The following stated hardware requirements by Microsoft are the absolute minimum to setup Windows Xp pro and also applies to the Windows Xp Home version. Microsoft also includes some hardware recommendations above the absolute minimum to make Windows Xp Pro. Or Xp Home accomplish on an proper level.
No. Really, they're serious!
Absolute Encoder Interface
With these minimum law requirements for Windows Xp in mind I will add comments and recommendations gathered from real world perceive as a Pc Technician. Of course, my comments will be colored by my certainly sarcastic and jaded attitude toward Microsoft's overly optimistic projections.
Xp Pro law Requirements:
- Pc with 300 megahertz or higher processor clock speed recommended; 233 Mhz minimum required (single or dual processor system);* Intel Pentium/Celeron family, or Amd K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor recommended
- 28 megabytes (Mb) of Ram or higher recommended (64 Mb minimum supported; may limit carrying out and some features)
- 1.5 gigabytes (Gb) of ready hard disk space*
- Super Vga (800 x 600) or higher-resolution video adapter and monitor
- Cd-Rom or Dvd drive
- Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device
More Xp law Requirements:
Additional Items or Services Required to Use inevitable Windows Xp Features.
For Internet access:
- Some Internet functionality may want Internet access, a Microsoft.Net Passport account, and payment of a detach fee to a assistance provider; local and/or long-distance telephone toll charges may apply.
- 14.4 kilobits per second (Kbps) or higher-speed modem
Huh? What do they mean "Some Internet functionality may want Internet access"? Seriously, how can you have Internet functionality with out Internet access?
Microsoft.Net Passport account? I have used a dial-up Internet association for over 10 years and have never needed a Microsoft.Net Passport account. Can you say, Microsoft ownership protocol?
It would be difficult to find a modem slower than 56 kbps these days.
For networking:
- Network adapter proper for the type of local-area, wide-area, wireless, or home network you wish to connect to, and entrance to an proper network infrastructure; entrance to third-party networks may want supplementary charges.
For instant messaging, voice and videoconferencing, and application sharing, both parties need:
- Microsoft.Net Passport inventory and Internet entrance or Microsoft change 2000 Server instant messaging inventory and network entrance (some configurations may want download of supplementary components)
Ok, adequate is enough. Since when do you need a Microsoft.Net Passport inventory to use Icq, Yahoo, Aim, Aol, Irc or any other instant messaging clients? Msn only!
For voice and videoconferencing, both parties also need:
- 33.6 Kbps or higher-speed modem, or a network connection
- Microphone and sound card with speakers or headset
For videoconferencing, both parties also need:
- Video conferencing camera
- Windows Xp
If you intend to use videoconferencing a Broadband association is strongly recommended.
For application sharing, both parties also need:
- 33.6 Kbps or higher-speed modem, or a network connection
- Windows Xp
For remote assistance:
- Both parties must be running Windows Xp and be linked by a network
For remote desktop:
- A Windows 95 or later-based computer, and the two machines must be linked by a network
Tip: Windows Xp pro remote desktop software can be installed on Windows 9x with the the Widows Xp Pro. setup Cd.
For sound:
- Sound card and speakers or headphones
For Dvd video playback:
- Dvd drive and Dvd decoder card or Dvd decoder software
- 8 Mb of video Ram
Tip: Windows Xp pro and Windows Xp Home do not come with Dvd decoder software installed. You can get a Dvd decoder by down loading a free one from Roxio or by installing a Dvd media player like WinDvd or nVdvd. Once a windows Dvd decoder is installed, Dvd article can be played with most media players along with Windows Media Player.
For Windows Movie Maker:
- Video capture feature requires proper digital or analog video capture device
- 400 Mhz or higher processor for digital video camera capture
- Actual requirements will vary based on your law configuration and the applications and features you select to install. supplementary ready hard disk space may be required if you are installing over a network.
Disclaimer: Having hardware meeting these requirements does not mean that the Pc will accomplish to your satisfaction.
Test system:
Having read these requirements I decided to do an experiment with an old Ibm Pc I had laying around. The Pc consisted of an Intel Pentium 350Mhz Cpu, Intel motherboard and 128 Mg. Of compatible Ram. Also included a working Super Vga card with 4 Megabytes of video Ram and a 12x Cd-Rom that supported booting from a Cd. I terminated the law off with a 5400 Rpm, 1.2Gb hard drive (1.5Gb drive was not available).
I used the Windows Xp Pro default setup method allowing the setup application to conclude what was best for the law it detected. The results were beyond disappointing to brink of laughable. I fell asleep after an hour waiting for the setup process to halt so I don't certainly know how long it took. After rebooting 2 or 3 times to get all hardware drivers installed and configured correctly I was ready to use the system.
The first thing you observation after the Windows desktop loads is the video. I had only the very basic features. Screen resolution was itsybitsy to 640 x 480 16 bit or 800 x 600 256 color. Most of the Gui features like icon and menu animations and font shadowing were greyed out (disabled). Windows Xp's renowned Gui interface wasn't very gooey was it?
A quick check of the hard disk properties showed the clean Windows Xp Pro. setup had eaten up just under 1Gb of disk space leaving about 350Mb free. That is not adequate space to setup Microsoft Office or much of whatever else.
Executing any agenda or utility caused a mind numbing wait while watching the black and white hourglass spinning jerkily for any minutes. It quickly became inevitable that very few citizen would have the patience to use such a slow system. Did I mention that it took upwards of 5 minutes to boot?
System Requirements Xp Wrap-up:
Windows Xp hardware requirements might be high but it makes up for it in ease of use. The biggest advantage Microsoft Windows Xp operating law has over the competition is hardware detection and compatibility. Windows Xp has the ability to detect hardware and setup usable drivers with few problems. This is a big bonus for technicians and users alike and keeps Microsoft the "Top Dog" in the Desktop Operating law race.
The "auto hardware driver installation" ability also keeps the Linux Operating law in a gently gaining but "not ready for prime time" position. I feel it is worth mentioning that the developers of the Linux Debian core are development great strides transmit in this area.
Well, maybe some day soon...
Windows Xp law Requirements