How To Install Windows XP Professional Better

The most important things when planning to install Windows XP Professional:

-Check System Requirements
-Check Hardware and Software Compatibility
-Determine Disk Partitioning Options
-Choose the Appropriate File System: FAT, FAT32, NTFS
-Decide on a Workgroup or Domain Installation

The most popular methods you can install Windows XP are:

-Boot from CD - No existing partition is required.
-Boot from the Setup Boot Disks, then insert the CD - No existing partition is required.
-Run an already installed operating system, insert the CD in the drive and choose setup.exe to upgrade yours system.

We will choose in this example the first method using a bootable CD with Windows XP

1. Start your computer and insert the XP disk.

Note: If your computer supports booting from a CD you may need to change the BIOS startup options. The key you press to access the BIOS may differ depending on the make of your computer. Most use the DELETE key, if not then it will be one of the FUNCTION keys (F1, F2, etc.) Save changes and exit. If your computer does not support booting from CD then insert the first Windows XP floppy disk.

2. You will be asked to press F6 if you need to install any third-party or RAID drivers.
3. If you want, you can press F2 to run the ASR sequence. This is a new XP feature that lets you recover non-booting systems from XP Setup.


4. Setup will load all the needed files and drivers.

5. Now setup begins. In this step, you can set up XP, launch the Recovery Console, or quit. Press ENTER to continue Setup, and it will examine your hard drives and removable disks.


6. Read the licensing agreement and press F8 if you accept it.

7. Select or create the partition on which you will install Windows XP Professional. If you have one disk, but would like to create two partitions, one for XP and one for your data, you can do that here.


8. Select the file system. Windows XP Professional supports the NTFS file system in addition to the file allocation table (FAT) and FAT32 file systems. It is best to format the partition using NTFS and you shouldn\'t use the Quick option.


9. After the format of the partition is finished, Setup will then begin copying necessary files.


Note: If you began the installation process from an MS-DOS floppy, make sure you have and run SMARTDRV from the floppy, otherwise the copying process will probably last more than an hour, perhaps even more. With SMARTDRV the copying will probably last a few minutes.

When the file copy is complete, Setup will initialize and save your XP configuration.

It will then reboot your PC. At this point if you had a floppy in the drive then remove it.

10. When the system reboots, you will probably see the Press any key to boot from CD message again. If this happens, do not press a key. Setup will now boot from your C: drive. In the event that you cannot prevent the CD-based Setup from reloading, eject the CD and reboot. Setup will ask for the CD when needed.

11. The installation continues in graphical mode. Device drivers will be loaded based upon what the setup program finds on your computer.


12. Setup will ask for Regional and Language Options that will be used by XP. The default is U.S., English. To change this click Customize. At this screen you can change the text input language by clicking Details. When done click Next.

13. Now type your Name and Organization. Click Next.


14. Your CD shipped with a Product Key. Enter it now and then click Next.


15. Enter a computer name and password for the local Administrator account. Setup generates a random name for your PC, but it's always nasty looking, so it is recommended to rename it to something more logical. Click Next to continue.

16. Select the date, time, and time zone settings. When ready click Next to continue.


17. Setup will now install the networking components.

After a few seconds you will receive the Networking Settings window, where you can choose to keep the default settings (recommended) or enter custom settings. Click Next to continue.


18. In the Workgroup or Domain window enter the name of your workgroup or domain. If you are a stand-alone computer, or if you don't know what to enter, or if you don't have the sufficient rights to join a domain - leave the default entry selected and press Next.


19. Next the setup process will finish copying files and configuring the installation. You do not need to do anything.


20. After the copying and configuring phase is finished, you will see the XP splash screen on first boot.


21. Windows XP will setup your monitor resolution and then the final part of the setup process will start.


Click Next at the first screen.

22. Select Help protect my PC by Turning Automatic Updates now and click Next to continue.

23. Click Skip so that your Internet connectivity won't be checked.


24. Select one of the two options depending if you want or not to register online your copy of Windows XP with Microsoft.


25. Type in the names of the users that will use the computer and click Next to continue.


26. Click Finish to complete the installation process.

Install Windows XP Professional Better

27. That is it. You are done!