Editing Windows XP (section)

===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>