How to install Win XP 3

[sbilheimer]

I just got Win XP Pro and need to start from scratch with a machine that has Win ME on it. Can someone send me a link to step-by-step instructions for reformatting and installing. It's NOT an upgrade, but full installation. Also, I'm not sure I have the disks for the CD players, etc., and one was supposed to be r/rw, but it hasn't worked for a long time. This machine was remade from an old dell by someone who is long gone.

Can someone just advise me how to proceed??? Thanks, Susan

 

[Blujacket]

Does one of the CD drive work? Can the BIOS be set to boot to the CD drive? If so, set it to be the first boot device, insert the WinXP CD, reboot the computer and you'll get a menu about the installation. I'd go with the full 'clean' install, replace everything on the hard drive. You can leave the formatting at FAT32 or change to NTFS, just won't have access to the hard drive from a Win98 or WinME boot floppy.

 

[1stITMAN]

here u go

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.xs4all.nl/~laar2002/tweak/clean-win-xp-install.html

I.T Systems Support Engineer
Bsc. (Hons).

 

[bcastner]

My recommendation:

. First, go to the manufacturer site of your computer and make certain you are current on all BIOS and driver updates.

. Use this wonderful freeware utility to create a backup set of all current drivers, including .inf and .cat files for your workstation:

http://www.driverguidetoolkit.com/

Copy this backup set to floppy or CD. (You can collapse all the subfolders to make the use of this backup store easier)

. Use Win98 fdisk to removal all existing partitions. If you just use XP it will not see possible manufacturer FAT16 Restore partitions.

Download and create a boot floppy of Win98SE from:

http://www.bootdisk.com/

(Note: the site has some valuable tips, explore a bit)

. Do the clean install of XP Pro.

. Restore your backup driver set to a folder on your hard disk drive.

. Using Device Manager, point to your driver backup store for driver replacements of any non-working or poorly working devices. (I walked the whole chain of devices doing upgrades from my backup store).

You will then want to go to the MS Update site. To make the process less onerous:

Enable the native XP Firewall

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=283673

You can use something else later, but the last thing you want is to get infect by blaster or something else at this point.

1. Start with Service Pack 1a. Reboot. Do not attempt any other Hotfix but the Service Pack as your first step.

2. Use the direct downloads of two MS XP "Rollups" to reduce the time spent at Windows Update:

. Hotfix rollup:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=826939

. Kernel rollup:

http://support.microsoft.com/?id=820128

3. Now head back to Windows Update and finish the job. I prefer to do no more than three Hotfixes at a time without a reboot, but that is just me.

Best wishes,
Bill

 

[sbilheimer]

Thank you all so much. I will definitely follow your instructions and let you know how it goes. Thank heavens for terrific experts who don't mind helping less informed computer users!!!! Susan