Microsoft Home Pages
Within the company's main Web site (www.microsoft.com) are links, links, and more links to home pages dedicated to specific products and technologies.
Instead of Googling to find these pages, use this handy reference to find which sites are most applicable to you and then bookmark them.
Some of these sites have a direct link (one-click access) from the main Microsoft site. If so, we note that.
Windows XP Community Partnership Program
XP Community Partnership Program
Use these non-Microsoft communities online to get answers to your questions, state your opinions, meet other Windows XP enthusiasts, and learn more about Windows XP.
Get The Facts Home
www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/facts
Business owners and IT professionals looking for information to compare Windows Server with Linux, Unix, and Novell-based systems will find a wealth of information here. You can read white papers and case studies that outline the advantages Windows offers, get information about training courses designed to teach system administrators how to use ,Windows Server 2003, and order a free evaluation kit for this as.
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Internet Explorer
Although content here is somewhat slanted to Windows XP users, those who run IE on other Windows versions will still benefit. Special emphasis is given to security issues. You can download updates to fix IE's vulnerabilities and learn how to browse more safely. Click the Community link to read columns from experts or peruse and participate in newsgroups. Finally, don't shy away from the Technology section. It contains a good overview of IE 6's features, complete with how-to articles and FAQs.
Many years ago, the Mac and PC worlds were separate universes. No more. Mac heads who want to use Microsoft applications can find all the information to participate in usability studies, in which Mac users can suggest ways to make Microsoft products better for their own needs.
Microsoft Help And Support
When you run into trouble with a Microsoft product, start here for help. You can link to a Solutions Center for your Windows version and many other products such as Office. Both in the solutions center and on the home page, you can link to how-to articles, troubleshooting tips, and new updates.
Two key links are Search (KB) and Microsoft Windows Update. The first opens a tool for searching the Microsoft Knowledge Base for helpful articles, and the second takes you to Windows Update, where you can automatically get critical updates for your system.
Access this site through the Support link on the Microsoft home page.
Microsoft Office Online
As if the various Office suites don't have enough features, you can enhance your software with free, timesaving downloads here, such as document templates and clip art. In addition, you can learn how to do just about anything in Word, Excel, FrontPage, and the other Office programs. Either click the appropriate program link or learn from the Crabby Office Lady, the all-knowing columnist who's ready to impart her wisdom on everything from using fonts to telecommuting.
If it's not available on Office's main page, you can find a link to her columns by clicking Assistance in the left menu bar. You'll also find quick links to troubleshooting articles and product information for Office-compatible programs. Access this site through the Office link on the Microsoft home page.
Microsoft Product Information Center
Although you can find system requirements and pricing information on other Microsoft home pages, this is the best place to learn about Microsoft's large family of products. Need a mouse? Looking for a game to buy? Microsoft offers those and more.
You can browse by product categories or look for items based on your needs as a home user, IT professional, developer, or business person. Keep an eye on the New And Coming Soon page and track your order or get more product information through the Customer Service link. Access this site through the All Products link on the Microsoft home page.
Microsoft Security
One of Microsoft's more important sites, this is where you should turn for information and updates pertaining to security vulnerabilities in your version of Windows. In addition, you can read up on the latest viruses and worms, plus get tips for making your Web browsing and email use safer.
Click the Security Updates link to read the bulletins Microsoft issues when it releases a security update. These aren't overly technical explanations of the problem, just summaries. You can read current bulletins, as well as those released within the past couple of years.
Access this site through the Security link on the Microsoft home page.
Microsoft Xbox
This site is headquarters for garners using Microsoft's Xbox. View trailers and screen shots for games, get tips and tricks for playing, and discuss strategies with other garners. The Catalog and Xbox Gear Store links provide easy ways to order games and merchandise online.
MSDN
The Microsoft Developer Network is a rich resource for anyone writing programs designed for use with Microsoft products or that use Microsoft technologies. Developers can access a reference library, filled with technically detailed articles and documentation; a download center, where you can get service packs, updates, add-ons, and beta versions of upcoming releases; and the Code Center, which contains links to code samples. In addition, this site provides forums for fellow developers to communicate with each other.
Windows Hardware And Driver Central www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl
A good companion site to the Product Information Center, this page is broken into categories based on the different versions of Windows. The accompanying links lead to catalogs that show you a wide range of hardware and software products designed for use with that as.
By clicking the HCL Home link, you also can search through HCLs (hardware compatibility lists), especially for older versions of Windows, to find items built to work with Windows. Or, to bypass compatibility issues, click the Microsoft Hardware Innovation link to look for hardware items made by Microsoft.
Windows Me
Numerous links on the WinMe site take you to pages explaining why you should upgrade to WinXP. But rest assured, there's plenty of help here for WinMe users. Click the Using tab at the top to open a page full of links to information about how to use certain aspects of WinMe such as working with audio and setting up a home network. Then hop over to the Support page to access newsgroups, archived articles, and FAQs.
Windows 98
If you're still in love with Win98and we understand your passion-then bookmark this site. It contains links to FAQs, how-to articles, security information, and downloads to updated software such as IE and DirectX. Pay particular attention to The Windows 98 Support Center link, which gives you the latest news about any extended support Microsoft still offers for this as.
Windows 95
There's probably little mystery left to this 10-year-old operating system. Still, this,site offers pertinent information about getting the most out of Win95, updating it with new downloads, and protecting your system from the latest security vulnerabilities. Don't expect much in the way of extended support, but you can keep searching the Knowledge Base to troubleshoot any problems that might arise.
Windows 2000
Think of this site as "server centraL" Follow links to security help, key downloads, newsgroups, licensing information, and many how-to articles for developers and IT professionals running Win2000 on servers. You also can find plenty of information on the benefits of upgrading to Windows Server 2003.
Follow the Technology Centers link to read about Win2000 features such as directory services and clustering.
Windows XP
Each WinXP edition-Home, Professional, Media Center, Tablet Pc, and 64Bit-has a home site tucked inside here. These sites give detailed information about as features, hardware requirements, pricing information, and where to buy or how to upgrade, if applicable.
Under Resources, all users can look for articles on how to use WinXP for such things as digital photography, music, games, and instant messaging. On these pages you also can access newsgroups pertaining to the topic.
