Install Windows XP

Most new computers come with Windows XP installed, so many people never have to install it. However, you
may need to install Windows XP if:

• You replaced your hard disk drive with a new hard disk drive that does not have Windows XP installed.
You are reinstalling Windows XP on a computer because you want to clean off your hard drive and remove
•
any unwanted programs, such as spyware.
You purchased a computer without an operating system.
•
Fortunately, you do not need to be a computer expert to install Windows XP. Installing Windows XP is a
straightforward process that takes between one to two hours. Of that time, you need to be present for only
about 30 minutes.

Note:  If you have a computer with an older operating system, such as Windows 98, Windows ME, or
Windows 2000, you should upgrade to Windows XP instead of performing a clean installation.

Pre-installation checklist
Before you begin the installation process, use this checklist to make sure that you are prepared:
You have the Windows XP CD.
You have the product key available. The product key is located on your Windows XP CD case and is
required to install and activate Windows XP.
Your computer hardware is set up. At a minimum, you should connect your keyboard, mouse, monitor,
and CD drive. If available, you should connect your computer to a wired network.
You have Windows XP drivers available. Drivers are software that Windows XP uses to communicate with
your computer’s hardware. Most new computers include a CD containing drivers. If you do not have
drivers available, Windows XP may already include drivers for your hardware. If not, you should be able to
download them from your hardware manufacturer’s Web site after you set up Windows XP.
If you are reinstalling Windows XP on an existing computer, you need a backup copy of your files and
settings. The installation process will delete all of your files. You can use the File and Settings Transfer
Wizard to store your files and settings on removable media and then restore them after installation is
complete.

Installation process
Installing Windows XP can take up to two hours. To make the process more manageable, it has been broken
up into several sections. When you are ready, install Windows XP:

• Part 1: Begin the installation

• Part 2: Continue the installation

• Part 3: Complete the installation

Part 1: Begin the installation
1. Insert the Windows XP CD into your computer and restart your computer.
2. If prompted to start from the CD, press SPACEBAR. If you miss the prompt (it only appears for a few
seconds), restart your computer to try again.
3. Windows XP Setup begins. During this portion of setup, your mouse will not work, so you must use the
keyboard. On the Welcome to Setup page, press ENTER.

4. On the Windows XP Licensing Agreement page, read the licensing agreement. Press the PAGE
DOWN key to scroll to the bottom of the agreement. Then press F8.
5. This page enables you to select the hard disk drive on which Windows XP will be installed. Once you
complete this step, all data on your hard disk drive will be removed and cannot be recovered. It is
extremely important that you have a recent backup copy of your files before continuing. When you
have a backup copy, press D, and then press L when prompted. This deletes your existing data.
6. Press ENTER to select Unpartitioned space, which appears by default.

7. Press ENTER again to select Format the partition using the NTFS file system, which appears by
default.
8. Windows XP erases your hard disk drive using a process called formatting and then copies the setup
files. You can leave your computer and return in 20 to 30 minutes.

Part 2: Continue the installation

9. Windows XP restarts and then continues with the installation process. From this point forward, you can
use your mouse. Eventually, the Regional and Language Options page appears. Click Next to
accept the default settings. If you are multilingual or prefer a language other than English, you can
change language settings after setup is complete.
10 On the Personalize Your Software page, type your name and your organization name. Some
. programs use this information to automatically fill in your name when required. Then, click Next.

11 On the Your Product Key page, type your product key as it appears on your Windows XP CD case.
. The product key is unique for every Windows XP installation. Then, click Next.
12 On the Computer Name and Administrator Password page, in the Computer name box, type a
. name that uniquely identifies your computer in your house, such as FAMILYROOM or TOMS. You cannot
use spaces or punctuation. If you connect your computer to a network, you will use this computer
name to find shared files and printers. Type a strong password that you can remember in the
Administrator password box, and then retype it in the Confirm password box. Write the password
down and store it in a secure place. Click Next.
13 On the Date and Time Settings page, set your computer’s clock. Then, click the Time Zone down
. arrow, and select your time zone. Click Next.

14 Windows XP will spend about a minute configuring your computer. On the Networking Settings page,
. click Next.
15 On the Workgroup or Computer Domain page, click Next.
.

Part 3: Complete the installation

16 Windows XP will spend 20 or 30 minutes configuring your computer and will automatically restart when
 . finished. When the Display Settings dialog appears, click OK.

17 When the Monitor Settings dialog box appears, click OK.

.

18 The final stage of setup begins. On the Welcome to Microsoft Windows page, click Next.
.

19 On the Help protect your PC page, click Help protect my PC by turning on Automatic Updates
. now. Then, click Next.
20 Windows XP will then check if you are connected to the Internet:
. If you are connected to the Internet, select the choice that describes your network connection on the
•
Will this computer connect to the Internet directly, or through a network? page. If you’re
not sure, accept the default selection, and click Next.

If you use dial-up Internet access, or if Windows XP cannot connect to the Internet, you can connect
•
to the Internet after setup is complete. On the How will this computer connect to the Internet?
 page, click Skip.

21 Windows XP Setup displays the Ready to activate Windows? page. If you are connected to the
. Internet, click Yes, and then click Next. If you are not yet connected to the Internet, click No, click
Next, and then skip to step 24. After setup is complete, Windows XP will automatically remind you to
activate and register your copy of Windows XP.

22 On the Ready to register with Microsoft? page, click Yes, and then click Next.
 .

23 On the Collecting Registration Information page, complete the form. Then, click Next.
.

24 On the Who will use this computer? page, type the name of each person who will use the computer.
. You can use first names only, nicknames, or full names. Then click Next. To add users after setup is
complete or to specify a password to keep your account private, read Create and customize user
accounts.
 25 On the Thank you! page, click Finish.
.

Congratulations! Windows XP setup is complete. You can log on by clicking your name on the logon screen.
If you’ve installed Windows XP on a new computer or new hard disk drive, you can now use the File and
Settings Transfer Wizard to copy your important data to your computer or hard disk drive.
After logon, take a few minutes to validate your copy of Windows. Validation gives you access to hundreds
of free downloads from the Microsoft Download Center. To learn about the new features Windows XP
provides, click the Start button, click All Programs, click Accessories, and then click Tour Windows XP.