In order to take advantage of Windows XP's reliability, enhancements, and security features, sometimes a clean installation is the best choice especially if the current operating system is Windows 98 or Windows Me. Because a clean installation involves formatting the hard drive, the user's data must be backed up and all applications reinstalled once the Windows XP installation is complete. Also, all user-defined settings are lost. Another important point to remember is that not all Windows 3.x, 95, and 98 applications are compatible with Windows XP. You can contact the company that developed your application and see if the application is compatible with Windows XP.

If the computer already has NT Workstation 4 or Windows 2000 Professional, then a Windows XP upgrade is recommended. However, if there are hardware drivers for such devices as a DVD player, power management software, or network utilities loaded on the computer, a clean installation may be a better choice. Whichever be the case, the user's data and applications should be backed up and restored once the Windows XP installation is complete. The third decision that must be made is whether or not Windows XP will be installed with one or more other operating systems. This situation is often called a dual-boot or multi-boot scenario. Dual-boot means that the computer can boot from two operating systems.

Multi-boot means the computer can boot from two or more operating systems. Windows XP can be dual booted with DOS, Windows 95 (SR2), Windows 98, NT Workstation, or Windows 2000 Professional. If this is desired, a separate hard disk partition should be created and used for each operating system. When doing a dual or multi-boot configuration, make sure that Windows XP is installed after the other operating Microsoft has a tool called the Upgrade Advisor that systems. The fourth step in planning for a Windows XP installation is to scan the system for viruses. Viruses can cause havoc on a new upgrade. The fifth thing to do when installing Windows XP is to determine what computer hardware is installed. Table 2 lists the minimum and preferred hardware requirements for installing Windows XP Professional.

Do not download a BIOS update unless you are sure that it is compatible with your computer. Installing an invalid update can damage your computer system and cause it not to operate. Once you have verified all of your hardware, you may have to get Windows XP device drivers from the hardware device manufacturer or their web site. This is the sixth step. You may also need to upgrade the hardware device which usually means replacing the device. This is sometimes the cost of going to a more powerful operating system. You may also decide at this point not to upgrade but to buy a computer with Windows XP already installed.

The seventh determination you must make before installing Windows XP is whether any existing software applications are compatible or not. The preparation for installing a new operating system is usually more time consuming than the actual installation process, but any omitted step will cost you more time in the long run. Use the Upgrade Advisor or contact the developer of each software application to determine if it is compatible. You may also go to the software developer's web site and the information may be posted there. Microsoft also has a list of compatible softwares on their web site.

Windows XP has a help function that can check for software compatibility after XP is loaded. To access this tool, click on Start button, select Help and Support, and in the search box type Program Compatibility wizard. Once you have determined whether the software is compatible with Windows XP, you may have to obtain software patches, upgrades, or buy a new version. This is best done before you install Windows XP. Be proactive and not reactive in solving any problems you can before upgrading or installing any operating system.

An installation option is the Check Upgrade Only Mode, which does not install Windows XP but checks whether your hardware and software are compatible. At the end of the check there is a report generated that lists potential issues. As with any upgrade, hardware change, or software change, data needs to be backed up. It is really funny that the worst people in the world for backing up data are technicians, but a user's data is very valuable to them. Backing up data is an essential step. Whether you do a clean install or an upgrade, if the user has data on the computer, it must be backed up before starting the installation process. Also, before backing up data, remove any unwanted files and/or applications that are no longer needed in order to free up hard drive space.

The last step in the pre-installation checklist is to remove any power or disk management tools that are loaded. Computer manufacturers for older operating systems frequently provide these types of tools. Power or disk management tools can interfere with the new tools provided with Windows XP. Sometimes, software such as this can prevent an operating system from installing whether it is an upgrade or a clean installation.