|  | Planning an Installation of Microsoft Windows XP Professional Checking Hardware and Software Compatibility
After you determine that your system meets the minimum requirements, you must verify that your hardware and software are compatible with Windows XP Professional. You can check hardware by using the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL), or by generating a compatibility report. Verifying Hardware Compatibility by Using the HCL You can ensure that your hardware is compatible with Windows XP Professional by verifying that all hardware devices are listed on the HCL. Microsoft provides tested device drivers for those devices that are listed on the HCL. Using hardware that is not on the HCL may result in problems during or after installation. For a copy of the Windows XP Professional HCL, see the Hcl.txt file in the support folder on the Windows XP Professional CD. For the most up-to-date version of the HCL, see the Microsoft Windows XP Professional HCL Web site at Microsoft.com/hcl.
| Important: Microsoft supports only those devices listed on the HCL. If you have hardware that is not listed on the HCL, contact the hardware manufacturer to determine if there is a manufacturer-supported driver that is compatible with Windows XP Professional.