Windows XP System Requirements

Windows XP Home, Windows XP Professional, and Windows XP Media Center have the same basic requirements. Windows XP Media Center requires a compatible TV tuner installed for full functionality of the Media Center components.

Windows XP Home / Windows XP Professional / Windows XP Media Center

The following table details the requirements for components in a computer for Windows XP to run effectively. The component is listed in the first column. Requirements follow in the second and third columns.

Item
Requirement
Processor Minimum speed 233 MHz
Intel® Pentium®/Celeron™ family, AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor
Maximum number 2
Recommended speed 300 MHz
Intel Pentium/Celeron family, AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor
RAM Minimum 64 MB
May limit performance and some features
Maximum 4 GB
Recommended 128 MB
Hard Drive Space Minimum to run setup 1.5 GB
Typical install size - clean install 1.5 GB
Approximate drive space used in upgrade over Windows Me 925 MB
Approximate drive space used in upgrade over Windows 2000 675 MB
Other Hardware Requirements Supported CD, DVD, or network
Super VGA (800 × 600) or higher-resolution video adapter and monitor
Keyboard and Microsoft mouse or compatible pointing device
Additional Items or Services Required to Use Certain Windows XP Features
Internet Access
  • Some Internet functionality may require Internet access, a Microsoft.NET Passport account, and payment of a separate fee to a service provider. Local or long-distance telephone toll charges may apply.
  • 14.4 Kbps or higher-speed modem
    		•
    Networking
  • Network adapter appropriate for connecting to local-area, wide-area, wireless, or home network. Access to the network connection. Access to third-party networks may require additional charges.
    		•
    Instant Messaging
    Voice and Video Conferencing
    Application Sharing    		 Both parties need Microsoft.NET Passport account and Internet access or Exchange 2000 Server instant messaging account and network access. Some configurations may require download of additional components.
    Voice and Video Conferencing Both parties need:
    • 33.6-Kbps or higher speed modem, or a network connection
    • Microphone
    • Sound card or motherboard with integrated sound
    • Speakers or headset
    Video Conferencing Both parties need:
    • Video conferencing camera
    • Windows XP
    Application Sharing Both parties need:
    • 33.6-Kbps or higher speed modem, or a network connection
    • Windows XP
    Remote Assistance Both parties must be running Windows XP and be connected by a network.
    Remote Desktop A Microsoft® Windows® 95 or later-based computer, and the two computers must be connected by a network
    Sound
  • Sound card or motherboard with integrated sound
  • Speakers or headphones
    		•
    DVD Video Playback
  • DVD drive and DVD decoder card or DVD decoder software
  • 8 MB of video RAM
    		•
    Windows Movie Maker
  • Video capture feature requires appropriate digital or analog video capture device
  • 400-MHz or higher processor for digital video camera capture
    		•

    Windows XP Tablet PC Edition

    For a computer manufacturer to install this operating system, the new hardware must meet the minimum system requirements of Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional and also meet the following Tablet PC-specific requirements:

    • An electromagnetic digitizer and pen - A typical Tablet PC has a digitizer beneath the screen that accepts pen input. handwriting recognition is more accurate and ink looks more realistic because of the digitizer's high resolution. Unlike a resistive-touch screen, the digitizer makes it possible to rest a hand on the screen while writing. The pen is used as a pointing device and an input device for digital ink that can be converted to text.
    • Optimized power states - Tablet PCs have the ability to resume from standby in about five seconds.
    • Screen rotation - The Tablet PC display architecture supports rotation of the screen between portrait and landscape views without restarting. With the push of a button or button sequence, the screen rotates from one orientation to another. Users can switch from portrait to landscape modes as often as needed to meet changing work environments and scenarios. For example, a Microsoft Word document lends itself to portrait mode, while a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation or an Excel spreadsheet may be better viewed in landscape mode. The Tablet PC display orientation architecture supports up to four orientations. The display driver must have built-in support for the screen orientation modes.
    • Legacy-free hardware - Tablet PCs do not include external serial or parallel ports. USB ports are provided. The legacy-free guidelines of the PC 2001 System Design Guide are intended to remove device interfaces that are not Plug and Play, including disk controllers, serial ports, parallel ports, game ports, PS/2 ports, and ISA slots or devices.
    • A hardware button for logging on to Windows - The Tablet PC primary input device is the tablet pen. Therefore, it is important to provide buttons as supplemental input devices. In the context of security, Windows XP requires a secured way to generate the Secure Attention Sequence (SAS). On a computer with a keyboard running Windows XP, SAS can be done by the key sequence CTRL+ALT+DELETE. On a Tablet PC without a keyboard, SAS is achieved by dedicating a button to this function.
    • Surprise undocking - Tablet PCs support "grab and go" which is the ability to undock from a docking station without having to notify the system.