The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:
NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.
NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.
1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".
===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===>
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm
2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete all the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.
5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]
6. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
==>
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".
8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.
9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:
How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064
Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm
[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]
Note: If you are unable to activate Windows XP again via the internet,
then select the option to "activate by telephone".
--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| My old computer blew it's power supply, and I (and another friend) bought two used Pentium 3 Desktops from a
business that was closing. When we turned them on, they just went to the A: prompt but everything we typed in
and entered just came back with another A: prompt. My friend took his to a computer shop and they held the F2
key down while it was booting and got a bunch of DOS commands and made a few changes which allowed him to get
to boot his XP from the hard drive. It took them less than 5 minutes, and they didn't even charge him (he
then went home and loaded the XP himself). However, when I took mine there they said to leave it and they
would do everything but charge me $65/hour and said it would take 1-1/2 hours. We both have the same
computer, so I am sure I can do the same 5 minute (or less) process using the F2 key, but after I get to all
of those DOS questions I don't know what to do to tell the comouter to start reading from the hard drive
instead. Anyone know what to do? THANKS!!
