Windows Registry - XP Operating System

Welcome to our Windows XP tutorial, this tutorial is aimed at new Windows XP users that are unfamiliar with the operating system. In this first part of the tutorial we will have a look at the Windows desktop and introduce you to icons and the taskbar.

About Windows XP

Windows XP is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers running x86 and IA-64 processors, including home and business desktops, laptops, and media centers. The name "XP" stands for "experience". Windows XP is the successor to 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 released on 25 October 2001, and more than 400 million copies were in use in January 2006, according to an estimate in that month by an IDC analyst. It was replaced by Windows Vista, which was published in volume license customers on 8 November 2006, and worldwide to the general public on 30 January 2007. Direct OEM and retail sales of Windows XP has ceased on 30 June 2008, but it is still possible to obtain Windows XP from System Builders (smaller OEMs who sell assembled computers) until 31 July 2009 or by purchasing Windows Vista Ultimate or Business and then downgrading to Windows XP.

The most common editions of the operating system Windows XP Home Edition, which is intended for home users, and Windows XP Professional, which offers additional features such as support for Windows Server domains and two physical processors, and is for users, business and corporate clients. Windows XP Media Center Edition has additional multimedia features enhancing the ability to record and watch television, view DVD movies and listening to music. Windows XP Tablet PC Edition is designed for stylus based applications on the platform Tablet PC. Windows XP was finally released two other architectures, Windows XP 64-Bit Edition for IA-64 (Itanium) processors and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition for x86-64. There is also Windows XP Embedded, a component of the Windows XP Professional, and editions for specific markets such as Windows XP Starter Edition.

Windows XP is known for its improved stability and efficiency over the 9x versions of Microsoft Windows. This presents a significantly redesigned graphical user interface, a change Microsoft promoted as more user friendly than previous versions of Windows. A new management software installation called Side-by-Side Assembly was set up to avoid "DLL Hell" that plagued older consumer-oriented versions of Windows 9x. It is also the first version of Windows to use product activation to combat against illegal copying, a restriction which is not very good with some users and defenders of privacy. Windows XP has also been criticized by some users for security vulnerabilities, tight integration of applications such as Internet Explorer 6 and Windows Media Player, and for aspects of its default user interface. Versions with Service Pack 2 and Internet Explorer 7 addressed some of these concerns.

During development, the project was named "Whistler", after Whistler, British Columbia, as many Microsoft employees Ski Whistler-Blackcomb, the ski resort

At the end of February 2009, Windows XP is the most widely used operating system in the world with a 63.53% market share, after peaking at 85% in December 2006.

Level 1

Level 2

Sometimes using the System Restore feature in Windows can fix problems, so for the less technically experienced this might be the more painless route to go if the above scanning solutions don't work and you don't want to play around with the registry. This information is recorded in the registry and needs to be cleaned with a windows registry cleaner regularly. However sometimes the programs you install can alter your windows registry in such a way that the windows registry recovery program won't be able to fix.

Over time your windows registry can accumulate junk files from the constant installation of newer programs and removal of obsolete ones.