John Barnett Computer Journalist
XP Help and Support

Installing/Re-installing Windows XP is a relatively straightforward process providing you have everything you need to hand. There is nothing worse than being asked by the operating system set up application for a specific driver and having to hunt a for the relevant floppy or CD. So, to start, you need the following.

• Windows XP CD
• Windows XP CD Product Code
• Any relevant drivers - this is not always the case, as XP does have many drivers. However it may be necessary to update the drivers that XP initially installs. Be particularly careful with modem drivers
• Make sure that your PC can boot from you CD-ROM

  Now to the nitty gritty!

  1/ Boot up your pc. During the initial boot cycle insert the Windows XP CD into your CD-ROM

  2/ You will see on your screen 'Press any key to boot from CD'

  

  3/ At this stage press either Enter or any other key

  4/ Set up will now automatically inspect your computer's hardware configuration

  5/ After set up has checked your hardware a blue screen will appear with the words 'Windows set up' in the top left hand corner.

  

  6/ At this stage, should you have a RAID, SCSI or SATA drive, you will have the option of pressing F6 to install the third party drivers for this hardware. If you do not have any of this hardware installed on your pc there is no need to press F6.  XP will now start loading files into memory.

  7/ After all the files have been loaded into memory the Welcome To Set Up Window appears

  

  8/ To begin installing XP Press Enter

  9/ The next screen to appear is the EULA (End user Licence Agreement) Press F8 to accept the licence or ESC if you don't want to accept the licence agreement and want to terminate the install.

  

  10/ After agreeing to the licence agreement set up searches your hard drive for any partitions

  11/ The next screen shows all the partitions on your hard drive. You may have just one or several depending upon whether you have created partitions prior to installing Windows XP

  

  12/ You can select the partition you want to install XP on.  Once you have selected the partition press Enter

  13/ The next window will offer to format the partition for you. If the partition is already formatted the option will be 'leave file format as it is.' If it hasn't been previously formatted then you will have the option to either:

  •        Format the partition using the NTFS file system (Quick)

  •        Format the partition using the FAT file system (Quick)

  •        Format the partition using the NTFS file system

  •        Format the partition using the FAT files system

  

  14/ It is recommended that you use the NTFS file system so select 'Format the partition using the NTFS file system'

  15/ Set up will now begin to format your hard drive

  

  16/ Once the drive has been formatted windows set up will start copying files to memory

  

  17/ Once the copying has been completed windows initialises your configuration and then proceeds to reboot your machine

  

  18/ Your system will now reboot

  19/ On reboot you will again be presented with 'Press any key to boot from CD' On this occasion DO NOT press any key. Leave well alone. Windows will then automatically launch. If you press any key during this process you will start the set up procedure all over again.

  

  20/ You will now see the Windows XP Graphical interface as windows loads

  Note If your copy of XP does not include Service Pack 2 the Logo will look slightly different to the one illustrated below in as much as it will display Windows XP Home or Professional. As soon as you upgrade to Service Pack 2  (SP2) the Home/Professional branding will be removed.

  

  21/ At the next screen Windows will begin copying files to your hard drive

  

  22/ As the files are installed on your hard drive you will be asked to select various options. The first to launch is the Regional and Language Options window.

  

  23/ Click the Customise button to select your Country standards, language, etc. Click OK when you are satisfied with your selections

  24/ After you have completed that return to the original Regional and language Options window and click the Details button

  

  25/ From here you can set the default keyboard language. Click OK when finished

  26/ Now click the Next button

  27/ The next window asks for your name and company. Fill this in with the relevant details

  

  28/ After completing the name and company dialogue boxes press Next

  29/ Now you are presented with the Product code number screen

  

  30/ Insert your product code numbers in the relevant boxes. Take your time here, as inserting the wrong number, will cause an error.

  31/ After inserting the product code number press Next

  32/ Your next screen is the Computer and Administrator password screen

  

  33/ XP usually inserts a computer name but you can change it if you want something different.

  34/ Next insert the Administrator password (you don't need to do this for XP Home Edition) and then confirm the password in the next dialogue box.

  35/ Click Next to continue

  36/ If you have a Dial Up Modem installed you will now be asked for the Country and area code information. Fill this in as necessary and press Next. Do Not worry if the Dial Up Modem screen doesn't appear during set-up. Personally I much prefer to set-up the Internet Connection after Windows XP has completed it's installation.

  37/ The Date and Time Setting windows now appears.

  

  38/ Select your Time Zone from the drop down time zone list and XP will make the other adjustments

  39/ Finally click the Next button

  40/ Windows now starts to install the Networking part of the operating system

  

  41/ Assuming you have a Networking Card installed the Networking Settings window will now pop up

  42/ The Typical Settings Option should already be selected so simply press the Next button

  

  43/ Unless you are on a Network or Domain you simply need to press the Next button If you are on a Network then click the Yes make this computer a member of the following domain and then click the Next  button. You may need to ask your administrator for these details.

  

  44/ Windows will now continue copying files

  45/ After a while Windows will finalise the installation. The progress bar will show Completing Installation followed by Installing Start menu icons, registering Components, Saving Settings and, finally, Removing any temporary files used.

  46/ After finalisation Windows will again restart your pc

  47/ On reboot you will again be presented with 'Press any key to boot from CD' On this occasion DO NOT press any key. Leave well alone. Windows will then automatically launch. If you press any key during this process you will start the set up procedure all over again.

  

  48/ You will now see the Windows Logo screen

  

  49/ Once Windows has loaded it will adjust your monitors resolution. Just click OK to continue

  

  50/ If you are happy with the resolution change press OK again

  51/ Windows now needs to apply the computer settings so you need to be a little patience here

  52/ The Welcome to Microsoft Windows screen now appears. By clicking the ‘?’ you can get help

  

  53/ Click the Next  button to continue

  54/ If you are using a copy of Windows XP with Service Pack 2 already integrated the next screen will ask you to enable the Windows Firewall.

  

  55/ The next screen asks you to Activate your copy of Windows XP. You have 30 days in which to activate your copy of Windows so I always select the No option and then activate when I am satisfied everything is working correctly.

  

  56/ After the Activation screen Windows XP asks you How you will connect to the Internet.  This and the following screen may only appear if you are using a DSL or Cable modem. Although personally I prefer to set-up the Internet Connection after Windows XP has finally been installed.

  

  57/ After making your connection selection Windows check for Internet Connectivity.

  

  58/ You are now asked Who will use this computer

  

  59/ Insert the Name(s) of the user(s) who will be using the computer and then press Next

  60/ After completing the ‘who will use this computer’ section a thank you screen will appear

  

  61/ After a while the Welcome Screen will appear

  

  62/ Finally the Windows XP desktop will appear in all its glory.

  

  63/ Congratulations! You have now successfully installed Windows XP