Reinstalling WindowsXP on old Computer

[Guest]

I'm having problems installing some programs on my computer ever since I
installed Service Pack 2, and no solutions are working. One thing I'm
thinking of trying is to install XP on an old computer that I have sitting
around collecting dust so I can use some of these programs, but I have 3
questions:

1. What are the system requirements for running WindowsXP? This old
computer only has a 4 GB hard drive and I don't remember how much memory or
what type of processor it has (whatever the norm was about 5 years ago).

2. The WindowsXP CD says its only to be used to reinstall to a Dell
computer, and my old computer is not a Dell. Will it still work?

3. I'm not familiar with installing an operating system. How do I begin?
The old computer currently has Windows 95 on it...do I just start by putting
the WindowsXP CD in and installing it, or do I need to delete everything
first. Where do I start?

 

[Dave Patrick]

:
| I'm having problems installing some programs on my computer ever since I
| installed Service Pack 2, and no solutions are working. One thing I'm
| thinking of trying is to install XP on an old computer that I have sitting
| around collecting dust so I can use some of these programs, but I have 3
| questions:
|
| 1. What are the system requirements for running WindowsXP? This old
| computer only has a 4 GB hard drive and I don't remember how much memory
or
| what type of processor it has (whatever the norm was about 5 years ago).
* http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/evaluation/sysreqs.mspx


| 2. The WindowsXP CD says its only to be used to reinstall to a Dell
| computer, and my old computer is not a Dell. Will it still work?
* No


| 3. I'm not familiar with installing an operating system. How do I begin?
| The old computer currently has Windows 95 on it...do I just start by
putting
| the WindowsXP CD in and installing it, or do I need to delete everything
| first. Where do I start?

* To do a clean install, boot the Windows XP install CD-Rom. Setup inspects
your computer's hardware configuration and then begins to install the Setup
and driver files. When the Windows XP Professional screen appears, press
ENTER to set up Windows XP Professional.

(Note: If your drive controller is not natively supported then you'll want
to boot the Windows XP CD-Rom. Then *F6* very early and very important (at
setup is inspecting your system) in the setup to prevent drive controller
detection, and select S to specify additional drivers. Then later you'll be
prompted to insert the manufacturer supplied Windows XP driver for your
drive controller in drive "A")

Read the license agreement, and then press the F8 key to accept the terms of
the license agreement and continue the installation.

When the Windows XP Professional Setup screen appears, all the existing
partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard
disk. Use the ARROW keys to select the partitions Press D to delete an
existing partition, If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must
then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System
partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this
step for each of the existing partitions When all the partitions are deleted
press F3 to exit setup, (to avoid unexpected drive letter assignments with
your new install) then restart the pc then when you get to this point in
setup again select the unpartitioned space, and then press C to create a new
partition and specify the size (if required). Windows will by default use
all available space.

Be sure to apply SP2 or at least these two below to your new install before
connecting to any network. Internet included. (sasser, msblast)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...be-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx


--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

[Guest]

You answered "no" to question 2, which means I wouldn't be able to install XP
on my old computer (right?). So I'm confused as to why you provided me with
the lengthy description to question 3 telling me how to do the installation.

Anway, if I can do the installation, I know there is not currently enough
space on that old computer (about 90% of the 4GB hard drive is full) so I
think I'd have to delete everything on the hard drive first. Would that
change the instructions you gave me to question 3?


:

| 2. The WindowsXP CD says its only to be used to reinstall to a Dell
| computer, and my old computer is not a Dell. Will it still work?
* No


| 3. I'm not familiar with installing an operating system. How do I begin?
| The old computer currently has Windows 95 on it...do I just start by
putting
| the WindowsXP CD in and installing it, or do I need to delete everything
| first. Where do I start?

* To do a clean install, boot the Windows XP install CD-Rom. Setup inspects
your computer's hardware configuration and then begins to install the Setup
and driver files. When the Windows XP Professional screen appears, press
ENTER to set up Windows XP Professional.

(Note: If your drive controller is not natively supported then you'll want
to boot the Windows XP CD-Rom. Then *F6* very early and very important (at
setup is inspecting your system) in the setup to prevent drive controller
detection, and select S to specify additional drivers. Then later you'll be
prompted to insert the manufacturer supplied Windows XP driver for your
drive controller in drive "A")

Read the license agreement, and then press the F8 key to accept the terms of
the license agreement and continue the installation.

When the Windows XP Professional Setup screen appears, all the existing
partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard
disk. Use the ARROW keys to select the partitions Press D to delete an
existing partition, If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must
then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System
partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this
step for each of the existing partitions When all the partitions are deleted
press F3 to exit setup, (to avoid unexpected drive letter assignments with
your new install) then restart the pc then when you get to this point in
setup again select the unpartitioned space, and then press C to create a new
partition and specify the size (if required). Windows will by default use
all available space.

Be sure to apply SP2 or at least these two below to your new install before
connecting to any network. Internet included. (sasser, msblast)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...be-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx


--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

[Doug]

Forget it. It wont work. Drive to small. OEM for Dell probably
wont install. Waste of time.

Doug
-
Others may disagree.
-

You answered "no" to question 2, which means I wouldn't be
able to install XP
on my old computer (right?). So I'm confused as to why you
provided me with
the lengthy description to question 3 telling me how to do the
installation.

Anway, if I can do the installation, I know there is not
currently enough
space on that old computer (about 90% of the 4GB hard drive is
full) so I
think I'd have to delete everything on the hard drive first.
Would that
change the instructions you gave me to question 3?


:

| 2. The WindowsXP CD says its only to be used to reinstall
to a Dell
| computer, and my old computer is not a Dell. Will it still
work?
* No


| 3. I'm not familiar with installing an operating system.
How do I begin?
| The old computer currently has Windows 95 on it...do I just
start by
putting
| the WindowsXP CD in and installing it, or do I need to
delete everything
| first. Where do I start?

* To do a clean install, boot the Windows XP install CD-Rom.
Setup inspects
your computer's hardware configuration and then begins to
install the Setup
and driver files. When the Windows XP Professional screen
appears, press
ENTER to set up Windows XP Professional.

(Note: If your drive controller is not natively supported
then you'll want
to boot the Windows XP CD-Rom. Then *F6* very early and very
important (at
setup is inspecting your system) in the setup to prevent
drive controller
detection, and select S to specify additional drivers. Then
later you'll be
prompted to insert the manufacturer supplied Windows XP
driver for your
drive controller in drive "A")

Read the license agreement, and then press the F8 key to
accept the terms of
the license agreement and continue the installation.

When the Windows XP Professional Setup screen appears, all
the existing
partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each
physical hard
disk. Use the ARROW keys to select the partitions Press D to
delete an
existing partition, If you press D to delete an existing
partition, you must
then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the
System
partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition.
Repeat this
step for each of the existing partitions When all the
partitions are deleted
press F3 to exit setup, (to avoid unexpected drive letter
assignments with
your new install) then restart the pc then when you get to
this point in
setup again select the unpartitioned space, and then press C
to create a new
partition and specify the size (if required). Windows will by
default use
all available space.

Be sure to apply SP2 or at least these two below to your new
install before
connecting to any network. Internet included. (sasser,
msblast)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...be-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx


--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in
newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

You answered "no" to question 2, which means I wouldn't be able to install XP
on my old computer (right?). So I'm confused as to why you provided me with
the lengthy description to question 3 telling me how to do the installation.

He's a moron, perhaps?

 

[Dave Patrick]

I answered each question separately and individually. Depending on what you
do they may or may not be related.

1.) No to using your Dell installation media.
2.) No, doesn't change a thing.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| You answered "no" to question 2, which means I wouldn't be able to install
XP
| on my old computer (right?). So I'm confused as to why you provided me
with
| the lengthy description to question 3 telling me how to do the
installation.
|
| Anway, if I can do the installation, I know there is not currently enough
| space on that old computer (about 90% of the 4GB hard drive is full) so I
| think I'd have to delete everything on the hard drive first. Would that
| change the instructions you gave me to question 3?