How To Reinstall Windows XP

Install Windows XP

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

•	You replaced your hard disk drive with a new hard disk drive that does not have Windows XP pre-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 or other malicious programs.
•	You purchased a computer without an operating system installed in it.

Fortunately, you do not need to be a computer expert to install Windows XP operating system. Installation of Windows XP is a straight forward process that takes between one to two hours. Of that time, you need to be present for only about 30 minutes during the entire process.

Note:  If you have a computer which has got 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 begining the installation process, use this checklist to make sure that you are fully prepared:

ü      You have got the Windows XP CD with you.

ü      You have the product key available with you. The product key is located on your Windows XP CD case and is required to install and activate your Windows XP.

ü      Your computer hardware is set up accordingingly. Atleast, you should connect your keyboard, mouse, monitor, and CD drive. If available, you should connect your computer to a proper wired network.

ü      You have Windows XP drivers available with you. Drivers are software that helps Windows XP to communicate with your computer’s hardware. Most of the new computers include a CD containing drivers. If you do not have drivers available with you, Windows XP may already include drivers for your hardware. If not, you should download them from your hardware manufacturer’s Web site after you have set up Windows XP.

ü  I  If you are going to reinstall Windows XP on an existing computer, you need a backup copy of your files and settings. The process of installation will delete all of your files.

Installation process

Installing Windows XP can take up to two hours or so depending on ther processor. To make the process more manageable, it has been broken up into several sections by the engineers. When you are ready, this is how to install Windows XP:

 Part 1: Begin the installation process

1.	Insert the Windows XP CD into your computer’s cd drive and restart the computer.
2.	If it is prompted to start from the CD, press the SPACEBAR. If you miss the prompt (because it only appears for a few seconds), restart your computer so thwt you can try again.
3.	Windows XP Setup will begin. During this part of setup, your mouse will not work, so you must use the keyboard as a primary input. On the Welcome to Setup page, press the  ENTER button.
4.	You will get the Windows XP Licensing Agreement page, read the licensing agreements. Press the PAGE DOWN key to get scrolled to the bottom of the agreement. Then you should press F8.
5.	This page will enable you to select the hard disk drive on which Windows XP will be installed. Once you have completed this step, all data on your hard disk drive will be removed and cannot be recovered again. It is extremely important that you must have a recent backup copy of your files before continuing the process. When you have a backup copy, press D, and then press L when prompted on the computer’s screen. This deletes your existing data in the hard drive.
6.	Press ENTER to select the Unpartitioned space, which will appear by default.
7.	Then press the ENTER again to select Format the partition using the NTFS file system, which also appears by default.
8.	Windows XP erases your hard disk drive using a process known as  formatting and then copies all the setup files. You can leave your computer during this process and return back in 20 to 30 minutes. Part 2: Continue the installation
9.	Windows XP will restart and then continue with the installation process. From this point forward, you can use your mouse and keyboard at the same time. Eventually, the Regional and Language Options page will appear. Post that you can click Next to accept the default settings. If you are multilingual or prefer a language other than English, you can change language settings after the setup has been completed.
10.	On the Personalize Your Software page, u can type your name and your organization name. Some of the programs are there which use this information to automatically fill in your name when required. Then, go forward and click Next.
11.	On the Your Product Key page, type your product key as it is written on your Windows XP CD case. The product key is unique for each and every Windows XP installation. Then, go forward and click Next.
12.	On the Computer Name and Administrator Password page, in the Computer name box, type a name that identifies only your computer in your house, such as FAMILYROOM or NANCYS. You shouldnot use spaces or punctuation as its not accepted. If you are connecting your computer to a network, you will use this computer name to find shared files, printers, etc. Type a very strong password that you can always remember in the Administrator password box, and then type it in again in the Confirm password box. Write the password down and store it in a secure place or memorizing it will be great. Then Click Next.
13.	On the Date and Time Settings page, set your computer’s clock by clicking the Time Zone down arrow, and select your time zone whatever it is. Then click Next.
14.	Windows XP will spend about a minute or more configuring your computer. Then on the Networking Settings page, go forward and click Next.
15.	Then you will get the Workgroup or Computer Domain page, where u have to click Next. Part 3: Complete the installation
16.	Windows XP will spend near about 20 or 30 minutes configuring your computer and will automatically restart when it has been finished. When the Display Settings dialog appears after the configuration, click OK.
17.	Then you will get the Monitor Settings dialog box, click OK.
18.	Then the final stage of setup will begin, you will get the Welcome to Microsoft Windows page, click Next.
19.	Then you will get the Help protect your PC page, click Help protect my PC by turning on Automatic Updates now. Then, u can click Next.
20.	Windows XP will then check that if you are connected to the Internet connection: • If you are connected to the Internet already, select the choice that best describes your network connection on the Will this computer connect to the Internet directly, or through a network? page. If you’re not sure about that, accept the default selection, and click Next. • If you are using a dial-up Internet access, or if Windows XP cannot connect to the Internet, you can connect to the Internet after setup is completed. On the How will this computer connect to the Internet  page, you can click Skip.
21.	Windows XP Setup will display the Ready to activate Windows page. If you are already connected to the Internet, click Yes, and then click Next. And if you are not yet connected to the Internet, click No, click Next, and then skip to the step 24. After setup is complete, Windows XP automatically reminds you to activate and register your copy of Windows XP.
22.	When you have got the Ready to register with Microsoft  page, click Yes, and then click Next.
23.	On the Collecting Registration Information page, complete the form with the required details. Then, click Next.
24.	On the Who will use this computer  page, type the name of each person who will use that particular computer. You can use your first names, nicknames, or full names. Then click Next.
25.	On the Thank you! Page which is final page, click Finish.

Congratulations! Windows XP setup has been completed. You can log on by clicking your name on the logon main 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 old  data to your computer or hard disk drive.

After logon,it may take a few minutes to validate your copy of Windows. Validation gives you hundreds of free downloads from the Microsoft Download Center. If you want to learn all about the new features that Windows XP provides, click the Start button, click All Programs, click Accessories, and then click Tour Windows XP.

If you need any further assistance regarding help for reinstalling Windows XP, please visit http://www.livetechcare.com