WhistleStop Tour of Windows XP Mike Burrows Software Design Engineer Microsoft 3rd Party Windows Gam

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Whistle-Stop Tour of Windows XPMike
BurrowsSoftware Design EngineerMicrosoft 3rd
Party Windows Gamingmikebur_at_microsoft.com
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Windows XPWhat is it?

• The OS formerly known as Whistler?
• The biggest OS release since Windows 95?
• The most reliable, easiest to use, operating
  system for retail consumers?
• The best development platform?
• All of the above?

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Windows XPAvailable versions

• Home Edition
• For general home user
• Professional
• For hardcore gamers and developers
• Server
• File/Print services, DCs, AD servers
• Advanced Server
• Web sites, B2B app. servers
• Datacenter
• High availability, mission critical applications

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Windows XPDifferences between Home and Pro.

• Professional is superset of Home
• Adds
• Multi-processor support
• Multi-monitor support
• Remote desktop (Terminal Services)
• Encrypyed file system
• Domain join

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Windows XPWhats new?

• Absolutely loads of stuff, but most relevant
• DirectX 8.1
• Multiple users by default
• Fast User Switching
• Much, much, much more similar to Windows 2000
  than Windows 95
• Security implications
• Much prettier icons

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Multiple Users

• Over 80 share a computer with other family
  members
• Two (36), Three (18), Four (15)
• Five and above (11)
• Yet most users arent enabling profiles
• People arent getting a personalized experience
• They cant switch easily between e-mail
  accounts, etc.
• Alternative solutions like Internet Explorer
  Identities had to be put in place

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Multiple UsersWhy are people not using Profiles?

• Users dont know they can do this
• Windows 98 Profiles are off by default and are
  hard to use
• Switching users takes too much time and effort
  (designed for Business)
• Takes several minutes
• Must close your programs, log off, restart all
  your programs
• Have to type in user name and password hassle!

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Multiple UsersHow are we fixing this?

• Turning on Profiles by default
• User accounts will be created for everyone
• By default, passwords will not be required
• New, much easier, Control Panel to add/edit User
  Accounts
• Enabling Fast User Switching
• Multiple users can be running programs at the
  same time
• Disabled if connected to domain

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Multiple UsersHandling Lost Devices

• Return Code from Present() and Reset()
• D3DERR_DEVICELOST
• HRESULT hRes g_pD3ddev-gtPresent(NULL, NULL,
  NULL, NULL)
• while(hRes D3DERR_DEVICELOST)
• while(hRes ! D3DERR_DEVICENOTRESET)
• Sleep(1000)
• hRes g_pD3ddev-gtTestCooperativeLevel()
• hRes g_pD3ddev-gtReset(d3dpp)
• if(FAILED(hRes))
• hRes D3DERR_DEVICELOST

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Multiple UsersOther instances

• Check for other instances correctly
• FindWindow(Ex) does not work across sessions
• Events, semaphores, mutexes, waitable timers,
  file-mapping objects, etc
• Dont just switch to the previous instance, it
  may be in another session

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Multiple UsersCheck for other instances

• BOOL DoIExist(LPWSTR wzMutexName)
• HANDLE g_hMutexAppIsRunningg_hMutexAppIsRunnin
  g CreateMutex(NULL, FALSE, wzMutexName)
• // Close handle, returning TRUE if existing
  semaphore opened
• if (g_hMutexAppIsRunning ! NULL
• GetLastError() ERROR_ALREADY_EXISTS)
• CloseHandle(g_hMutexAppIsRunning)return TRUE
• return (g_hMutexAppIsRunningNULL) // if
  created, return FALSE

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Multiple UsersSwich to other instance?

• Check for other instances
• if ( DoIExist(L"Global\\Super Game") TRUE )
• HWND hWndMe FindWindow(wzWindowClass,
  wzTitle)
• if (hWndMe)
• if (IsIconic(hWndMe))
• ShowWindow(hWndMe, SW_RESTORE)
• SetForegroundWindow(hWndMe)
• else
• MessageBox(NULL,
• L"Another User is using this
  Application",
• wzTitle, MB_OK)

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Multiple UsersFast User Switching

• WTSRegisterSessionNotification()
• Notification of sessions connecting and
  disconnecting, both local and remote
• When your application is not on the current
  desktop
• Minimize processor usage
• Dont update display
• Dont play sounds

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Multiple UsersOther things to watch out for

• Follow the specification for Data and Settings
  Management
• http//msdn.microsoft.com/certification/appspec.a
  sp
• Classify and store data correctly
• Degrade gracefully on Access Denied
• Support All Users installs

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Icons
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Working With New Icons

• Use tools such as Gif Movie Gearhttp//www.gifmov
  iegear.com/foricons/
• Provide 9 images per icon 4bit, 8bit and 32bit
  (248) color
• Recommended sizes48x48, 32x32, 16x16

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SummaryThe best development platform

• All the benefits of Windows 2000
• More drivers available earlier
• Develop on the same platform as your customers
  use
• Terminal Services make remote debugging easier
• You dont have to have a developer system at
  home to work at home.

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Call To Action!

• Get on the beta program(if youre not already)
• Ensure you have Windows XP on at least one of
  your dev machines
• Let us help test your titles
• http//msdn.microsoft.com/directx
• Articles regarding Fast User Switching, security,
  etc. to be posted initially on Windows XP beta
  web site then publicly on release

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Questions?
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