Windows XP Pro Full Install Help

[DV8]

I'm getting ready to build my second computer and I've chosen Win XP
Pro as my OS. Here's the hardware I've chosen:

ASUS P4C800-E Deluxe (With built in Intel Gigabit LAN)
Intel P4 3.2GHz
Crucial/Micron 2GB DDR PC3200 (512MB x 4)
120GB Seagate Barracuda Serial ATA 7,200 RPM (x2) (The MoBo manual
says I need XP Service Pack 1 to run Serial ATAs)
Plextor PX-708A DVD±R/RW - CD-R/RW
MSI GeForce FX 5950 Ultra
Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro
Logitech MX500 Optical Mouse
Belkin ErgoBoard

If you havn't guessed, it's a gaming machine.

I have no experience using XP at all, let alone installing it. My
first computer runs Win 98 SE. I understand that the XP registration
is different than 98 SE. XP takes a "snapshot" of your hardware
configuration? When I built my 98 SE machine I installed all the
hardware, vid card, sound card, NIC, etc... seperately and installed
the drivers for each one as I went along. My question is this: should
I install EVERYTHING before I install XP? If I install each component
seperately, will XP give me a hard time because of the hardware
changes after each reboot? I came across something called "Windows XP
Home & Pro Pre--Installation CD". Do I need this to configure my
hardware before I install XP? Could someone please describe step by
step the installation procedure?

Thank You...

 

[Dave C.]

I'm getting ready to build my second computer and I've chosen Win XP
Pro as my OS. Here's the hardware I've chosen:

ASUS P4C800-E Deluxe (With built in Intel Gigabit LAN)
Intel P4 3.2GHz
Crucial/Micron 2GB DDR PC3200 (512MB x 4)
120GB Seagate Barracuda Serial ATA 7,200 RPM (x2) (The MoBo manual
says I need XP Service Pack 1 to run Serial ATAs)
Plextor PX-708A DVD±R/RW - CD-R/RW
MSI GeForce FX 5950 Ultra
Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro
Logitech MX500 Optical Mouse
Belkin ErgoBoard

If you havn't guessed, it's a gaming machine.

I have no experience using XP at all, let alone installing it. My
first computer runs Win 98 SE. I understand that the XP registration
is different than 98 SE. XP takes a "snapshot" of your hardware
configuration? When I built my 98 SE machine I installed all the
hardware, vid card, sound card, NIC, etc... seperately and installed
the drivers for each one as I went along. My question is this: should
I install EVERYTHING before I install XP? If I install each component
seperately, will XP give me a hard time because of the hardware
changes after each reboot? I came across something called "Windows XP
Home & Pro Pre--Installation CD". Do I need this to configure my
hardware before I install XP? Could someone please describe step by
step the installation procedure?

Thank You...

Older versions of windows and the drivers for them were so buggy that it was
best to install one component at a time . . . even minor components. If
you're going with XP pro, just toss all the hardware together and then
insert the cd-rom and go. That's about it. If the cd doesn't boot, reboot
and enter the BIOS (hit delete as the system is starting, probably) and
check the boot sequence to make sure the cd-rom is first. After windows is
installed, SET A RESTORE POINT. Then run the windows update online (several
times) -Dave

 

[nooneimportant]

I'm getting ready to build my second computer and I've chosen Win XP
Pro as my OS. Here's the hardware I've chosen:

ASUS P4C800-E Deluxe (With built in Intel Gigabit LAN)
Intel P4 3.2GHz
Crucial/Micron 2GB DDR PC3200 (512MB x 4)
120GB Seagate Barracuda Serial ATA 7,200 RPM (x2) (The MoBo manual
says I need XP Service Pack 1 to run Serial ATAs)
Plextor PX-708A DVD±R/RW - CD-R/RW
MSI GeForce FX 5950 Ultra
Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro
Logitech MX500 Optical Mouse
Belkin ErgoBoard

If you havn't guessed, it's a gaming machine.

I have no experience using XP at all, let alone installing it. My
first computer runs Win 98 SE. I understand that the XP registration
is different than 98 SE. XP takes a "snapshot" of your hardware
configuration? When I built my 98 SE machine I installed all the
hardware, vid card, sound card, NIC, etc... seperately and installed
the drivers for each one as I went along. My question is this: should
I install EVERYTHING before I install XP? If I install each component
seperately, will XP give me a hard time because of the hardware
changes after each reboot? I came across something called "Windows XP
Home & Pro Pre--Installation CD". Do I need this to configure my
hardware before I install XP? Could someone please describe step by
step the installation procedure?

Thank You...

My system is very similar to yours... really easy. Put it all together.
Put in XP Install CD... and go! No need for pre-installation CD, no need to
add hardware one by one, JUST GO!!! It will have every driver needed to get
it to at least boot UNLESS you are running a RAID on your SATA, then you
will need to extract the RAID drivers from the mobo CD onto a floppy. If
thats the case you will see a line at bottom of blue install screen stating
something like "press f6 now to install raid/scsi.third party drivers" then
insert the floppy and continue installation. If you are just running the
drives via regular SATA it won't need it (you have two sets of ports for
SATA installation on MOBO, two for regular SATA, and two for RAID) XP
installation should go pretty fast. After it reboots a time or two and
offers you a chance to "Activate windows XP" you should go ahead and set up
your internet connection (if dial up u will need to configure your modem
etc, just plug it in if its any broadband service) go ahead and activate if
you didnt' do so during installation. Then before you get all gamehappy and
start installing games install ALL critical updates!! start with the SP, it
will greatly reduce the number of other updates to download. Once those are
in then i would go around and look for new video/sound drivers. Then
install the CD/DVD burning and playback software provided with drives (if
its newegg oem stuff they will usually toss in nero and something else).
And when its all done THEN you can start to play with it!

Have fun with it, only gotcha i saw on the MOBO was the front panel pin bank
where you plug in the power switch/reset switch, etc. In the manual it
looks as if the power switch shorts the two pins "shortways", but closer
inspection reveals it shorts them "longways" they are kind of color coded on
the board, think the two pins in orange are the ones for the power switch..
Also if you have front USB on the case you will nto be able to use all of
teh ports supplied with the MOBO, which is fine for me cus there are 4
soldered to back of mobo, and i ran the front USB to one of the two USB
headers on the mobo, other is empty, but i COULD use it to add 2 more usb
ports later. Also watch the firewire connector, i haven't figured it out
yet so i havent' installed it (any idea what wires go to what pins?
(available connectors do not match the pin diagram in mobo guide).. Other
than that its a pretty easy build.

 

[DV8]

My system is very similar to yours... really easy. Put it all together.
Put in XP Install CD... and go! No need for pre-installation CD, no need to
add hardware one by one, JUST GO!!! It will have every driver needed to get
it to at least boot UNLESS you are running a RAID on your SATA, then you
will need to extract the RAID drivers from the mobo CD onto a floppy. If
thats the case you will see a line at bottom of blue install screen stating
something like "press f6 now to install raid/scsi.third party drivers" then
insert the floppy and continue installation. If you are just running the
drives via regular SATA it won't need it (you have two sets of ports for
SATA installation on MOBO, two for regular SATA, and two for RAID) XP
installation should go pretty fast. After it reboots a time or two and
offers you a chance to "Activate windows XP" you should go ahead and set up
your internet connection (if dial up u will need to configure your modem
etc, just plug it in if its any broadband service) go ahead and activate if
you didnt' do so during installation. Then before you get all gamehappy and
start installing games install ALL critical updates!! start with the SP, it
will greatly reduce the number of other updates to download. Once those are
in then i would go around and look for new video/sound drivers. Then
install the CD/DVD burning and playback software provided with drives (if
its newegg oem stuff they will usually toss in nero and something else).
And when its all done THEN you can start to play with it!

Have fun with it, only gotcha i saw on the MOBO was the front panel pin bank
where you plug in the power switch/reset switch, etc. In the manual it
looks as if the power switch shorts the two pins "shortways", but closer
inspection reveals it shorts them "longways" they are kind of color coded on
the board, think the two pins in orange are the ones for the power switch..
Also if you have front USB on the case you will nto be able to use all of
teh ports supplied with the MOBO, which is fine for me cus there are 4
soldered to back of mobo, and i ran the front USB to one of the two USB
headers on the mobo, other is empty, but i COULD use it to add 2 more usb
ports later. Also watch the firewire connector, i haven't figured it out
yet so i havent' installed it (any idea what wires go to what pins?
(available connectors do not match the pin diagram in mobo guide).. Other
than that its a pretty easy build.

Excellent! This info helps A LOT! Thank you both for your help!

 

[Gary Tait]

I'm getting ready to build my second computer and I've chosen Win XP
Pro as my OS. Here's the hardware I've chosen:

ASUS P4C800-E Deluxe (With built in Intel Gigabit LAN)
Intel P4 3.2GHz
Crucial/Micron 2GB DDR PC3200 (512MB x 4)
120GB Seagate Barracuda Serial ATA 7,200 RPM (x2) (The MoBo manual
says I need XP Service Pack 1 to run Serial ATAs)
Plextor PX-708A DVD±R/RW - CD-R/RW
MSI GeForce FX 5950 Ultra
Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro
Logitech MX500 Optical Mouse
Belkin ErgoBoard

If you havn't guessed, it's a gaming machine.

I have no experience using XP at all, let alone installing it. My
first computer runs Win 98 SE. I understand that the XP registration
is different than 98 SE. XP takes a "snapshot" of your hardware
configuration? When I built my 98 SE machine I installed all the
hardware, vid card, sound card, NIC, etc... seperately and installed
the drivers for each one as I went along. My question is this: should
I install EVERYTHING before I install XP? If I install each component
seperately, will XP give me a hard time because of the hardware
changes after each reboot? I came across something called "Windows XP
Home & Pro Pre--Installation CD". Do I need this to configure my
hardware before I install XP? Could someone please describe step by
step the installation procedure?

Thank You...

Won't be a problem either way.
You install the OS, then the drivers (and any more hardware.), then
activate the OS when you get the system stable. You get 30 days to do
that.After you activate, is when certain hardware changes count.
Also, some USB devices like their drivers installed before the device
is connected.

 

[sdeyoreo]

Do what DV8 said. I jus tinstalled XP with SATA in RAID 0. Went fine
no problem. Service pack 1 was on my XP CD, so it installed
automaticly.

 

[sdeyoreo]

Sorry,do what nooneimportant said!

 

[BarryNL]

Won't be a problem either way.
You install the OS, then the drivers (and any more hardware.), then
activate the OS when you get the system stable. You get 30 days to do
that.After you activate, is when certain hardware changes count.
Also, some USB devices like their drivers installed before the device
is connected.

Erm, isn't it only XP Home that has product activation. The OP is
talking about XP Pro.

 

[nooneimportant]

Erm, isn't it only XP Home that has product activation. The OP is
talking about XP Pro.

PRO also has activation... have two licences myself and have had to activate
both of them.

 

[Kill Bill]

Erm, isn't it only XP Home that has product activation. The OP is
talking about XP Pro.

No, it's the "corporate" version that doesn't need activation.