Editing Windows XP (section)

==New and updated features==
{{Main|Features new to Windows XP}}

===User interface===
[[File:RoyaleXP2.PNG|thumb|Updated start menu in the ''[[Windows XP Media Center Edition|Media Center Edition]]''-exclusive Royale theme, now featuring two columns]]

While retaining some similarities to previous versions, Windows XP's interface was overhauled with a new visual appearance, with an increased use of [[alpha compositing]] effects, [[drop shadow]]s, and "[[Windows XP visual styles|visual styles]]", which completely changed the appearance of the operating system. The number of effects enabled are determined by the operating system based on the computer's processing power, and can be enabled or disabled on a case-by-case basis. XP also added [[ClearType]], a new [[subpixel rendering]] system designed to improve the appearance of fonts on [[liquid-crystal display]]s.<ref name="Microsoft Corporation">{{cite web|url=https://support.microsoft.com/kb/306527|title=HOW TO: Use ClearType to Enhance Screen Fonts in Windows XP|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|date=October 27, 2002|work=Support|access-date=August 8, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805145836/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306527|archive-date=August 5, 2011|author=<!--N/A-->}}</ref> A new set of system icons was also introduced.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb986055.aspx|title=New Graphical Interface: Enhance Your Programs with New Windows XP Shell Features|work=[[MSDN]]|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|date=November 2001|access-date=August 8, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809204642/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb986055.aspx|archive-date=August 9, 2011|first1=Dino|last1=Esposito}}</ref> The default wallpaper, ''[[Bliss (image)|Bliss]]'', is a photo of a landscape in the [[Napa County, California|Napa Valley]] outside [[Napa, California]], with rolling green hills and a blue sky with stratocumulus and cirrus clouds.<ref name="bliss1">{{cite news |url=https://spokesmanreview.com/pf.asp?date=022204&ID=s1490284 |title=No view of Palouse from Windows |first=Paul |last=Turner |newspaper=[[The Spokesman-Review]] |location=Spokane |date=February 22, 2004 |access-date=September 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511110350/http://spokesmanreview.com/pf.asp?date=022204&ID=s1490284 |archive-date=May 11, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Start menu received its first major overhaul in XP, switching to a two-column layout with the ability to list, pin, and display frequently used applications, recently opened documents, and the traditional cascading "All Programs" menu. The [[taskbar]] can now group windows opened by a single application into one taskbar button, with a [[popup menu]] listing the individual windows. The notification area also hides "inactive" icons by default. A "common tasks" list was added, and [[Windows Explorer]]'s sidebar was updated to use a new task-based design with lists of common actions; the tasks displayed are contextually relevant to the type of content in a folder (e.g. a folder with music displays offers to play all the files in the folder, or burn them to a CD).<ref name="sacred">{{cite news|last1=Fitzpatrick|first1=Jason|title=The Start Menu Should Be Sacred (But It's Still a Disaster in Windows 10)|url=https://www.howtogeek.com/224805/the-start-menu-should-be-sacred-but-its-still-a-disaster-in-windows-10/|access-date=July 30, 2016|work=How-To Geek|date=August 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313114850/https://www.howtogeek.com/224805/the-start-menu-should-be-sacred-but-its-still-a-disaster-in-windows-10/|archive-date=March 13, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Wide image|Windows XP task grouping (Luna).png|800px|The "task grouping" feature introduced in Windows XP showing both grouped and individual items}}
Fast user switching allows additional users to log into a Windows XP machine without existing users having to close their programs and log out. Although only one user at the time can use the console (i.e., monitor, keyboard, and mouse), previous users can resume their session once they regain control of the console.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://support.microsoft.com/kb/279765|title=How To Use the Fast User Switching Feature in Windows XP (Revision 1.5)|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|date=March 27, 2007|work=Microsoft Support|access-date=August 8, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812020916/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/279765|archive-date=August 12, 2011|author=<!--N/A-->}}</ref> [[#Service Pack 2|Service Pack 2]] and [[#Service Pack 3|Service Pack 3]] also introduced new features to Windows XP post-release, including the [[Windows Security Center]], [[Features new to Windows XP#Bluetooth support|Bluetooth support]], [[Features new to Windows XP#Data Execution Prevention|Data Execution Prevention]], [[Features new to Windows XP#Windows Firewall|Windows Firewall]], and support for SDHC cards that are larger than 4&nbsp;GB and up to 32&nbsp;GB.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://download.microsoft.com/download/9/c/5/9c5b2167-8017-4bae-9fde-d599bac8184a/Bth_FAQ.docx |title=Bluetooth Wireless Technology FAQ |access-date=August 8, 2011 |archive-date=December 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223163558/http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/c/5/9c5b2167-8017-4bae-9fde-d599bac8184a/Bth_FAQ.docx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb877979.aspx |title=Manually Configuring Windows Firewall in Windows XP Service Pack 2 |date=May 5, 2010 |access-date=August 26, 2017 |archive-date=August 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826132201/https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb877979.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://support.microsoft.com/kb/843090 |title=Description of the Windows Firewall feature in Windows XP SP2 |access-date=September 18, 2009 |archive-date=September 17, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090917163445/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/843090 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://support.microsoft.com/kb/934428|title=Hotfix for Windows XP that adds support for SDHC cards that have a capacity of more than 4 GB|date=May 22, 2013|website=Support|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205135308/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/934428|archive-date=February 5, 2014|access-date=June 18, 2019|edition=5.0}}</ref>

===Infrastructure===
Windows XP uses [[prefetcher|prefetching]] to improve startup and application launch times.<ref name="ms-WHDC-kernel">{{cite web |url=https://www.microsoft.com/whdc/driver/kernel/XP_kernel.mspx |title=Kernel Enhancements for Windows XP |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |work=Windows Hardware Developer Center (WHDC) |date=January 13, 2003 |access-date=August 8, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307105611/http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/driver/kernel/xp_kernel.mspx |archive-date=March 7, 2008 |author=<!--N/A--> }}</ref> It also became possible to revert the installation of an updated [[device driver]], should the updated driver produce undesirable results.<ref>{{cite web|title=HOW TO: Use the Driver Roll Back Feature to Restore a Previous Version of a Device Driver in Windows XP|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|url=https://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=306546|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060218123843/http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=306546|archive-date=February 18, 2006|date=October 27, 2002|author=<!--N/A-->}}</ref>

A [[copy protection]] system known as [[Windows Product Activation]] was introduced with Windows XP and its server counterpart, [[Windows Server 2003]]. All non-enterprise (Volume Licensing) Windows licenses must be tied to a unique ID generated using information from the [[computer hardware]], transmitted either via the internet or a telephone hotline. If Windows is not activated within 30 days of installation, the OS will cease to function until it is activated. Windows also periodically verifies the hardware to check for changes. If significant hardware changes are detected, the activation is voided, and Windows must be re-activated.<ref name="ars-activation">{{cite web|title=Windows Product Activation: an early look|url=https://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2001/02/wpa.ars|website=Ars Technica|access-date=February 22, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205075258/http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2001/02/wpa.ars|archive-date=December 5, 2011|date=February 2, 2001|first1=Ken|last1=Fisher}}</ref>{{Clarify|reason=IIRC it took something on the level of a motherboard + CPU swap and reinstall to trigger this, and re-key was either automatic or really fast through calling the MS number. The parts that should be clarified are the number of key migrations and what hardware changes mattered.  It's currently default-set to 1001 on Windows 10 (and only triggered by full reinstalls on a new motherboard and system without importing the Windows signing keys into the bios first AFAICT).|date=November 2023}}

===Networking and internet functionality===
Windows XP was originally bundled with [[Internet Explorer 6]], [[Outlook Express]] 6, [[Windows Messenger]], and [[MSN Explorer]]. New networking features were also added, including Internet Connection Firewall, [[Internet Connection Sharing]] integration with UPnP, NAT traversal APIs, Quality of Service features, IPv6 and Teredo tunneling, [[Background Intelligent Transfer Service]], extended fax features, network bridging, peer to peer networking, support for most [[DSL]] modems, [[IEEE 802.11]] ([[Wi-Fi]]) connections with [[Wireless Zero Configuration|auto configuration]] and roaming, [[Telephony Application Programming Interface|TAPI 3.1]], and networking over FireWire.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457047.aspx|title=Windows XP Networking Features and Enhancements|publisher=[[Microsoft]]|work=[[Microsoft TechNet]]|date=August 8, 2001|access-date=August 8, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726172203/http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb457047.aspx|archive-date=July 26, 2011|author=<!--N/A-->}}</ref> [[Remote Assistance]] and [[Remote Desktop Services|Remote Desktop]] were also added, which allow users to connect to a computer running Windows XP from across a network or the Internet and access their applications, files, printers, and devices or request help.<ref>{{cite web|title=Frequently Asked Questions About Remote Desktop |publisher=[[Microsoft]] |url=https://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/mobility/rdfaq.mspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704104713/http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/mobility/rdfaq.mspx |archive-date=July 4, 2007 |date=<!--N/A-->|author=<!--N/A-->}}</ref> Improvements were also made to ''IntelliMirror'' features such as [[Offline Files]], [[roaming user profile]]s, and [[folder redirection]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Otey |first1=Michael |title=Discover Windows XP |url=https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms954392.aspx |publisher=Microsoft Developer |access-date=June 21, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420161139/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms954392.aspx |archive-date=April 20, 2012 |date=October 2001}}</ref>

===Backward compatibility===
To enable running software that targets or locks out specific versions of Windows, "Compatibility mode" was added. It allows pretending a selected earlier version of Windows to software, starting at Windows 95.<ref>{{cite web |title=Windows XP Program Compatibility Wizard |url=https://www.serverwatch.com/guides/windows-xp-program-compatibility-wizard/ |website=ServerWatch |access-date=November 13, 2021 |date=March 12, 2002 |archive-date=November 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113012030/https://www.serverwatch.com/guides/windows-xp-program-compatibility-wizard/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This feature was first introduced in [[Windows 2000]] Service Pack 2, released five months before the release of Windows XP, and was backported from prerelease Windows XP builds. Unlike with Windows XP, however, it was hidden from the operating system as it was not enabled by default and had to be manually activated through the [[regsvr32|Register Server]] utility. It was also only available to administrator users.<ref>{{cite web |title=How to Enable Application Compatibility-Mode Technology in Windows 2000 Service Pack 2 |url=https://www.activewin.com/tips/win2000/1/2000_tips_43.shtml |website=Active Win |access-date=November 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010818054705/http://www.activewin.com/tips/win2000/1/2000_tips_43.shtml |archive-date=August 18, 2001 |language=en |date=2000}}</ref> Windows XP has this feature activated out of the box and also grants it to regular users.

===Other features===
* Improved [[compatibility layer|application compatibility]] and [[shim (computing)|shims]] compared to Windows 2000.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Proffit |first=Brian |date=September 2, 2002 |title=Old Apps Find A New Home On Windows XP |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wFDKfrkjXLAC&pg=PA76 |magazine=[[PC Magazine]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |access-date=July 10, 2018 |archive-date=June 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610022353/https://books.google.com/books?id=wFDKfrkjXLAC&pg=PA76 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[DirectX]] 8.1, upgradeable to DirectX 9.0c.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Karp |first1=David |last2=O'Reilly |first2=Tim |last3=Mott |first3=Troy |title=Windows XP in a Nutshell: [a desktop quick reference] |date=2005 |publisher=O'Reilly |location=Beijing [u.a.] |isbn=978-0-596-00900-7|page=[https://archive.org/details/windowsxpinnutsh00karp/page/141 141] |edition=2nd |url=https://archive.org/details/windowsxpinnutsh00karp|url-access=registration }}</ref>
* A number of new features in [[Windows Explorer]] including task panes, thumbnails, and the option to view photos as a slideshow.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Richtmyer |first1=Richard |title=Opening up Windows XP |url=https://money.cnn.com/2001/08/23/technology/windowsxp/index.htm |website=CNN Money |access-date=June 24, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223092719/http://money.cnn.com/2001/08/23/technology/windowsxp/index.htm |archive-date=December 23, 2017 |date=August 23, 2001}}</ref>
* Improved imaging features such as ''Windows Picture and Fax Viewer''.<ref name="WPFW">{{cite web |url = https://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/image_overview.mspx?mfr=true |title = Windows Picture and Fax Viewer overview |work = Windows XP Professional Product Documentation |publisher = Microsoft Corporation |access-date = November 23, 2010 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101202003013/http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/image_overview.mspx?mfr=true |archive-date = December 2, 2010 |df = dmy-all |date = <!--N/A--> |author=<!--N/A-->}}</ref>
* Faster start-up, (because of improved [[Prefetcher|Prefetch]] functions) logon, logoff, [[Hibernate (OS feature)|hibernation]], and application launch sequences.<ref name="ms-WHDC-kernel" />
* Numerous improvements to increase the system reliability such as improved [[System Restore]],<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050204174622/http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnwxp/html/windowsxpsystemrestore.asp |archive-date=February 4, 2005|url=https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnwxp/html/windowsxpsystemrestore.asp |title=Microsoft Windows XP System Restore|publisher=Microsoft|last1=Harder|first1=Bobbie|date=April 2001}}</ref> [[Automated System Recovery]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Petri |first1=Daniel |title=What is ASR in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003? |url=https://www.petri.com/whats_asr_in_windows_xp_2003 |website=Petri |publisher=Blue Whale Web Media Group |access-date=June 24, 2018 |date=January 8, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312131838/https://www.petri.com/whats_asr_in_windows_xp_2003 |archive-date=March 12, 2017 }}</ref> and driver reliability improvements through Device Driver Rollback.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Columbus |first1=Louis |title=Exploring Windows XP's Device Driver Rollback and System Restore |url=https://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=21919 |website=InformIT |publisher=Pearson Education |access-date=June 24, 2018 |date=June 29, 2001 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105185554/http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=21919 |archive-date=January 5, 2014}}</ref>
* Hardware support improvements such as [[FireWire]] 800,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Norton |first1=Peter |last2=Mueller |first2=John Paul |title=Peter Norton's Complete Guide to Windows XP |date=2002 |publisher=Pearson Education |isbn=9780132715386 |page=N/A |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QLtjChi0LkMC&pg=PT339 |access-date=July 10, 2018 |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415032546/https://books.google.com/books?id=QLtjChi0LkMC&pg=PT339 |url-status=live }}</ref> and improvements to [[multi-monitor]] support under the name "DualView".<ref>{{cite web |last1=McNamee |first1=Kieran |title=Setting up dual monitors using Windows XP Home |url=https://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/70163/setting_up_dual_monitors_using_windows_xp_home/ |website=PC World |access-date=June 24, 2018 |language=en-AU |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205070537/http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/70163/setting_up_dual_monitors_using_windows_xp_home |archive-date=February 5, 2017 |date=June 27, 2003 }}</ref>
* [[Fast user switching]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Architecture of Fast User Switching |url=https://support.microsoft.com/kb/294737 |website=Microsoft Knowledgebase |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=June 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802094623/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/294737 |archive-date=August 2, 2009 |date=January 15, 2006 |url-status=dead |author=<!--N/A-->}}</ref>
* The [[ClearType]] font rendering mechanism, which is designed to improve text readability on [[liquid-crystal display]] (LCD) and similar monitors, especially laptops.<ref name="Microsoft Corporation"/>
* [[Side-by-side assembly|Side-by-side assemblies]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Satran |first1=Michael |title=About Side-by-Side Assemblies |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/sbscs/about-side-by-side-assemblies- |website=docs.microsoft.com |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=June 24, 2018 |language=en-us |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624182601/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/sbscs/about-side-by-side-assemblies- |archive-date=June 24, 2018 |date=May 31, 2018}}</ref> and [[registration-free COM]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wienholt |first1=Nick |title=Simplify Application Deployment with Registration-Free COM - Developer.com |url=https://www.developer.com/net/cplus/article.php/3626016/Simplify-Application-Deployment-with-Registration-Free-COM.htm |website=www.developer.com |publisher=QuinStreet Enterprise |access-date=June 24, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216070912/http://www.developer.com/net/cplus/article.php/3626016/Simplify-Application-Deployment-with-Registration-Free-COM.htm |archive-date=December 16, 2010 |date=August 14, 2006}}</ref>
* General improvements to international support such as more locales, languages and scripts, [[Multilingual User Interface|MUI]] support in Terminal Services, improved [[Input Method Editor]]s, and National Language Support.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Honeycutt |first1=Jerry |title=Introducing Microsoft Windows Server 2003 |date=2003 |publisher=Microsoft |location=Redmond, Wash. |isbn=9780735615700 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/introducingmicro00hone/page/293 293–298] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/introducingmicro00hone/page/293 }}</ref>