Windows XP Editions

Like Windows Server 2003, Windows XP has several editions:

  • Windows XP, Home Edition The operating system designed for home users as a replacement for Microsoft Windows 3.x, Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me)

  • Windows XP, Professional Edition The operating system designed for business users and as a replacement for Windows NT Workstation or Windows 2000 Professional

Windows XP and Active Directory

Windows XP Professional is the only edition intended for use in Active Directory domains. It includes extensions to Group Policy that require updating the Group Policy Objects (GPOs) in a domain using servers running Windows 2000. In a domain upgraded to domain controllers running Windows Server 2003, however, you are not required to update the GPOs for Windows XP Professional.

Note

For more information about Group Policy and Windows 2000 compatibility, see "Updating GPOs for Windows XP Professional" in Installing Additional Components Manually and Postinstallation of Microsoft Windows 2000 Administrator's Pocket Consultant, 2nd Edition (Microsoft Press, 2003).

You should be aware of some other integration issues. If you were one of the people that upgraded to Windows XP Professional when it first became available, I probably don't need to tell you there were problems using the server administration tools on the Windows XP desktop. Although the issues were fixed when a new version of the administration tools shipped, it still brings back bad memories for many, including yours truly. The good news is that Windows Server 2003 ships with a set of administration tools that can be installed on a Windows XP desktop with Service Pack 1 or later and that are used to manage both Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003.

Installing Windows Server 2003 Administration Tools on Windows XP

You can install the Windows Server 2003 Administration Tools by following these steps:

  1. Log on to the workstation using an account with administrator privileges.

  2. Confirm that the computer has Service Pack 1 or later installed. The fastest way to do this is to double-click System in Control Panel, then check the System entry on the General tab.

  3. Insert the Windows Server 2003 CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive.

  4. When the Autorun screen appears, click Perform Additional Tasks, and then click Browse This CD. This starts Windows Explorer.

  5. Double-click I386, and then double-click Adminipak.msi. The complete set of Windows Server 2003 management tools is installed on your computer.

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