There can be little doubt that Windows XP is Microsoft's best OS yet. While it has a few disadvantages in terms of unnecessary bloat, its balance of performance, stability and outward user-friendliness is hard to match.

As WindowsXP is based on Microsoft's line of server operating systems, it is undoubtedly that which provides it with a rather pleasing lack of crashes. Compare WindowsXP to Windows 98, where the daily reboot has pretty much been accepted as a feature of the operating system, and you can see why it has been embraced so well. This same sever-OS-origin also provides XP with a deep layer of configurability. Not necessarily tweaks as such, but tricks to getting a grip on what is happening behind the scenes for those with an interest. Call it... Zen and the art of Windows XP Maintenance if you will.

In this PCSTATS Guide, we will explore some of the little-known features and abilities of Windows XP Home and Professional Editions, with an eye towards providing a better understanding of the capabilities of the operating system, and the options available to the user.

Computer Management

Depending on the approach you took learning to use Windows XP, the computer management screen is either one of the first things you learned about, or something you have never heard of. Derived directly from one of the most useful features of Windows 2000, it offers an excellent way of managing many of the most important elements of the operating system from a single interface.

You can open the computer management interface by right clicking on 'my computer' and selecting 'manage.' The computer management window is divided into three sections. First is System Tools, which is comprised of several tools to help you manage and troubleshoot your computer.

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