To perform a new install of Windows XP:
Insert your XP CD in the drive. It should automatically launch the Setup routine. If it doesn't, click Start -> Run, type d:\setup.exe (where d: is the letter of your CD drive) in the Open box and click OK.
You'll be presented with a menu of choices. Click Install Windows.
The first setup screen asks you what type of installation to perform. Select New Installation (Advanced) from the drop-down list and click the Next button to move to the next screen.
Read through the licence agreement and, if you accept it, click I Accept This Agreement, then click Next.
Type in your Windows Product Key, which you'll find on the CD cover, then click Next.
The next screen lets you choose from a variety of options. If you'd like to copy all the installation files to your hard drive (which increases the speed of the installation and makes it easy to reinstall at a later point, but will chew up some 500 megabytes of hard disk space) or you'd like to choose the drive and partition where XP is installed (which you must do if you intend to dual boot, otherwise you'll trash the existing installation), click the Advanced Options button. If you are visually disabled, click the Accessibility Options button and you will be able to use the Windows Magnifier and/or the Windows Narrator during setup. The Magnifier lets you magnify portions of the screen; the Narrator reads each screen during setup. Click Next when you're ready to proceed.
The next screen lets you choose which file system to use. XP runs on NTFS (NT File System), FAT (File Allocation Table) or FAT32 (FAT 32-bit version). If you pick FAT, Setup automatically uses FAT32 for partitions larger than 2G.
Why should you worry about any of this? Well, Microsoft recommends you should use NTFS, and I agree. This file system provides better reliability and security, manages your hard disk space more efficiently, and offers additional advanced file functions.
Upgrade to the NTFS file system to improve your system's reliability and security.
The only reason to opt for FAT32 instead is if you want to install more than one operating system on your computer and give those other operating systems access to files on your XP partition. Not all operating systems can handle NTFS, so if you intend to install XP alongside such an operating system, choosing FAT32 is the way to go.
Note that you can safely convert from FAT or FAT32 to NTFS without losing any of your data, but the process is one-way: You can't revert an NTFS system to a FAT system.
Once you've made your selection, click Next.
If you have an active Internet connection, you can use Dynamic Update to gather the latest XP setup and driver files. This is worth doing, as it may eliminate problems Microsoft has uncovered in installing XP. Click Next to continue.
To ensure your hardware is compatible with XP, Setup creates an upgrade report. It's worth getting a full report, which you should read and print out before continuing with Setup. If the report makes any recommendations, follow them.
Take the advice of the Upgrade Advisor to ensure a smooth installation.
The installation process
Once you've completed these pre-installation steps, Setup will copy installation files to your hard drive, restart your system and proceed through the full setup procedure. Sit back and let it happen.
If you're prompted to restart your system or for other action, follow the instructions on screen. During the final stages, Setup will install drivers for all hardware it recognises, first for Plug and Play devices, then for other hardware. At this stage, you may have to provide driver disks for some of your hardware so make sure you have all the disks which originally accompanied your hardware handy.
Performing a quick upgrade
Performing a quick upgrade is similar to the new install routine, but requires fewer steps on your part:
Insert your XP CD in the drive. It should automatically launch the setup routine. If it doesn't, click Start -> Run, type d:\setup.exe (where d: is the letter of your CD drive) in the Open box and click OK.
Click the Install Windows option.
Select Upgrade (Recommended) from the Installation Type drop-down list and click Next.
Click I Accept This Agreement, then click Next.
Type in your Windows Product Key and click Next.
If you have an active Internet connection, select Yes, Download The Updated Setup Files. Click Next.
Let Setup create an upgrade report to check your system's compatibility. Follow its recommendations before proceeding.
Click Finish. Setup will copy installation files to your hard drive, restart your system and proceed through the full setup procedure.
Welcome to Windows
After the installation has finished, your system will be restarted and XP will launch you into the final stage of setting up your system. You'll be asked whether you want to activate XP and create users. You can go ahead and activate your system at this stage, although as it's easiest to do this via modem, you may want to wait until later.
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