Device compatibility
In addition to basic system compatibility, many folks are curious about compatibility issues with various hardware devices. Well, the good news is that Microsoft has really put a lot of work into making sure that the new operating system supports a plethora of hardware devices right out of the box.
Since Microsoft put the Designed for Windows XP logo program into effect early this year, most hardware manufacturers should have Windows XP drivers for their devices ready by the time Windows XP ships. Plus, you should be able to download Windows XP drivers for most, if not all, standard hardware devices from either the Microsoft Windows Update site or the manufacturer's Web site.
If you can't find a Windows XP device driver for a specific device but do have access to a Windows 2000 driver, you can use the Windows 2000 driver in the new operating system. In some cases, you can even use Windows 98 and Windows Me drivers in Windows XP--if the driver is designed using an architecture that Windows XP recognizes. For more information on using Windows 98, Windows Me, and Windows 2000 drivers in Windows XP, see the Windows XP Hardware Compatibility Tests FAQs on the Windows Hardware Quality Labs site.
Wizard Tip: If you're curious to find out which hardware devices have currently passed the Windows XP compatibility testing phase, check out the most recent Windows XP Hardware Compatibility List courtesy of the Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility site.
4%
4%
