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
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.
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