What is the difference between Home and Professional editions

The features of Windows XP Home and Pro are very similar. Most home users have no need to the Professional version. Windows XP Pro has support for multiple processors and an encrypted file system.

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A.Rajesh Khanna

Minimum system requirements

PC with 300 megahertz (MHz) or higher processor clock speed recommended;

233-MHz minimum required;* Intel Pentium/Celeron family, AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor recommended

128 megabytes (MB) of RAM or higher recommended (64 MB minimum supported; may limit performance and some features)

1.5 gigabyte (GB) of available hard disk space.

Super VGA (800 × 600) or higher resolution video adapter and monitor

CD-ROM or DVD drive

Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device

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A.Rajesh Khanna

What are the design goals for Windows XP? What does it improve

Richer communications. Real-time voice, video and application-sharing will enable people to communicate more effectively.

Enhanced mobility. Mobile users' ability to access their information any time, anywhere will be further improved.

Improved help and support. Users will be able to easily connect to people and resources for help whenever they need it.

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A.Rajesh Khanna

What are the design goals for Windows XP? What does it improve

Simple digital photos and video. Windows XP will make it easy to create, organize and share digital memories.

Exciting music and entertainment. Windows XP will deliver the best experience for the discovery, download, personalization and playback of high-quality audio and video content.

Enabling of the "connected home." Windows XP will give people an easy way to share information, devices and Internet connections within the home

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A.Rajesh Khanna

Do most of my programs from Windows 9* work in Windows XP


Most programs that work on Windows 95/98/Me and NT will work on Windows XP. As with Windows 2000, several compatibility updates are sure to made after the product is released. There will be problems running older DOS programs (if they will run at all).

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A.Rajesh Khanna

Error: Installing XP on an Asus UDMA 100 Board.

For those who are getting this error when you try to install WinXP on a motherboard that has UDMA 100 Promise Controllers you need to do the following in order to get XP to install correctly if your hard drives are connected to the UDMA 100 controller.

Now there are two ways to get XP installed, the first one I am going to mention is the easiest way and the second is a bit more complicated but will work never the less.

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A.Rajesh Khanna

Error: Installing XP on an Asus UDMA 100 Board.

1 - Easiest Way

I have an Asus A7V motherboard and I have run into this more than once. What you need to do (this is the easiest way to do it that I have found) is to move your hard drives cable off the UDMA 100 controller (normally color coded blue) over to the UDMA 66 master controller on the motherboard. Once you have done that make sure your PC still boots into your current OS correctly. If it does then start your XP install or upgrade. Everything should be fine.

Now, once XP is up right click My Computer and choose Manage. Look under Device manager and you will see an error with a yellow exclamation point on it. Right click on it and install the Promise Drivers.

Once you have the drivers installed re-boot the system and make sure the yellow exclamation points are gone and the promise drivers are listed under SCSI devices, if they are then turn off your system, move the HD's back to the UDMA 100 controller and boot it up. That should fix it.

Another option is to check the MS web site once you have XP installed and BEFORE you move your controller back to the UDMA 100 slot for XP compatible Promise drivers.

See this FAQ on how to do a manual search for the drivers when you are on the new XP Windows Update site.

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A.Rajesh Khanna

Error: Installing XP on an Asus UDMA 100 Board.

#2 - Fresh Install

If you plan on installing XP to a freshly formatted hard drive the easiest way I have found to do this is to use the above method but for those with only one UDMA 66 controller on there motherboard you may need to do the following:

- First use the URL above and download the Promise drivers I have here on the site.

- Second you need to extract the drivers to a floppy making sure when you extracted the above file that you left the directories/folders as they were. This is VERY important!

If you used WinZip to extract the files I have made the directories for you. Simply unzip them to a floppy and out it aside. The key to this whole process is the Textsetup.oem file. Windows XP setup must see that in the root of the floppy.

<<<< It should look like this once your done. Reboot and start your install..
Now pay attention here - at the bottom of the very first blue setup screen you will see a prompt to hit F6 to install third party SCSI or RAID drivers. HIT F6 A FEW TIMES NOW!!! Now it might take a couple of seconds but you should be prompted to insert your drivers into your floppy drive. Do so and choose the Promise ATA100 controller for Windows 2000. Keep this disk handy as you will be prompted for it one more time during the install.

Once XP has the drivers and loads them successfully XP should install just fine, well at least as far as the controller goes.

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A.Rajesh Khanna

Using Windows XP Help and Support Center

Although most Windows programs include an individualized Help program, which you can access by clicking Help from their menus, Windows XP also includes an all-encompassing Help program. It helps with general Windows questions, as well your computer in general. To start using it, choose Help and Support Center from the Start menu. The program rises to the screen.

The Windows Help and Support Center works much like a Web site. To move back one page, click the little green Back arrow in the upper left corner. That arrow helps you out if you've backed into a corner. Just click it to move on to a more helpful page.

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A.Rajesh Khanna

The Help and Support Center offers assistance in these categories:


Pick a Help Topic:

Click these to see general information about a topic. Clicking Customizing Your Computer, for example, displays a list of things that you can change about your computer. Choose Your Start Menu from the list, and the Help menu lists how to add items to the Start menu, change the way they open when clicked, or tweak the menu's list of recently used files and documents.


Ask for Assistance:

Stumped? Here are two ways of bringing in outside help. The Remote Assistance program lets you invite a savvier Windows XP user to connect to your computer through the Internet. When the Geek connects to your computer, he sees your desktop on his screen. He can walk you through problems, offer tutorials, and behave as if he were standing over your shoulder. If you're not into that kind of computer intimacy, try the other option: Contact Microsoft for Help, or connect to help sites through the Internet.

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A.Rajesh Khanna

Using Windows XP Help and Support Center

Pick a Task: Microsoft placed the most commonly used items here. One click enables you to keep your computer up-to-date, find Windows XP-compatible parts for your computer, restore your computer back to a time when it worked well, and run diagnostic tools to view information and test your computer.


Did You Know?: Windows XP tosses little updated tips here. You may just get lucky and spot one that's useful.

For best results, start your quest for help by glancing at the Pick a Help Topic area. If your troublesome spot is listed here, click it and begin narrowing down the search for pertinent information.


If that doesn't help, use the Search command at the page's top. Type in a key word or two describing your problem and click the green arrow next to the Search box. Typing e-mail, for instance, brings up 30 bits of information. Click any of the suggested topics to see if they solve your problem.

The Search command groups its results in three areas. Suggested Topics, the first and most valuable, lists troubleshooters, step-by-step tutorials, and general information. The Full-text Search Matches area lists any area containing the words you searched for. The last, Microsoft Knowledge Base, shows any results found in a Microsoft-created database listing information about all its products. (Microsoft Knowledge Base requires an Internet connection.)

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A.Rajesh Khanna

Using Remote Assistance in Windows XP

It's late at night, and your computer is acting weird. What did you do wrong? Luckily, your co-worker's kid across town just got Windows XP, and he's already mastered it. But his parents won't let him out at night. If only he could fix your computer for you. . . .

With Windows XP's Remote Assistance, he can. If you turn on Remote Assistance, another person can log onto your computer and control it, just as if they were sitting in front of it. They can tweak your computer, setting up what needs to be done, and your computer will run as good as new. (At least, that's the concept.)

To load Remote Assistant, click the Start button, choose Help and Support and choose Remote Assistance. Choose Invite Someone to Help You from the program's screen, and send a message using Outlook Express or Microsoft MSN Messenger. The recipient accepts your request, and he or she sees your computer's screen on their monitor. You two chat back and forth, typing messages, and the helpful soul moves around your mouse, clicking the right things, until the situation is fixed.

Expect to see it used by technical support staffs in the future

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A.Rajesh Khanna

Understanding Microsoft .NET Passport

In its ever-expanding push toward computer domination, Microsoft launched a concept called the .NET Passport. (Soon after installation, Windows XP urgently asks you to sign up for one.) In theory, the Passport sounds great: Give Microsoft a user name and password, and you have a Passport. When you visit any Passport-aware Internet sites, you type in your same Passport name and password. You no longer have to remember different user names and passwords for every place that you visit or shop on the Internet.

In fact, when you move from one Passport-enabled site to another, you don't even need to log on again. With the Passport, your personal data travels with you: name, address, and, if you purchased anything, your credit card number. Microsoft says its .NET Passport enables software, Internet services, and computer gadgetry to work together and share information, making the Internet easier for everyone to use.

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A.Rajesh Khanna

Understanding Microsoft .NET Passport

Think about it, though. No entity should govern your Internet use — except you. The Microsoft Passport contains your Internet identity. With Passport, Microsoft creates a consumer database that's just too powerful. Microsoft can collect information from any Passport-enabled site you visit, so Microsoft knows the stocks you track in Investor.com, the Web pages you view in MSN.com, and where you travel through Expedia.com. When you move from one Passport-enabled site to another, that information could be shared, too.

In concept, Passport sounds great. When computers are working well, they do great things. But everybody knows how terrible computers can be if something goes wrong. Passport offers too much opportunity for things to go wrong. Sure, it's okay to occasionally use a Passport account when there's no alternative. But avoid Passport-enabled sites whenever possible.

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A.Rajesh Khanna

Turning Off the Licensing Feature in Windows XP


Everybody but the record industry agrees that the Microsoft licensing feature is awful. Luckily, you have a way to turn it off:

1. Choose Options from Media Player's Tools menu.

2. Click the Copy Music tab.

3. Remove any check mark from the box marked Protect Content.

If no check mark is there, Media Player doesn't embed any license or copy protection in your copied files. Disabling the licensing feature lets you copy your files to any of your computers and portable music devices.

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A.Rajesh Khanna

Radio and the Windows Media Player

Select a Preset Station

Windows Media Player for Windows XP features preset Web radio stations that make listening a snap. It's an easy way to get started and a great introduction to the music capabilities of Windows XP. Once you're on the Internet, you can tune in Web radio.

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A.Rajesh Khanna

To listen to Internet radio

Click Start, point to All Programs, and then click Windows Media Player.
Click Radio Tuner.
Double-click a preset Web radio station from the list of featured presets.
That’s all there is to it. Loading a station usually takes a few seconds, after which playing begins automatically.

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A.Rajesh Khanna

Radio and the Windows Media Player

Create Your Own Presets


Create Your Own Presets Of course, you’re not limited to listening only to preset stations. After all, Internet radio is all about choice. It’s easy to find interesting new stations and create your own presets

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A.Rajesh Khanna

Radio and the Windows Media Player

To create preset radio stations

Click Start, and then click Windows Media Player.

Click Radio Tuner.

Click Find More Stations.

Search for stations by keyword or zip code (U.S. only), or browse through editor's selections in genres from Jazz & Blues to Modern Rock to New Age to Sports Radio and more.

Click Use Advanced Search to search for stations based on genre, language, country, and more criteria.

If you find a station that looks interesting, you can click it for more information. To create a preset, click Add to My Stations.

When you are finished, click Return to My Stations.

Click any station in My Stations to play it.


Note Because Radio Tuner contains a live Web page that is hosted by WindowsMedia.com, the process for adding radio stations may change without notice.

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A.Rajesh Khanna

Radio and the Windows Media Player

Streaming Audio

Web radio is broadcast by a method called streaming. Instead of sending out a constant signal, the station sends out audio in batches, or packets, across the Internet to reach your computer. Each packet is separately numbered, and the data it contains is compressed (reduced in size) for speedier delivery. When the computer receives packets, it decompresses (reconstitutes) their data and plays them in their proper order. The effect is the same as if the information was delivered by means of a continuous signal.

Packets might travel by separate routes to reach your computer and might arrive out of order. To allow for delays, your computer initially stores packets instead of playing them until enough have arrived to fill the time it takes to receive any missing packets before it is their turn to play. The storing process is called buffering. Without streaming audio Web radio would not be possible, and full-length media files would take ages to download.

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A.Rajesh Khanna