Every computer user remembers the beloved Windows XP OS, which was the perfect example of what a real operating system should be. Convenient, intuitive, fast, not overloaded with unnecessary and completely unnecessary functions. Unfortunately, today Microsoft has stopped supporting this version of the OS, since three more versions have already been released after it, but XP still has an impressive army of fans - this is an indisputable fact. As well as the fact that this operating system will go down in history as one of the best.
Using XP
You may be surprised, but today there are 500 million copies of this OS in active use - and these are only official licensed copies. There are likely even more pirated versions.
Just like XP
Those users who had to upgrade the system to the eighth version, or who have already bought a device with a pre-installed OS, are now actively looking for ways to make this operating system look as similar as possible to XP. To do this, you can even download a special program from the Internet.
IRS
Many government agencies, such as the IRS, still use Windows XP - in most cases this is due to the incompatibility of the software used with other versions, but it is also a sign of the reliability of this OS.
Photo
Everyone knows the original Windows XP screensaver, which depicts hills. This photograph sold for over a million dollars and is considered the second most valuable photograph in history.
ATMs
PC users may well have changed their operating system, but most ATMs still use Windows XP.
Age
Windows XP is an incredibly old operating system. You won't believe it, but it was released back in 2001.
Protection errors
Despite the fact that Windows XP is one of the most beloved operating systems, it has very serious security holes. If you use this OS, the likelihood of being hacked increases by about six times compared to modern systems.
IE Versions
The popular Internet Explorer browser of more modern versions simply will not run on XP - this operating system only supports IE 8 and lower.
Piracy
Today, support and sales of Windows XP have been discontinued, but people continue to actively download and install pirated versions of this operating system.
CON folder or file
It's quite strange, but in Windows XP you cannot create a folder or file called CON - such a file already exists on the system, it is extremely important, and it cannot be accessed.
Upgrade speed
Many companies that still use Windows XP report that they do not upgrade to the new version, not because of the cost, but because of the time it will take to migrate all the software to the new operating system.
XP is experience
Windows XP is one of the last systems to use letters rather than a serial number to designate versions. And behind the letters XP stands English word eXPerience, which translates as “experience”.
End of support
As mentioned earlier, support and sales of this OS have ended, and this was announced in 2014, that is, quite recently - Windows XP lived for 13 long years.
Decorations
If you wish, you can decorate folders and replace icons with other pictures - this is a useless, but extremely nice feature.
TweakUI
Use TweakUI - this tool was designed specifically to personalize your version of the operating system.
Two versions
If you have two hard drives, then you can install two versions of the operating system at the same time - there are detailed instructions on the Internet step by step instructions, how to do it.
Limited cart
In this operating system, the “Trash” is limited in size - it can only hold 10% of the volume hard drive on which the system is installed.
Beta version
The beta version of the operating system, which was supposed to replace Windows 98, was called Windows Whistler - in honor of ski resort in British Columbia, where many of Microsoft's top employees went on vacation.
Falling sales
XP support ended in 2014, but sales of the OS fell significantly and did not pick up again in 2008.
Number of security breaches
The number of problems with privacy protection of this operating system was accurately calculated - the total number exceeded seventy.
Carefully: using Windows 10 may not be safe for your privacy!
Researchers armed themselves with network monitors, debugging tools and other professional tools and looked inside the new OS to understand what exactly Windows was stealing from the user’s computer.
1. All printed text
It doesn't matter what application you use. Keystrokes are intercepted at the operating system level, the data is collected into packets and sent once every 30 minutes to Microsoft servers.
Formal explanation from Microsoft: needed to improve the performance of the predictive input system (faster text typing).
2. Geolocation data
And names of Wi-Fi networks nearby. They accumulate and are transmitted every 30 minutes. Allows you to track the user’s physical movements with an accuracy of several meters.
Microsoft's explanation: The data is needed for the Bing search engine to provide more relevant answers.
What this means for the user: Microsoft knows your home address. If you have a Windows 10 mobile device, Microsoft knows every place you go.
3. Record from a microphone
The microphone in Windows 10 is always on. At first, it was suggested that this was necessary for the operation of the Cortana service (voice assistant), but a little later it became known that disabling Cortana does not solve the problem. User voice recordings can accumulate, some of them are sent to Microsoft servers.
4. Telemetry
A fantastic feature in its potential unsafety, which is not even hidden by the developer company. Telemetry is the transmission of data to Microsoft about the state of your computer and your activity. Literally everything is collected: which programs are installed, which are running, the amount of occupied memory, application logs, fragments of RAM, and so on.
Considering that anything can be in RAM - from data for official use to credit card numbers - such transfer to other people's servers is a potential vulnerability.
5. Fight against piracy
Windows 10 looks at the names of user files and checks them against a constantly updated list of pirated new products. If matches are found, user directory listings are sent to Microsoft. In fact, the computer denounces its own owner.
Let us remind you that data on the anti-piracy activity of Windows 10 has been known for a long time. But it was assumed that the emphasis would be on combating counterfeit games. It is now becoming clear that the main goal is to deprive users of the ability to download pirated copies of American films and TV series from torrents.
6. Portrait for memory
Some users have noticed that after the first activation of Windows 10, the webcam turns on for a short period. Research confirms this - 35 MB of data is transferred to Microsoft immediately after activating and turning on the built-in camera. Presumably, the data is tied to the user's Microsoft account.
In 1975, Gates and Allen created a company called Microsoft. Like most newly created enterprises, Microsoft begins its history on a small scale, but has a global goal - a computer for every desktop and in every home. Over the next few years, Microsoft begins to change the way society operates.
In June 1980, Gates and Allen hire Steve Ballmer ( Steve Ballmer), with whom Gates attended Harvard University, to help run the company. Next month, IBM is approaching Microsoft about a project code-named Chess. As a result, Microsoft is concentrating its efforts on a new operating system - software, which controls the operation of the computer hardware and acts as a link between the hardware and programs, such as a word processor. It is a platform on which programs can be executed. The company named its new operating system MS‑DOS.
When the IBM PC personal computer running MS‑DOS was released in 1981, the public was presented with absolutely new language. Typing various fancy commands after “C:” is slowly becoming part of everyday work. Users discover the backslash (\) key.
operating system MS‑DOS has proven to be effective, but difficult for many people to understand. Therefore, a better way to create an operating system is required.
Windows was probably the first operating system that no one ordered from Gates, and he undertook to develop it at his own peril and risk. What's so special about it? Firstly, the graphical interface. At that time only the notorious MacOS. Secondly, multitasking. Of course, some operating systems allowed you to run an additional task in the background, but they were too painful to work with. In general, in November 1985 it was released Windows 1.0.
The windows in it did not overlap; on 8086 processors the kernel was terribly buggy due to the obvious lack of optimization for this stone. The main platform was the 286th vehicle. Exactly two years later, in November 1987, it was released Windows 2.0, a year and a half later 2.10 was released. There was nothing special about them, except that the windows learned to overlap.
May 1990, a time of great achievements and overthrows. In short, I left Windows 3.0. What was not there: DOS applications were executed in a separate window on full screen, and Copy-Paste worked to exchange data from DOS applications, and Windows itself worked in several memory modes: in real ( basic 640 KB), in protected ( version 80286) and extended ( 80386 ). At the same time, it was possible to run applications whose size exceeds the size of physical memory. There was also dynamic data exchange ( DDE A couple of years later, version Windows 3.1 was released, which no longer included hemorrhoids with basic memory ( If anyone launched old games, they remember how they required either 560 kB or some more, although the RAM could have been 16 MB). A newfangled gadget was also introduced that supports True Type fonts. Ensures normal operation in local network. Drag&Drop appeared ( moving files and directories with the mouse). OLE appeared ( Object Linking & Embedding). In version Windows 3.11, network support was improved and several more minor features were introduced. Windows was released at the same time NT 3.5, which at that time was a collection of basic networking gadgets taken from OS/2.
In June 1995, the entire computer community was excited by Microsoft's announcement of the release in August of a new operating system, significantly different from Windows 3.11, but at the same time following the canons of MS - windows and more windows. August 24th – official release date Windows-95 (other names: Windows 4.0, Windows Chicago). Now it was not just an operating environment - it was a full-fledged operating system that did not require a disk operating system to boot. The 32-bit kernel made it possible to improve access to files and network features. 32-bit applications were better protected from each other's errors, and there was support for multi-user mode on one computer with one system. There are many differences in the interface, a lot of settings and improvements “for the user” - just the Start button, which has become a byword, is worth it...
There was also an update specifically for Windows 3.1x - OSR1, which was not installed from DOS, but simply upgraded the “three-elevens”. By the way, the delivery included the so-called DOS 7.0, which, unfortunately, had strong differences from DOS 6.22 and, alas, not for the better.
In 1996 it was published Windows-95 OSR2 ( if I'm not mistaken, this stands for Open Service Release). The distribution included Internet Explorer 3.0 and some ancient version of Outlook ( then simply called Exchange). The main features include FAT32 support, an improved hardware and driver initializer. Some settings (including video) can be changed without rebooting. There was also built-in DOS 7.10 with FAT32 support
Blackcomb.
Code name Blackcomb belonged to Windows NT 6.0, the operating system that was planned to be the next after Windows XP. Blackcomb was intended to be the successor to this OS for both desktop and server workstations. In late 2001, Blackcomb was scheduled for release in 2005, and in August 2002 it was announced that Windows Longhorn would be an interim release, which would be an update to the Windows NT 5.x kernel.
During development Windows Longhorn some Blackcomb features were added to it and assigned the number 6.0. Blackcomb has been surrounded by confusion, with some reports suggesting that marketing plans have been heavily revised and that it should be a Windows 6.x server OS, but with improvements.
In January 2006, Microsoft announced that the new client OS would be Vienna, which was scheduled for release in 2010.
In March 2006 it became known that the heiress Windows Vista will be Fiji, which was scheduled for release in 2008.
In 2008, as a result of complaints from Fijians that the new OS would be named after their country, new information about Fiji became known. According to Fijians, Ben Green said that Fiji will add new TV formats, support for interactive services and user interface improvements for Windows Media Center. It is likely that the Windows Media Center program included with Windows 7 has already been updated with changes that were supposed to be in Fiji.
Windows 7
Windows 7- operating system of the Windows NT family, following Windows Vista. In the Windows NT line, the system has version number 6.1 (Windows 2000 - 5.0, Windows XP - 5.1, Windows Server 2003 - 5.2, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 - 6.0). The server version is Windows Server 2008 R2, the version for integrated systems is Windows Embedded Standard 2011 (Quebec), the mobile version is Windows Embedded Compact 2011 (Chelan, Windows CE 7.0)
The operating system went on sale on October 22, 2009, less than three years after the release of the previous operating system, Windows Vista. Partners and clients with a Volume Licensing license were granted access to RTM on July 24, 2009. The final (copy from discs that later went on sale) pirated version was available to everyone from the first days of August 2009.
Windows 7 includes some developments that were excluded from Windows Vista, as well as innovations in the interface and built-in programs. The games Inkball and Ultimate Extras were excluded from Windows 7; applications that have analogues in Windows Live ( Windows Mail, Windows Calendar, etc..), Microsoft Agent technology, Windows Meeting Space; The ability to return to the classic menu and automatic docking of the browser and client have disappeared from the Start menu Email.
On July 24, 2007, Microsoft officially changed the code name Vienna on Windows 7. The number of Windows 7 in the NT line in which it will be located is 6.1 ( at one time, systems of this family received the numbers: Windows 2000 - 5.0, Windows XP - 5.1, Windows Server 2003 - 5.2, Windows Vista - 6.0, Windows Server 2008 - 6.0).
On October 13, 2008, Microsoft Vice President Mike Nash announced that the code name Windows 7 would become the official name of the new version. Initial edition ( Windows 7 Starter) will be distributed exclusively with new computers, it will not include functional parts for playing H.264, AAC, MPEG-2.
Time is rapidly moving forward, and the Windows 7 operating system is still very popular; today this system has occupied more than half of the market modern systems. Therefore, this article is dedicated to the most interesting features Windows 7.
1. Using the function for adjusting ClearType text, you can achieve an improved, high-quality image of the text on your computer monitor, and this function also has built-in font adjustment. To open the tool with which you can configure ClearType, you need to press start, and enter “cleartype” into the search engine, then press enter on your keyboard. Next, you need to do everything as indicated by the ClearType configuration system.
2. In Windows 7, after opening the “Start” button, the items are shortcuts, which means that when you open the “Control Panel” link, the window of the same name opens. There is a way to do this in another way that is convenient for you. You need to press the “start” key with the mouse, press the settings key in the settings system, then find the “control panel”, select the method - display everything as a menu, then the control panel utilities are shown in the “start” system, this speeds up accessibility to them.
3. By pressing and holding the Shift button on the keyboard on the desktop, you need to click the button on the right side of the mouse on the file and in the context menu, functions that complement it will appear.
4. When you click the button on the right side of the mouse on the included program in the task system, while simultaneously pressing the Shift button and holding it in this position, you can open the menu that was used in the earlier Windows versions, and not the one used in the Windows 7 operating system.
6. Using Windows 7, it is possible to change the name of all several files at once. Carrying out this action, we select the necessary files, by pressing the F2 button we set the name of the first file document, after which all selected files will have the same name, as well as a serial number.
7. For persons using Windows system 7 and which work with two monitors, it is possible to use the desired keyboard connection: Windows key, plus the Shift key, plus the left-pointing arrow key and the Windows key, plus the Shift key, plus the right-pointing arrow key, thanks to such combinations it is possible to move from one monitor to another.
8. The Windows 7 operating system has resources for setting different volumes for various programs. For example, Opera works, in which open window with any type of animated Flash player that has sound, plus the Media Player window is open, by clicking on the speakers button in the system and the mixer link, you can adjust the sound or overall sound volume from the window.
9. If you decide to go somewhere for a few minutes, but don’t want to turn off your computer, or you decide to instantly limit viewing of your actions on the monitor, use the Win-L combination, and using this connection, the desktop on your monitor will be blocked .
10. Place shortcuts to the programs you most often use in the task system. From this moment on, all the necessary programs for work can be quickly launched.
21ЀввIsn't it great to learn about a new shortcut in town or discover a cool feature on a new gadget? Windows 7 is full of unexpected features. Let's take a look at some small but amazing improvements to Windows 7 that you might not know about.
1. Complex math calculations 
The Calculator has several new dynamic features. To view them, click View. The unit conversion feature converts degrees Celsius to degrees Fahrenheit, kilometers to miles, meters to feet, grams to ounces, joules to BTUs, and many other units of measurement. With new calculation sheets, you can quickly perform everyday calculations like fuel economy and car rental payments. Programming and statistical modes allow you to handle the most complex tasks.
2. Sending information to technical support 
The next time you need to describe a complex computer problem to a friend or tech support professional, try using the Troubleshooting Recorder. You can record a series of screenshots, add notes, and email them directly to your assistant.
3. Moving the taskbar 
Did you know that the taskbar can be moved to the top, right or left of the screen?
The taskbar usually appears at the bottom edge of the desktop, but you can move it to the top or sides of the desktop. Before you can move the taskbar, you need to unpin it. 
Click an empty area of the taskbar and, while holding down the mouse button, drag the taskbar to one of the four borders of the desktop. Once the taskbar is in the desired location, release the mouse button.
4. Clock setting 
Do your friends, family and colleagues live in different time zones around the world?
Add a clock to your taskbar to track the time in its region. You can also add a Clock gadget to your desktop to track the time in their region. You can also add a Clock gadget to your desktop. In addition, you can choose one of eight various options clock design. Learn more about adding and personalizing gadgets. 
5. Create and share topics 
Do you like variety? In Windows 7, you can design, save and quickly change computer themes (desktop background, window border color, sounds and screensaver). You can also create new themes, such as using your favorite photos as your desktop background, and easily share them with friends and family.
6. Drag and Drop Files from Jump Lists 
The Jump List feature provides a list of quick access to frequently used or recent open files. Simply hover your mouse over the right arrow next to Programs in the Start menu, or left-click a program in the taskbar. Jump lists let you open files and programs with just a few clicks. You can also drag items from Jump Lists into open folders or emails.
7. Preview files
Another great time-saver is the file view panel in a folder or library. With its help, you can view the contents of files without opening them in the program. You can open the view pane in a window by pressing the keyboard shortcut ALT+P. This area will display thumbnails of photos, PDFs, and other items when you click on them. Learn more about using files and folders, including the preview pane.
8. Reduce Eye Strain with ClearType 
ClearType is a software tool that improves the readability of text on an LCD screen. If the text seems fuzzy, use ClearType. During the vision test, you will need to view multiple screens to ensure the text is displayed clearly.
9. Easy customization of notes 
Now sticky notes on your desktop can be made even more convenient. You can format text and change its color and size, collapse and scroll through multiple notes. If you have a tablet or touch screen, you can use multiple input methods (pen and touch) on a single note.
10. Getting to know new version Paint 
This classic program is enhanced in Windows 7 with new brush effects such as watercolor, pencil, and calligraphy. Now in Paint you will see a convenient ribbon for all the useful functions that you use most often. And on the touch screen you can draw with your fingers, including creating individual strokes with two fingers simultaneously.
11. Quickly search data on your computer 
Windows Search is the most quick way search and discovery necessary files on your computer, including documents, email messages, music, photos, and other files. To use Windows Search, click the Start button, enter one or more keywords in the search field, and view search results that appear almost instantly.
Isn't it great to learn about a new shortcut in town or discover a cool feature on a new gadget? Windows 7 is full of unexpected features. Let's take a look at some small but amazing improvements to Windows 7 that you might not know about.
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