Install Windows XP |  | ||||||||||||||
Helping The Common Person with PC Problems! You will need the Following items: 1. Windows XP Operating System CD 2. Your Product key.  - First make sure you have inserted the Windows XP Operating System CD into the CD Drive. Next When the computer is booting up, look for the Press any key to boot from CD prompt to appear. When you see the prompt press any key and the computer will boot using the Operating System CD. (If you do not get the prompt, you will probably have to press the Function key that directs you to the systems boot menu. Or you will have to go into setup and change your boot order.)  - If you have successfully gotten to the prompt and booted from the CD you will see a blue screen with a status bar at the bottom. If you are using an SATA Hard Drive and need to install the drivers for it, you will need to have your 3 1/2 floppy disk inserted that has the drivers on it. The status bar will tell you to press F6 it install that driver. (If you do not need to install a driver omit this step.)  - Next you will come to the "Welcome to Startup" screen. Since this will be a Clean install of windows, press ENTER to continue!  - Next you will agree to the License Agreement. Press F8 to continue!  If you are installing on a new Hard Drive or a recently formatted drive, you will have to create a partition. To continue press Enter to Install. (Warning Note: If this drive is not new or hasn't been formatted, you may have other partitions on this drive and on other drives that may be installed in your PC. If so, you may have a number of entries here. Be careful not to remove partitions that you may be using as this will remove all data from those partitions permanently.) You can delete the partitions by using your keyboard to arrow down to a specific partition and then press the ESC key to give you delete options. After you have deleted all desired partitions your screen will look like the above snapshot.  Next you will choose a partitions size. This partition will be where all data files are saved on the computer. If you are not going to add other partitions (other operating systems) to this Hard Drive you will use the maximum preset amount. Press Enter to Confirm the Partition size.  Highlight the Partition you want to use and press Enter to install Windows XP  Next you will choose a File System. For XP it is Recommended that you Chose the NTFS File System. You can use the Quick or the Standard. If you are pressed for time use the Quick. Use your keyboard to arrow to highlight your choice and then Press Enter to continue.  Next the setup files will load. When the status reaches 100% the computer will need to restart. Make sure you leave the CD in when it is restarting, you will need it to complete the installation.  When the computer restarts do not press any keys, the computer will automatically start the second part of the installation. You will come to a screen that looks like the above snapshot. Please continue to wait while it is loading.  Next you will come to a screen that will allow you to change the language of the install. Also it give you the option to change the type of language by different input methods. If you want to us the Standard English language just click on next to continue.  Next you will enter the name that you want the computer to be in. Enter your name or special name. Also you can enter a Organization name, which is optional. When you have entered the information click on next to continue.  Next you will enter the name you want your computer to be recognized as. If you are using this computer on a network you might want to make this a general name instead of the automatically generated name. Also as in this case if you are installed Windows XP Pro you have the option of setting up an administrators password. If you are installing XP Home you will not see this option. When you have entered (you can use the automatically generated if you wish) the computer name click on next to continue.  Next you will set your date, time, and your Time Zone. After you have changed these settings press next to continue.  Next you will come to the network settings. If you are not familiar with networking you will need to choose typical which is recommended. Press next to continue.  Next you will choose your Workgroup or Computer Domain. Again if you are not sure about networking you will just click next to Continue.  Next your the installation will finalize.  Your computer will restart and begin to load Windows XP for the first time. | |||||||||||||||
