Windows XP: Windows XP - to break or build

So - the new Microsoft operating system - "Windows XP". 24th November 2001 will take place on a global presentation of the OS, but in fact it is longstanding.

Apparently, the move to the new system will still have ALL, and it does not disappoint users. The new operating system will have multiple versions: "XP Home Edition" instead of the Windows 98 and Windows Me, "XP Professional" instead of Windows 2000 Professional, and a version of "XP Server" for corporations. The professional version can run on a dual-processor system with memory up to 4GB. In this article we will try to just talk about the possibilities of this system.

setting

Installation is as usual - everything had to be done - a few acknowledgments. In general, you can see beautiful pictures, to read quite informative messages from Microsoft, etc. etc. Immediately before installation, XP shows sensitivity and check the hardware of your computer, so that in case of incompatibility to warn about possible problems. If you want to know which devices are compatible with XP, the list of these devices can download the file here. Just want to warn - file contains a list of all the equipment, which has a built-in driver support on the part of XP and the file has a capacity of 1.8 meg in .txt format.

Installing lasted quite a long time. If you installed the system with a four CD-ROM to the hard drive 5400 rev / min, would have to wait even longer - one hour to deal not done. Setting a fairly rapid IBM Deskstar 60GXP took about fifty minutes. In comparison with W2K it took more time. At the beginning of the download, you will have some time to look at a black screen. Not for long. The system boots very quickly - faster than all of Microsoft's systems, which we have all seen.

After installation is complete, the system will have to tinker with the configuration of the computer. It's very reminiscent of the Windows 2000 installation.

For XP fit many drivers from Windows 2000. In our Moscow office is used to access the Internet over the air, which requires a rather specific equipment that has a bad reputation because of the frequently encountered problems with the software, but the drivers for Windows2000 on WinXP worked flawlessly. During that time (almost a month), while we tested Windows XP, it is not revealed failures.

Windows XP like gamers, since it is easier to configure than Windows 2000. The system comes with support for all the latest innovations. Here and native support for Nvidia Detonator 12.40, and VIA chipsets. System support and cards on Radeon, Matrox, Voodoo 3/4/5. The side were only users Voodoo2 (there are still?) - They have no built-in support. The operating system comes with DirectX 8.1, so if you put a new XP,, you will not have problems with the game "Half-Life" on GeForce. All of this - part of Microsoft's policies, called OOBE (Out-Of-Box-Experience) and aimed at inexperienced users.

Performance built detonators 12.40 is slightly lower than that of the nVidia WHQL 12.41s, so we replaced them with detonators 12.90 beta from Windows 2000. Interestingly, embedded video driver supports the 1024x768x16bit mode. It's just a gift, especially when you only have a choice - either sweat search for the required drivers or spoil vision at 640x480.

General feeling - XP, faster Windows 2000. But under one condition - you must have a serious machine. If you want to put XP on a P2 / 400 and less than 128 MGb memory, seriously miss. In our case (P3 / 1 000 512 MGB) we experienced performance gains. We strongly recommend that you install XP on a machine with a storage capacity of 256 IYB. Otherwise, you get a good eXPerience Smile happy

Compatibility Test

In Windows XP it worked fine almost all the games. Without any problems were run "Quake 3", "CS", "Black & White", "Myst 3: Exile" "Diablo II", "Dune-Emperor".

When working with software problems arose only with routing programs - especially with Winroute. In addition, we were not able to install Wingate Extended Network Services, no matter how trying. Also, there is a bug in IE6 with playing embedded Quicktime files (which is connected with the sixth version of IE). The other applications - ICQ, Office, Mirc, Photoshop - raises no objections. Even Quicktime player from Apple was working perfectly.

To resolve compatibility issues in Windows XP, there is a special "Compatibility Assistant" ( 'compatibility wizard'), which is virtually emulates any Windows system - 95, NT4 and 2000. It may be that we would have tested this tool but all applications run smoothly .

Other features

The system is sustained in blue tones that do not irritate the eyes. Drawing icons, desktop, taskbar, deserves praise. If you suddenly do not like the look of your new icon, you are free to turn them off and work in the traditional color scheme.

The main menu has undergone complete reprocessing, and, in our opinion, for the better.

Note also that all the innovations in the interface, you can cancel and return to the good old Windows. This opportunity will appreciate a creature of habit. Option "Rollback System" (System Restore) allows you to restore your system. Furthermore, a rollback is possible drivers. After the upgrade, you can revert to the previously installed drivers. With the system comes of IE6 (nothing particularly new there is not), "Windows Media Player 8" (high bitrate encoding MP3). In addition, there is a new version of "MSN Messenger" (nothing really useful - raze once and for all).

Updated assistant to work with the Network Setup Wizard Network, allowing you to connect the computer to the home network, even the most inexperienced users. You simply need to enter your computer name, workgroup name, and specify whether you want to share an Internet connection. Windows XP Pro system also has the option of "Simple File Sharing", which is almost in place bookmarks permission is your only two options: whether you want to provide this directory to share, and whether other users can change files. It may be that such innovation will seem attractive to beginners, but experienced users this will most likely irritate. Disable Simple File Sharing hidden directory settings menu at the bottom, and it is not so easy to find. After disabling everything returned to its normal position. Therefore, any comrades do not delete your pictures of Britney Spears, that is, sorry, your work files.

There are useful features. Firstly, it's built in support for zip. Although it is not the most fancy program, but it backs up to the needs of medium-well. You can create archives, unpack them, but to change the degree of compression capacity is not much. In addition, there is a built-in support for recording to CD. Again, the possibilities of such a program will not surprise anyone, but it will satisfy domestic needs. For the average user, this integration is undoubtedly a plus. Of course, all these features are no substitute for professional or WinZIP, or the Nero, but for the average user of these possibilities is enough.

Another interesting feature is the remote control (Remote Assistance). In fact, it allows administrators and other users to control the system as if they are outside of the machine. It is believed that the opportunity will serve in good stead inexperienced users. For example, you can ask a friend to help you in the mail administrator, or by using MSN Messenger. Of course, the person to whom to seek help, to work for the same version of XP. Assistant your desktop will be represented, and he will be able to control the mouse or keyboard. At the same time he will be able to communicate with the ward. Here we should not forget about security issues. What is the uninvited guest to crack this program and to take control of the system into their own hands? In this case, you can disable this option in the system properties.

Understanding that every day more and more users have a permanent connection to the Internet (DSL, vydelenka), Microsoft finally included a firewall system. This is a rather simple solution, but it fulfills its function, allowing Internet users access to specific services on your computer or network. The solution is suitable for a dedicated line and dial-up connection to. As usual, the integrated service division connection to the Internet ICS (Internet Connection Sharing), works well with all types of connections, in addition to the satellite.

Regarding the aesthetic changes, note, it was nice to see the grouping of applications in the taskbar. If the taskbar is not enough space, applications are grouped. In some cases, it really is useful, but to work on the Internet is a convenience you will not name - instead of clicking on the desired window has to do more (IE and further selection window).

What to do with the activation?

Revitalization. The point of this operation is that the system generates a key for each computer, taking into consideration its hardware configuration. When you activate Windows XP, you are sending the key along with the key on disk in Microsoft, which then register you. On the Web you can find interesting material on this innovation. In particular, it is argued that a change in the configuration of your computer you do not have to dial the help desk for a long time to explain what was going on. We decided not to believe it, until we shall see. In addition, we believe that this is not a good way to get rid of piracy.

In any case, the window reminding you to activate the system, it is very annoying. "If you do not activate your system in X days, then come full: & ^ %% $% *". The window tired quickly and had to turn it off. Fatal mistake. Time passed quickly, and after 15 days from the date of installation came the same day. If you attempt to log in after a period of revitalization, the only message you see - a message about the need to activate. In this case, you can either activate the system, or to refuse. The only mode in which the message does not appear - Safe Mode (with networking support). In principle, the system works in this mode, and you can never activate it. But the work in a similar fashion quickly tires, so we decided to intensify our version of the same.

Let's see how the system behaves activated with the old equipment. We found an old hard drive to 250 MB, the old graphics card "S3 V +" with two megabytes of memory, a decrepit SB16 and knows how surviving SMC network card on 10Mb. First, we have removed all the devices and restart the system - everything went well, the system is booted. Then we set the old hard drive without any problems. No problem. Network card - no problem. Video card - everything is fine. Adding sound card. So, we made four changes in equipment after the activation of XP. Of course, when we tried to log in, we were asked to activate the system again! Once we got back to the previous configuration, we still display a message on the need pereaktivizirovat system. The situation was resolved by a simple call to the help desk. Supporting comrade said the new code and the system is activated. Maybe, if the computer is being upgraded it is not very often that such a decision and it is considered acceptable, but the frequent change of equipment that have to travel in any lab - this mechanism, at least, uncomfortable.