Windows users can be quite adept at what they do and the applications they do it with and still have little or no knowledge what Windows or their applications have done with the files they create. No matter how well you know the applications you use at some point you will need to know something about file management to retrieve, transfer, copy, replace, rename or backup your files.

This service pack for Windows XP is believed to be the last for the most popular operating system in the Windows family. The update deals mostly with security issues and compliance with Windows Server 2008, the replacement for Windows Server 2003, and is applicable to all versions of XP. Microsoft has released Windows XP SP3 to manufacturing. The CD will include all previous updates to the OS. It should be available via automatic updates some time next month.

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is finally being released to system builders a little more than a year after the operating system was released to the general public on January 31, 2007. Despite the longest development cycle of any Windows product Vista came to market with an intolerable level of issues. Major vendors persuaded Microsoft to issue a reversion disk to allow business customers to revert to Windows XP from Vista.

Microsoft has come under a lot of pressure from system builders to extend the period they will be able to deliver new systems with Microsoft XP operating system installed rather than Windows Vista which became available to the general public January 31st of this year. Generally, the cut of date would be one year from the new OS release. It has now been extended to June 15, 2008.

The current version of Microsoft's flagship operating system (OS) comes in five basic flavors: Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Enterprise and Ultimate. Windows Vista is the latest in the Windows NT family of operating systems which includes Windows 2000 and Windows XP. As of this writing there are some applications that have difficulties with the new OS. Be sure to check with your software vendor before making the move.