Features of Windows XP Professional

Windows XP Professional includes the following features as enhancements to the Windows

2000, Windows 98, and Windows Me operating systems:

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Increased reliability

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Performance enhancements

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Better security

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Greater ease of use

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Better support for remote users

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Improved networking and communication support

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Better management and deployment tools

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Help and support features

These features are covered in detail in the following sections.

Increased Reliability

The reliability features that are included with Windows XP Professional include the following:

Architecture that incorporates previous Windows technologies

Windows XP Professional

was developed on the 32-bit architecture used by Windows 2000. By also including technologies

integrated with Windows 98 and Windows Me, Windows XP is able to leverage the benefits

and stability of existing technology while adding additional enhancements.

Enhanced device driver verification

Device drivers have been known to cause system problems

in previous operating systems. Windows 2000 included a device driver verification mechanism

that is expanded in Windows XP. With Windows XP, device drivers are tested more thoroughly,

which provides you with greater system stability.

Decreased need to reboot with configuration changes

In Windows 2000, Windows 98, and

Windows Me, installing new hardware, software, or services typically requires you to restart the

computer. The need to restart the computer has been reduced in Windows XP, which means

greater uptime.

Better code protection

Better code protection means that the critical kernel data structures

used by Windows XP are read-only, so they can’t be corrupted by drivers or other applications.

Windows File Protection

Windows XP introduces a feature called Windows File Protection,

which keeps core system files from being replaced by application installations. If an application

does overwrite a critical file, then Windows File Protection will restore the correct version of the file.

Better Windows Installer

The Windows Installer is a new service that is used to manage

applications by helping users install, configure, update, and uninstall applications properly.

Enhanced software restriction policies

Software restriction policies are used to control software

and its ability to be executed. Through software restriction policies, administrators can now

identify the software that is running and control specific software’s ability to execute. This is

useful for virus prevention.

Performance Enhancements

Performance features included with Windows XP include the following:

Preemptive multitasking architecture

With preemptive multitasking, a user can run multiple

tasks simultaneously with good system response time.

Scalable memory and processor support

Scalable memory and processor support means that

Windows XP Professional can support up to 4GB of memory and two symmetric processors.

Better Security

Windows XP uses the following security features:

Encrypting File System for multiple user access support

Encrypting File System (EFS) provides

a high level of security by encrypting files. With Windows XP, you can encrypt a file and allow

multiple permitted users to access the encrypted file. In Windows 2000 Professional, only the

owner of an encrypted file could access the file through EFS.

IP Security

IP Security (IPSec) protects files that are transferred through IP to Virtual Private

Networks (VPNs) over the Internet.

Support for Kerberos

Kerberos is an industry-standard authentication protocol. This provides

a fast logon with a high level of security.

Support for smart cards

Smart cards are used to combine software security with hardware

security. Windows XP supports standard logons with smart keys as well as also supporting smart

cards used with terminal server sessions, which are hosted on Windows Server 2003 servers.

Greater Ease of Use

The features that make Windows XP easy to use include the following:

Improved user interface

Windows XP updates the user interface by consolidating and

simplifying common tasks. Users or administrators can select whether they will use the classic

Windows 2000 Professional interface or the updated Windows XP interface with the click

of a button.

Adaptive user environment features

The adaptive user environment uses a redesigned Start

menu to show the most frequently used applications first. Also, when you open multiple files in

the same application (for example, multiple files in Word), the open windows (represented

in the Taskbar as buttons) are consolidated into a single Taskbar button. The purpose of these

features is to reduce desktop clutter. These features are set through Group Policy.

Support for rich media features

Rich media is used to support digital media activities through

Windows Media Player for XP. Some of the support included with Windows XP includes the

ability to create custom CDs easily and quickly, view DVD movies, have easy access to over

3,000 Internet radio stations, and have the best possible audio and video quality over the network.

Context-Sensitive Task Menus

When a file is selected in Windows Explorer, a Context-Sensitive

Task Menu is displayed that lists the type of tasks that are appropriate for the selected file type.

Integrated support for CD-RW devices in Windows Explorer

Windows Explorer now includes

support for CD-R and CD-RW drives. This allows you to burn CDs as easily as copying data

to a floppy without having to use third-party software.

Ease of publishing content to the Web

Information can be easily published to the Web or to

the company’s intranet via any Web service that uses the WebDAV protocol.

Support for DualView

DualView allows a single desktop to display two monitors that are

connected via a single video adapter. For example, a laptop user can connect an external

monitor and see video on the LCD adapter and the external monitor. This functionality is also

included on some high-end video adapters used with desktop computers.

Enhanced troubleshooting support

Better troubleshooters help users and administrators configure,

optimize, and troubleshoot Windows XP, which reduces support and help desk calls.

Better Support for Remote Users

Windows XP provides additional support for remote users that includes the following:

Remote Desktop support

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) support allows a user to access

data and applications that are installed on their desktop computer from any other computer on

the network that runs Windows 95 or later through a virtual session.

Credential Manager

You use Credential Manager as a secure store for user and password

information for users who are not always connected to a domain or who require access to

resources in domains that do not have trust relationships defined. This allows the user to input

usernames and passwords once, and then subsequent access requests are transparently processed

by the Credential Manager.

Offline File and Folder support

Offline File and Folder support is used to allow offline access

to network files even when a user is not connected to a network. When the computer is

reconnected to the network, the offline files are automatically resynchronized with the network

through the Synchronization Manager. Windows XP includes support for encrypting offline files.

ClearType technology

ClearType technology is a new display technology for LCD screens

that triples the horizontal resolution through software technology. This allows users to see

clearer displays.

Offline viewing for Web pages

You can view web pages and graphics offline while disconnected

from the Web through new features of Windows XP.

Better power management

Better power management monitors CPU state so the amount

of power that is used can be dynamically managed. Windows XP also predicts remaining battery

power more accurately. Power management can also be set for all users on a computer or by

individual user preference. Windows XP uses the features of Advanced Configuration and

Power Interface (ACPI).

Hot docking support

Hot docking support allows users to switch a laptop computer between

a docked and undocked state without having to change hardware configuration or reboot

the computer.

Wireless network support

Wireless network support allows users to move between wireless

networks while providing secure access and performance improvements.

Improved Networking and Communication Support

Windows XP has made several improvements to networking and communication support. The

new features include the following:

Windows Messenger service integration

Windows Messenger is used for online conferencing

and collaboration by allowing you to communicate with coworkers, customers, family, and

friends in real time. Windows Messenger allows you to transfer text, audio, and video. You can

also easily see which of your contacts are currently online.

Internet Connection Firewall support

Windows XP includes Internet Connection Firewall

support that is used to protect the home user or small business from common Internet attacks

by setting up secure Internet connections.

Improved Network Setup Wizard

An improved Network Setup Wizard makes it easy to

configure common network configuration tasks such as sharing files, printers, and Internet

connections and to configure the Internet Connection Firewall.

Support for Internet Connection Sharing

Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) is used to allow

multiple users to connect to the Internet via a single dial-up or broadband connection. ICS

provides network address translation, addressing, and name resolution service for the shared

connection.

Better peer-to-peer networking support

With better peer-to-peer networking support, Windows

XP easily interoperates with earlier versions of Windows that use peer-to-peer networking.

Better Management and Deployment Tools

Windows XP Professional includes a wide range of management and deployment tools, which

include the following:

Better application compatibility

Applications that have run with older versions of Windows

that do not run on Windows 2000 Professional are now more likely to be supported by Windows

XP Professional. Windows XP includes hundreds of application fixes, and new fixes

will continue to be added through the Windows Update service.

User State Migration Tool

With the User State Migration Tool, administrators can migrate

user accounts and users’ settings from an older computer to a new Windows XP Professional

computer.

Dynamic Update

When you install Windows XP Professional, the Setup process will check

with Dynamic Update to ensure that you are installing the most recent files.

Ability to update Windows XP automatically

After Windows XP Professional is installed,

if you are connected to the Internet and choose to use Windows Update, the most critical system

and security downloads will be downloaded to your computer as a background process. You

can choose which updates will be installed.

Ability to update application and device drivers automatically

Windows Update will also

allow you to apply application compatibility updates and new drivers from the Windows

Update website. The user or the administrator can manage how Windows Update is implemented.

Support for the latest hardware standards

Windows XP Professional supports the latest hardware

standards, including UDF 2.01, which is the latest DVD standard. There is also support

for formatting DVDs with the FAT32 file system. Support is also included for Infrared Data

Association (IrDA), IEEE 1394, and Universal Serial Bus (USB).

Unattended installation

Unattended installation support allows an administrator to create

scripts for unattended installations. With Windows XP Professional unattended installation

support, security is better than with Windows 2000 Professional because passwords can now be

encrypted within the answer files.

Internet Explorer 6 Administration Kit

Administrators can use the Internet Explorer 6

Administration Kit to customize the deployment of Internet Explorer 6.

Multilingual support

Multilingual support is used to support the creation and editing of

multilingual documents in a localized version of Windows XP Professional. Windows XP

Professional also comes with a Multilingual User Interface, which allows users to change the

user interface to support different languages.

Safe Mode startup options

Safe Mode startup options allow you to start the operating system

at a basic level, which is useful for troubleshooting operating systems when system problems occur.

Expanded Group Policy

Windows XP Professional uses an expanded Group Policy that

includes hundreds of new policies. Group policies are used to manage settings, security, and

management options for groups of users.

Resultant Set of Policy

With the Resultant Set of Policy (RSoP), administrators can see the

effect of Group Policy on a targeted computer or user before the policies are implemented.

Microsoft Management Console

Microsoft Management Console (MMC) uses a centralized

console for administration.

Help and Support Features

The help and support features that are included with Windows XP Professional include the

following:

Better help and support services

Windows XP Professional now includes the Help and Support

Center, which provides help and support services. Features of the Help and Support Center

include the ability to query for help (including help from the Internet) and tools such as My

Computer Information and System Restore.

Remote access capability through Remote Assistance

Remote Assistance allows an administrator

to take remote control of a user’s computer so that troubleshooting can be done remotely.

Recovery Console for repairing operating system errors

The Recovery Console is used to

repair operating system errors at the command-line prompt if Windows XP Professional will

not boot. Through Recovery Console, you can start and stop services, read and write to the local

drive, format drives, and perform other administrative tasks.

Ability to roll back device drivers for recovery purposes

When you update a device driver in

Windows XP Professional, the operating system maintains the previously installed driver, which

can then be rolled back if the new driver has problems.