You'll need to purchase a "full version" of either Windows XP Home Edition
or Windows XP Professional and perform a "clean install". Windows XP
cannot be installed over a Server version of Windows.
Windows XP Comparison Guide
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/choosing2.asp
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.
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/
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| Sorry, I need to get to basics (I'm an English major). I bought a desktop over MicroNews, the guy said it
had WinXP Pro loaded in, an eval copy. I told him I wanted something permanent, he said he could put in Win
2000. Turns out it's Win 2000 Server, and I'm just not advanced enough to be a server admin yet. So my first
question, could I just slap WinXP on top of Win2K Server, and if so, would Home work, or just Pro?
|
| If I can't do that, then I have another problem: the machine won't let me even launch the WinXP eval copy
(which the seller said he didn't activate, but he doesn't have the product key) -- it gives me an error
message at the first boot-up screen about missing files. So I can't even upgrade that to a permanent state. Do
you think I could get at it if I uninstall Win2000? Or do you have better suggestions?
|
| I guess my questions boil down to how can I put a stable OS on here that an English major can easily manage?
