harish answers

If the above instructions for configuring your system to boot from CD

or you have acquired the necessary boot floppy/floppies; you can now

boot the computer and follow the on screen prompts. Have your Product Key

available, typical install is around 30 minutes. If setup seems to hang,

wait at least 10 minutes + before restarting system. You should experience

momentary screen blackouts.

1. Power on the computer. Press the Pause/Break key as soon as you see

text on the screen. [If you currently are running in an OS of any flavor,

insert XP CD and restart computer. Skip to #3 if system is configured

to boot from CD.]

2. Insert XP CD into CD drive. Press ENTER to resume booting from the XP CD.

(BIOS must support booting from CD and boot order must be set so CD

boots before hard drive. If computer does not support booting from CD

go to 2a for floppy install).

2a. Floppy install: Boot from Win98/Me/Special XP install floppy

disk with smartdrv.exe added to the boot disk; or the Win XP set

of 6 floppy disks.

3. Look for message "booting from CD" usually located at the bottom of

the screen. If you have a factory splash screen, press ESC to unload

it.

3a. Floppy install: From the A Prompt; A:\type: smartdrv.exe. then

press ENTER. If you are using the XP boot floppy setup disks skip

to step #5.

4. Press any Key when you see the prompt to "Press Any Key"

4a. Floppy install: CD to the location of the CD-ROM drive with the

XP setup files; CD to the i386 folder where you will type: winnt.exe

to start setup.

5. Setup will start copying files, if you need to install any third

- party or RAID drivers press F6 at this time. the copying of files

can take awhile.

6. Next you will get the option to repair or enter setup, choose to

enter setup. Press ENTER. To see images full size, place mouse cursor

over image and click/double click or press the left button and open.

7. Press F8 if you agree to the license.

8. Setup will scan for previous Windows installations

9. If you are using the upgrade version of XP on a computer without

any version of Windows currently installed, this is where you will

replace the XP CD with your qualifying CD, XP setup will scan the

qualifying CD and instruct you to replace it with the XP CD to continue

XP setup; otherwise, you will not see this screen. Clean install

qualifying media can be any of the following Win NT3.51, 4.0, 2000,

Win 95, 98, Me. 10. Choose the location to install.

10a If this is a clean hard drive, you can choose to create a

partition in the un-partitioned space. At this point, you can allow

Setup to use all the space or set a size for the partition.

10b If the hard drive or partition has a previous installation of

XP you want to remove, choose to delete the partition by pressing

"D". You will then be prompted to create a new partition in the

empty space. This will remove all data from the delete space.

10c If you intend to use multiple partitions, or dual boot, this is

where you specify the size of the boot partition and or setup

location for XP. If you are planning to dual boot XP, I would

create a small 100 meg DOS partition for the first primary partition,

then an 8 to 10 gig partition for XP. You can partition and format

the remaining space after XP is setup from Disk Manager. If you do not

intend to dual boot, you can either use all the un-partitioned space,

or create an 8 to 10 gig partition for XP and leave the rest free to

partition later.

Note: If a fat32 partition larger than 32 gigabyte is desired, the

hard drive or partition will need to be created before running XP

setup. XP will not create a fat 32 partition larger than 32 gig, but

will support one previously created.

11. Choose the file system from this screen. If dual booting and you

created the small 100 meg partition, make it a fat partition. NTFS is

configured at the optimal file size during the initial setup. See this

link for more on NTFS

12. If you have more that one partition or hard drive on your system,

make sure you are formatting the correct partition/drive.

13. Select F to continue.

14. Setup will show a progress box and reboot when copying files is

complete.

15. When you see the "Press any Key to Reboot" do not Press any Key.

If CD boots anyway, remove CD and reboot.

16. From this point, you will follow the on screen prompts.

17. If you live outside the US, you will probably need to modify the

default settings.

18. Personalize your XP Enter your Name and Organization.

19. Enter the Product Key. The Key is located on the back of the CD folder

in the Retail versions, and on a holographic label with the OEM

versions purchased with a piece of hardware. Write this key down and

secure it in a safe place in case the original is misplaced destroyed

through natural causes or stupidity. 8-)

20. Choose a name for the computer, this should be a unique name for

the computer, especially if it is to be connected to a network. In Pro,

you are given the option of creating a password or leaving it blank.

21. Set your Time Zone and Time and Date.

22. Setup will scan for network.

23. If detected you will have the choice to choose a typical

configuration or custom. Choose typical if you are unsure.

24. For home you will choose your workgroup, if a network is already

established and you intend to connect to it, use the existing

workgroup name, otherwise, I suggest using the default.

25. For Pro, the same goes for Pro as suggested for Home, but you will

have the choice to join a Domain, if you do not have a Domain or do

not know leave blank.

26. Setup will continue and reboot when completed ignore the "Press

Any Key".

27. The loading XP window will now display after reboot.

28. You will see a change display settings, say yes, and accept the

setting if you can see the screen after accepting.

29. You will see a welcome screen, press next and unfortunately you

have to wait for the dialog to finish.

30. Set up you internet or network connection.

31. This is the Activate, Register screen. You must activate within

30 days of installing XP, but you do not ever have to register,

Registration is completely optional and if you do not register, no

personal information will be transmitted during activation. If you

register, then activation will transmit that information along with

the activation. The first Activation is usually done over the internet

if the computer is connected to the internet, otherwise, it can be

accomplished by copying the alphanumeric string from the activation

screen and make a phone call to the on screen supplied phone number.

The activation center will then give you a slightly longer number to

input into for activation. I suggest you do not activate immediately

in case you need to make hard ware changes, or install to a different

system within the thirty days, and you will be reminded on boot up

until you do.

Blaster worm warning: Do not immediately activate over the internet

when asked, enable the XP firewall before connecting to the internet.

You can activate after the firewall is enabled.

Control Panel - Network Connections. Right click the connection you

use, Properties, and there is a check box on the Advanced page.

32. Setup users screen. Set at least one user for yourself or the person

that will be using the computer.

33. Thank You

34. Logon to XP and apply Service Pack and Critical updates from Windows

Update before installing any software or hardware.

35. Install your anti-virus software.

36. Install all applications and setup your email.

37. Restore from Files and Settings transfer after reinstalling all

applications.

Last updated 2/23/04 Michael Stevens MS-MVP