XP Home

• For non-technical users
• no corporate network
• single cpu, single display

XP Pro

• network components to join a domain
• multiprocessor (maximum of two Intel-based processors) support (pre-emptive multitasking: not co-operative multitasking. XP in control)
• Encrypting File System
• IPsec
• IIS
• Remote Desktop Connection
• Dynamic Disks: disk volumes that span multiple disks

sysdm.cpl: shows version and service pack (windows logo key + break)

Common Features

• uses kernel from windows 2000, MSDOS-compatible core of Win95 discarded
• Fully protected memory model
• tightly integrated security and HAL to protect key system components
• more powerful troubleshooting components
• monitors and protects crucial system dlls
• system restore allows snapshots of system files
• system rollback, allows you to restore drivers from safe mode
• Password protected logins
• File and folder permissions
• user profiles
• GUI: brighter colours, 3D windows and buttons, sharper icons, integrated themes (including common controls, window borders and menus
• Default control panel organises icons into task-based categories
• Fast user-switching
• Cleaner desktop: defaults to recycle bin only
• Desktop cleanup wizard
• groups taskbar buttons
• folder button in explorer switches view between folder and task-based views
• HTML help, supports updates from knowledgebase, newsgroups
• Remote assistance
• IE6 Privacy policies
• ICF: firewall and internet connection sharing wizard
• Windows Media Player, cdripper/player and internet downloads
• Digital Pictures: scanner and camera wizard
• DVDplayback + Windows Movie Maker for video capture
• Network setup wizard, wireless access and remote desktop connections

Tweaking XP Interface

Default Start Menu

pinned items

most frequently used

all programs

drag and drop

If drag and drop does not work on start menu, click 'Start Menu: Properties: Advanced'. This option also controls context menu for start menu items. Menu can be sorted. Personalised menus option only available with classic menu: functions as a frequently used list. Locking the toolbar only affects moving or resizing.

Desktop Cleanup Wizard

My Documents folder makes document storage and backups easier. Desktop Cleanup Wizard displays list of shorcuts and date last used. Moves files to desktop folder 'Unused Desktop Shortcuts'. Will remove items from all user desktop too, without warning.

Active Desktop

Active Desktop items synchronization controlled via properties or Accessories: Synchronize. Active Desktop items will still be synchronised even when they are not being displayed: delete the item to stop the synchronisation. If Themes service is not running, XP reverts to the classic style. performance option in sysdm.cpl also affects windows appearance. Advanced tab of performance options allows you to weight CPU usage in favour of Applications or Background Processes, and weight memory for Applications or System Cache. You can also access the pagefile settings here.

Command Prompt

Start another command prompt by typing 'command'. cmd switches:

• /c command string: terminates command prompt after command string
• /k command string: command prompt stays open
• /s: changes behaviour of processing quotation marks

command line shortcut keys and options

• F7 display history
• F8 display history matching current line
• < redirect input
• > redirect output
• >> append output
• | pipe
• & separates multiple commands
• && (as bash)
• || or
• 1> redirect stdout
• 2>redirect stderr
• ^ used to quote special chars
• Ctrl+S pause (or Pause)
• Ctrl+C break (or Break)

Microsoft Management Console

MMC is an application that hosts other applications. Provides consistent user interface. MMC plus a snap-in is called an MMC console. MMC allows you to add snap-ins, folders, taskpad views (to run scripts, etc.), ActiveX controls, internet links or other URLs. Three user modes available: Full; Limited, MDI or; Limited, Single Window

• 'name.msc /a': run in author mode.
• 'name.msc /computer=computername' change management focus to computername

Services

Recovery options can be specified in services.msc: options for first, second, and subsequent failures include: No Action, Restart,Run a File, Reboot Computer. Use msinfo32 to view non-Microsoft services installed.

W32Time synchronises time with domain (Active Directory) or NTP server (port123). Messenger receives 'net send' messages. Alerter used by Windows to send to messenger servers (serverlist controlled by multi_reg_sz at services\alerter\parameters: separate server names with a new line).

Security Templates

Security policies can be configured using the security templates snap-in (or by running expeditions). A number of security templates are available stored in %systemroot%\security\templates. These are:

Setup Security: applies default settings during installation, including file permissions for root of drive

Compaq's: provides default permissions for administrators, power users and ordinary users on workstations only

Secured and secures: provides security for domain controllers and workstation whilst preserving best settings for application compatibility

high sec: provide higher level of security

root sec: used to reapply root permissions

The security templates affect settings for account policies, local policies, event log, restricted groups, system services, registry and file system. If you want to modify the template, best to 'save as' from the console and work with the copy.

Regional Settings

Use the regional options, standards and formats, to control how programs format dates, times, numbers, currencies (can be customised). Use regional options, location, to influence how some programs collect location specific information, e.g. weather

Use the languages tab to control input, e.g. for Spanish keyboard. Provides access to enable the language bar, and set a default input format. Allows you to associate keyboard layouts with input languages. Language bar provides easy access to switch input languages. Language bar also provides a drawing pad to insert freehand drawings into documents. Use OSK to view keyboard layout. Languages and keyboards can be set per application.