[Ramish]

Hello,

From a theory and functionality perspective, what is the differences between Windows & DOS. As far as I know, Windows & DOS differs as;

Windows
A. GUI
B. Multi- Task Operating System
C. More Friendly

DOS
A. CUI
B. Single Task Operating System
C. Less Friendly

Is there anything more that above which makes Windows differ from DOS?

Waiting for your feedback

CHEERS,

Also, please provide me with a link where I can find a download able handbook for Windows XP "Professional Edition"

CHEERS,

[Scleros]

Architecturally and perhaps most fundamentally, there is a difference between how applications written for the two environments interact with the hardware and their design. Windows provides a set of services (Windows API) to applications that they can use to perform tasks. The application does not get direct access to the underlying hardware without specific coding. Windows applications are more of an extension of Windows that hook into it. DOS also provides routines for an application to use if it wishes, but an application can directly access the hardware if it so chooses and typically must do so to get status about things such as keyboard input or mouse movement. Windows will inform an application of relevant changes in user input or other device changes through a messaging system. Windows applications poll Windows for these messages.

Additionally DOS and most DOS applications are limited to functioning in real mode of Intel's i386 processor line although DOS extenders did exist in DOS's waning days. Current Windows versions and Windows applications operate in protected mode.

If you want to get started with better insight into the differences "under-the-hood", read Intel® 64 and IA-32 Architectures Software Developer's Manuals, Charles Petzold's Programming Windows, Phoenix Technologies BIOS Technical Reference, and Microsoft's MS-DOS Programmer's Reference.

I know of no "downloadable handbook" for Windows XP. Try Microsoft Technet or Windows XP Professional Resource Kit.