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Windows XP Professional Features
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The features in the table below illustrate
why the Windows XP Professional operating system is the best choice for
businesses of all sizes. Windows XP Professional integrates the strengths of
Windows 2000 Professional, such as standards-based security, manageability,
and reliability, with the best business features of Windows 98 and Windows
Millennium Edition, such as Plug and Play, simplified user interface, and
innovative support services. This combination creates the best desktop
operating system for business. Whether your business deploys Windows XP
Professional on a single computer or throughout a worldwide network, this
new operating system increases your computing power while lowering cost of
ownership for desktop computers.
The New Standard for Efficient and Dependable Computing
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Reliable |
| Built on the new
Windows engine |
Windows XP Professional is
built on the proven code base of Windows NT® and Windows 2000, which
features a 32-bit computing architecture and a fully protected memory
model. |
Windows XP Professional
will provide a dependable computing experience for all business users. |
| Enhanced device
driver verifier |
Building on the device
driver verifier found in Windows 2000, the Windows XP Professional will
provide even greater stress tests for device drivers. |
Device drivers that pass
these tests will be the most robust drivers available, which will ensure
maximum system stability. |
| Dramatically reduced
reboot scenarios |
Eliminates most scenarios
that force end users to reboot in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 95/98/Me.
Also, many software installations will not require reboots. |
Users will experience
higher levels of system uptime. |
| Improved code
protection |
Critical kernel data
structures are read-only, so that drivers and applications cannot
corrupt them. All device driver code is read-only and page protected. |
Rogue applications cannot
adversely affect core operating system areas. |
| Side-by-side DLL
support |
Provides a mechanism for
multiple versions of individual Windows components to be installed and
run "side by side." |
This helps to address the
"DLL hell" problem by allowing an application written and tested with
one version of a system component to continue to use that version even
if an application that uses a newer version of the same component is
installed. |
| Windows File
Protection |
Protects core system files
from being overwritten by application installations. If a file is
overwritten, Windows File Protection will restore the correct version. |
By safeguarding system
files, Windows XP Professional mitigates many of the most common system
failures encountered in earlier versions of Windows. |
| Windows Installer |
A system service that
helps users install, configure, track, upgrade, and remove software
programs correctly. |
Will help minimize user
downtime and increase system stability. |
| Enhanced software
restriction policies |
Provide administrators a
policy-driven mechanism to identify software running in their
environment and control its ability to execute. This facility can be
used in virus and Trojan horse prevention and software lockdown. |
Can contribute to improved
system integrity, manageability, and, ultimately, lower cost of
ownership of the PC. |
| Preemptive
multitasking architecture |
Designed to allow multiple
applications to run simultaneously, while ensuring great system response
and stability. |
Run your most demanding
applications while still experiencing impressive system response time. |
| Scalable memory and
processor support |
Supports up to 4 gigabytes
(GB) of RAM and up to two symmetric multiprocessors. |
Users who need the highest
level of performance will be able to work with the latest hardware. |
| Encrypting File
System (EFS) with multi-user support |
Encrypts each file with a
randomly generated key. The encryption and decryption processes are
transparent to the user. In Windows XP Professional, EFS can provide
multiple users access to an encrypted document. |
The highest level of
protection from hackers and data theft. |
| IP Security (IPSec) |
Helps protect data
transmitted across a network. IPSec is an important part of providing
security for virtual private networks (VPNs), which allow organizations
to transmit data securely over the Internet. |
IT administrators will be
able to build secure VPNs quickly and easily. |
| Kerberos support |
Provides industry-standard
and high-strength authentication with fast, single logon to Windows
2000—based enterprise resources. Kerberos is an Internet standard, which
makes it especially effective for networks that include different
operating systems such as UNIX. |
Windows XP Professional
will offer single logon for end users for resources and supported
applications hosted on both Windows 2000 and our next-generation server
platform, Windows .NET Server. |
| Smart card support |
Smart card capabilities
are integrated into the operating system, including support for smart
card logon to terminal server sessions hosted on Windows .NET
Server—based (the next-generation server platform) terminal servers. |
Smart cards enhance
software-only solutions such as client authentication, interactive
logon, code signing, and secure e-mail. |
| Easy
to Use |
| Fresh visual design |
While maintaining the core
of Windows 2000, Windows XP Professional has a fresh visual design.
Common tasks have been consolidated and simplified, and new visual cues
have been added to help users navigate their computers more easily.
Administrators or end users can choose this updated user interface or
the classic Windows 2000 interface with the click of a button. |
Allows the most common
tasks to be exposed easily, helping users get the most of out of Windows
XP Professional. |
| Adaptive user
environment |
Adapts to the way an
individual user works. With a redesigned Start menu, the most frequently
used applications are shown first. When you open multiple files in the
same application, (such as multiple e-mail messages in the Microsoft
Outlook® messaging and collaboration client) the open windows will be
consolidated under a single task bar button. To remove some of the
clutter from the notification area, items that are not being used will
be hidden. All of these features can be set using Group Policy. |
A cleaner work environment
allows the user to be more efficient. Users can find the crucial data
and applications they need quickly and easily. All of these settings can
be controlled using Group Policy, so IT administrators can decide what
features are most appropriate for their environments. |
| Work with rich media |
Windows Media™ Player for
Windows XP is the first player to combine all of your common digital
media activities into a single, easy-to-use player. The player makes it
easy for you to:
 | View rich media information, for example, virtual company meetings
or "just-in-time" learning |
| Receive the best-possible audio and video quality, because the
player adapts to network conditions |
| Tune in to nearly 3,000 Internet radio stations |
| Create custom CDs up to 700 percent faster than other solutions
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| View DVD movies |
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| Context-sensitive
task menus |
When a file is selected in
Windows Explorer, a dynamic menu appears. This menu lists tasks that are
appropriate for the type of file selected. |
Common tasks that were
hard to find in previous versions of Windows are exposed for easy
access. |
| Integrated CD burning |
Support for burning CDs on
CD-R and CD-RW drives is integrated into Windows Explorer. |
Archiving data onto CD is
now as easy as saving to a floppy disk, and does not require an
expensive third-party solution. |
| Easily publish
information to the Web |
Files and folders can be
easily published to any Web service that uses the WebDAV protocol. |
Users will be able to
publish important information to Web servers on the company’s intranet. |
| Dualview |
A single computer desktop
can be displayed on two monitors driven off of a single display adapter.
With a laptop computer, a user could run the internal LCD display as
well as an external monitor. A variety of high-end display adapters will
support this functionality for desktops. |
Users will be able to
maximize their productivity by working on multiple screens, while
removing the need for multiple CPUs. |
| Troubleshooters |
Helps users and
administrators configure, optimize, and troubleshoot numerous Windows XP
Professional functions. |
Enables users to be more
self-sufficient, resulting in greater productivity, fewer help desk
calls, and better customer service. |
Puts the Advanced Productivity Tools of the Digital Age at Your
Fingertips
|
Revolutionizes the Way Remote Users Work |
| Remote Desktop |
Allows users to create a
virtual session onto their desktop computers using the Microsoft Remote
Desktop Protocol (RDP). |
Allows users to access all
of their data and applications housed on their desktop computers from
another computer running Windows 95 or later that is connected to their
machine via a network. |
| Credential Manager |
A secured store for
password information. It allows users to input user names and passwords
once, and then have the system automatically supply that information for
subsequent visits. |
Users who are not
connected to a domain, or who need to access resources in multiple
domains without trust relationships, will be able to easily access
network resources. |
| Offline Files and
Folders |
A user can specify which
network-based files and folders she needs when she disconnects from the
network. Offline folders can now be encrypted to provide the highest
level of security. |
Users can work with
documents while disconnected from the network in the same manner they do
when they’re connected. |
| ClearType |
A new text display
technology that triples the horizontal resolution available for
rendering text through software. |
Microsoft ClearType®
display technology offers a clearer display of text on a Liquid Crystal
Display (LCD) screen. |
| Offline viewing |
Makes entire Web pages
with graphics available for viewing offline. |
Customers can view
critical Web pages while disconnected from the Internet. |
| Synchronization
Manager |
Lets users compare and
update their offline files and folders with those on the network. |
After working with files
and folders offline, the changes will be automatically replicated back
to the network, ensuring the latest version is always available. |
| Improved power
management |
By intelligently
monitoring CPU state, Windows XP Professional can reduce the amount of
power it is using. The operating system will provide more accurate data
on the amount of power left; this will prevent the system from shutting
down prematurely. Also, by allowing for the system to wake up as the
battery nears a drained state, the computer can be put into hibernation,
and save work in progress. Power management can now be set for each
computer, or each user on a computer. |
Users will be able to work
longer on battery power and more accurately forecast how long their
batteries will last. |
| Hibernate |
After a set period of
time, or on demand, Windows XP Professional will save memory to disk,
and shut the power down. When power is restored, all the applications
are reopened exactly as they were left. |
Users can maximize battery
life, and still be able to quickly resume working where they left off,
reducing downtime. |
| Hot docking |
Lets you dock or undock
your notebook computer without changing hardware configuration or
rebooting. |
Laptop users can move
easily between docked and undocked configurations without rebooting the
system. |
| Advanced
Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) |
Provides the latest in
power management and Plug and Play support. |
Provides key features for
mobile professionals including Plug and Play, hot docking, and full
power management support. |
| Wireless networking
support |
Provides secured access,
as well as performance improvements, for wireless networks. |
Makes it much easier for
users who need to move between wireless networks, while supporting high
levels of encryption to enhance security. |
| Network Location
Awareness |
Provides an underlying
service that allows the operating system and applications to determine
when a machine has changed network locations. |
Applications and network
services can be written to react intelligently when a network location
change is detected. For example, an application could connect an end
user to a closer server if that user moved from one building to another. |
| Easier remote access
configuration wizards |
Guide users through the
steps for setting up remote access to a network or virtual private
network (VPN). |
Make it easier to connect
to a corporate network or the Internet. |
| Improved Help and
Support Services |
The Help and Support
Center combines features users are familiar with from previous versions
of Windows (such as Search, Index, and Favorites) with content from the
World Wide Web to give users more chances to get the help they need when
they need it. If the content in the Help and Support Center doesn't
answer their question, it can be used to contact a friend, a support
community, or a professional to get assistance. Tools such as My
Computer Information and System Restore are also available to diagnose
and fix common problems. |
Users can quickly and
easily find the answers they need, reducing help desk calls and
increasing user satisfaction. |
| Remote Assistance |
Remote Assistance enables
a user to share control of his or her computer with someone on a network
or the Internet. An administrator or friend can view the user's screen,
and control the pointer and keyboard to help solve a technical problem.
IT departments can build custom solutions, on top of published APIs
using HTML, to tailor Remote Assistance to their needs, and the feature
can be centrally enabled or disabled. |
Will reduce the amount of
time system administrators spend at users' desks. Many administrative
and troubleshooting tasks can now be done from the administrators' own
desks. |
| System Restore |
The System Restore feature
enables users and administrators to restore a computer to a previous
state without losing data. System Restore automatically creates easily
identifiable restore points, which allow you to restore the system to a
previous time. |
If users experience system
failure or another significant problem, they can use System Restore from
Safe Mode or Normal Mode to go back to a previous system state,
restoring optimal system functionality. System Restore will not revert
user data or document files, so restoring will not cause users to lose
their work, mail, or even browsing history and favorites. |
| Recovery Console |
Provides a command-line
console for administrators to start and stop services, format drives,
read and write data on a local drive, and perform many other
administrative tasks. |
In the event of errors
that prevent Windows XP Professional from starting, administrators can
boot the system to a command console and potentially repair the
operating system. |
| Device Driver
Rollback |
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. |
If a new device driver is
causing Windows XP Professional to malfunction, an administrator can
easily reinstall the previous driver. |
| Windows Messenger |
The easy way to
communicate with your customers, partners, friends, and family in real
time. Will keep you updated with your contacts' online status. Choose
text, voice, or video and experience the best online voice and video
quality. Collaborate with contacts, transfer files, and share
applications and whiteboard drawings. |
Provides users with great
platform for online conferencing and collaboration. |
| Internet Connection
Firewall |
A firewall client that can
protect small businesses from common Internet attacks. |
Small business owners will
be able to securely connect their Windows XP Professional computers to
the Internet. |
| Network Setup Wizard |
Makes it easy for a small
business owner to set up and manage a network. The wizard walks through
key steps, such as sharing files and printers, sharing the Internet
connection, and configuring the Internet Connection Firewall. |
Small businesses can get a
productive and secure network up and running without relying on network
experts. |
| Network Bridge |
Simplifies the setup and
configuration of small networks that use mixed network connections (such
as Cat-5 Ethernet and wireless) by linking the different types of
networks together. |
Small businesses have more
flexibility when choosing network media and do not need to purchase
extra equipment, such as bridges and routers. |
| Internet Connection
Sharing (ICS) |
Connects a small office
network to the Internet, using a dial-up or broadband connection.
Windows XP Professional can provide network address translation,
addressing, and name resolution services for all computers on a small
business network to share a single connection. |
Small business owners can
connect their computer systems to the Internet with a single Internet
connection, resulting in potential savings in ISP and hardware costs. |
| Peer-to-peer
networking support |
Enables Windows XP
Professional to interoperate with earlier versions of Windows on a
peer-to-peer level, allowing the sharing of all resources, such as
folders, printers, and peripherals. |
Small business owners can
easily integrate Windows XP Professional into existing peer-to-peer
networks. |
Advanced Management, Deployment, and Support Tools to Make Your Job
Easier
| Application
compatibility |
We've provided fixes to
hundreds of applications that didn’t run on Windows 2000 Professional to
run on Windows XP Professional. As new application fixes are published,
we will make them available via the Windows Update service.
In addition to the application fixes, Windows XP Professional has a
mechanism that allows the user or IT administrator to specify if an
application needs to run in either Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 95/98 or
Windows Me compatibility mode. In this mode, Windows XP Professional
system DLLs provide appropriate responses to the running application,
allowing it to execute appropriately without a noticeable loss of
performance. |
Users will experience
increased application compatibility when compared with Windows 2000
Professional, and as more application fixes are rolled out, they'll be
automatically available.
Application compatibility modes will potentially allow thousands of
applications to run that don't have applications fixes on Windows XP
Professional. |
| User State Migration
Tool |
Helps administrators to
migrate a user's data and application/operating system settings from an
old computer to a new Windows XP Professional desktop computer. |
IT administrators can
reduce the number of help desk calls after a migration, and end users
will have less downtime because they will retain their familiar
operating environment. |
| Automatic Updates |
With the user's
permission, Windows XP Professional automatically downloads critical and
security updates in the background when the user is connected to the
Internet. These downloads are designed to minimize the impact on
Internet browsing, and the update automatically resumes upon
reconnection if the computer is disconnected before the download is
complete. Once the update has been downloaded, the user can choose to
install it. |
Users will automatically
receive critical updates without impacting their ability to use network
connections. |
| Windows Update
improvements |
As application
compatibility updates, new device drivers, and other updates are
released for Windows XP Professional, they become available on the
Windows Update Web site. (Users can also find critical and security
updates here, if they choose not to use automatic updating.)
Administrators can disable user access to Windows Update. The Windows
Update Catalog is provided for administrators to download updates and
deploy them as appropriate in their organizations. |
The operating system
updates will always be available to ensure the most reliable and
full-featured computing experience. |
| Support for latest
hardware standards |
Windows XP Professional
supports the latest hardware standards. It supports UDF 2.01, the latest
standard for reading DVD discs. It also supports the formatting of
DVD-RAM drives with the FAT32 file system. Microsoft DirectX® 8 API
support will be included, and Windows XP Professional fully supports
standards for Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Universal Serial Bus
(USB), and the high-speed bus known as IEEE 1394. |
Will support the latest
hardware standards, and be optimized for the latest applications. |
| Setup with Dynamic
Update |
The Setup routine ensures
that the operating system files are up to date. Before any files are
installed, Windows XP Professional checks the Web for critical system
updates and downloads them for installation. |
Will ensure that you
install the most recent updates to the operating system for the best
installation experience. |
| Unattended
installation |
Provides the ability to
specify a greater number of options than previous versions of Windows,
and allows for a greater degree of security by encrypting passwords in
the answer files. |
Allows administrators a
greater degree of flexibility in scripting unattended Setup routines,
ensuring the most flexible installation options available today. |
| Internet Explorer 6
Administration Kit |
Internet Explorer 6 is
more customizable using the Internet Explorer Administration Kit (IEAK
6), so it's easier to deploy and maintain the browser. Version 6 of the
IEAK adds control over new features such as the Media bar, Auto Image
Resize, and the Personal bar. |
Administrators have a
greater degree of flexibility in deploying Internet Explorer 6. |
| System Preparation
tool (SysPrep) |
SysPrep helps
administrators clone computer configurations, systems, and applications.
A single image, which includes the operating system and business
applications, can be restored to multiple different machine
configurations. |
SysPrep will allow
administrators to reduce the number of operating system images they
maintain, while reducing the time it takes to deploy a typical desktop
system. |
| Setup Manager |
A graphical wizard that
guides administrators in designing installation scripts. |
It’s now easier to create
answer files for unattended installations. |
| Remote OS
Installation |
Windows XP Professional
can be installed across the network (including SysPrep images).
Note: This feature requires the Active Directory™ service. |
Saves time and reduces
deployment costs by allowing administrators to standardize desktop
environments to match organizational requirements. |
| Multilingual support |
Allows users to easily
create, read, and edit documents in many languages with the English
version of Windows XP Professional. The Multilingual User Interface
Pack, an add-on pack to the English version of Windows XP Professional,
lets you change the user interface language for each user. |
IT administrators will no
longer need to deploy multiple localized versions of the operating
system. This will speed deployments, reduce operating system images, and
lower cost of ownership. |
| Windows Management
Instrumentation (WMI) |
Provides a standard
infrastructure for monitoring and managing system resources. |
Allows system
administrators to monitor and control the system using scripting and
third-party applications. |
| Safe Mode startup
options |
Allows Windows XP
Professional to boot the system at the most basic level, using default
settings and minimum device drivers. |
Provides a means to boot
the system into the GUI so that IT professionals can repair the
operating system. |
| Group Policy |
Group Policy settings
simplify the administration of users and objects by letting
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.
There are hundreds of new policies available for Windows XP
Professional, in addition to those provided for Windows 2000
Professional. |
As users move from
location to location, they still have access to critical data, and they
maintain their own customized work environment. |
| Resultant Set of
Policy (RSoP) |
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. |
Administrators can more
easily implement and manage Group Policy using the new RSoP tool. |
| Microsoft Management
Console (MMC) |
Provides a centralized and
consistent environment for management tools. |
IT administrators will be
able to create customized application consoles. |
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