Beginning with the first beta release, most reports have indicated that XP is solid and a worthwhile upgrade, with the possible exception of those organizations that have recently implemented Windows 2000.   Most items formerly on the Desktop now reside in the largely expanded Start menu, which is probably the most noticeable cosmetic revision.  XP’s applications have a browserlike feel. Windows Explorer and Help And Support even have Back and Forward buttons.
Under the Hood:  XP turns to Microsoft’s NT kernel, leaving the Windows 9x/Me family behind. This enables multiple-user logins (each accompanied by a cutesy graphic) in both the Home and Professional editions. Home users will like using separate logins; after logging off and then back on, all running programs are still open in the exact state they were left.  The most obvious changes in XP are more than cosmetic. DOS is officially really dead.
Improved Multimedia:  One of the more striking revamps in XP is the new Windows Media Player 8. Combined with the presence of the new Windows Messenger—an audiovisual online communication app that rivals the likes of Yahoo! Messenger—there’s no mistaking that Microsoft is aiming high in multimedia and online communication.  Microsoft also enhanced Windows Movie Maker for XP.
Desktop Management:  Network administrators should like XP’s Active Directory, Group Policy, and RIS (Remote Installation Service) features. Active Directory lets administrators manage users, clients, and servers across the network, bringing software installation, exchange server, and network device management under unified control.  
Security and Activation:  Microsoft has beefed up security for XP, removing the most obvious possibilities for causing inadvertent damage to the OS.  Microsoft implemented Product Activation technology with XP. This requires new users to activate their XP copies via the Internet or telephone, and it also requires reactivation if users make a certain number and certain type of hardware configuration changes. If activation and reactivation aren’t performed in time, XP stops working until the user acquires a Confirmation ID from Microsoft by telephone.

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Read this series of articles about backing up your data.  They all reinforce our advice to backup, backup, backup.  Either way, if you do it yourself or you hire somebody, you should make sure that you have a backup of the data that would cost your business money and time if lost.   

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