Monday, September 6, 2010

Installing Windows XP- Beginners' Guide

Introduction

Before the install/reinstallation of Windows XP, I highly recommend that you download Service Pack 3 "for multiple computers" and burn it onto a CD. The download is approximately 316.4MB. If you choose not to do this step, your system could become infected with a virus or worm exploiting the vulnerabilities that Service Pack 3 fixes. I also recommend that you do NOT have your system connected to the Internet until after the installation of Service Pack 3. This means that you cannot activate your XP installation during setup, but you can accomplish that task following a reboot after Service Pack 3 is installed.

 

Shall we begin?

After configuring the system for booting from a CD, the Windows Setup screen appears. At this point, Setup is loading the driver files it needs to continue with installation.

step1

 

Welcome to the Setup Screen

The "Welcome to Setup" screen appears with the option of Continuing Setup, Repair a previous installation, or Quitting.

Press ENTER to Continue Setup.

You may also choose R to Repair, or F3 to Quit and reboot the system.

step2

Windows XP Licensing Agreement

The "Windows XP Licensing Agreement" screen, otherwise known as "EULA," displays the legal in's and out's of this particular software package. You may press F8 to signify that you agree with the terms, hit ESC if you do not agree and PAGE UP or PAGE DOWN to scroll through each screen. Note: If you do not agree to the terms, setup will quit and reboot the system.

step3

 

Hard drive partition information

Hard drive partition information is now displayed. This varies with each systems hardware configuration.

This example already has a partition defined. I will choose not to use this and create a new one by pressing D. You may skip this and the next few steps if you do not have any partitions defined.

At this point, the options include pressing ENTER to Install on the selected partition, D to Delete the selected partition, or F3 to Quit and reboot the system.

step4

 

Warning screen

After pressing D to delete the selected partition, a warning screen appears explaining the pitfalls of deleting it. This particular screen only appears when the partition selected to be deleted is formatted as a bootable system partition. Other partitions will display the next screen.

I want this to happen, so I press ENTER to continue.

The options include pressing ENTER to continue, or ESC to Cancel.

step5

 

Confirmation screen

A confirmation screen that displays the logical drive, what file system the partition is currently using, the size in MB and controller information.

Options include L to Delete the partition and ESC to Cancel the action.

step6

 

No partitions have been previously defined

If no partitions have been previously defined, this screen will be displayed. You may section your hard drive in as many partitions as you wish by selecting C to Create a Partition and then entering in a value less then the total available. Here, I will Create a Partition in the highlighted, unused portion.

Select the partition you wish to install to using the UP arrow and DOWN ARROW keys.

Press ENTER to use the highlighted partition and Install, C to Create a Partition, or F3 to Quit and reboot the system.

step7

 

Enter in the partition size

Enter in the partition size in MB within the displayed minimum and maximum. I chose the default or maximum available here.

You may choose ENTER to Create the new partition or ESC to Cancel the action.

step8

 

Continue to create partitions

Continue to create partitions until all space is used or the configuration meets your requirements. Note: a small portion will be unavailable to partition. This is normal. In this example, it is 2 MB.

I chose drive C: or Partition1 to install the Operating System.

You may choose ENTER to Install to the selected partition, D to Delete the highlighted Partition, or F3 to Quit and reboot the system.

step9

 

Format the partition

Since this OS supports NTFS, format the partition with it. If you do not, many folder and file security features will be unavailable. Note: If you are dual booting your system, a previous OS will not be able to read the local information. This is a fact with Windows 9x and Me. If you have a requirement to view this partition from another OS installed on the system, do not format it as NTFS. Also, the boot partition must be formatted with FAT32 if you wish to dual boot. I have found no problems accessing a NTFS partition mapped as a network drive from an older OS.

Select what format you wish to use by pressing the UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW keys.

Press ENTER to confirm your selection and Continue or ESC to Cancel.

step10

 

Setup formats the partition

Watch the progress bar as Setup formats the partition, or get up and get a soda. It may take awhile.

step11

 

Creating File List

Setup is now figuring out what files to copy over to the hard drive.

step12

 

Setup copies various files

After the partition is finished formatting, Setup copies various files to support booting from the hard drive and continue on.

step13

 

Creates various information files

Setup then creates various information files required to continue on with setup.

step14

 

Press ENTER to Restart

The first reboot and the end of the blue background has arrived. If you are impatient, press ENTER to Restart before the 15 seconds expire.

ENTER to Restart the Computer is the only option available.

step15

 

Windows XP boot screen

The new Windows XP boot screen is displayed.

step16

 

Windows XP Installation

If you have installed Windows before, this type of screen will look familiar.

Sit back. It may be awhile.

step17

 

Faster and more reliable

Every Windows OS that comes out has the same claim. Faster and better. It is subject to debate whether or not it could get "any worse."

step18

 

Region and Input Languages

A little while later, you will be prompted with options of configuring your Region and Input Languages. The default was fine for me, so I selected Next.

Options include Customize button, Details Button, plus the standard Back and Next.

step19

 

Enter in your Name

Enter in your Name and optional Organization information, then select the Next button.

step20

 

25 digit Product Key

Thought you could get away from it? Think again.

Enter your unique 25 digit Product Key that came with your CD, then select the Next button.

step21

 

Enter a Computer name and an Administrator Password

The "suggested" name for the computer is always really whacked out. Choose one that meets your needs.

Enter an Administrator Password now. It is VERY IMPORTANT that you keep this information safe and remember what it is! "01Pa$$word" is not a good choice. Think of something secure and never lose or forget it.

step22

 

Date, Time and Time Zone

Configure the proper information for the Date, Time and Time Zone here.

step23

 

Network is installing

Wait here while the Network is installing. You could read all the marketing dribble, but I do not recommend it. :)

step24

 

Network Settings Dialog

The Network Settings Dialog is next. Under usual circumstances, the Typical settings are fine, but I never choose them so I can poke around under the hood. I selected Custom settings here.

Choose your method and select the Next button.

step25

 

Custom settings

In the Custom settings, many options are abound. I cannot go into all of them here, but I will hit on the high points.

step26

 

QoS Packet Scheduler

QoS Packet Scheduler is not required unless your network uses it.

For this system, I will choose to uncheck it.

step27

 

TCP/IP Properties

TCP/IP Properties contains the standard options. Adjust them for your particular needs as required. For now, I kept the default settings. Basically, it is using DHCP to configure TCP/IP. If you are using a static IP address, enter in the proper information here.

Select the Advanced button to further configure your TCP/IP options.

step28

 

Workgroup or Computer Domain

Workgroup or Computer Domain, that is the question. I am not going to set up this system to connect to a domain controller, so I will place it as a member of a workgroup.

Please, change "WORKGROUP" to something else. I hate defaults.

Select the Next button after making your choice.

step29

 

Install screen

The system will reboot after all files have been copied over to the install partition. Now may be a good time to take a break. It may be awhile.

step30

 

Windows XP is starting up

The moment we have all been waiting for, Windows XP Professional is starting up "for the first time." Remember that quoted statement with Windows 95 setup?

step16

 

Display Settings Pop-up

Windows XP no longer likes the "default" resolution of 640 x 480 and prompts you of that fact.

Select OK to continue.

step32

 

Please wait

800 x 600 is a wonderful thing, however, I chose to have it time out and return to 640 x 480 for this guide.

step33

 

Login to the Administrator account

With the "Welcome" screen, you no longer have to hit the "Three Finger Salute" combination of Ctrl+Alt+Delete to login to the Administrator account.

You did remember your password, right?!?

step34

 

Applying computer settings

Please wait while the Administrator account is configured "for the first time."

No. I will not mention Windows 95 again...

step35

 

Display Settings Pop-up

Since the initial screen resolution is set to 640 x 480, a balloon dialog appears. You may click the pop-up balloon to raise the resolution up to 800 x 600 automatically. For the rest of this guide, I chose to ignore it.

 

step36

 

Windows XP tour

Click the balloon dialog to start a tour of Windows XP.

Even if you do not wish to see the information, you should click on the balloon to get rid of the annoyance in a timely fashion.

step37

 

Windows XP Tour dialog

Windows XP Tour dialog popup is shown.

Select the Cancel button to never see it again.

step38

 

.NET Passport Wizard

Double-Click the Messenger Icon in the bottom right (system tray) and the ".NET Passport Wizard" dialog appears.

Select Cancel to not sign up for Passport at this time.

step39

 

Windows Messenger

With the .NET Passport Wizard gone, the Windows Messenger is opened.

step40

 

Windows Messenger Tools

Select Tools, then Options.

step41

 

Messenger Preferences

In the Options window, select the Preferences Tab.

Uncheck "Run this program when Windows starts" and "Allow this program to run in the background." Of course, if you wish to keep Windows Messenger, do not do this step.

step42

 

Close Messenger

Now you can select the Close button and Messenger will be unloaded from memory.

step43

 

That is all!

That's all there is to it! I hope this guide helped you out or gave you a sneak peek at what is to come. Now get that copy of Service Pack 3 you downloaded earlier and run it. Then install your antivirus and firewall software, after you can go ahead and plug your internet in and run any antivirus updates and windows update(which you will be asked to now activated) before you go on installing your games, or other software. Hopefully you should now be back up and running :)

4 comments:

  1. My winders in messin' up, alls i see is a blu screen?

    Real informative read though, mate. If I ever need online help on having to install windows, I'll get another computer and crank this out again. (:

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think I would have loved this... a Year Ago!
    I hope I get to see more from you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. great guide mate
    keep it up!
    check out my poems !

    ReplyDelete
  4. Pretty old school but nowt wrong with XP, I have a partition on my desktop with it on just in case and for testing. Solid guide.

    Stewart Higgins
    Intranet Expert
    Intranet Software

    ReplyDelete