Introduction
Microsoft is a company, which started the revolution of computers in the modern world. With the Microsoft operating systems, it was made possible for a common man to access the computers and become familiar with the technology. Microsoft Windows XP is even today, among the most popular operating systems around the world. Microsoft has also introduced other operating systems like Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows 7 etc for the common man. Today for any operating system, security is an important aspect. It is no different with Microsoft Windows XP. Here are some tips for Microsoft Windows XP operating system.
Step 1
Run regular updates for Microsoft Windows XP
For any operating system to stay secure and also to perform at its best, updates are necessary. When it comes to Microsoft Windows XP, updates are very crucial. Microsoft rolls out patches regularly to keep your computer updated and safe against many threats. So, check for any updates from Microsoft regularly and install them. It is also recommended to update every other software program installed on your computer.
Step 2
Install antivirus and keep it updated
Installing an antivirus software product is something of high preference. The antivirus software can protect your computer from most possible attacks. It blocks or terminates most of the virus or malware which attack your computer. It is also important to keep the antivirus program updated with the most recent virus definitions installed.
Step 3
Disable unwanted features and services
There are many services and features of Microsoft Windows XP which needs to be turned off to ensure the security of your computer. For example, the Autorun feature. With this feature turned on, a virus or other malwares can run themselves without invoking them. There are also services like Remote Desktop Sharing, Routing and Remote Access, Telnet etc that need to be turned off to keep your computer completely safe from the threats. Turning off all these features and services will keep your computer safe to a great extent.
Step 4
Use firewall
Firewall is a feature which protects the computer from external attacks. Many Microsoft Windows XP users tend to turn off this feature, but it is vitally important to have the firewall feature turned on. You can turn on firewall at the Security Center in Control Panel. There are also a number of third part computer firewall products available. All these products can deliver a better protection compared to the built-in Microsoft Windows XP firewall. Find out a good third party firewall and install it on your computer for better protection.
Step 5
Backup data regularly
Even if you follow all the possible security measures stipulated by Microsoft, it is still possible for your computer to come under security attack which might result in losing all the data. This is the reason why experts recommend backing up data every once in a while. This will ensure that all your important data is not lost at an event of computer crash. You can use the built in ‘ntbackup’ feature of Microsoft Windows XP to backup your files and folders.
Step 6
Customize the Quick Launch Bar
The Quick Launch Bar of Microsoft Windows XP is very helpful when you are in a hurry and you want to find something very fast. You can create shortcuts of your files and folders and you can access them quickly by clicking on them. Think about which files or folders you use regularly and pin them to the bar.
Step 7
Go full screen
There are moments when you want to visualize something at its maximum size. Microsoft Windows XP offers the easiest way to do that: for instance, if you open a browser, you can simply press F11 and the taskbar and title bar will be hidden. To return to the previous state, you can press F11 again. It goes the same for photos but, in order to return to the previous state you will need to press Esc (in the left corner of your keyboard).
Step 8
Organize files in groups
Microsoft Windows XP has various options for organizing folders. You can select from different options the way that you want to display files and folder on your PC. For instance, if you have a folder with mp3 files, you can arrange it by size, song title, artist and these are just to name a few.
Conclusion
The operating systems from Microsoft are easy to use and are feature-full. This is what makes Microsoft world’s favorite operating system.
Source
http://windows.about.com/
