Information Services

Windows XP at Kalamazoo College

Windows XP, Microsoft's newest operating system, is available in two varieties: Windows XP Professional, and Windows XP Home Edition. Due to security issues, Information Services strongly recommends that students purchase Windows XP Professional rather than Windows XP Home Edition.

Why is Windows XP Home Edition not recommended?

Windows XP includes a feature called the Simple File Sharing User Interface which prevents you from protecting shared files with a password, making shared files accessible from any Windows computer on the Kalamazoo College network and leaving your computer vulnerable to attack by viruses which spread through file-sharing. Although it is possible to disable the Simple File Sharing User Interface and password-protect shared files in Windows XP Professional, the Simple File Sharing User Interface cannot be disabled in Windows XP Home Edition.

Windows XP Home Edition is not designed for use in a complex network environment such as Kalamazoo College. Although most users of Windows XP Home Edition should be able to connect their computers to the network without difficulty, Information Services cannot guarantee connectivity.

What if I already have Windows XP Home Edition?

If you already have Windows XP Home Edition, you can still connect your computer to the campus network. To protect the confidentiality of your files and to safeguard against computer viruses, you should completely disable file-sharing. To correct other known security flaws in Windows XP Home Edition, you should also run Windows Update immediately after connecting your computer to the campus network.

Is it safe to share files in Windows XP Professional?

If you disable the Simple File Sharing User Interface and grant access rights only to trusted individuals, it is safe to share files in Windows XP Professional. To correct other known security flaws in Windows XP Professional, you should also run Windows Update immediately after connecting your computer to the campus network.

Should I upgrade my Windows 98 or Windows 2000 computer to Windows XP Professional?

It is not necessary to upgrade your existing operating system to Windows XP. You can still connect your computer to the campus network using Windows 98 or Windows 2000.