Format HDD and install XP pro

[Joe Merk]

Hello,

I am currently running Win Me on my laptop (10GB HDD) and would like to
format the hard drive and do a clean installation of XP Pro on it.
Seemingly, I ought to boot the machine from the CD-ROM. My questions are:
while I know this would work for Win 2000, would it for XP and is there
anything else I need to know for this process?

Many thanks.

 

[Jim Macklin]

se this for a start
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316941

Since laptops have lots of proprietary hardware, mach sure
you can get XP drivers.



| Hello,
|
| I am currently running Win Me on my laptop (10GB HDD) and
would like to
| format the hard drive and do a clean installation of XP
Pro on it.
| Seemingly, I ought to boot the machine from the CD-ROM. My
questions are:
| while I know this would work for Win 2000, would it for XP
and is there
| anything else I need to know for this process?
|
| Many thanks.
|
|

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

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]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Hello,
|
| I am currently running Win Me on my laptop (10GB HDD) and would like to
| format the hard drive and do a clean installation of XP Pro on it.
| Seemingly, I ought to boot the machine from the CD-ROM. My questions are:
| while I know this would work for Win 2000, would it for XP and is there
| anything else I need to know for this process?
|
| Many thanks.
|
|

 

[Gerry]

The XP CD is bootable. You can boot from the CD and
start the installation process. I would recommend not
doing an upgrade. All the install routine to reformat
the hard drive so that you get a fresh install. You are
less likly to run into problems by doing this. Make sure
you back up any important data before you start the
install. Good luck.

 

[Joe Merk]

Many thanks for the help. Wish you guys a good WE.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be offered the
opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of the
installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of boot
devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

Have you made sure that your PC's hardware components are capable
of supporting WinXP? This information will be found at the PC's
manufacturer's web site, and on Microsoft's Windows Catalog:
(http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx) Additionally, run
Microsoft WinXP Upgrade Advisor to see if you have any incompatible
hardware components or applications.

You should, before proceeding, take a few minutes to ensure that
there are WinXP device drivers available for all of the machine's
components. There may not be, if the PC was specifically designed for
Win98/Me. Also bear in mind that PCs designed for, sold and run fine
with Win9x/Me very often do not meet WinXP's much more stringent
hardware quality requirements. This is particularly true of many
models in Compaq's consumer-class Presario product line or HP's
consumer-class Pavilion product line. WinXP, like WinNT and Win2K
before it, is quite sensitive to borderline defective or substandard
hardware (particularly motherboards, RAM and hard drives) that will
still support Win9x.

HOW TO Prepare to Upgrade Win98 or WinMe
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q316639

Upgrading to Windows XP
http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm


Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Alex Nichol]

I am currently running Win Me on my laptop (10GB HDD) and would like to
format the hard drive and do a clean installation of XP Pro on it.
Seemingly, I ought to boot the machine from the CD-ROM. My questions are:
while I know this would work for Win 2000, would it for XP and is there
anything else I need to know for this process?

Yes - boot the XP CD direct. Enter Setup, and after the license
agreement take New Install. When it asks you to confirm where, hit ESC;
select and delete the current partition and make a new RAW one to be
formatted at the next stage

The important point is the delete. Without that it will just go ahead
and make a new install over the top of the old one

As an alternative, you can run the CD from the existing system, enter
install, change Upgrade to New install and proceed in the same way.

I would however do an upgrade in the first instance: the entire system
will in effect be replaced, but installed software, data for the most
part retained. It normally works well and saves a lot of hassle. Read
Gary Woodruff's article on upgrading to XP at
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpupgrad.htm