Preemptive multitasking in Windows?

[Len]

There is a chart on the Officemax site which claims that XP Home does NOT have preemptive multitasking. Is this true? I can't believe that this could be different since Home and Pro are both based on the same kernel but I need to confirm nonetheless.

Also, did WinME have preemptive or has the 9x kernel always had cooperative multitasking?

[Kingslayer]

What is preemptive multitasking. Isnt that where the computer reads you mind and then opens programs ahead of time?

Are you talking about Dual CPU support. If so, Home doesn't support it, while Pro does.

[Len]

Preemptive multitasking is when the OS controls the distribution of CPU cycles between all the running processing. The running applications cannot stop the operating system from doing this.

Cooperative multitasking is when the applications must be coded to 'give up' control so that other applications get cycles. This only works well if all applications are coded properly.

[JigPu]

Originally posted by Len
Preemptive multitasking is when the OS controls the distribution of CPU cycles between all the running processing. The running applications cannot stop the operating system from doing this.

Cooperative multitasking is when the applications must be coded to 'give up' control so that other applications get cycles. This only works well if all applications are coded properly.
So would a program written cooperativly run it's own multitaksing according to it's code, or would windows control it even it it had the code? I mean, if a program gave up CPU cycles alot, then would Windows still let it controll it's cycle "give ups"? Or would the program still controll it's multitasking?

JigPu