lets you add, delete, and modify user accounts and passwords for a
computer. This is useful for home users who wish to let other family members use
a computer. Note: If you’re connecting as part of a corporate network, you
would use the Users and Passwords Control Panel for domain functionality.
The Control Panel for regional and
language options has been redesigned to make it easier to add and change Input
Languages and keyboard layouts, switch Standards and Formats for displaying
dates, amounts, and currencies, set the default Location for Web content, and
change the Language for non-Unicode Programs. The most frequently used options
are now easier to find and use.
You can configure the location setting to
get Web content relevant to your location.
This section introduces Windows XP 64-Bit
Edition, a high performance workstation aimed at those engaged in solving
complex scientific problems, developing high-performance design and engineering
applications, or creating 3-D animations.
The 64-bit edition is designed to exploit
the power and efficiency of the new Intel Itanium 64-bit (IA-64) processor. Most
of the features and technologies of the 32-bit version of Windows XP are
included in the 64-bit release (exceptions include infrared support, System
Restore, DVD support, and mobile-specific features like hot-docking). The 64-bit
version will also support most 32-bit applications through the WOW64 32-bit
subsystem and will be capable of interoperating with Windows 32-bit systems.
Both versions will run seamlessly on a network.
Windows XP 64-Bit Edition provides a
scalable, high-performance platform for a new generation of applications based
on the Win64TM
API. Compared to 32-bit systems, its architecture provides more efficient
processing of extremely large amounts of data, supporting up to eight terabytes
of virtual memory. With 64-bit Windows, applications can pre-load substantially
more data into virtual memory to enable rapid access by the IA-64 processor.
This reduces the time for loading data into virtual memory or seeking, reading,
and writing to data storage devices, thus making applications run faster and
more efficiently. The 64-bit version is built on the same programming model as
the standard Win32 version, providing developers with a single code base.
Windows XP 64-Bit Edition will especially
benefit users in the following scenarios:
§
Mechanical
Design and Analysis.
Manage gigabytes of data in floating point intensive applications.
§
Digital
Content Creation.
Complex 3-D graphics and animation, emerging HDTV and DTV that demand more
computing power.
§
Other
technical markets.
Including financial, EDA, and other scientific or technical applications.
This section provides a conceptual
overview of how Windows XP lays the foundation for an important part in the
future of computing: the Microsoft .NET Platform, which aims to provide a new
level of connectivity that lets you get more out of networking and the Internet.
The old model of under-utilized PCs confined to just browsing the Web is giving
way to a new environment of smart, service-aware computers and devices that
“know” about the network such as whether you're online or how much bandwidth
you have. With Windows XP, your PC becomes the main “socket for
services”—a rich two way interface that lets you do more than just receive
information but also use it and act on it. This environment is enabled by a core
set of services and protocols including:
§
XML.
The Extensible Markup Language ensures that structured data will be uniform and
independent of applications or vendors, which makes it ideal as a foundation for
integrating Web Services.
§
SOAP.
An XML-based protocol designed to exchange structured and typed information on
the Web. SOAP enables rich and automated Web services based on a shared and open
Web infrastructure.
§
UDDI.
Universal Discovery Description and Integration used to publish and find
information about Web Services.
As the programmatic backbone for
electronic commerce, Web Services are at the core of the way you can use .NET
and Windows XP. For example, you could take financial information from a Web
site, automatically port it into Excel, and use the information for financial
planning. Or consider the possibilities of integrating Instant Messaging with
smart devices. It’s easy to imagine a scenario of a car alarm: Someone breaks
into your car and triggers your alarm. You receive an Instant Message with
options about what to do next: Call the police, ignore the alarm, or turn the
alarm off.
In Windows XP, the PC becomes the central
hub for device control and coordination of intelligent devices that can be
manipulated in a number of different ways. For example, no longer will you
merely download files from a digital camera to your PC. Instead, connecting a
digital camera will give you many more options such as printing images directly
from the camera, pre-screening them before downloading them, or automatically
e-mailing them, or instantly publishing them to the Web. Such connectivity makes
possible a new set of experiences for the PC.