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Windows XP Logo
Screenshot of Windows XP.
Windows XP SP3
PublisherMicrosoft
DeveloperMicrosoft
Genreoperating system
First releasedAugust 24
2001
LicenseMS-EULA
Source modelclosed source
Stable5.1.2600.5512 Service Pack 3
Release statusreleased
Websitewww.microsoft.com/windows/windows-xp/default.aspx

Windows XP is one of the most popular versions of Microsoft Windows, a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, netbooks, tablet PCs, and media center PCs.

Version Processor Memory Hard drive capacity Video card
Required Recommended Required Recommended Required Recommended Required Recommended
Windows XP Pentium MMX 233 MHz 64 MB of system memory 256 MB of system memory 20 GB hard drive with at least 1.5 GB of available space 40 GB hard drive with at least 1.5 GB of available space Super VGA (800x600), but works in VGA Support for DirectX 8 graphics and 32 MB of graphics memory

Development and History

Windows XP, also known as Windows NT 5.1, was the culmination of Microsoft's attempt to Integrate the useability of Windows 9x, into the Stability and Scalability of Windows NT. Unlike Windows 9x, Windows XP is a pure 32-Bit Operating System, with no 16-Bit MS-DOS Subsystem. The term 'XP' is derived from 'Experience'.

Windows XP was released to manufacturing (RTM) on August 24th 2001, with a general availability date of October 25th 2001, in two mainstream versions. Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional Editions, for Home and Business Users, respectively.

Windows XP is, at heart, based mostly on the Windows 2000 Codebase, which was in itself a radical rewrite of the Windows NT 4.0 codebase. The Original Codename for Windows XP was Whistler, and it was aimed at Uniting two other Codenames for the Windows NT and 9x Successors, named Odyssey and Neptune, respectively.

Features

Over Windows 2000, Windows XP includes the following features and improvements:

  • An Improved Driver Base
  • NTFS 3.1 (Also called NTFS 5.1, after the 5.1 version number of Windows XP)
  • Full read/write support for FAT32.
  • Internet Information Services 5.0.
  • Windows Media Player 8.0
  • Internet Explorer 6.0
  • DirectX 8.1
  • Windows Messenger
  • Product Activation
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