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}}</ref> The old Plus! Desktop Themes (Baseball, Sports etc.), included with Windows 98, 98 Second Edition and Millennium Edition can also be used in XP. However, the Microsoft Plus! 98 packadge cannot be installed on most Windows XP systems, so one should create the folder C:\Program Files\Plus!\Themes\ and copy all of the files of the Windows 98 or Millennium Edition desktop themes (taken from another computer) there manually.
}}</ref>


===Integration of operating system features===
===Integration of operating system features===

Revision as of 12:38, 28 November 2007

Windows XP
File:Microsoft Windows XP Logo.svg
File:Windows XP.PNG
Screenshot of Windows XP Service Pack 2
DeveloperMicrosoft
OS familyMicrosoft Windows
Source modelShared source
Released to
manufacturing		October 25, 2001
Latest releaseWindows XP Service Pack 3 RC1 (hacked on Microsoft Update) / November 19,2007[1]
Available inmultilingual
Kernel typeHybrid kernel
LicenseMS-EULA
Official websiteWindows XP: Homepage
Support status
Mainstream support (only with Service Pack 2)[2]
Articles in the series

Windows XP is a line of operating systems developed by Microsoft for use on general-purpose computer systems, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, and media centers. The letters "XP" stand for eXPerience.[3] It was codenamed "Whistler", after Whistler, British Columbia, as many Microsoft employees skied at the Whistler-Blackcomb ski resort during its development. Windows XP is the successor to both Windows 2000 Professional and Windows Me, and is the first consumer-oriented operating system produced by Microsoft to be built on the Windows NT kernel and architecture. Windows XP was first released on October 25 2001, and over 400 million copies were in use in January 2006, according to an estimate in that month by an IDC analyst.[4] It is succeeded by Windows Vista, which was released to volume license customers on November 8, 2006, and worldwide to the general public on January 30, 2007.

The most common editions of the operating system are Windows XP Home Edition, which is targeted at home users, and Windows XP Professional, which has additional features such as support for Windows Server domains and two physical processors, and is targeted at power users and business clients. Windows XP Media Center Edition has additional multimedia features enhancing the ability to record and watch TV shows, view DVD movies, and listen to music. Windows XP Tablet PC Edition is designed to run the ink-aware Tablet PC platform. Two separate 64-bit versions of Windows XP were also released, Windows XP 64-bit Edition for IA-64 (Itanium) processors and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition for x86-64.

Windows XP is known for its improved stability and efficiency over the 9x versions of Microsoft Windows. It presents a significantly redesigned graphical user interface, a change Microsoft promoted as more user-friendly than previous versions of Windows. New software management capabilities were introduced to avoid the "DLL hell" that plagued older consumer-oriented 9x versions of Windows. It is also the first version of Windows to use product activation to combat software piracy, a restriction that did not sit well with some users and privacy advocates. Windows XP has also been criticized by some users for security vulnerabilities, tight integration of applications such as Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player, and for aspects of its default user interface.

Windows XP had been in development since early 1999, when Microsoft started working on Windows Neptune, an operating system intended to be the "Home Edition" equivalent to Windows 2000 Professional. It was eventually merged into the Whistler project, which later became Windows XP.

Editions

Original Windows XP cover boxes
File:WindowsXP Home version2002 box.PNG File:WindowsXP Professionalbox.PNG
Home Edition
Professional
Diagram representing the main editions of Windows XP. It is based on the category of the edition (grey) and codebase (black arrow).

The two major editions are Windows XP Home Edition, designed for home users, and Windows XP Professional, designed for business and power-users. Other builds of Windows XP include those built for specialized hardware and limited-feature versions sold in Europe and select developing economies.

Windows XP Professional offers a number of features unavailable in the Home Edition, including:

  • The ability to become part of a Windows Server domain, a group of computers that are remotely managed by one or more central servers.
  • A sophisticated access control scheme that allows specific permissions on files to be granted to specific users under normal circumstances. However, users can use tools other than Windows Explorer (like cacls or File Manager), or restart to Safe Mode to modify access control lists.
  • Remote Desktop server, which allows a PC to be operated by another Windows XP user over a local area network or the Internet.
  • Offline Files and Folders, which allow the PC to automatically store a copy of files from another networked computer and work with them while disconnected from the network.
  • Encrypting File System, which encrypts files stored on the computer's hard drive so they cannot be read by another user, even with physical access to the storage medium.
  • Centralized administration features, including Group Policies, Automatic Software Installation and Maintenance, Roaming User Profiles, and Remote Installation Service (RIS).
  • Internet Information Services (IIS), Microsoft's HTTP and FTP Server.
  • Support for two physical central processing units (CPU). (Because the number of CPU cores and Hyper-threading capabilities on modern CPUs are considered to be part of a single physical processor, multicore CPUs are supported using XP Home Edition.)[5][6]

Windows XP for specialized hardware

File:MCE 2005.png
The main menu from Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005.

Microsoft has also customized Windows XP to suit different markets. Six different versions of Windows XP for specific hardware were designed, two of them specifically for 64-bit processors.

Windows XP 64-bit Edition
This edition was designed specifically for Itanium-based workstations. This edition was discontinued in early 2005, after HP, the last distributor of Itanium-based workstations, stopped selling Itanium systems marketed as 'workstations'. However, Itanium support continues in the server editions of Windows.
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
Not to be confused with the previous 64-bit Itanium edition of Windows XP, this edition is based on Windows Server 2003 and supports x86-64 extension of the Intel IA-32 architecture. x86-64 is implemented by AMD as "AMD64", found in AMD's Opteron and Athlon 64 chips, and implemented by Intel as "Intel64" (formerly known as IA-32e and EM64T), found in Intel's Pentium 4 and later chips.
Microsoft had previously supported other microprocessors with earlier versions of the Windows NT operating system line (including two 64-bit lines, the DEC Alpha and the MIPS R4000, although Windows NT used them as 32-bit processors). The files necessary for all of the architectures were included on the same installation CD and did not require the purchase of separate versions.
File:Windows task grouping.png
The new "task grouping" feature introduced in Windows XP
Windows XP Media Center Edition
This edition is designed for media center PCs. Originally, it was only available bundled with one of these computers, and could not be purchased separately. In 2003 the Media Center Edition was updated as "Windows XP Media Center Edition 2003", which added additional features such as FM radio tuning. Another update was released in 2004, and again in 2005, which was the first edition available for System Builders. Many of the features of XP Media Center Edition (including screen dancers, auto playlist DJ, and high end visual screen savers) were taken from the Windows XP Plus! packages. These were originally shipped with Windows XP as add ons to increase the users experience of their Windows XP machine.
File:TabletPC 2004.jpg
Internet Explorer 6 running in Windows XP Tablet PC Edition.
Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
Intended for specially designed notebook/laptop computers called tablet PCs, the Tablet PC Edition is compatible with a pen-sensitive screen, supporting handwritten notes and portrait-oriented screens. It cannot be purchased separately from a Tablet PC without an MSDN (Microsoft Developers Network) subscription.
Windows XP Embedded
An edition for specific consumer electronics, set-top boxes, kiosks/ATMs, medical devices, arcade video games, point-of-sale terminals, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) components.
Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs
In July 2006, Microsoft introduced a "thin-client" version of Windows XP called Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs, which targets older machines (as early as the original Pentium). It is only available to Software Assurance customers. It is intended for those who would like to upgrade to Windows XP to take advantage of its security and management capabilities, but can't afford to purchase new hardware.

Windows XP Starter Edition

Windows XP Starter Edition is a lower-cost version of Windows XP available in Thailand, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Russia, India, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Mexico, Ecuador, Uruguay and Venezuela. It is similar to Windows XP Home, but is limited to low-end hardware, can only run 3 programs at a time, and has some other features either removed or disabled by default.

According to a Microsoft press release, Windows XP Starter Edition is "a low-cost introduction to the Microsoft Windows XP operating system designed for first-time desktop PC users in developing countries."

Specializations

The Starter Edition includes some special features for certain markets where consumers may not be computer literate. Not found in the Home Edition, these include localized help features for those who may not speak English, a country-specific computer wallpaper[7] and screensavers, and other default settings designed for easier use than typical Windows XP installations.

In addition, the Starter Edition also has some unique limitations to prevent it from displacing more expensive versions of Windows XP.[8] Only three applications can be run at once on the Starter Edition, and each application may only open three windows. The maximum screen resolution is limited to 1024×768, and there is no support for workgroup networking or domains. In addition, the Starter Edition is licensed only for low-end processors like Intel's Celeron or AMD's Duron. There is also a 512 MB limit on main memory and a 120 GB disk size limit[9] (Microsoft has not made it clear, however, if this is for total disk space, per partition, or per disk). There are also fewer options for customizing the themes, desktop, and taskbar.

Market adoption

On October 9 2006, Microsoft announced[10] that they reached a milestone of 1,000,000 units of Windows XP Starter Edition sold. In the mass market, however, the Starter Edition has not had much success. Many markets where it is available have seen the uptake of illegally cracked or pirated versions of the software instead.

Windows XP Edition N

In March 2004, the European Commission fined Microsoft €497 million (US$603 million)[citation needed] and ordered[citation needed] the company to provide a version of Windows without Windows Media Player. The Commission concluded that Microsoft "broke European Union competition law by leveraging its near monopoly in the market for PC operating systems onto the markets for work group server operating systems and for media players"[citation needed]. Microsoft is currently appealing the ruling[citation needed]. In the meantime, a court-compliant version has been released. This version does not include the company's Windows Media Player but instead encourages users[citation needed] to pick and download their own media player. Microsoft wanted to call this version Reduced Media Edition, but EU regulators objected and suggested the Edition N name, with the N signifying "not with Media Player" for both Home and Professional editions of Windows XP. Due to the fact that it is sold at the same price as the version with Windows Media Player included, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo and Fujitsu Siemens have chosen not to stock the product. However, Dell did offer the operating system for a short time. Consumer interest has been low, with roughly 1,500 units shipped to OEMs, and no reported sales to consumers.[11][12][13][14]

New and updated features

Main article: Features new to Windows XP

Windows XP introduced several new features to the Windows line, including:

  • Faster start-up and hibernation sequences
  • The ability to discard a newer device driver in favour of the previous one (known as driver rollback), should a driver upgrade not produce desirable results
  • A new, arguably more user-friendly interface, including the framework for developing themes for the desktop environment
  • Fast user switching, which allows a user to save the current state and open applications of their desktop and allow another user to log on without losing that information
  • The ClearType font rendering mechanism, which is designed to improve text readability on Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and similar monitors
  • Remote Desktop functionality, which allows users to connect to a computer running Windows XP from across a network or the Internet and access their applications, files, printers, and devices
  • Support for most DSL modems and wireless network connections, as well as networking over FireWire, and Bluetooth.

User interface

Windows XP themes
Default Blue (Luna)
Windows Classic
XP Royale
The new start menu design
in the "Royale" theme.

Windows XP features a new task-based graphical user interface. The Start menu and search capability were redesigned and many visual effects were added, including:

  • A translucent blue selection rectangle in Explorer
  • Drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop
  • Task-based sidebars in Explorer windows ("common tasks")
  • The ability to group the taskbar buttons of the windows of one application into one button
  • The ability to lock the taskbar and other toolbars to prevent accidental changes
  • The highlighting of recently added programs on the Start menu
  • Shadows under menus (Windows 2000 had shadows under mouse pointers, but not menus)

Windows XP analyses the performance impact of visual effects and uses this to determine whether to enable them, so as to prevent the new functionality from consuming excessive additional processing overhead. Users can further customize these settings.[15] Some effects, such as alpha blending (transparency and fading), are handled entirely by many newer video cards. However, if the video card is not capable of hardware alpha blending, performance can be substantially hurt and Microsoft recommends the feature should be turned off manually.[16] Windows XP adds the ability for Windows to use "Visual Styles" to change the user interface. However, visual styles must be cryptographically signed by Microsoft to run. Luna is the name of the new visual style that ships with Windows XP, and is enabled by default for machines with more than 64 MiB of RAM. Luna refers only to one particular visual style, not to all of the new user interface features of Windows XP as a whole. In order to use unsigned visual styles, many users turn to software such as TGTSoft's StyleXP or Stardock's WindowBlinds. Some users "patch" the uxtheme.dll file that restricts the ability to use visual styles, created by the general public or the user, on Windows XP.

The default wallpaper, Bliss, is a BMP photograph of a landscape in the Napa Valley outside Napa, California[citation needed], with rolling green hills and a blue sky with stratocumulus and cirrus clouds.

The Windows 2000 "classic" interface can be used instead if preferred. Several third party utilities exist that provide hundreds of different visual styles. In addition, another Microsoft-created theme, called "Royale", was included with Windows XP Media Center Edition, and was also released for other versions of Windows XP.

Languages

Windows XP is available in several languages[17]:


In addition, add-ons translating the user interface are also available for the following languages:[19]

System requirements

File:DesignedforWinXPlogo.PNG
Designed for Windows XP computer hardware logo

System requirements for Windows XP Home and Professional editions as follows:[20]

Minimum Recommended
Processor 233 MHz 300 MHz or higher
Memory 64 MB RAM (may limit performance and some features) 128 MB RAM or higher
Video adapter and monitor Super VGA (800 x 600) Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher resolution
Hard drive disk free space 1.5 GB 1.5 GB or higher
Drives CD-ROM CD-ROM or better
Devices Keyboard and mouse Keyboard and mouse
Others Sound card, speakers, and headphones Sound card, speakers, and headphones

In addition to the Windows XP system requirements, Service Pack 2 requires an additional 1.8 GB of free hard disk space during installation.[21]

Service packs and support

Microsoft occasionally releases service packs for its Windows operating systems to fix problems and add features. Each service pack is a superset of all previous service packs and patches so that only the latest service pack needs to be installed, and also includes new revisions.[22] Older patches need not be removed before application of the most recent one.

Windows XP RTM

Support for Windows XP without a service pack (RTM) ended on September 30, 2004.[23]

Service Pack 1

File:Windows XP - Program Access and Defaults.png
Set Program Access and Defaults was added in Service Pack 1.

Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows XP was released on September 9, 2002. It contains post-RTM security fixes and hot-fixes, compatibility updates, optional .NET Framework support, enabling technologies for new devices such as Tablet PCs, and a new Windows Messenger 4.7 version. The most notable new features were USB 2.0 support, and a Set Program Access and Defaults utility that aimed at hiding various middleware products. Users can control the default application for activities such as web browsing and instant messaging, as well as hide access to some of Microsoft's bundled programs. This utility was first brought into the older Windows 2000 operating system with its Service Pack 3.[24]

On February 3, 2003, Microsoft released Service Pack 1 (SP1) again as Service Pack 1a (SP1a). This release removed Microsoft's Java virtual machine as a result of a lawsuit with Sun Microsystems. [25]

The support for Windows XP Service Pack 1 and 1a ended on October 10, 2006. Microsoft recommends for the users who have Windows XP SP1 or SP1a should upgrade to SP2 to enhance the security of the users computer and to continue to receive updates for Windows XP.[26]

Service Pack 2

File:XPsp2 SecurityCentre FirewallAlert.png
Windows Security Center was added in Service Pack 2.

Service Pack 2 (SP2) (codenamed "Springboard") was released on August 6, 2004 after several delays, with a special emphasis on security.[27] Unlike the previous service packs, SP2 adds new functionality to Windows XP, including an enhanced firewall, improved Wi-Fi support with a wizard utility, a pop-up ad blocker for Internet Explorer, and Bluetooth support. Security enhancements include a major revision to the included firewall which was renamed to Windows Firewall and is enabled by default, advanced memory protection that takes advantage of the NX bit that is incorporated into newer processors to stop some forms of buffer overflow attacks, and removal of raw socket support (which supposedly limits the damage done by zombie machines). Additionally, security-related improvements were made to e-mail and web browsing. Windows XP Service Pack 2 includes the Windows Security Center, which provides a general overview of security on the system, including the state of anti-virus software, Windows Update, and the new Windows Firewall. Third-party anti-virus and firewall applications can interface with the new Security Center.[28]

On August 10, 2007, Microsoft announced a minor update to Service Pack 2, called Service Pack 2c (SP2c).[29] The update fixes the issue of the lowering number of available product keys for Windows XP. This update will be only available to system builders from their distributors in Windows XP Professional and Windows XP Professional N operating systems. SP2c was released in September 2007.[30]

Service Pack 3

Template:Future software Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) is currently in development. As of November 2007, Microsoft's web site indicates a "preliminary" release date to be in the first half of 2008.[31] While Microsoft has not made any official statement on feature sets, a document[32] on Microsoft's web site suggests that Service Pack 3 will include additional support for doing true "per-user" application installation. Another webpage[33] suggests improvements on managing the list of "hidden" wireless networks. Otherwise the service pack will only be a collection of security and reliability improvements. It can be downloaded through the automatic updates using a workaround available on WinFuture.[34]

Microsoft has begun a beta test of Service Pack 3.[35] According to a file released with the official beta, and relayed onto the internet, there are a total of 1073 fixes in SP3. This update to Windows allows it to be installed without a product key, and be run until the end of the mandatory 30-day activation period without one.

According to a news article by dBtechno service pack 3 will offer a ten percent performance enhancement.[36]

A registry hack has already been discovered which allows XP users to download a Release Candidate Build of SP3 from Windows Update.[37][38]

Support lifecycle

Mainstream support for Windows XP Service Pack 2 will end on April 14 2009, four years after its general availability[39]. As per Microsoft's posted timetable, the company will stop licensing Windows XP to OEMs and terminate retail sales of the operating system June 30 2008, 17 months after the release of Windows Vista.[40]

On April 14, 2009, Windows XP will begin its "Extended Support" period that will last for 5 years until April 8, 2014.[41] First generation Windows XP (without Service Pack 2) is no longer supported; Microsoft ended the support for Windows XP RTM on September 30 2004 and Windows XP Service Pack 1 and 1a on October 10, 2006.[42]

Common criticisms

Main article: Criticism of Windows XP

Security issues

Windows XP has been criticized for its susceptibility to malware, viruses, trojan horses, and worms. Security issues are compounded by the fact that users of the Home edition, by default, receive an administrator account that provides unrestricted access to the underpinnings of the system. If the administrator's account is broken into, there is no limit to the control that can be asserted over the compromised PC.

Windows, with its large market share, has historically been a tempting target for virus creators. Security holes are often invisible until they are exploited, making preemptive action difficult. Microsoft has stated that the release of patches to fix security holes is often what causes the spread of exploits against those very same holes, as crackers figured out what problems the patches fixed, and then launch attacks against unpatched systems. Microsoft recommends that all systems have automatic updates turned on to prevent a system from being attacked by an unpatched bug, but some business IT departments need to test updates before deployment across systems to predict compatibility issues with custom software and infrastructure. This deployment turn-around time also lengthens the time that systems are left unsecure in the event of a released software exploit.

User interface and performance

Critics have claimed that the default Windows XP user interface (Luna) adds visual clutter and wastes screen space while offering no new functionality and running more slowly – with some even calling it 'the Fisher-Price interface'. Users who do not like the new interface can easily switch back to the Windows Classic theme.[43] The old Plus! Desktop Themes (Baseball, Sports etc.), included with Windows 98, 98 Second Edition and Millennium Edition can also be used in XP. However, the Microsoft Plus! 98 packadge cannot be installed on most Windows XP systems, so one should create the folder C:\Program Files\Plus!\Themes\ and copy all of the files of the Windows 98 or Millennium Edition desktop themes (taken from another computer) there manually.

Integration of operating system features

In light of the United States v. Microsoft case which resulted in Microsoft being convicted for abusing its operating system monopoly to overwhelm competition in other markets, Windows XP has drawn fire for integrating user applications such as Windows Media Player and Windows Messenger into the operating system, as well as for its close ties to the Windows Live ID service.

Backward compatibility

Some users switching from Windows 9x to XP disliked its lack of DOS support. Although XP comes with the ability to run programs in Program Compatibility Mode,[44] as well as a command program which is more like a 9x "DOS Box" than CMD, XP still has trouble running many old DOS programs. This is largely due to the fact that it is NT-based and does not use DOS as a base OS. There are open source solutions such as DOSBox and FreeDOS, though in a few cases an MS-DOS environment may still be required in order to run such legacy applications.

Product activation and verification

Windows Genuine Advantage

Main article: Windows Genuine Advantage
File:WGA Notification.png
A Windows Genuine Advantage notification indicating a failed validation.

While product activation and licensing servers are common for business and industrial software, Windows XP gave many casual computer users their first introduction to it, under the name "Windows Genuine Advantage" (WGA). The system was introduced by Microsoft to curb unauthorized distribution of Windows XP.[45] Activation requires the computer or the user to activate with Microsoft within a certain amount of time in order to continue using the operating system. If the user's computer system ever changes — for example, if two or more relevant components of the computer itself are upgraded — Windows may refuse to run until the user reactivates with Microsoft.

WGA comprises two parts, an activation/verification system based in part upon the computer's hardware, and a user notification system. WGA for Windows was followed by verification systems for Internet Explorer 7, Windows Media Player 11, Windows Defender, and Microsoft Office 2007. Recently, due to the growing threat from Firefox and a major drop in IE's browser market share, Microsoft dumped the WGA verification from the installer for Internet Explorer 7. Microsoft said that the primary goal of this action was to make IE7 available to more users, boosting it's dropping market share.

If the license key is judged not genuine, it displays a nag screen at regular intervals asking the user to buy a license from Microsoft.[46] In addition, the user's access to Microsoft Update is restricted to critical security updates, and as such, new versions of enhancements and other Microsoft products will no longer be able to be downloaded or installed.

Common criticisms of WGA have included its description as a "Critical Security Update", causing Automatic Updates to download it without user intervention, its behavior compared to spyware of "phoning home" to Microsoft every time the computer is connected to the Internet, the failure to inform end users what exactly WGA would do once installed (rectified by a 2006 update[47]), the failure to provide a proper uninstallation method during beta testing (users were given manual removal instructions that did not work with the final build[46]), and its sensitivity to hardware changes which cause repeated need for reactivation in the hands of some developers.

Strictly speaking, neither the download nor the install of the Notifications is mandatory; the user can change their Automatic Update settings to allow them to choose what updates may be downloaded for installation. If the update is already downloaded, the user can choose not to accept the supplemental EULA provided for the Notifications. In both cases, the user can also request that the update is not presented again, but in any case, all newer Critical Security Updates will not install either. However this setting will only have effect on the existing version of Notifications, so it can appear again as a new version.

As of 2006, Microsoft is currently involved in a class action lawsuit brought forth in California, on grounds that it violated the spyware laws in the state with its Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications program.[48]

Product key testing

In addition to activation, Windows XP service packs will refuse to install on Windows XP systems with product keys known to be widely used in unauthorized installations. These product keys are intended to be unique to each boxed (or bundled) copy of Windows XP and are included with the product documentation, but a number of product keys were posted on the Internet and were then used for a large number of unauthorized installations. The service packs contain a list of these keys and will not update copies of Windows XP that use them.

Microsoft developed a new key verification engine for Windows XP Service Pack 2 that could detect illicit keys, even those that had never been used before. After an outcry from security consultants who feared that denying security updates to illegal installations of Windows XP would have wide-ranging consequences even for legal owners, Microsoft elected to disable the new key verification engine. Service Pack 2 only checks for the same small list of commonly used keys as Service Pack 1. This means that while Service Pack 2 will not install on copies of Windows XP which use the older set of copied keys, those who use keys which have been posted more recently may be able to update their systems.

Currently Microsoft provides security updates to Windows XP without validating if it is legal. For all non-security updates, a user must have a verified copy of windows.

Protection 'cracking'

"Crack" programs exist to randomly generate Windows XP product keys (thus, there are no longer any commonly used keys to block) and then activate Windows without contacting Microsoft. These may or may not allow the user to receive security updates. In addition a range of cracks and cracked versions of WGA exist, enabling a computer running non-genuine Windows to be detected as a genuine Windows system and access all appropriate Microsoft updates and enhancements.

License and media types

There are three main types of Windows XP licenses: Retail, "VLK", and OEM.

Each type of license has a different installation CD. For customized or retail media, there is a very tiny difference on each type of disc that will only allow that installation disc to accept one type of product key.

Only retail and volume licenses include support for end-user installation scenarios from Microsoft. OEM software is pre-installed on systems, and supported, by the system manufacturer, but the price of such software is also reduced to aid computer manufacturers in reducing costs of their computer system production. The cost of OEM software products bundled with systems is not disclosed by Microsoft or by its partners, as each system manufacturer will define their own bundling price. Microsoft does not support OEM licenses because they cannot guarantee compatibility with every system configuration possible and it is the responsibility of each system manufacturer to qualify their own hardware. Microsoft recommends that system manufacturers have their systems tested as part of the Windows Quality Online Services (Winqual) which includes extensive testing so that no component will cause instabilities in the Windows operating system, either by incompatibilities with the Windows operating system, or with the other system components and its respective driver software. Having a system tested and approved will allow the manufacturer to bear the "Certified for Windows" logo sticker on the exterior of the system, and there are additional benefits for having a tested product (including having the product listed on the Windows Marketplace), but there are also fees for said testing. Because of the fees and extensive requirements which require additional resources, Microsoft acknowledges that smaller system manufacturers may not opt-in to the program until their business is producing computer systems at a modest rate and on recurring designs.

None of the Windows licenses can be used on multiple computers at once. Each computer must have its own license.

Retail

Retail licenses are the type of license purchased from a retail store in full packaging, of which there are two sub-types: "Upgrade" and "Full Purchase Product", often abbreviated by Microsoft as FPP. FPP licenses are transferable from one computer to another, so long as the previous installation is removed from the old computer. Although upgrade licenses are also transferable, a user must have a previous version of Windows even on the new computer to which they are moving the installation. Retail licenses include installation support for end-users, provided directly by Microsoft.

Volume Licenses

"VLK", or "Volume License Key" is the nickname given to the versions sold to businesses under a Volume License Agreement with Microsoft, and are sold as upgrade licenses only, meaning that a previous license must be available for each new VLK license. The name "Volume License Key" refers to the ability to use one product key for multiple systems, depending on the type of agreement. Until recently, Microsoft had not required that every VLK license be activated. This led to leaked copies of VLK media and product keys from businesses for the use of piracy and quickly spread across the internet upon early release. Beginning with Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1), Microsoft's active attempts to search out and blacklist known pirated VLK product keys became well known due to the inability to install the service pack on a system with one of said keys. Later, this led into to the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) program. There are numerous Volume License Agreement programs, but most include direct support options provided by Microsoft. Additional program add-ons, such as Software Assurance, also provide extended support options beyond the typical free-period software lifecycle.

Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) licenses

OEM licenses are pre-installed on, and sold with, pre-assembled computers from system manufacturers. There are two types of OEM product types: those used for "Direct OEMs" (major name brands that buy through a direct contract with Microsoft and produce and brand their own media from a Microsoft "Gold Master Copy" by using an Authorized Microsoft Duplication Partner), and those used for "System Builders" (local computer shops that buy generic, unbranded kits through Authorized Microsoft Distributors). Direct OEM product keys will often not activate with System Builder installation media because Direct OEMs are now required by Microsoft to pre-activate their copies in the factory using their own internal mechanism before delivery to the customer. It is recommended that System Builders also pre-activate their systems before delivery, but not required at this time.

OEM installations can be customized using the Microsoft OEM Preinstallation Kit with branding, logos, additional applications, optional services, alternate applications for certain Windows components, Internet Explorer links, and various other customizations. All OEM customers must include support and contact information for the initial installation of Windows because it is the responsibility for the OEM to support the Windows installation, and is not provided by Microsoft to the end-user. Direct OEMs must create their own media, but have the option of creating their own custom recovery solution, which may or may not be similar to a generic installation. Although they can create their own recovery solution, they can do so as a recovery partition on the hard drive without providing disc-based media with the computer.

Some end-users have found this to be a troublesome option, because in the event of an out-of-warranty hard drive failure, they may not have access to reinstall Windows on a new hard drive. System Builders are not allowed the option to create a custom recovery CD/DVD media. The only deliverable media available for a System Builder to give to the end-user is the unbranded OEM System Builder hologram media kit. Because of this, when an end-user reformats their hard drive and reinstalls from the installation media, they lose all of the custom branding and support information that the System Builder would have included.

As a supplemental recovery method to a CD/DVD-based installation, a System Builder may optionally employ a fully customized recovery solution on the hard drive. Whether utilizing a recovery partition or not, a System Builder must still include the original generic OEM System Builder hologram CD/DVD media kit. OEM licenses are not transferable from one computer to another. Every computer sold/resold with an OEM license must include all of the original installation media or recovery solution, documentation, Certificate of Authenticity, and product key sticker with the sale. Microsoft requires that systems include the Windows Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) as part of the configuration built by all OEM system manufacturers - the initial setup wizard on a first time bootup from the original installation. It is also required that Value-Added Resellers (VAR's), retailers, and general resellers not tamper with the OEM's customized OOBE mechanism unless under permission by the OEM, and is also a recommended configuration for systems that are privately resold so that a customer will have a like-new computer experience upon first bootup.

OEM licenses are to be installed by professional system manufacturers only. As per Microsoft's OEM License Agreement, they are not to be sold to end-users under any circumstance, and are to be pre-installed on a computer using the OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK) before shipment to the customer, and must include at the very least, the manufacturer's support contact information. They are therefore designed for installation only on a single computer and are not transferable, even if the original computer is no longer in use. This is not usually an issue for users who purchase new computer systems because most pre-assembled systems ship with a pre-installed operating system. There are few circumstances where Microsoft will allow the transfer of an OEM license from one non-functioning system to another, but the OEM System Builder License Agreement (SBLA), as well as the OEM End User License Agreement (EULA) do not contain any allowance for this, so it is entirely up to Microsoft's discretion, depending on the situation.[49]

See also

References

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  49. ^ "Microsoft OEM Partner Center Website". Retrieved 2007-08-07.

General

Service Pack 2

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