When you play online games, you will be connecting to a website via the internet. Individuals who own a computer that runs on Microsoft Windows XP will have a variety of online games programmed into their software, including backgammon, checkers, hearts and more. When logging on, Microsoft users will need to be logged on to Windows as an administrator in order to install components or make changes to your computer system's settings necessary to run some of the online games.

Many people prefer backgammon as one of their favorite online games. The object of Backgammon is to move all your pieces, or stones, around the board counterclockwise into a home area. From the home area, the pieces must be removed from the game board by exact dice roll. The first person to bear off all their stones will be declared the winner. In Backgammon, you will connect over the internet with your opponent.

Checkers, which is a board game classic, is also one of the most popular online games in existence. The object of checkers is to defeat your opponent by jumping and removing his or her pieces. You can also win by positioning your checkers in such a way that results in blocking your opponent from moving. When playing Checkers online, you will connect over the internet with your opponent.

For the card fanatic, internet hearts is a popular choice among online games. Hearts is a card game with four players, each playing independently. The object of Hearts is to earn as few points as possible during the course of play. When any player reaches 100 points the game ends, at which time the player with the fewest points wins. While playing Hearts online, you will connect over the Internet with your opponents.

Reversi, another of the popular online games pre-installed into MS Windows XP, is a game played on an 8x8 board with black-and-white pieces, or stones. The object is to have more of your color of stones on the board than your opponent. Stones can be reversed from one color to another by surrounding the pieces. The game is over when neither player has any legal moves left. While playing Reversi online, you will connect over the Internet with your opponent.

Another of the popular online games for the card fanatic is known as Spades, which is a partnership card game with two teams of two players each. The object is for you and your partner to bid a contract, then skillfully play your cards in coordination with each other to make the contract. You win when you reach 500 points or force your opponents to drop to a negative 200 point score. As is the case with all other online games, you will connect with your opponents and partner over the internet while playing Spades online.

In order to access games that were pre-installed with your software, click on 'Start' and then 'Programs.' Next, click on 'Games' and then select from the online games that you see available. If you do not see online games listed, this means that none were installed with your software.