Clean install XP Pro on new HD

[Terry]

I hope this is the appropriate NG. I need to replace my present HD with a
new one and do a clean install of XP Pro. I have the original WinXP CD, the
product key, the SP2 CD and the SP3 CD, although I’ve never installed SP3.
It’s been about 4 or 5 years since I installed XP and I’m a little hazy on
the procedure.

Two questions: First -- after installing the new HD, do I just put the
original XP CD in the CD drive and let nature take its course? And second,
when I complete the installation of basic XP, do I go directly to the SP3 CD
or do I have to download all 6 or 7 years worth of updates from the
Internet?

The HD I plan to install is a brand new, never-used Western Digital Caviar
SE 80g hard drive still in the original wrapper, but which is at least 4
years old. The "old" one is also a WD 80g, so I know I don’t need a bigger
one. Besides, the computer is 8 years old and only has 1.2g of RAM. But
everything about it seems to work well – except for the present hard drive –
and I’d like to continue using it with a new HD and a new installation of
XP.

Answers to my 2 questions would appreciated, along with any other
comments/suggestions which may be appropriate. Thank you.

Terry

 

[Malke]

I hope this is the appropriate NG. I need to replace my present HD with a
new one and do a clean install of XP Pro. I have the original WinXP CD,
the product key, the SP2 CD and the SP3 CD, although I’ve never installed
SP3. It’s been about 4 or 5 years since I installed XP and I’m a little
hazy on the procedure.

Two questions: First -- after installing the new HD, do I just put the
original XP CD in the CD drive and let nature take its course? And
second, when I complete the installation of basic XP, do I go directly to
the SP3 CD or do I have to download all 6 or 7 years worth of updates from
the Internet?

The HD I plan to install is a brand new, never-used Western Digital Caviar
SE 80g hard drive still in the original wrapper, but which is at least 4
years old. The "old" one is also a WD 80g, so I know I don’t need a
bigger
one. Besides, the computer is 8 years old and only has 1.2g of RAM. But
everything about it seems to work well – except for the present hard drive
– and I’d like to continue using it with a new HD and a new installation
of XP.

Answers to my 2 questions would appreciated, along with any other
comments/suggestions which may be appropriate. Thank you.

To add to philo's good advice:

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows - What
you will need on-hand

Malke

 

[JS]

Before you start, with the old drive still in place: Make sure you
have the drivers you need for your motherboard, video card, sound card, Etc.

Try Belarc Advisor: http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
It does a good job of providing a wealth of information including
software Key codes and Devices you will need Drivers for. Then
download the drivers (from your PC manufactures web site) with
each driver in it's own folder. Next burn the drivers to a CD.

Replace your hard drive.

1) Install XP (See Clean Install info below), install SP2 and then SP3.
2) Use 'Device Manger' to identify any drivers you need to install..
3) One by one install the drivers from the CD you created until all
the ? marks are gone.
4) Use Windows Update to install all "critical updates" for your PC
since SP3 was released last year. Do not install any drivers using
Windows Update as they may cause problems.
5) Now install your applications

How to do a Clean Install of Windows XP:
Start by changing the BIOS setting to Boot from CD drive first.
Then see below:

From Michael Steven's: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
more info: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm
and: http://www.theeldergeek.com/clean_installation_of_windows_xp.htm
also: http://www.bootdisk.com/

 

[Twayne]

You have good advice from Philo and Malke. Install the drive, put the CD
in the drive, boot from it, and follow the onscreen instructions.
Install SP2, check to be sure everything is still working well, and
install SP3. Install AV and spyware, Let the updates happen now, and go
enjoy it.

Or you might find it easier to "clone" the drives if the old one still
works:
Assuming the old drive works: Your WD drive should come with, or have
availalbe on their web site, a "cloning" program that will let you clone
everything on the old drive to the new drive. That's often easier and
faster than doing everything automatically. The program exists for the
very use you may have for it; replacing a dying drive. Once cloned,
you're ready to go with an exact copy of the old disk.

Important rules you may already know but:

-- Do NOT connect to the internet until you have AT LEAST anti-virus
software installed and the XP firewall turned on. It's possible to
become infected with malware in only a few minutes without the firewall
and AV working. Seems like the firewall was part of SP2.

-- It's best to not go on the 'net until SP3 is installed; that way you
have the most updates installed.

-- FIRST thing to do when connecting to the 'net IMO is to let the
automatic updates finish updating XP. Once that process h as started,
then go about your other installations etc..

Inline:

I hope this is the appropriate NG. I need to replace my present HD
with a new one and do a clean install of XP Pro. I have the original
WinXP CD, the product key, the SP2 CD and the SP3 CD, although I’ve
never installed SP3. It’s been about 4 or 5 years since I installed
XP and I’m a little hazy on the procedure.

Two questions: First -- after installing the new HD, do I just put
the original XP CD in the CD drive and let nature take its course?

Yes. You boot from the XP CD.
On starting the computer, or during a REstart, you should get a
message on the screen something like "To boot from the CD, press any key
.... ".
If you don't get that message, then you have to go into your BIOS and
set it so the optical drive is the first one in the Boot Order list.
Once you do that, you'll get the message abtou pressing any key, and the
computer will boot from the XP CD. Put the optical drive first, and the
hard drive second.

And second, when I complete the installation of basic XP, do I go
directly to the SP3 CD or do I have to download all 6 or 7 years
worth of updates from the Internet?

No, you don't have to download 6 or 7 years worth of updates. After you
have XP installed, then install SP2, which you said you already have.
Restart the machine a couple times and make sure everything works after
installing SP2.

Then you can install SP3. SP3 will have updates to download after it's
installed; I don't know how many but all the ones that came out after
SP2, so still quite a few.

BEFORE installing SP3, there are a couple links you should read first in
order to get a smooth installation:

Steps to take before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717

also:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389
and
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4&displaylang=en

may be useful.

The HD I plan to install is a brand new, never-used Western Digital
Caviar SE 80g hard drive still in the original wrapper, but which is
at least 4 years old. The "old" one is also a WD 80g, so I know I
don’t need a bigger one. Besides, the computer is 8 years old and
only has 1.2g of RAM. But everything about it seems to work well –
except for the present hard drive – and I’d like to continue using it
with a new HD and a new installation of XP.

Makes sense.

Answers to my 2 questions would appreciated, along with any other
comments/suggestions which may be appropriate. Thank you.

I think I've covered your answers and the most common gotchas. If not,
check back; someone will be able to help.

HTH,

Twayne`

 

[Daave]

I hope this is the appropriate NG. I need to replace my present HD
with a new one and do a clean install of XP Pro. I have the original
WinXP CD, the product key, the SP2 CD and the SP3 CD, although I’ve
never installed SP3. It’s been about 4 or 5 years since I installed
XP and I’m a little hazy on the procedure.

Two questions: First -- after installing the new HD, do I just put
the original XP CD in the CD drive and let nature take its course? And
second, when I complete the installation of basic XP, do I go
directly to the SP3 CD or do I have to download all 6 or 7 years
worth of updates from the Internet?

The HD I plan to install is a brand new, never-used Western Digital
Caviar SE 80g hard drive still in the original wrapper, but which is
at least 4 years old. The "old" one is also a WD 80g, so I know I
don’t need a bigger one. Besides, the computer is 8 years old and
only has 1.2g of RAM. But everything about it seems to work well –
except for the present hard drive – and I’d like to continue using it
with a new HD and a new installation of XP.

Answers to my 2 questions would appreciated, along with any other
comments/suggestions which may be appropriate. Thank you.

Correct newsgroup.

If the XP installation CD is SP1 or SP1a, you may update to SP3 and
*then* go to Windows Update to get all your subsequent updates.

If the XP installation CD is "Gold" (i.e., no Service Pack level),
unfortunately you won't be able to upgrade directly to SP3. So upgrade
to SP2 and *then* upgrade to SP3. (And then get all the subsequent
updates).

Make sure you have all your drivers!

Good guide:

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

 

[Terry]

Thank you all for the rapid responses and the clear instructions. If
necessary, I'll come back.

Terry

 

[JS]

You're welcome.

 

[Twayne]

Terry wrote: ....

Correct newsgroup.

If the XP installation CD is SP1 or SP1a, you may update to SP3 and
*then* go to Windows Update to get all your subsequent updates.

NOTE:
---------------------
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389 says:

To install Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3), either Windows XP Service
Pack 1a (SP1a) or Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) must already be
installed.

If you have to install Windows XP Service Pack 1a or Windows XP Service
Pack 2, go to the "Windows XP Service Pack 1a" section or the "Windows
XP Service Pack 2" section in this article.

 

[Daave]

NOTE:
---------------------
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389 says:

To install Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3), either Windows XP Service
Pack 1a (SP1a) or Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) must already be
installed.

If you have to install Windows XP Service Pack 1a or Windows XP
Service Pack 2, go to the "Windows XP Service Pack 1a" section or the
"Windows XP Service Pack 2" section in this article.
--------------------

Microsoft contradicts itself (which should be no surprise!). According
to this page:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc507836.aspx

SP1 is fine (that is, SP1a isn't absolutely necessary). Furthermore,
many people (including myself) have performed an upgrade from SP1 to SP3
with no reported problems.

FWIW, the only difference between SP1 and SP1a revolves around "the
Microsoft VM, which provides support for running Java programs." See:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;813926

The issue is a legal one, rather than a technical one.