Windows XP Professional

A quick look: Windows XP Pro is the business-grade edition of Microsoft's most popular operating system.

Upgrades from:

• Windows XP Home (Media Center is not upgradable)
• Windows 2000 Professional
• Windows Millennium Edition (Me)
• Windows 98
• Windows NT Workstation 4.0

XP^® Professional Edition is the most popular release of Microsoft's^® Windows^® operating system. Windows XP Pro is the most full-featured edition of XP, containing all the features of XP Home, as well as file encryption, support for use with Windows Server 2003, and Remote Desktop for accessing your computer away from the office. Building on the platform of Windows 2000 Pro, XP offers a more secure and stable operating system, with improved peripheral support and helpful system recovery features.

Not sure which edition of XP is right for you? Click here to compare.

• The XP Experience
  The XP Pro operating system offers higher levels of stability and security than previous versions of Windows. It's designed for businesses of all sizes and home users that require the most from their computing experience. XP offers a more intuitive interface, improved plug-and-play support, and better power management features, especially useful for laptop users.
   
• Service Pack 2
  Microsoft's Service Pack 2 patch, included on the installation disc, offers improved security features. In addition to a one-way firewall, you'll get the Windows Security Center, which continually monitors the state of your antivirus software, automatic update settings, and firewall. It also includes a pop-up blocker and automatic ActiveX prompting for Internet Explorer 6.
   
• Additional Features
  Windows XP Pro with SP2 includes the System Restore feature, allowing you to roll back to a previous state if unwanted changes are made to your system. The Help and Support center includes a remote assistance option, and the operating system offers support for 802.1x wireless networks.
   

• Hard Drive Space: 1.5 GB
• Processor Type: Intel^® Pentium^® or Celeron^®; or AMD^® K6^®, Athlon^®, or Duron^®
• Processor Speed: 233 MHz (400 MHz for advanced features)
• RAM: 64 MB (128 MB for advanced features)
• Graphics: 800x600 SVGA screen resolution, 8 MB of VRAM
• Other: CD-ROM drive, internet access
• Advanced: DVD drive and decoder, video capture device, network connection