One of your users would like to perform a fresh install of Windows XP Professional onto their desktop PC. The computer has a Pentium II processor running at 300 MHz with 64 MB of RAM and a 20 GB hard drive. Can the personal computer support an install of Windows XP Professional?
A) Yes, the computer’s hardware will support a Windows XP Professional installation.
B) No, the computer does not have enough RAM to install Windows XP Professional.
C) No, the computer’s hard drive is not large enough to install Windows XP Professional.
D) No, the computer’s processor isn’t fast enough to support Windows XP.
The answer: A) Yes, the computer’s hardware will support a Windows XP Professional installation.
For the CompTIA A+ exam, it’s important to know the requirements for Windows XP and Windows 2000. Although it seems that the specifications listed for this computer are painfully old, it still technically supports the installation of Windows XP Professional. It won’t run quickly, but it should provide some basic operation!
Processor: The minimum processor speed is well within the installation requirements, since the minimum speed is only 233 MHz.
Memory: Although it’s scraping the bottom of our requirements, 64 MB of RAM still qualifies as the minimum requirements for Windows XP Professional.
Hard drive: Although we’re not clearly spelling out the amount of “free” disk space, since this installation is a fresh install it’s clear that that all 20 GB is available for Windows XP Professional. We’re well above the minimum of 1.5 GB.
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Want to learn more? Watch “Installing Windows XP”Windows XP is the most popular operating system in the world, which makes it a critical part of the CompTIA A+ certification. In this video, you’ll learn about the installation requirements for Windows XP and watch as we step through a live Windows XP installation. The post-install process verifies the installation and discusses important post-install steps. |