Windows XP Professional is built on the core software code used in Windows 2000 and Windows NT® Workstation. This code, known as the NT kernel, or the new Windows engine, makes Windows XP more powerful, secure, and stable than Windows Me, Windows 98, or Windows 95. If you’ve used those systems in the past, you’ll notice a dramatic advantage: even if a program crashes, in most cases your computer will keep running.
With the new Windows engine you get:
When you turn on your computer running Windows XP Professional, it will be ready to work an average of 34% faster than Windows 2000 and an average of 27% faster than Windows 98 SE.
Between the time you push the power button and the time you start to work, your computer goes through several steps, such as initializing the basic input/output system (BIOS), loading the operating system, initializing devices, and prompting you to log on with a password. Windows XP speeds up these steps so that in many cases your computer will be ready to work in 30 seconds or less.
Windows XP speeds system startup by:
In addition, because poorly written drivers can delay startup, Microsoft has worked with device manufacturers to improve device drivers for Windows XP.
With Windows XP, programs will start an average of 25% faster than with Windows 98 SE and as fast as they did with Windows 2000. The same performance improvements that make your Windows XP–based computer start faster when you turn it on also make programs start faster when you’re ready to use them.
After you start a program a few times, Windows XP learns the code and data required to launch it. It stores that information where it is easily accessible, so the system wastes no time searching for it the next time you start the program.
Windows XP Professional makes it easier to find the information you need and perform the tasks you want in a way that works best for you.
E–mail made your computer an essential tool for business communications. But there are times when you cannot wait to receive a response, you need instant communication. Now, Windows Messenger in Windows XP turns your computer into an integrated center for all your communications, with breakthrough support for real–time, voice and video conferencing, instant messaging, and online collaboration.
Three key characteristics make Windows Messenger the ultimate communication and collaboration tool:
One of the most important features in Windows Messenger is its ability to keep you constantly updated with your contact's online status—this is referred to as presence. You'll automatically be notified when contacts sign in to Windows Messenger and come online, as well as when they go offline.
Windows Messenger goes a step beyond simple online and offline status. It lets you control how others see your online status. For example, with a single mouse click, you can change your online status to Busy, On the phone or Away. You can also set Windows Messenger to automatically display your status as Away if you have not used your computer for a period of time.
In the workplace, employees and knowledge workers will increase their productivity by increasing the probability of reaching their colleagues, thanks to presence. No matter where colleagues are—in their offices or in a meeting with their laptops—communication can commence with the appropriate method. Voice or video may be used if colleagues are in their offices. Alternatively instant messaging may be the appropriate method if one of them is in a meeting or attending a presentation.
While in a conversation, colleagues can start working together by inviting each other to start application sharing or sharing a whiteboard. All from one location: Windows Messenger.
You can capitalize on the worldwide reach of the Internet and save money on communications by using your PC for free voice and video calls to another PC on the Internet. Not everyone in the world has a computer, and there are times when your contacts are not online. Windows Messenger allows you to call from your computer to a telephone just as easily, using the PC-to-phone service provider that you select to complete the call for you. This new PC-to-phone feature is one of many enhancements to Windows Messenger you can enjoy with the latest update to Windows Messenger, available at no charge.
Windows Messenger supports industry standard protocols and .NET platform technologies, making it easy for third–party developers to take advantage of and extend this real–time communications experience. Windows XP supports the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), which is used to establish communications sessions of any type.
Microsoft will provide SIP support on PCs with Windows XP and Windows Messenger, on smart devices with Windows CE 4.0, on the server with Windows .NET Server and in other embedded devices with Windows XP Embedded, enabling unprecedented levels of interoperability for essentially any type of communications on essentially any device.
Given the dramatic improvements in ease of use, the compelling new quality of the experience, and the extensible platform, Windows XP with Windows Messenger will help you stay better connected to the people with whom you work.
Windows XP Professional includes a wide range of features that make it easier to solve technical issues so you can focus your time and energy on your work, not your computer.
The Remote Assistance feature in Windows XP Professional lets you share control of your computer with someone else over a network or the Internet. With your permission, a colleague or technical support person who is also running Windows XP can access your machine remotely, see your screen, and control your mouse and keyboard, while helping you fix a technical problem. On the other hand, if you’re a computer expert, you can help others in the same way.
The fastest way to get help using Remote Assistance is to contact a friend or colleague with Windows Messenger, the real–time communications client. You can also invite someone to help you via Remote Assistance by sending e–mail. Or you can fill out an invitation form and save it as a file, and then e–mail it using Web–based services such as the Hotmail® Web–based e–mail service.
The Remote Assistant client has multiple security features to protect against unauthorized access to your computer and the remote session. During a session, you retain full control and you can watch all of the actions the helper takes on your computer. You can end the session at any time.
Windows XP also makes it easier for you to solve technical issues on your own. The Help and Support Center lets you search quickly for help from more sources, including the Microsoft Knowledge Base Web site. You can easily find more information about your system, and find tools to help you fix problems.
If you do experience system failure or another significant problem, you can use the System Restore feature to roll back your computer to a previous state in which it was working normally. System Restore automatically creates easily identifiable restore points, which allow you to restore the system to a specific date and time. System Restore will not revert personal data files, so you can use it without losing documents, e–mail, or even browsing history and favorites.
When certain classes of new device drivers are installed, Windows XP Professional will maintain a copy of the previously installed driver, which can be reinstalled if problems occur.
Software updates for your system, programs, and devices will be available on the Windows Update Web site. You can use Automatic Update and allow Windows XP Professional to automatically download critical and security updates when you connect to the Internet. After the update is downloaded, you can then choose whether to install it or not.
Windows XP Professional helps prevent problems that can arise if important system files are changed, or incompatible programs are installed. In addition, if serious problems do occur, Windows XP makes it easier to restore your computer to its normal operating state.
Options for rolling back to a previous state include:
One of the key benefits you’ll enjoy with Windows XP Professional is support for the NTFS file system. A file system is the method for naming, storing, and organizing files on your computer. The NTFS file system improves security by allowing you to encrypt files and folders, and restrict access to files. It is generally a more secure, more reliable and better performing file system than the FAT16 and FAT32 file systems used by Windows Me, Windows 98, and Windows 95.
The NTFS file system was available in Windows NT® Workstation and Windows 2000 Professional, but not in Windows Me, Windows 98, or Windows 95.
Advantages to the NTFS file system include:
Windows XP supports all three files systems, NTFS, FAT16, and FAT32, so you can run Windows XP and an earlier version of Windows in a dual boot configuration on one computer.
