Installing Windows XP is a simple task. It does involve a little planning and a little guidance through some steps but generally it just involves waiting and answering questions. This guide will teach you how to install Windows XP onto a brand new machine. If you wish to install Windows XP onto a computer that already has Windows 98/2000/Me etc, you can choose an upgrade if you wish. I don't recommend upgrades because they bring all the problems and slowness from your old operating system and bring them into your new Windows XP system. Before you start make sure you have the following items: your Windows XP installation CD and your Windows XP product key.
Stage 1 - The text based setup - Basic configuration (Partitioning and Formatting)
First you will need to turn your computer on and insert the Windows XP install CD. The computer should come up with a message saying "Press any key to boot from CD...". Press a key and the blue Windows XP installer screen should start and load all the basic components that you will need. If you just don't press any keys from now until it is loaded you will be fine. You don't need to press F6 or F2 unless you want the particular items that they are asking about. Once the setup is finished you should have the following screen appearing.
Press enter at this screen to continue setup. At the next screen press F8 to accept the licence agreement if you agree with the terms stated. The screen displayed below will appear. (If you get a screen mentioning that you already have a copy of Windows installed, then just press Escape to choose Don't Repair). This is the partitioning screen. This is probably the most complex of the screens in the setup wizard. After this it get's much easier. The only problem with this screen, is that everyone's is different and not all configurations work in all situations. If you are having major problems then it may be worth posting a question in the forums by clicking ATH Forums on the central navigation bar on the left of this page.
At this partitioning screen you need to either set up 2 configurations. A partition is like having two separate hard drives. It splits one hard drive into parts you specify. The first configuration is to, make one partition and install Windows XP and your data and programs onto it, or to create a 60/40 setup where you make a partition 40% of the entire disk's size that you install Windows and programs onto and then put all your files onto the 60% second partition. Depending on your preferences and available size of disk space. The basic controls are that to create a new partition: you press C and then specify a size (leaving the default number will use all the available space), to delete an existing one: use the arrow keys to select a partition and then press D and follow the prompts. When you are done: use the arrow keys to select the drive to install Windows onto (preferably c:) and press enter. You then meet up with the last text based screen you'll need to input data into - the formatting screen!
This screen is a simple choice. To install Windows XP onto a drive that doesn't need Windows 98/Me access choose NTFS (Quick) and to install XP onto a drive that does need Windows 98/Me access choose FAT (Quick). Make your choice with the arrow keys and press enter. Windows XP now should start to copy files across and then Automatically restart into stage 2 - the graphical setup. PLEASE NOTE: DON'T PRESS ANY KEY AT THE "PRESS ANY KEY TO BOOT FROM CD" SCREEN. JUST LEAVE IT FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS AND ALLOW XP TO BOOT FROM THE HARD DRIVE!!
Stage 2 - The graphical based setup - Installing Components and Configuring Basic Settings
The graphical setup wizard will appear. The progress bars will appear on the left of the screen and the the wizard question screens and advertising will appear on the right. Wait while the computer installs any hardware it finds. Plug in as many items as possible so that you don't have to install them later. After the hardware is installed, XP will ask you some questions.
The first question is, where in the world you live and what language and keyboard settings you require. Click the top Customise button and then choose your country and language from the different drop down lists and then choose OK and click Next.
The next screen will ask you to enter your name and company. When done click next. This screen will ask you to enter your 25 character product key. This key can be found in your documentation that came with your Windows XP CD-ROM or stuck on the side of the computer if you bought an OEM version from a computer company. Click Next when done.
The next screen will ask you to choose a name for your computer. This is so that if you join at network you will have a unique name. Enter any name that is less that 15 letters and has only numbers and letters (no spaces, only hyphens). Also if you are installing Windows XP Professional you will be asked to type an Administrator password. It is very important that you enter one here, because this account is often used to break into your computers. So type a good password and click Next.
Windows XP setup will now ask you for your time zone. Make sure that the time is correct and select your time zone from the list and then click Next. Windows XP will then start to install network components if your computer has a detectable network card. This should only take about 2 minutes or less and then two final questions will appear.
Windows XP now asks you to choose how to setup your network. (If you don't have a detectable Network Card then skip this section). The typical settings work just fine but if you have some expertise in networking then you may wish to play with the custom settings. For most users though, just click Next. The last question for this stage of setup is what workgroup or domain you wish to join. For most users you just need to type a name that all the computers on your network will share. If you don't have a network then just leave it as WORKGROUP or MSHOME and click next. Domains are only for large companys or schools that have a Windows 2003 server so just ignore that unless you are running a server.
Windows XP will now spend about 20-30 minutes installing components, installing the start menu items, registering components and then saving all your settings until finally XP cleans up all the install components and then restarts into the third stage of setup. PLEASE NOTE: DON'T PRESS ANY KEY AT THE "PRESS ANY KEY TO BOOT FROM CD" SCREEN. JUST LEAVE IT FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS AND ALLOW XP TO BOOT FROM THE HARD DRIVE!
Stage 3 - The graphical based setup - The Out of the Box Setup Wizard
The computer will start the XP operating system and might ask if you would like to configure the screen resolution. Click OK and if you can still see the screen clearly the accept the changes. You will then see the first section of the Out of the Box setup wizard (OOBSW). This is designed so that computer manufacturers can install Windows XP to a point and then leave the final configuration (OOBSW wizard) to the user. The first screen will display a talking question mark so just click next.
The next screen will ask you if you wish to enable Automatic Updates. PLEASE SELECT YES!!! Automatic Updates help keep your computer secure and will install when you shut down your computer usually. Click next and the computer will ask you how you connect to the internet. If you wish to set that up now then answer the questions. If you wish to connect to the internet once you install your Anti virus software, click Skip to continue. If you decided to connect to the internet you can activate Windows XP on the next screen. Just follow the prompts to activate. If you haven't connected to the internet then choose no and activate later. You will need to activate within 30 days though. On the next screen you will be asked to register with Microsoft. If you wish to give your details to Microsoft select yes and fill out the form. Otherwise click no and continue the wizard.
On the Who Will Use This Computer? screen type your name in the Your Name box. I recommend setting up any other user accounts later so that you can control the level of access these accounts have and also set passwords. When you are done click Next and then Click Finish.
YOU HAVE NOW FINISHED INSTALLING WINDOWS XP. You will now see the Windows XP Desktop. I now recommend that you install Anti virus, install the drivers you need for your devices and update and activate Windows XP.
