How to install XP

First Steps

How to install XP: First steps are demonstrated in this section:

1. Put your original Windows XP install CD into your CD/DVD Drive and restart your computer. The following screen should appear on reboot:
   
   How To install XP: Boot From CD Prompt
   
   Press the Return Key or Any Other Key On Your Keyboard to start the install process. If this does not happen, you will need to change your computers BIOS settings to boot from CD:

How To install XP: AMIBIOS Options
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2. Once the CD is booted, you will be prompted to take action on the Welcome To Setup page Press your Enter or Return key on your keyboard to setup Windows XP now:

How To install XP: Welcome To setup
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3. Press the F8 key on your keyboard to agree with the Windows XP License Agreement.

How to install XP: Windows XP Licensing Agreement
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The EULA goes into some detail with quite complicated language, some of which you should be aware of as a home computer user. Most people ignore the detail and never know what it says:


• Installation And Use: You can only install Windows XP on one computer. Have a 2nd computer? You need a 2nd license, unless you remove it from the 1st PC


• You must activate your license by telephone or over the Internet


• If you share files or print queues between computers in your home, you can share between no ore than 5 computers in total


• Microsoft can install software onto your computer(s) without your explicit consent. Microsoft has taken advantage of this agreement in the past to prevent/reduce piracy of their software


• If your Microsoft Windows CD is marked Not For Resale, you are not permitted to sell the CD!


• Microsoft is not responsible for what happens on your computer - viruses, error messages, etc.

The next step is to show you the options for creating and formatting disk partitions.

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Creating And Formatting Partitions

The How To Install XP tutorial continues with demonstrating the options for creating and formatting partitions:

1. Most home computer users will simply press Enter to install the operating system onto the C:\ Drive:
   
   XP Install: Hard Drive Partition
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   Home computer users do not need to delete and recreate partitions. Doing so greatly increases the installation time. However, if you have a new hard drive, or have another requirement to delete and create a new partition, read on:


2. Press D to delete the selected partition. A warning screen appears with information on the consequences with proceeding. Press Enter to continue:

XP Install: Delete Partition
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3. Press L to delete the selected partition. This is your last chance to back out. Only continue if you are absolutely sure:

Delete Partition Confirmation
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4. You will see a large Unpartitioned Space on the next screen. Select this using your UP and DOWN arrow keyboard keys, then press C to create a new partition:

Delete Unpartitioned Space
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5. Next enter the size of the partition you want to create. The most common choice is the enter the maximum size suggested on the screen. Press Enter to continue:

Create Partition Size
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6. Ensure you highlight the C: Partition [New ] partition, and press Enter to proceed with the partition setup:

Install Partition
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7. On the next screen, I recommend selecting the Format The Partition Using The NTFS File System option. NTFS stands for New Technology File System NTFS is more secure that the FAT file system (FAT stands for File Allocation Table). It also works with larger hard disks, so it is practically a pre-requisite choice these days. Press Enter to continue:

XP Install: Partition File System Choice
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8. The new partition you have created will be formatted with the NTFS file system. This can take a while. Be patient until it is finished. Do not switch off your computer during this process!

How To Install XP: Formatting Partition
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Return to the Table of Contents

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Completing The Text Based Pre-Requisites

The How To Install XP tutorial continues with showing you what happens next in the installation process:

1. On completion of the formatting stage, the process continues with installation files copied from the CD to the hard disk. These files are essential for the next stage of the installation process The time it takes to do this varies depending on your machines hardware specification:

XP Install: Setup Copies Files
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2. Once the files are copied, the installation process spends some time initialising those files to proceed with the next stage of the process:

Initialize Your Windows XP Configuration
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3. Press Enter to Restart your computer when prompted. Microsoft included a 15 second countdown to reboot automatically. This is especially handy if you leave your computer during the preparation stage for some reason:

How To Install XP: First Reboot
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