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Windows XP: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Windows version | {{Infobox Windows version | ||
|name = Windows XP | |name = Windows XP | ||
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==Main changes== | ==Main changes== | ||
<!-- NOTE TO SELF: reorganize this entire mess of a section, esp. applications and components/deprecations. filter out sp1/sp2/sp3-related changes and put them in their respective build pages --> | <!-- NOTE TO SELF: reorganize this entire mess of a section, esp. applications and components/deprecations. filter out sp1/sp2/sp3-related changes and put them in their respective build pages --> | ||
=== | === Interface === | ||
Windows XP received a major UI overhaul during development through the introduction of visual styles. Users could change the way windows and buttons looked with the new [[Luna]] visual style | Windows XP received a major UI overhaul during development through the introduction of visual styles. Users could change the way windows and buttons looked with the new [[Luna]] visual style, which featured three color schemes based on the colors blue, green, and silver. Users were given the ability to switch back to the older [[Windows Classic]] visual style from previous versions of Windows and customize the preset Windows Classic color schemes. The Luna visual style was the subject of mild criticism, with some consumers describing the visual style as bearing a resemblance to a "[[w:Fisher-Price|Fisher-Price]] toy".<ref>Manes, Stephen. [https://web.archive.org/web/20091008081626/http://www.pcworld.com/article/117427/full_disclosure_your_take_on_windows_worst_irritations.html Full Disclosure: Your Take on Windows' Worst Irritations], ''PC World''. 26 August 2004.</ref><ref>Bright, Peter. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140410055457/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/04/memory-lane-before-everyone-loved-windows-xp-they-hated-it/ Memory lane: before everyone loved Windows XP, they hated it], ''Ars Technica''. 10 April 2014. Archived from [https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/04/memory-lane-before-everyone-loved-windows-xp-they-hated-it/ the original] on 10 April 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2023.</ref> | ||
Windows XP saw the introduction of ClearType anti-aliasing, which allows for better text legibility on desktop computers with LCD-TFT monitors and laptops. As the feature had negatively affected CRT monitors, it was not enabled by default. That feature is instead enabled by default in [[Windows Vista]] and later versions of Windows. | Windows XP saw the introduction of ClearType anti-aliasing, which allows for better text legibility on desktop computers with LCD-TFT monitors and laptops. As the feature had negatively affected CRT monitors, it was not enabled by default. That feature is instead enabled by default in [[Windows Vista]] and later versions of Windows. | ||
==== Windows Explorer ==== | |||
The [[Windows Explorer]] shell received a major overhaul in its design and functionality. Most notably, a new [[Start menu]] design was introduced, featuring two separate columns for frequently-used applications and shortcuts to common system folders used throughout the operating system as well as details for the currently logged-on user. Users can manually switch to the legacy Start menu design included as part of older Windows NT releases, which would ultimately be removed in early [[Windows 7]] development builds. The task pane, a list of actions that users can perform depending on the item's content, was additionally implemented into the existing user interface. [[Microsoft Agent]]-based search companions were also introduced as a personalization option for the already-existing search functionality. Images can now directly viewed within the Explorer shell through the use of the ''Filmstrip'' view, and disc burning support was greatly expanded with support for the rewritable [[w:DVD-RAM|DVD-RAM]] format. | The [[Windows Explorer]] shell received a major overhaul in its design and functionality. Most notably, a new [[Start menu]] design was introduced, featuring two separate columns for frequently-used applications and shortcuts to common system folders used throughout the operating system as well as details for the currently logged-on user. Users can manually switch to the legacy Start menu design included as part of older Windows NT releases, which would ultimately be removed in early [[Windows 7]] development builds. The task pane, a list of actions that users can perform depending on the item's content, was additionally implemented into the existing user interface. [[Microsoft Agent]]-based search companions were also introduced as a personalization option for the already-existing search functionality. Images can now directly viewed within the Explorer shell through the use of the ''Filmstrip'' view, and disc burning support was greatly expanded with support for the rewritable [[w:DVD-RAM|DVD-RAM]] format. | ||
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The taskbar is locked by default for new user accounts to prevent accidental resizing or moving of the taskbar and/or the toolbars. Multiple instances of an application are now grouped automatically, and inactive tray area icons are hidden after a period of time to prevent cluttering within the taskbar. | The taskbar is locked by default for new user accounts to prevent accidental resizing or moving of the taskbar and/or the toolbars. Multiple instances of an application are now grouped automatically, and inactive tray area icons are hidden after a period of time to prevent cluttering within the taskbar. | ||
=== Applications | ==== Applications ==== | ||
Windows XP introduced substantial changes to varying applications. Updated versions of [[Internet Explorer]] and [[Outlook Express]] were introduced, bringing with it minor incremental usability improvements while also focusing on security changes. An address book was introduced into Outlook Express, allowing users to quickly add, edit and remove contacts as well as providing the ability to directly send e-mail messages to them via the aforementioned e-mail client. | |||
Communications facilities in the operating system have also received significant changes. Updated versions of the [[w:MSN Explorer|MSN Explorer]] were also added into the operating system, providing an overhauled user interface and a reworked onboarding experience, and a reworked version of the [[Windows Messenger]] application was added onto the operating system. | |||
* MSXML 3.0 was introduced. It was upgraded to MSXML 6.0 SP2 in Windows XP SP3. | * MSXML 3.0 was introduced. It was upgraded to MSXML 6.0 SP2 in Windows XP SP3. | ||
* [[Remote Assistance]] was added which allows a user to view or control a remote Windows computer over a network or the Internet to resolve issues. | * [[Remote Assistance]] was added which allows a user to view or control a remote Windows computer over a network or the Internet to resolve issues. | ||
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* [[w:Automated System Recovery|Automated System Recovery]] replaced the Emergency Boot Disk as recovery option, though it is only available in Windows XP Professional and other SKUs based on it. | * [[w:Automated System Recovery|Automated System Recovery]] replaced the Emergency Boot Disk as recovery option, though it is only available in Windows XP Professional and other SKUs based on it. | ||
=== Deprecations === | ==== Deprecations ==== | ||
Windows XP drops the ability to upgrade from both [[Windows NT 3.51]] and [[Windows 95]], requiring at least [[Windows 98]] or [[Windows NT 4.0]]. Subsequent service packs would later gradually drop the ability to upgrade from the [[Windows 9x]] family and Windows NT 4.0, requiring [[Windows 2000]] at minimum. Support for the SGI Visual Workstation 320 and 540 was dropped during development. | |||
Varying networking protocols such as [[w:AppleTalk|AppleTalk]], [[w:NetDDE|NetDDE]], [[w:NetBIOS#NetBEUI|NetBEUI]] and [[w:Data Link Control|Data Link Control]] have been deprecated or otherwise removed from the operating system. Several communications applications such as the [[Phone Dialer]] and [[Windows NetMeeting]] have been deprecated, although they remain accessible in the operating system. | |||
The reworked [[Windows Media Player 8|Windows Media Player]] application also brought with it the removal of the Deluxe CD Player and DVD Player due to the former's improved support with DVD and audio CD playback, which featured hardware-based MPEG decoding support. | |||
* Links to Phone Dialer and [[Windows NetMeeting]] have been removed from the Start menu. They can still be accessed and used by launching them directly (via <code>dialer.exe</code> and <code>conf.exe</code>). | * Links to Phone Dialer and [[Windows NetMeeting]] have been removed from the Start menu. They can still be accessed and used by launching them directly (via <code>dialer.exe</code> and <code>conf.exe</code>). | ||
* The Small icons view was removed from Windows Explorer. | * The Small icons view was removed from Windows Explorer. | ||
* Deluxe CD Player, which was also first part of [[Microsoft Plus!|Microsoft Plus! 98]] before being included in [[Windows 2000]], and DVD Player, which in [[Windows 98]] and [[Windows 2000]] plays DVDs if a hardware-based MPEG decoder is present, have both been removed in favor of CD/DVD playback functionality in Windows Media Player. | * Deluxe CD Player, which was also first part of [[Microsoft Plus!|Microsoft Plus! 98]] before being included in [[Windows 2000]], and DVD Player, which in [[Windows 98]] and [[Windows 2000]] plays DVDs if a hardware-based MPEG decoder is present, have both been removed in favor of CD/DVD playback functionality in Windows Media Player. | ||
* Imaging for Windows was removed and replaced by Windows Picture and Fax Viewer. | * Imaging for Windows was removed and replaced by Windows Picture and Fax Viewer. | ||
* The Directory icon was removed from My Network Places. | * The Directory icon was removed from My Network Places. | ||
* In Windows XP Service Pack 2, the following raw socket functionality was removed: sending TCP network packets, sending UDP packets with invalid source network addresses, and associating local addresses. | * In Windows XP Service Pack 2, the following raw socket functionality was removed: sending TCP network packets, sending UDP packets with invalid source network addresses, and associating local addresses. | ||
* The Microsoft POSIX and OS/2 subsystems were removed. Windows Services for UNIX is available as a replacement. | * The Microsoft POSIX and OS/2 subsystems were removed. Windows Services for UNIX is available as a replacement. | ||
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* Starting with Internet Explorer 6 Security Version 1, ''Media Bar'', which replaced the ''Radio Toolbar'' in the original and Service Pack 1 releases of Internet Explorer 6, was removed. | * Starting with Internet Explorer 6 Security Version 1, ''Media Bar'', which replaced the ''Radio Toolbar'' in the original and Service Pack 1 releases of Internet Explorer 6, was removed. | ||
* Support for TCP half-open connections was removed in Service Pack 2 of Windows XP. Background message compaction was also removed from [[Outlook Express|Outlook Express 6]]. Outlook Express in Service Pack 2 automatically compacts messages every hundredth time it is run. | * Support for TCP half-open connections was removed in Service Pack 2 of Windows XP. Background message compaction was also removed from [[Outlook Express|Outlook Express 6]]. Outlook Express in Service Pack 2 automatically compacts messages every hundredth time it is run. | ||
* The unique boot screens in the original and Service Pack 1 releases of Windows XP that have a green progress bar for Home Edition and a blue progress bar for Professional, Embedded, Tablet PC Edition and Media Center Edition, were removed in Service Pack 2 of Windows XP and was replaced with a single generic "Windows XP" boot screen with a blue progress bar. | * The unique boot screens in the original and Service Pack 1 releases of Windows XP that have a green progress bar for Home Edition and a blue progress bar for Professional, Embedded, Tablet PC Edition and Media Center Edition, were removed in Service Pack 2 of Windows XP and was replaced with a single generic "Windows XP" boot screen with a blue progress bar. | ||
* The ''Address bar'' toolbar was removed from the taskbar in Service Pack 3 of Windows XP. Windows Desktop Search is touted as a replacement. | * The ''Address bar'' toolbar was removed from the taskbar in Service Pack 3 of Windows XP. Windows Desktop Search is touted as a replacement. | ||
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== System requirements == | == System requirements == | ||
According to Microsoft, Windows XP requires a Pentium processor running on 233 MHz, at least 64 MB of RAM, 1.5 GB of hard drive space, and a Super VGA or better display adapter.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20041020063859/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314865</ref> Windows XP updates the default VGA driver to take advantage of VESA BIOS extensions, allowing true color display and resolutions in the default VGA driver, although this requires a graphics card that supports SVGA. | |||
==Source code leak== | ==Source code leak== | ||
On 23 September 2020, the source code for the RTM builds of [[Windows XP build 2600.1106|Windows XP Service Pack 1]] and [[Windows Server 2003 build 3790|Windows Server 2003]] leaked onto | On 23 September 2020, the source code for the RTM builds of [[Windows XP build 2600.1106|Windows XP Service Pack 1]] and [[Windows Server 2003 build 3790|Windows Server 2003]] leaked onto 4chan's /g/ board. As referenced within the original post, the code had been circulating in private circles for several years at most. Due to the incompleteness of both source code repositories, primarily within the activation functionalities, it is fair to assume that the disclosure had originated from a Microsoft Partner who had access to the source code rather than Microsoft themselves. The ability to glance into the groundwork of this operating system has led to some discoveries, an example being the checks for enabling the DirectUI-based Start Page from <code>shell\explorer\tray.cpp</code> being usable in [[Windows XP build 2410 (main)|build 2410]]. | ||
=== Additional products in the source code === | === Additional products in the source code === | ||