Thread: Install Windows XP

Installing Windows XP (Home or Professional Edition) can be easy, even for those without experience working with PCs. Assume that you are installing Windows XP straight from a disc onto a clean, unpartitioned, unformatted hard disk and that all PC parts are installed and working properly.

Steps

1. Make sure that your PC meets or exceeds minimum system necessities to run Windows XP:
* 300 Mhz Intel or AMD CPU
* 128 Megabytes of system RAM
* 1.5 Gigabytes of available drive space
* Super VGA 800x600 Display Adapter
* CD or DVD-ROM
Keyboard and mouse, or other pointing devices
* Network Interface Adapter necessary for Internet and Network Connectivity

2. Make sure you contain a Windows XP Product Key. It is there on a software package. It is a string of 5 groups of characters, divided by dashes, resulting in 25 characters in all.

It shows like this: HHHCF-WCF9P-M3YCC-RXDXH-FC3C6.

When software has about completed installing, you will be asked for it. You want the product key to finish installing Windows.

3. Before inserting CD, you should enter bios and choose your main boot device CD rom. Put Windows XP Installation Disc and start PC. When prompted to "Press any key to boot from CD," press a key on the keyboard.

4. The installation program will test your hardware, install default-set drivers, and load files needed for installation. When coming to "Welcome to Setup" screen, hit ENTER to start installation procedure.

5. Read License Agreement and press F8 representing you agree to its terms.

6. Then summary of the available partitions on your installed hard drives shown to you. Now you must see only one entry, "Unpartitioned Space." It will be highlighted in grey. Press C on your keyboard to start making partitions for drive.

7. Enter size in megabytes for new partition. If you mean to install only one drive, enter maximum amount shown. If you hope to make many partitions on a one drive, remember that Windows XP requires at least 1.5 Gigabytes of space, with swap space, and areas for temporary files. A good rule of thumb is not to install Windows XP on a partition less than 5 Gigabytes, unless you hope to impact performance. Press ENTER after selected your desired partition size.

8. It makes your partition, and you will now show next screen. Choose your new partition, generally "C: Partition 1 [Raw]" and hit enter.

9. Choose either "Format the Partition using the NTFS File System" OR "Format the Partition using FAT File System," and hit ENTER. NTFS is the preferred technique, supporting a bigger amount of disk space per partition than FAT, and including security aspects at file system level. NTFS also contains system level compression. If your partition is bigger than 32 Gigabytes, you should choose NTFS. Though, with a partition less than 32 Gigabytes, you can select FAT, and convert to NTFS later must you desire?

10. Now system formats the partition. Time requires for this process based on speed and size of drive, and kind of file system you chosen earlier. The larger partition, the longer process will take.

11. Now begin copying files from installation disc and prompt you to restart PC when the process is finished. Press ENTER when prompted to restart, or else it will do so automatically after 15 seconds.

12. When the PC restarts, do not press enter to boot from disc, rather permit PC to boot from hard drive. If you are greeted with Windows XP Boot screen, all is well so far.

13. Now setup program will show different marketing information to you as it installs and organizes itself to system. The likely time remaining is shown in the lower left corner.

14. A dialog window will show, asking you to select your Regional settings. Choose proper settings native to your area. Tick the "Next" button when that is finished.

15. Enter your Product Key, tick "Next" to continue.

16. If PC is going to be on a LAN at home, or even just for kicks, give it a name.

17. Choose your time zone, and make sure that date/time is right. Tick "Next" to continue.

18. Leave "Typical Settings" chosen for Network Setup, if you have a particular access device or protocol necessary.

19. Setup will keep on installing other devices and peripherals attached to your machine, giving you marketing and capability information, then restart.

20. You have installed Windows XP. There are some more extra set-up routines necessary, but you have finished the installation. Remove CD.
21. Upon Restart, tick Yes when you are informed Windows will be changing your visual settings to develop quality.

22. Then press the "OK" button.

23. Above screen to Part 2 of install process will show. If PC is attached to internet, choose your connection type. Press Next to continue.

24. If attached to Internet, choose "Activate Now."

25. After Activation Process, a window will show permitting you to choose users for PC. Enter your name, and the names of others who will be using machine. Press Next to continue.

26. Now you are looking at the default Windows XP Desktop.