Windows Xp

Developer
Microsoft Corporation
Website	microsoft.com/windows-xp
Releases
Release date	RTM: August 24, 2001; 10 years ago Retail: October 25, 2001; 10 years ago
Current version	5.1 (Build 2600: Service Pack 3) (April 21, 2008; 4 years ago)
Source model	Closed source, Shared source
License	Proprietary commercial software
Kernel type	Hybrid
Update method	Windows Update Windows Server Update Services(WSUS) System Center Configuration Manager(SCCM)
Platform support	IA-32, x86-64 and Itanium
Preceded by	Windows Me and Windows 2000
Succeeded by	Windows Vista

Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops,laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001,it is the second most popular version ofWindows, based on installed user base. The name "XP" is short for "experience.Windows XP, the successor to Windows 2000 and Windows Me, was the first consumer-oriented operating system produced by Microsoft to be built on the Windows NT kernel. Windows XP was released worldwide for retail sale on October 25, 2001, and over 400 million copies were in use in January 2006. It was succeeded by Windows Vista in January 2007. Direct OEM and retail sales of Windows XP ceased on June 30, 2008. Microsoft continued to sell Windows XP through their System Builders (smaller OEMs who sell assembled computers) program until January 31, 2009.On April 10, 2012, Microsoft reaffirmed that extended support for Windows XP and Office 2003 would end on April 8, 2014 and suggested that administrators begin preparing to migrate to a newer OS.
The NT-based versions of Windows, which are programmed in C, C++, and assembly, are known for their improved stability and efficiency over the 9x versions of Microsoft Windows. Windows XP presented a significantly redesigned graphical user interface, a change Microsoft promoted as more user-friendly than previous versions of Windows. A new software management facility called Side-by-Side Assembly was introduced to ameliorate the "DLL hell" that plagued 9x versions of Windows.It is also the first version of Windows to use product activation to combat illegal copying.
During Windows XP's development, the project was codenamed "Whistler," after Whistler, British Columbia, as many Microsoft employees skied at the Whistler-Blackcomb ski resort.
According to web analytics data generated by W3Schools, from September 2003 to July 2011, Windows XP was the most widely used operating system for accessing the w3schools website, which they claim is consistent with statistics from other websites. As of May 2012, Windows XP market share is at 26.8% after having peaked at 76.1% in January 2007.
Windows XP was available in many languages. In addition, MUI packs and Language Interface Packs translating the user interface were also available for certain languages.

System requirements for Windows XP Professional x64 Edition are as follows:

Processor: x86-64 processor;

Memory: At least 256 MB of RAM;

Video adapter and monitor: Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher resolution;

Hard drive disk free space: At least 1.5 GB;

Optical drive: CD-ROM drive;

Input devices: Keyboard; Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device;

Sound: Sound card; Speakers or headphones;

Drivers for sound card, GPU of video card, wired LAN card, etc. must be designed for Windows XP Professional x64 Edition.

Processor: Intel Itanium 733 MHz (Recommended: Intel Itanium 800 MHz or better);

Memory: At least 1 GB of RAM;

Video adapter and monitor: Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher resolution;

Hard drive disk free space: At least 6 GB;

Optical drive: CD-ROM drive;

Input devices: Keyboard; Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device;

Sound: Sound card; Speakers or headphones;

Drivers for sound card, GPU of video card, wired LAN card, etc. must be designed for Windows XP 64-Bit Edition.

System requirements for Windows XP 64-Bit Edition are as follows:

Maximum limits on physical memory (RAM) that Windows XP can address vary depending on both the Windows version and between 32-bit and 64-bit versions. The following table specifies the maximum physical memory limits supported:

Physical memory limits for Windows XP versions
Version	Limit in 32-bit Windows	Limit in 64-bit Windows
Windows XP Professional	4 GB	128 GB
Windows XP Home Edition		N/A
Windows XP Media Center Edition
Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
Windows XP Starter Edition	512 MB