Things you didn't know about Windows XP

1. It boasts how long it can stay up. Previous versions of Windows were coy about how long they went between boots, XP is positively proud of its stamina. Go to the Command Prompt in the Start menu, type "systeminfo". The computer will produce a lot of useful info, including the uptime. If you want to save these, type "systeminfo > info.txt". This creates a file called info.txt you can look at later with Notepad. (Professional Edition only).
   
2. You can delete files immediately, without having them move to the Recycle Bin first. Go to the Start menu, select Run... and type "gpedit.msc". then select User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Windows Explorer and find the Do not move deleted files to the Recycle Bin setting. Set it. Poking around in gpedit will reveal a great many interface and system options, but take care some may stop your computer behaving as you wish. (Professional Edition only).
   
3. You can lock your XP workstation with two clicks of the mouse. Create a new shortcut on your desktop using a right mouse click, and enter "rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation" in the location field. Give the shortcut a name you like. That's it just double click on it and your computer will be locked. And if that's not easy enough, "Windows key + L" will do the same.
   
4. XP hides some system software you might want to remove, such as Windows Messenger, but you can tickle it and make it disgorge everything. Using Notepad or Edit, edit the text file "/windows/inf/sysoc.inf", search for the word 'hide' and remove it. You can then go to the Add or Remove Programs in the Control Panel, select Add/Remove Windows Components and there will be your prey, exposed and vulnerable.
   
5. For those skilled in the art of DOS batch files, XP has a number of interesting new commands. These include "eventcreate" and "eventtriggers" for creating and watching system events, "typeperf" for monitoring performance of various subsystems, and "schtasks" for handling scheduled tasks. As usual, typing the command name followed by /? will give a list of options.
   
6. You can at last get rid of tasks on the computer from the command line by using "taskkill /pid" and the task number, or just "tskill" and the process number. Find that out by typing "tasklist", which will also tell you a lot about what's going on in your system.
   
7. XP will treat Zip files like folders, which is nice if you've got a fast machine. On slower machines, you can make XP leave zip files well alone by typing "regsvr32 /u zipfldr.dll" at the command line. If you change your mind later, you can put things back as they were by typing "regsvr32 zipfldr.dll".
   
8. You can run a program as a different user without logging out and back in again. Right click the icon, select Run As. and enter the user name and password you want to use. This only applies for that run. The trick is particularly useful if you need to have administrative permissions to install a program, which many require. Note that you can have some fun by running programs multiple times on the same system as different users, but this can have unforeseen effects.
   
9. Windows XP can be very insistent about you checking for auto updates, registering a Passport, using Windows Messenger and so on. After a while, the nagging goes away, but if you feel you might slip the bonds of sanity before that point, run Regedit, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\Advanced and create a DWORD value called EnableBalloonTips with a value of 0.
   
10. You can start up without needing to enter a user name or password. Select Run from the start menu and type "control userpasswords2", which will open the user accounts application. On the Users tab, clear the box for Users Must Enter A User Name And Password To Use This Computer, and click on OK. An Automatically Log On dialog box will appear; enter the user name and password for the account you want to use.
    
11. Internet Explorer 6 will automatically delete temporary files, but only if you tell it to. Start the browser, select Tools / Internet Options... and Advanced, go down to the Security area and check the box to Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed.
    
12. XP comes with a free Network Activity Light, just in case you can't see the LEDs twinkle on your network card. Right click on My Network Places on the desktop, then select Properties. Right click on the description for your LAN or dial-up connection, select Properties, then check the Show icon in notification area when connected box. You'll now see a tiny network icon on the right of your task bar that glimmers nicely during network traffic.
    
13. The Start Menu can be leisurely when it decides to appear, but you can speed things along by changing the registry entry HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Control Panel/Desktop/MenuShowDelay from the default 400 to something a little snappier. Like 10.
    
14. You can rename loads of files at once in Windows Explorer. Highlight a set of files in a window, then right click on one and rename it. All the other files will be renamed to that name, with individual numbers in brackets to distinguish them. Also, in a folder you can arrange icons in alphabetized groups by View, Arrange Icon By... Show In Groups.
    
15. Windows Media Player will display the cover art for albums as it plays the tracks -- if it found the picture on the Internet when you copied the tracks from the CD. If it didn't, or if you have lots of pre-WMP music files, you can put your own copy of the cover art in the same directory as the tracks. Just call it folder.jpg and Windows Media Player will pick it up and display it.
    
16. Windows key + Break brings up the System Properties dialogue box; Windows key + D brings up the desktop; Windows key + Tab moves through the taskbar buttons.
    

Windows History

1985: Windows 1.0

The first version of Windows provided a new software environment for developing and running applications that use bitmap displays and mouse pointing devices. Before Windows, PC users relied on the MS-DOS® method of typing commands at the C prompt (C:\). With Windows, users moved a mouse to point and click their way through tasks, such as starting applications. In addition, Windows users could switch among several concurrently running applications. The product included a set of desktop applications, including the MS-DOS file management program, a calendar, card file, notepad, calculator, clock, and telecommunications programs, which helped users manage day-to-day activities.

1987: Windows 2.0

Windows 2.0 took advantage of the improved processing speed of the Intel 286 processor, expanded memory, and inter-application communication capabilities made possible through Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE). With improved graphics support, users could now overlap windows, control screen layout, and use keyboard combinations to move rapidly through Windows operations. Many developers wrote their first Windows–based applications for this release.
The follow-up release, Windows 2.03, took advantage of the protected mode and extended memory capabilities of the Intel 386 processor. Subsequent Windows releases continued to improve the speed, reliability, and usability of the PC as well as interface design and capabilities.

1990: Windows 3.0

The third major release of the Windows platform from Microsoft offered improved performance, advanced graphics with 16 colors, and full support of the more powerful Intel 386 processor. A new wave of 386 PCs helped drive the popularity of Windows 3.0, which offered a wide range of useful features and capabilities, including (Program Manager, File Manager, and Print Manager, A completely rewritten application development environment). An improved set of Windows icons. The popularity of Windows 3.0 grew with the release of a new Windows software development kit (SDK), which helped software developers focus more on writing applications and less on writing device drivers. Widespread acceptance among third-party hardware and software developers helped fuel the success of Windows 3.0.

1993: Windows NT 3.1

When Microsoft Windows NT® was released to manufacturing on July 27, 1993, Microsoft met an important milestone: the completion of a project begun in the late 1980s to build an advanced new operating system from scratch. "Windows NT represents nothing less than a fundamental change in the way that companies can address their business computing requirements," Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said at its release. That change is represented in the product's name: "NT" stands for new technology. To maintain consistency with Windows 3.1, a well-established home and business operating system at the time, the new Windows NT operating system began with version 3.1. Unlike Windows 3.1, however, Windows NT 3.1 was a 32-bit operating system. Windows NT was the first Windows operating system to combine support for high-end, client/server business applications with the industry's leading personal productivity applications. It was initially available in both a desktop (workstation) version and a server version called Windows NT Advanced Server. The desktop version was well received by developers because of its security, stability, and Microsoft Win32® application programming interface (API)—a combination that made it easier to support powerful programs. The result was a strategic business platform that could also function as a technical workstation to run high-end engineering and scientific applications.  In addition, the operating system broke new ground in security, operating system power, performance, desktop scalability, and reliability. New features included a preemptive multitasking scheduler for Windows–based applications, integrated networking, domain server security, OS/2 and POSIX subsystems, support for multiple processor architectures, and the NTFS file system.

1993: Windows for Workgroups 3.11

A superset of Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups 3.11 added peer-to-peer workgroup and domain networking support. For the first time, Windows–based PCs were network-aware and became an integral part of the emerging client/server computing evolution. Windows for Workgroups was used in local area networks (LANs) and on standalone PCs and laptop computers. It added features of special interest to corporate users, such as centralized configuration and security, significantly improved support for Novell NetWare networks, and remote access service (RAS).

1993: Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1

Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1 was launched in July 1993 as a dedicated server for a client/server environment. It provided the power, scalability, enhanced fault tolerance, and standards-based interoperability required for enterprise computing. Microsoft promoted Windows NT Advanced Server as an application server for Novell NetWare, Banyan VINES, and Microsoft networks, capable of providing a platform for sophisticated business solutions such as financial, accounting, and vertical applications. As an application server, Windows NT Advanced Server was also a powerful platform for database servers such as Microsoft SQL Server™, communications servers such as Microsoft SNA Server, and mail servers such as Microsoft Mail. For network management, Windows NT Advanced Server provided customers with centralized security and server management, along with graphical tools to manage multiple systems as well as a single logon for enterprise users. In addition, it could run all the applications created for desktop Windows versions.

1994: Windows NT Workstation 3.5

The Windows NT Workstation 3.5 release provided the highest degree of protection yet for critical business applications and data. With support for the OpenGL graphics standard, this operating system helped power high-end applications for software development, engineering, financial analysis, scientific, and business-critical tasks. The product also offered 32-bit performance improvements and better application support, including support for NetWare file and print servers. Other improved productivity features included the capability to use friendlier, long file names of up to 255 characters.

1994: Windows NT Server 3.5

The next release of Windows NT Server was built on the stability of version 3.1, but with greatly enhanced processing speed and improved connectivity to other systems, particularly in Novell NetWare and UNIX environments.Enhancements included new administration tools, improved client software configuration, an auto-reboot and dump facility, better tools for NetWare, and better remote access capabilities.

1995: Windows 95

Windows 95 was the successor to the three existing general-purpose desktop operating systems from Microsoft—Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups, and MS-DOS. Windows 95 integrated a 32-bit TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) stack for built-in Internet support, dial-up networking, and new Plug and Play capabilities that made it easy for users to install hardware and software. The 32-bit operating system also offered enhanced multimedia capabilities, more powerful features for mobile computing, and integrated networking.

1995: Windows NT Server 3.51

This incremental release of Windows NT Server in June 1995, included a tool to help customers manage Client Access Licenses (CALs) for a suite of server products called the Microsoft BackOffice® family. This release also featured a utility that enabled over-the-network installation of Windows 95.

1996: Windows NT Workstation 4.0

This upgrade to the Microsoft business desktop operating system brought increased ease of use and simplified management, higher network throughput, and tools for developing and managing intranets. Windows NT Workstation 4.0 included the popular Windows 95 user interface yet provided improved networking support for easier and more secure access to the Internet and corporate intranets. In October 1998, Microsoft announced that Windows NT would no longer carry the initials NT and that the next major version of the business operating system would be called Windows 2000.

1996: Windows NT Server 4.0

With this upgrade, Windows NT Server gained the popular look and feel of Windows 95 and added many advanced features for business and technical users. Enhancements included (Higher network throughput, Faster file and print services, Robust application support, Standards-based communications features, An integrated Web server, Internet Information Server (IIS) 2.0, Support for the Microsoft FrontPage® Web editing and management tool, A toolset for developing and managing intranets). Subsequent service packs and option packs offered additional features, including public-key and certificate authority functionality, smart card support, improved symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) scalability, clustering capabilities, and component object model (COM) support. For more information, see the Windows NT Server Web site.

1997: Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition

Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition, built on the strengths of Windows NT Server 4.0 by adding features and capabilities designed to appeal to large corporate customers. Windows NT Server 4.0, Enterprise Edition, added greater performance and scalability, higher availability, and expanded services for developing enterprise applications. The product also included Microsoft Transaction Server to facilitate the development of Internet and intranet applications, and Microsoft Message Queue Server (MSMQ), which enabled applications running at different times to communicate across heterogeneous networks and systems that may be temporarily offline. In October 1998, Microsoft announced that it would drop the "NT" suffix in the next major version of the Windows NT operating system, which would become known as Windows 2000. For more information, see the Enterprise Edition page on the Windows NT Server 4.0 Web site.

1998: Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition gave the Windows NT Server operating system the ability to serve 32-bit Windows operating system–based applications to terminals and terminal emulators running on PC and non-PC desktops. This technology offered a bridge for organizations that were transitioning to a pure 32-bit desktop environment by allowing their existing non-Windows–based computers to connect to a Windows network. For more information, see the Terminal Server Edition page on the Windows NT Server 4.0 Web site.

1998: Windows 98

Windows 98 was the upgrade from Windows 95. Described as an operating system that "Works Better, Plays Better," Windows 98 was the first version of Windows designed specifically for consumers. With Windows 98, users could find information more easily on their PCs as well as the Internet. Other ease-of-use improvements included the ability to open and close applications more quickly, support for reading DVD discs, and support for universal serial bus (USB) devices.

1999: Windows 98 Second Edition

Windows 98 SE, as it was often abbreviated, was an incremental update to Windows 98. It offered consumers a variety of new and enhanced hardware compatibility and Internet-related features. Windows 98 SE helped improve users' online experience with the Internet Explorer 5.0 browser technology and Microsoft Windows NetMeeting® 3.0 conferencing software. It also included Microsoft DirectX® API 6.1, which provided improved support for Windows multimedia, and offered home networking capabilities through Internet connection sharing (ICS). Windows 98 SE was also the first consumer operating system from Microsoft capable of using device drivers that also worked with the Windows NT business operating system.

2000: Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me)

Designed for home computer users, Windows Me offered consumers numerous music, video, and home networking enhancements and reliability improvements. For example, to help consumers troubleshoot their systems, the System Restore feature let users roll back their PC software configuration to a date or time before a problem occurred. Windows Movie Maker provided users with the tools to digitally edit, save, and share home videos. And with Microsoft Windows Media® Player 7 technologies, users could find, organize, and play digital media easily. Windows Me was the last Microsoft operating system to be based on the Windows 95 code base. Microsoft announced that all future operating system products would be based on the Windows NT and Windows 2000 kernel.

2000: Windows 2000 Professional

More than just the upgrade to Windows NT Workstation 4.0, Windows 2000 Professional was also designed to replace Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT Workstation 4.0 on all business desktops and laptops. Built on top of the proven Windows NT Workstation 4.0 code base, Windows 2000 added major improvements in reliability, ease of use, Internet compatibility, and support for mobile computing. Among other improvements, Windows 2000 Professional simplified hardware installation by adding support for a wide variety of new Plug and Play hardware, including advanced networking and wireless products, USB devices, IEEE 1394 devices, and infrared devices.

2000: Windows 2000 Server Family

In February 2000, Bill Gates unveiled the Windows 2000 client and server family. The client side was represented by Windows 2000 Professional, which went on to become Windows XP Professional. To support businesses of all sizes, three server versions were offered:

Windows 2000 Server provided a multipurpose network operating system for departmental file, print, Web, and entry-level application servers.
Windows 2000 Advanced Server was designed to support business-critical Web and line-of-business application on a reliable, manageable operating system.
Windows 2000 Datacenter Server delivered the highest levels of operating system scalability and availability for the most demanding server applications.

For IT professionals, the Windows 2000 Server family introduced new, centralized, policy-based management with Microsoft IntelliMirror® management technologies and the Microsoft Active Directory® directory service. In addition, a high-performance Web server featuring Active Server Pages (ASP) was included, as well as COM+ component services, transaction and message queuing support, and end-to-end XML support. For more information, see the Windows 2000 family Web site.

2001: Windows XP

With the release of Windows XP in October 2001, Microsoft merged its two Windows operating system lines for consumers and businesses, uniting them around the Windows 2000 code base. The "XP" in Windows XP stands for "experience," symbolizing the innovative experiences that Windows can offer to personal computer users. With Windows XP, home users can work with and enjoy music, movies, messaging, and photos with their computer, while business users can work smarter and faster, thanks to new technical-support technology, a fresh user interface, and many other improvements that make it easier to use for a wide range of tasks. For more product information, see the Windows XP Web site. For more information about new technologies designed for Windows XP, see the Windows XP Technologies History page.

2001: Windows XP Professional

Windows XP Professional brings the solid foundation of Windows 2000 to the PC desktop, enhancing reliability, security, and performance. With a fresh visual design, Windows XP Professional includes features for business and advanced home computing, including remote desktop support, an encrypting file system, and system restore and advanced networking features. Key enhancements for mobile users include wireless 802.1x networking support, Windows Messenger, and Remote Assistance. For more information, see the Windows XP Professional Web site.

2001: Windows XP Home Edition

Windows XP Home Edition offers a clean, simplified visual design that makes frequently used features more accessible. Designed for home users, the product offers such enhancements as the Network Setup Wizard, Windows Media Player, Windows Movie Maker, and enhanced digital photo capabilities.For more information, see the Windows XP Home Edition Web site.

2001: Windows XP 64-bit Edition

Windows XP 64-Bit Edition satisfies the needs of power users with workstations that use the Intel Itanium 64-bit processor. The first 64-bit client operating system from Microsoft, Windows XP 64-Bit Edition is designed for specialized, technical workstation users who require large amounts of memory and floating point performance in areas such as movie special effects, 3D animation, engineering, and scientific applications. For more information, see the Windows XP 64-bit Edition Web site.

2002: Windows XP Media Center Edition

For home computing and entertainment, Microsoft released the Windows XP Media Center Edition operating system in October 2002 for specialized media center PCs.With all the benefits of Windows XP Professional, Media Center Edition adds fun digital media and entertainment options, enabling home users to browse the Internet, watch live television, communicate with friends and family, enjoy digital music and video collections, watch DVDs, and work from home. For more information, see the Windows XP Media Center Edition Web site.

2002: Windows XP Tablet PC Edition

The long-held industry vision of mainstream pen-based computing became a reality when Microsoft unveiled the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition in November, 2002. The logical evolution of notebook computers, Tablet PCs include a digital pen for handwriting recognition capabilities, yet can be used with a keyboard or mouse, too. In addition, users can run their existing Windows XP applications. The result is a computer that is more versatile and mobile than traditional notebook PCs. For more information, see the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition Web site.

2003: Windows Server 2003

Launched in April 2003, the Windows Server™ 2003 family takes the best of Windows 2000 Server technology and makes it easier and more cost-effective to deploy, manage, and use. The result is a highly productive infrastructure that helps organizations "do more with less.". The first server operating system to feature built-in Microsoft .NET functionality, Windows Server 2003 delivers significantly greater dependability, security, and scalability compared to earlier versions. Four versions are tailored to the varying needs of organizations:

Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition, provides a solution for departmental and standard workloads and supports file and printer sharing, helps secure Internet connectivity, centralizes deployment of desktop applications, and enhances collaboration among employees, partners, and customers.

Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition, is the platform for mission-critical server workloads. By delivering high reliability, scalability, and performance, it offers a superior value to businesses of all sizes.

Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition, is designed to support the highest levels of scalability and reliability. Windows 2003, Datacenter Edition, is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions through original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partners.

Windows Server 2003, Web Edition, a new offering, is a single-purpose operating system for dedicated Web serving and hosting. It provides a platform for rapidly developing and deploying Web services and applications.

For more information, see the Windows Server 2003 family Web site.

2003: 64-Bit Operating Systems

A new generation of scalable 64-bit server applications demanded a new platform with additional scalability and reliability. Originally launched as Windows Advanced Server, Limited Edition, Microsoft now features 64-bit versions of the Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition, and Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition, operating systems. Designed specifically for 64-bit Intel Itanium hardware, these server operating systems break the 4-gigabyte (GB), 64-GB memory limit and support memory-intensive applications, such as those for data warehousing, business intelligence, and Web hosting. For more information, see the product overviews for Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition, or Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition.