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Microsoft
®
Windows
®
XP Features
Overview
New User Interface
Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
Application and Device Compatibility
System Restore
User Accounts and Fast User Switching
Home and Small Office Networking
Internet Connection Firewall
Overview
Based on an enhanced version of the Windows 2000 operating system, Windows XP is available in consumer and business editions: Windows XP Home Edition
and Windows XP Professional. The features discussed are available in both editions, but the Professional version, designed for business environments,
includes additional productivity, security, networking, and management features important in business environments.
For home users, Windows XP brings the significantly increased stability and security inherent in the Windows 2000/Windows NT
®
operating systems. It also
provides better support for portable computers. Key new Windows XP features include:
l
An improved desktop and user interface
l
Files and Settings Transfer Wizard
l
Application program compatibility enhancements
l
System Restore
l
Fast User Switching*
l
Expanded home and small office networking functions*
l
A personal firewall for always-on Internet connections*
*Home and small office features
Help and Support Center
The Help and Support Center, introduced with Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me), replaces Windows Help from earlier operating systems. The Help and
Support Center provides an integrated resource center for information and assistance in using, configuring, and troubleshooting your computer and installed
hardware devices and software. For Windows XP, the Help and Support Center features expanded search capabilities, including full-text search and the
capability to search across multiple remote sites in addition to files resident on the hard drive. You can use a single print command to print an entire chapter of
help content.
To open Help and Support Center, click the
Start
button, and then click
Help and Support
. From the home page, you can conduct a search or select categories
of information, leading to task and information topics covering the use of your computer. Click
User and System Guides
for information on using your Dell™
computer, including installed hardware devices and software.
New User Interface
Windows XP features a redesigned user interface with a new visual style, a less cluttered desktop, and built-in desktop cleanup features. Window layout has
also been changed for Windows XP and, as in the Control Panel, emphasizes task presentation. The
Start
menu has been redesigned. The left half of the new
Start
menu includes the most frequently used icons. As you use your computer, the icons in this area are changed and rearranged depending on your
computer usage patterns. If you wish to keep one of the icons permanently in its location, right-click the icon and click
Pin to Start menu
.
To access all the programs installed on the computer, click
All Programs
at the bottom of the
Start
menu. The right half of the new
Start
menu contains useful
icons for accessing your files, configuring the computer, and finding information and assistance. The
Dell Solution Center
icon opens a portal to services and
application programs installed on your Dell computer.
Switching to Classic View
If you wish, you may change the appearance of the
Start
menu, desktop and windows, or
Control Panel
layout to that of earlier Windows operating systems.
These classic view options are independent of each other.
You can easily switch back and forth between the new Control Panel category view and the classic icon view by clicking
Switch to Classic View
or
Switch to
Category View
in the upper left area of the
Control Panel
window. This can be handy if you would like to take advantage of the new, task-oriented features
of the Windows XP Control Panel, but you are accustomed to performing a particular task with the icon-oriented classic Control Panel.
To change the appearance of the
Start
menu to the classic view:
1.
Right-click the empty area on the task bar.
2.
Click
Properties
.
3.
Click the
Start Menu
tab.
4.
Select
Classic Start Menu
and click
OK
.
