preinstallation tasks

before you start the installation of windows xp professional, complete the following tasks.

• ensure that your hardware meets the requirenments for installing windows xp professional.
• determine whether your hardware is on the hardware compatibility list (HCL)
• decide how you will partition the hard disk on which you will install windows xp professional.
• choose a file system for the installation partition.
• determine whether your computer will join a domain or a workgroup.
• complete a preinstallation checklist.
  

windows xp professional authentication process

to gain access to a computer running windows xp professional or to any resource on that computer, whether the computer is configured to use the welcome screen or the log on to windows dialog box, you must provide user name and possibly a password.

how windows xp professional authenticates a user depends on whether the user is logging on to domain or logging on locally to a computer.

access token

• provides user identity and security settings
• enable a user to gain access to resources and perform system tasks
  

logging on locally to the computer

windows xp professional offers two options for login on locally.the welcome screen and the log on to windows dialog box.

the welcome screen

by default windows xp professional uses welcome screen to allow users to log on locally.to log on click the icon for the user account you want to use.if the account requires a password you are prompted to enter it.if the account is not password protected you are logged on to the computer.you can also use ctrl+alt+delete (press twice) at the welcome screen to get the log on to the windows dialog box.this enable you to log on to the administrator account which is not displayed on the welcome screen when other user accounts have been created.

a user can logon locally to either of the following

• a computer that is a member of a workgroup
• a computer that is a member of domain but is not a domain controler
  

the windows security dialog box

the windows security dialog box provides informations such as the user account currently logged on and the domain or computer to which the is logged on. this information is important for users with multiple user accounts, such as a user who has a regular user account as well as a user account with administrative privileges.

you access the windows security dialog box by pressing ctrl+alt+delete if the computer is joined to a domain or the welcome screen is disabled, otherwise the task manager will be activated.

lock computer

allow users to secure the computer without logging off. all programs remain running. users should lock their computers when they leave for a short time. the user who locks the computer can unlock it by pressing ctrl+alt+delete and entering the valid password. an administrator can also unlock a locked computer. this process logs off the current user.

logoff

allows a user log off as the current user and close all running programs, but leaves windows xp professional running.

shutdown

allows a user to close all files, save all operating system data, and prepare the computer so that it can be safely truned off.

change password

allows a user to change his or her user account password. the user must know the current password to create new one. this is the only way users can change their own password.administrators can also change the password.

task manager

provides a list of the programs that are running and a summary of overall cpu and memory usage, as well as a quick view of how each program, program components, or system process is using the cpu and memory resources.users can also use task manager to switch between programs and to stop a program that is not responding.

cancel

closes the windows security dialog box

domains

a domain is a logical grouping of network computers that share central directory database. a directory database contains user accounts and security informations for the domain.this database known as the directory and is the database portion of active directory service.

in a domain the directory resides on computers that are configured as domain controllers. a domain controller is a server that manages all security related aspects of user and domain interactions, centralizing security and administration.

the steps in the authentication process are as follows

• the user logs on by providing logon information, such as username and password, and windows xp professional forwards this information to the security subsystem of that local computer.
• windows xp professional compares the logon informations with the user informations in the local security database, which resides in the security subsystem of the local computer.
• if the information matches and the user account is valid, windows xp professional creates access token for the user. an access token is the users identification for that local computer. it contains the users security settings, which allow the user to gain access to the appropriate resources on that computer and to perform specific system tasks.

if a user logs on to a domain, windows xp professional contacts an available domain controller in the domain. the domain controller compares the logon informations with the user information that is in the directory for the domain. if the information matches and the user account is valid, the domain controller creates an access token for the user. the user security settings contained in the access token allow the user to gain access to the appropriate resources in the domain.