The successor to Windows 2000, XP features improved support for gaming, digital photography, instant messaging and wireless networking. It also introduced a new form of digital rights management and a tool to help prevent software piracy called Windows Product Activation.
During the installation process your computer will need a minimum of 1.5 gigabytes for its installation files and should have at least 2 physical processors (CPUs). The system requires at least 64 megabytes of memory.
It’s Free
For most of the PC-using world, Windows XP looks old and outdated. But for some people, XP is the best operating system to use for their specific needs. Whether it’s because of gaming features or the ability to run legacy software that doesn’t work well on anything newer, some people just love XP.
For example, if more than one person will be using the computer, XP allows each user to create a computer account so they can customize their settings and documents without affecting others’ files. This can be useful if you share your computer with family members or coworkers. XP also makes it easy to switch users by clicking the Start menu, then selecting Switch User or Log Off.
The requirements for a system running XP are low, especially if you don’t want to upgrade your hardware to be compatible with Windows 10. Besides the usual mouse and keyboard, you need a CD or DVD drive and about 1.5 gigabytes of free disk space for the installation. You also need to disable any security or antivirus software that could interfere with the XP installation process.
It’s Easy to Use
The graphical icons on the windows xp desktop represent applications, files and other parts of the operating system. These can be arranged and moved easily to change the look of your computer.
XP is simple to install, and it runs well on even older hardware. This is due to Microsoft’s rework of Windows architecture and the way it uses memory.
After the Windows XP setup process has completed its tasks, you will be asked to set the regional and language options. Choose Customize and follow the directions to select your preferences.
At this point, you can add a product key to activate your copy of Windows XP if you want to. This step is important because it is used to verify your ownership of the operating system. Microsoft also uses this verification system to discourage software piracy. The key is a 25-character number that you can obtain from a Microsoft customer service representative or by connecting to the Internet over a telephone modem.
It’s Secure
As of April 2014, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates for XP. That’s a big deal because malware hackers will have plenty of opportunities to exploit these computers with new attacks.
Fortunately, XP features an error reporting system that sends software crash data to Microsoft, and automated wireless network configuration tools for systems that don’t have their own hardware manufacturer’s tool set. It also supports personal firewalls and both client and peer-to-peer network functions.
In addition, XP introduced an effort to isolate individual users from the operating system with private files and limited privileges. This reduces the likelihood of spreading malware to other computers on a network. Another way to reduce your risk is to use other browsers besides Internet Explorer because it’s the most common attack gateway. Consider using Firefox or Chrome instead, both of which have better security than IE. A good idea would be to back up any important information on an XP machine so that you can recover it if the computer is infected by malware.
It’s Versatile
Windows XP excelled at working well with a variety of hardware. Plug and play technology made it easy to add new devices. This helped to increase productivity and allowed users to save time by not having to install drivers or configure settings manually. This feature was particularly important for business use.
Another aspect of XP that made it so popular was its fast boot and shutdown times. This was a huge improvement over previous versions of Windows. Many users were tired of waiting for their computers to start or shut down, and this was a welcome change.
XP also improved stability by limiting the amount of memory it used, preventing crashes that had plagued earlier versions of Windows. It also supported the 32-bit programming model, ensuring compatibility with older applications. XP also introduced a number of changes that made the OS easier to manage, including an improved version of the blue screen of death that displayed a brief description of the error instead of an unreadable message.