This document provides 29 useful facts about Windows operating systems, including which features are not available in different versions of Windows like XP Home Edition, limitations on file system formats and partition sizes, incompatibilities between different versions of Windows and Office, and service pack release dates for Windows XP, Server 2003, Vista, and Server 2008. The document aims to share technical information and best practices for using Windows platforms.

1. Windows Command Guide 2010
Useful Facts on Windows
Updated: 22nd Jan 2011
No great discovery was ever made without a bold guess. –Isaac Newton
Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes. –Oscar Wilde
Persistence and positive thinking to make things happen.
About this document:
This document is for educational and informational purposes only.
About the Author:
bcdalai, [M.Com, MCP, MCSE, MCTS: Windows Vista and MCTS: Windows7]. The author is
an IT pro working on Desktop, Server and Networking - as system administrator, Tech. Support,
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2. Windows Command Guide 2010
Useful Facts on Windows
1. Dynamic disks are not supported on portable computers or on Windows XP Home Edition
based computers.
2. In windows XP Home Edition the following features are not available: Group Policies,
Automatic Software Installation and Maintenance, Roaming User Profiles, Offline Files and
Folders, Remote Desktop, NTFS, EFS (Encrypted File System), joining a domain, dynamic
disks, IIS (Internet Information Services), Remote Installation Services (RIS), Windows
Management Instrumentation Console (WMIC), Microsoft's HTTP and FTP Server, Windows
Backup (ntbackup.exe), Automated System Recovery (ASR) and support more than one
processor.
3. Automated System Recovery is not a supported feature in Windows XP Home Edition using
Backup, but Backup is provided on the CD-ROM as additional value to help back up
critical system data. To Manually Install the Backup Utility: Double-click the Ntbackup.msi
file from the Windows XP Home Edition CD-ROM to start a wizard that installs Backup: CD-
ROM Drive:VALUEADDMSFTNTBACKUP. Follow the wizard. When the wizard is
complete, click Finish.
4. Creating rescue disk feature is not available in Windows Server 2003.
5. You cannot format/create a partition more than 32GB as fat 32 file system.
6. You cannot see or access NTFS partitions in Windows 95/98/ME because these
operating systems don’t support NTFS file system.
7. You cannot run two Operating Systems simultaneously from one drive/partition; if you will do
this the last operating system you installed on that drive will only run.
8. If you install and run MSN Explorer version 6, your MSN POP3 e-mail account will be
migrated to an MSN Hotmail account. If you have Outlook and Outlook Express configured
for POP3, you will no longer receive your new MSN e-mail messages.
9. Deleting or reformatting any dynamic disk volume using the Recovery console's
DISKPART or FORMAT command or during Windows 2000 text-mode Setup, could
result in permanent data loss.
10. You cannot install Windows Vista on FAT/FAT32 file system. Installation of Windows
Vista in FAT/FAT32 file system is not supported except NTFS file system.
11. There is no Boot.ini file in Windows Vista. The Boot.ini file is used for legacy Windows
versions when dual-booting only.
12. You can’t run two or more instances of Windows Installer in Windows XP/2003 Server or
lower version of windows. Because running of two or more instances of Windows Installer in
Windows Installer v3.1 or lower is not supported. This feature is only supported in Windows
Installer v4.0 and later versions e.g. in OS like Windows Vista and later.
13. NetMeeting 3.02 (in Vista) does not support remote desktop sharing. Therefore, the
Remote Desktop Sharing option is not available on the Tools menu in NetMeeting 3.02.
14. The default workgroup name in windows XP Home Edition is “MSHome” and in XP Pro,
Windows Server 2003 and in Windows Vista it is “WORKGROUP”.
15. Windows Vista Starter and Basic Editions do not support control /name
Microsoft.Personalization command.
16. The former name of “Microsoft Dynamics products” is “Microsoft Business Solutions”.
17. The former name of “Windows SteadyState” is “Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit”.
18. Windows Server 2008 is the last 32-bit OS from Microsoft. All future server OS from
Microsoft will be 64-bit e.g. Windows Server 2008 R2 (only 64-bit release).
19. The Fast Saves feature in Word 2003 no longer functions after you install Office 2003
Service Pack 3. The Allow fast saves check box still exists in the Save options in Word
2003. However, the functionality of the option has been disabled. The Fast Saves feature
speeds up the saving of a document by saving only the changes that are made to the
document. Additionally, documents that are saved when the Fast Saves feature is
enabled may contain content that you may not want to share with other people when you
distribute the document electronically. This information is known as metadata. Metadata is
used for a variety of purposes to improve the editing, the viewing, the filing, and the retrieval
of Office files. Because of the design of the Fast Saves feature, text or comments that
you delete from a document may remain in the document even after you save the document.
Therefore, Microsoft has disabled the functionality of the Fast Saves feature in Office 2003
SP3 to increase the security of Word 2003 documents.
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3. Windows Command Guide 2010
20. Office files that are saved in (e.g. .html, .mht, .rtf, .xml) no longer contain the version
number of Office after you install Office 2003 Service Pack 3. This is because this behavior
was changed in Office 2003 SP3 to improve the security of Office 2003 documents.
21. Microsoft Office 2010, codenamed “Office 14” will also be the first version of Office to ship
in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.
22. Microsoft Office 2010 will not support for Windows XP Professional 64-bit, and Windows
Server 2003.
23. XP Mode is supported on Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate editions only.
24. BitLocker, BitLocker To Go, Boot from VHD disk image and MUI multiple languages (35
languages) support is only available for Windows 7 Ultimate edition.
25. The Windows Package Manager (pkgmgr.exe) is used to install and uninstall Windows
optional features; it replaces sysocmgr.exe, which was available in Windows XP and
Windows Server 2003.
26. The version of Office 2010, “Office Starter 2010” will replace the low-end home productivity
software, “Microsoft Works”.
27. Local Group Policy Editor is only available in Professional (Business), Enterprise and
Ultimate Editions of Windows 7 and Windows Vista. Users of Windows 7 or Windows Vista
Starter, Home Basic and Home Premium will not get Local Group Policy Editor.
28. Windows Service Pack Release Dates:
Windows XP:
Service Pack 1 (SP1): 9th September 2002
Service Pack 1a (SP1a): 3rd February 2003
Service Pack 2 (SP2): 6th August 2004
Service Pack 3 (SP3): 21st April 2008
Windows Server 2003:
Service Pack 1 (SP1): 30th March 2005
Service Pack 2 (SP2): 13th March 2007
Windows Server 2003 (x64) and Windows XP Professional x64 Editions:
Service Pack 2 (SP2): 12th March 2007
Windows Vista:
Service Pack 1 (SP1): 18th March 2008
Service Pack 2 (SP2): 26th May 2009
Windows Server 2008 Editions:
Service Pack 1 (SP1): Included with RTM on 27th Feb 2008
Service Pack 2 (SP2): 26th May 2009
29. Upgrading from the following language versions of Windows XP to the matching
language of Windows Vista is not supported:
a. Windows XP with the following Language Interface Packs installed: Bulgarian,
Croatian, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Romanian, Serbian-Latin, Slovak, Slovenian,
Thai, or Ukrainian.
b. Windows XP Media Center Edition: Traditional Chinese (Hong Kong), Traditional
Chinese (Taiwan), Czech, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian (Bokmål), Polish, Portuguese
(Portugal), Russian, Spanish, Swedish, or Turkish.
c. Windows XP Tablet PC Edition: Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Hungarian, Italian,
Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Spanish,
Swedish, and Turkish.
If you have one of these operating systems, you will need to perform a clean installation of
Windows Vista.
30. The following features are not available in Windows Vista:
a. Active Desktop
b. HyperTerminal
c. Luna Visual Theme
d. MSN Explorer
e. NetMeeting (replaced with “Windows Meeting Space”)
f. Telnet.exe is no longer installed by default, but is installable feature through
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4. Windows Command Guide 2010
“Programs and Features”.
g. The network Messenger Service (Winchat.exe).
h. Windows Messenger
i. WinHlp32.exe, used to display 32-bit .hlp files (help pages, replaced by .chm files)
More Useful Stuffs
Major Versions of IIS
Versions OS Platforms Year Released
1 Windows NT 3.51 1996
2 Windows NT 4.0 1996
3 Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 3 1996
4 Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack 1997
5 Windows 2000 1999
5.1 Windows XP Professional 2001
Windows XP Media Center Edition
6 Windows Server 2003 2003
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
7 Windows Vista 2006
(Business, Enterprise, Ultimate Editions)
7 Windows Server 2008 2008
7.5 Windows Server 2008 R2 2009
Windows 7
CHANGED FEATURES AND NAMES
On - Vista, Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 etc. and other technologies.
Note: Including the features, technologies, components and services. The names are changed and the
functionality of some items has been enhanced and moved or consolidated with other items in a new item.
FEATURES / SERVICES / TOOLS
SL. NEWER FORMER
WINDOWS VISTA (Client) WINDOWS 2000, XP, SERVER 2003
01 Backup and Restore Center NTBackup (Windows Backup Utility)
02 Computer My Computer
03 Credential Manager Stored Use Names and Passwords
04 Documents My Documents
05 Ease of Access Center Accessibility Options
06 Getting Started or Welcome Center Windows XP Tour
07 Music My Music
08 Network Discovery Protocol (NDP) Computer Browser
09 Network Places My Network Places
10 Pictures My Pictures
11 Programs and Features Add or Remove Programs
12 Recent Documents My Recent Documents
13 Recovery Recovery Console
14 Region and Language Regional Settings
15 Reliability and Performance Monitor Performance Monitor
16 Run As / Run As Administrator Run As
17 Security Configuration Management Local Security Settings
18 Subsystem for Unix-based Applications Windows Services for Unix
19 Superfetch Prefetch
20 Sync Center Microsoft Synchronization Manager
21 System Integrity Check and Repair System File Checker (SFC)
22 System Protection System Restore
23 Task Scheduler Scheduled Tasks
24 Users Documents and Settings
25 Videos My Videos
26 Windows Complete PC Restore Automated System Recovery (ASR)
27 Windows Contacts Address Book
28 Windows Deployment Services (WDS) Remote Installation Services (RIS)
29 Windows Easy Transfer (WET) Files and Setting Transfer Wizard
30 Windows Error Reporting (WER) Error Reporting
31 Windows Live Messenger Windows Messenger
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5. Windows Command Guide 2010
32 Windows Mail Outlook Express
33 Windows Meeting Space NetMeeting
34 Windows Photo Gallery Windows Picture and Fax Viewer
35 Windows Remote Assistance Remote Assistance
36 Windows Resource Protection (WRP) Windows File Protection (WFP)
WINDOWS 7 WINDOWS VISTA
37 Action Center Problem Reports and Solutions
38 Action Center Windows Security Center
39 Backup and Restore Backup and Restore Center
40 Deployment Image Servicing and pkgmgr.exe, peimg.exe, intlcfg.exe
Management (DISM.exe)
41 Desktop Gadgets Windows Sidebar
42 Devices And Printers Printers
43 Get Programs (Online) Windows Marketplace
44 Getting Started Welcome Center
45 Networks Network Places
46 Pen and Touch Pen and Input Devices
47 Region and Language Regional and Language Options
48 System Image Backup Complete PC Backup
49 System Image Restore Complete PC Restore
50 Windows Photo Viewer Windows Photo Gallery
WINDOWS SERVER 2008 (Server) WINDOWS SERVER 2003
51 Problem Reports and Solutions Error Reporting
52 Server Manager Computer Management
53 Windows Firewall with Advanced Security Windows Firewall
54 Windows Server Backup NTBackup (Windows Backup Utility)
WINDOWS SERVER 2008 R2 (Server) WINDOWS SERVER 2008
55 Remote Desktop Services Terminal Services
56 Terminal Services Gateway RD (Remote Desktop) Gateway
OTHER TECHNOLOGY / FEATURES
57 Bing Live Search
58 Custom Compatibility Fixes Shim
59 Live Framework MeshFX
60 Live Mesh Windows Live Sync
61 Live Migration Quick Migration
62 Live Search Windows Live Search
63 Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) Business Desktop Deployment Toolkit
(BDD)
64 Microsoft Dynamics products Microsoft Business Solutions
65 Microsoft Outlook Microsoft Office Outlook
66 Microsoft SharePoint Workspace Microsoft Office Groove
67 System Center Configuration Manager Systems Management Server (SMS)
68 System Center Data Protection Manager Data Protection Server
(DPM)
69 System Center Operations Manager Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM)
(SCOM)
70 Windows Activation Technology (WAT) Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA)
71 Windows DAC MDAC (Microsoft Data Access
Components)
72 Windows File Protection System File Protection (WinME)
73 Windows Installer Microsoft Installer
74 Windows Internet Explorer (IE7 onwards) Microsoft Internet Explorer (upto IE6)
75 Windows Live Butterfly MSN Butterfly
76 Windows Live Family Safety Windows Live OneCare Family Safety
77 Windows Live Mesh Live Mesh
78 Windows Live Photo Gallery Windows Photo Gallery
79 Windows Live Search MSN Search
80 Windows Live SkyDrive Windows Live Folders
81 Windows Live Sync Windows Live FolderShare
82 Windows Script Host Windows Scripting Host
83 Windows SteadyState Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit
84 Windows Virtual PC Microsoft Virtual PC
Naming Trends (New to Old)
Networks > Network Places > My Network Places
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6. Windows Command Guide 2010
Windows Resource Protection (Vista/Win7) > Windows File Protection (System File
Checker sfc.exe) (2K/XP/2K3) > System File Protection (WinME)
Bing > Live Search > Windows Live Search > MSN Search
Windows Live Mesh > Live Mesh > Windows Live Sync > Windows Live FolderShare
Note: Including the features, technologies and components. The names are changed and the functionality of
some items has been enhanced or consolidated with other new feature. This list is meant to make an easy
understanding of the features in different versions of Windows. The word MY in the feature names are removed
as in My Computer, My Documents to Computer, Documents respectively. Sometimes you may not notice the
small changes in the many features listed here. Many previous features that were named after the word
“Microsoft” that are the part of Windows platform are later renamed with the word “Windows”.
Microsoft Virtual PC - Windows Virtual PC
Microsoft Internet Explorer - Windows Internet Explorer etc.
Original CD/DVD Volume Labels for Windows OS CD/DVD (used by Microsoft):
SL. OPERATING SYSTEM / SOFTWARE CD/DVD LABELS
01 Windows 98 SE Win98SE
02 Windows Millennium Windows Me
03 Windows NT4 NTWKS40A
04 Windows 2000 Professional W2PFPP_EN
05 Windows 2000 Server W2SFPP_EN
06 Windows 2000 Advanced Server W2AFPP_EN
07 Windows 2000 Datacenter Server W2DFPP_EN
08 Windows XP Home (Retail) WXHFPP_EN
09 Windows XP Home (Corp) WXHVOL_EN
10 Windows XP Home (OEM) WXHOEM_EN
11 Windows XP Pro (If nothing specified) WXPCCP_EN
12 Windows XP Pro (Retail) WXPFPP_EN
13 Windows XP Pro (Corp) WXPVOL_EN
14 Windows XP Pro (OEM) WXPOEM_EN
15 Windows XP Media Center Edition MRMPFPP_EN
16 Windows XP Tablet PC (Corp) VRMPVOL_EN
17 Windows Server 2003 (Corp) (VLK) ARMEVOL_EN
18 Windows Server 2003 (Standard) NRMSFPP_EN
19 Windows Server 2003 (Web) NRMWFPP_EN
20 Windows Server 2003 (Enterprise) NRMEFPP_EN
21 Windows Vista Home Premium VISTA_32_PREMIUM
22 Windows Vista Enterprise (RTM) (DVD) LRMEVOL_EN_DVD
23 Windows Vista Ultimate (RTM) (DVD) LRMCFRE_EN_DVD
24 Windows Vista x64 Editions N/A
25 Windows XP Professional x64 ARMPXVOL_EN
26 Windows Server 2003 R2 N/A
26 Windows Server 2003 x64 N/A
28 Windows Home Server N/A
29 Windows Server 2008 (RTM) (DVD) KRMSVOL_EN_DVD
30 Windows Server 2008 (DVD) KRMSFRE_EN_DVD
31 Windows 7 (RTM) (DVD) GRMCULFRER_EN_DVD
32 Windows 7 Enterprise RTM x64 GRMCENXVOL_EN_DVD
33 Windows 7 RTM x64 GRMCPRXFRER_EN_DVD
34 Windows Server 2008 R2 (RTM) (DVD) GRMSXVOL_EN_DVD
[Notes: “N/A” means “Not Available” for now. If you know more, tell me.]
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