How to Install Windows XP

Windows XP is a most popular Operating System.

Many people have computers that come with Windows XP so they may never have to install it. However, you may need to install Windows XP :

Installation Requirment

Before you begin the installation process, 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 ROM drive.] 
• You have Windows XP PC drivers available. Drivers are software that Windows XP uses to communicate with your computer’s hardware. 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 website after you set up Windows XP.

Installation Process

Insert the Windows XP CD into your computer and restart your computer.
1. If prompted to start from the CD, press Spacebar. If you miss the prompt [It only appears for 5 seconds), restart your computer to try again.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Press Enter to select Unpartitioned space, which appears by default.
6. Press Enter again to select Format the partition using the NTFS file system, which appears by default.
7. 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 10 to 15 minutes.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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 OFFICEPC or HOMEPC. 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.
12. 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.
13. Windows XP will spend about a minute configuring your computer. On the Networking Settings page, click Next.
14. On the Workgroup or Computer Domain page, click Next.
15. 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.
16. When the Monitor Settings dialog box appears, click OK.
17. The final stage of setup begins. On the Welcome to Microsoft Windows page, click Next.
18. On the Help protect your PC page, click No, Countinue anyway. Then, click Next.
19. 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.
20. On the Thank you! page, click Finish.