The ONLY Windows XP Installation Guide You'll Ever Need

[koftheworld]

Below is a short and sweet version for backing up, formatting, and then installing Windows XP.

1) Have a backup source DIFFERENT from your primary hard drive*(see note at bottom of guide). This means: a DVD burner, an external hard drive, a networked computer/server, a USB key, etc.)

2) Backup all essential documents/information (i.e. reports, pictures, music, etc.) to that backup source

3) Download all updated drivers for your computer components. This means: motherboard, graphics card, sound card, etc. Also, download (if available) an updated antivirus definitions file and store it away for after the reinstallation.

4) Make a list of all programs that you would need to reinstall once formatting/installing windows has been completed. PRINT THAT LIST!

5) Download and/or set aside all installers for the programs on your list (plus all relevant serial numbers/activation codes)

6) Download RyanVM's Windows XP Post-SP2 Update Pack , and integrate the file into your windows installer cd using the integrator program found on that same page. A nice tutorial on how to integrate the file is also on the page. This will integrate all Post-SP2 updates on your windows installer cd so that you won't have to spend time after reinstallation downloading updates from microsoft (note: your cd must already have sp-2 integrated ... if not, you can download sp2 from microsoft, and then integrate it yourself ... ask if that's the case)

7) Burn that new windows cd

***8) Download and place in your backup drive Autopatcher. This program has all of the OTHER windows updates that you may need after reinstall. Very handy.***

Autopatcher has since been discontinued, and is only up-to-date till August 2007.

9) Double- and triple-check that you have backed up everything that you should, then CHECK AGAIN!

10) Calm-down because the above steps are the hardest parts

11) Put in new windows cd and then disconnect all network cables/wireless cards

12) Restart

13) Boot from cd

14) Follow prompts - delete old partition. Make new partition(s) using the "quick ntfs" option. I recommend completing whatever partitioning you need done at this point BEFORE Windows is installed. (If you need a further explanation on what are the advantages/disadvantages of partitioning, please see the * towards the bottom of the post or see this link for more information.) Your Windows CD load a series of files, and it will automatically restart your computer.

15) Fill in all information Microsoft asks for ...

IF YOU NEED A GUIDE ON STEPS 11-15, PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK!

16) On first boot up after reinstall, reinstall all antivirus, firewall, and antispyware applications. Be sure to restart when needed. Also, load the updated antivirus definitions you downloaded before you reinstalled Windows.

17) Install Autopatcher and install any updates missing from windows cd

18) Reconnect all network cables and reinstall internet service ... immediately update your antivirus definitions.

19) Activate windows over the internet using on-screen prompts

20) Reinstall all programs from list (hopefully in some sort of order), restarting when necessary. Change all necessary Windows and program settings to how you prefer them.

ADDENDUM (9/11/07)

If you have followed the above guide to the letter, then you should have had a relatively short and stress-free experience reinstalling Windows XP. At this point in time, I would recommend completing one of the following actions:

1) Creating a disk image of your new installation. A disk image is an exact copy your hard drive that you may store as a file. By having an exact copy of your hard drive at this point, you may easily reload this file at any time in order to have a fresh installation of Windows ready to go with your drivers and programs preinstalled and all of your settings configured. Some software that I recommend for disk imaging are: Norton Ghost, Acronis True Image, or a free Linux System Rescue CD. Another link you may want to read is this one.

or

2) If you don't want to create disk image (or don't feel comfortable with the idea) you can create a different type of Windows installation cd/dvd with nLite. Not only can you slipstream Microsoft's updates into your installation disk, but it has the following:

"Features

* Service Pack Integration

* Component Removal

* Unattended Setup

* Driver Integration *

* Hotfixes Integration **

* Tweaks

* Services Configuration

* Patches ***

* Bootable ISO creation

* Program Integration"

With a Windows disk created with nLite you would be able to just insert the disk, reboot, and then walk away ... coming back to a fresh, fully-updated Windows installation. If you need help or have additional questions about nLite, please visit their FAQ.

21) Reload all information/documents from your backup drive onto your main computer drive, and then ...

YOU'RE DONE!!!

Much of the information I've provided above should be evident to most anyone who has SOME computer knowledge. Some are just tips I've found useful when formatting and reinstalling XP myself. If you have any questions, please ask.

Have fun! :D

*While I do not recommend doing so, it is possible to complete the above guide using just your original hard drive. You can "partition" (split into parts) your hard drive so that it is recognized by Windows as different hard drives. An advantage to having multiple partitions would be that you can have separate partitions for documents, programs, Windows itself, etc. CAUTION: If you are going to try this method, you should definitely BACKUP EVERYTHING before you try to partition.

There are numerous programs that you can use to partition your hard drive ... I typically suggest a commercial program like Partition Magic for this type of situation. Other solutions that I recommend are GParted or many Linux live cds (which are all free), but the most important item I can relay is to

BACKUP EVERYTHING BEFORE YOU TRY PARTITIONING!!!

Edited December 13, 2007 by koftheworld

[koftheworld]

Hello!

Having posted the above about two months ago, I was wondering if anyone had any comments/criticisms of my steps? Also, how many of you found it helpful; if so, any comments to why as opposed to another guide?

Thank you in advance for your input!

[Computer Barbie]

How do you Boot from CD? I turned on my PC with the XP CD in my PC. Vista came on.

I tried it again while tapping F8 & Vista came on. It looked like it was trying to repair Vista,

when I was trying to install XP. Any Advice?

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Barbie - go into your BIOS and select CD-ROM as the first boot drive.

[koftheworld]

2 questions:

1) Are you trying to dual-boot Vista and XP, or

2) Are you trying to format your hd, and then install XP?

Also, it seems as if the cd you are using is not bootable or your cd/dvd drive isn't set in a boot priority slot above that of your hd. As far as the 1st case, even if Vista is installed you would still be able to boot to cd if it is in fact bootable. For the second case, go into your bios and change the boot priority settings so that your cd/dvd drive is above that of your harddrive.

Let me know! :)

[Computer Barbie]

How do I go into the BIOS & select CD-ROM as the 1st boot drive?

Thanks

[Computer Barbie]

The CD is supposed to be bootable. I didn't burn it as an ISO image though.

I prefer to dual boot Vista & XP. If I can't do that, then I would settle for reformating my HD & installing XP. Thank you

[koftheworld]

Updated the guide to include partitioning solutions to step 1! :)

[koftheworld]

Also, I added a link for a graphical guide on the actual XP installation process ...

[koftheworld]

Ok, it's been 5 months since I originally posted the guide. Unfortunately, no one has come up with any comments/concerns. Does this mean that nothing should be tweaked, or does everybody have no fingers?

Even though XP is not the newest OS out now, I'd still like my guide to be as good as possible.

[tazzeh]

I'd remove any Autopatcher related steps seeing as its no use anymore.

[koftheworld]

Autopatcher is still a viable piece of software. Unless a moderator suggests that I remove the reference, it will stay. Even so, you make a valuable point. It is only valid up until its last release (August 2007). I will make a note for users of the guide. Thank you for the comment! :)

[rahullo]

it is ver helpful and thanks a lot

[koftheworld]

Your very welcome rahullo! Do you have any suggestions to make it more complete?

[koftheworld]

Updated guide to reflect additional suggestions ... let me know what you guys think!

[ßéár]

good job(y)

[RedDevil99]

Ill give it a try soon and feed back any comments

[koftheworld]

Ill give it a try soon and feed back any comments

Any luck? ... and hopefully some comments!

[Impact]

I think you should make one for vista, but other than that, I would say it's an overall good guide.

[koftheworld]

I really would make a guide for Vista, but I don't own it! My computer really isn't that great, but when I do finally upgrade (after my wedding hopefully) I will be sure to put something similar together for Neowin.