Windows XP Installation

How To Install MS Windows XP Professional?

Here you will learn about windows xp upgrade tutorial, how to install 98, how to update 2000, basic configuration steps and basic Windows basic configuration steps. Most individuals and small or big companies require Windows XP to be installed on a new computer. However large base of the existing computers in most of the organizations run the older version of the Windows XP. An upgrading is a process which makes the operating systems up to date. Before updating you should consider the following things.

• Your computer hardware should support the latest version of the Windows XP.
• You should be aware that applications that are running on the older version may be not be compatible with the latest version.
• Upgrading process can take significant time, money and resources if the upgrade is required to a number of the network computers.
It is not possible to upgrade any non Windows computers (UNIX, Linux etc) to Windows XP. You have to perform clean installation of Windows XP on these computers.
Verification System Compatibility
The windows XP compatibility tool enables you create compatibility report that identifies any problems with computer hardware or software on a computer. You can find and run this tool from the Windows XP CD-ROM by following steps.
1. Insert the Windows XP CD.
2. Select the check system compatibility link from the welcome screen.
3. Select check my system automatically link.
Additionally, you can also check Windows XP compatibility by opening a command prompt and typing this command c:\i386\WINNT32/Checkupgraedeonly. The Microsoft upgrade advisor will enable you to download the updated setup files from the Microsoft website. You must have internet connection to download the updated setup files and if you do not have internet connection available at this time then skip this step and continue installing Windows option and click next. If you selected to download the setup files from the internet you will find a restart option, click this option and then select yes.
After this step Microsoft upgrade advisor display a report of the incompatible hardware and software. If you need detailed information of any incompatible item click “More details” and click next. Incompatible software may require upgrade packs or latest versions. If are unable to find the upgrade packs at this time then you should remove the incompatible software from the Add/Remove programs before you continue with the Windows XP upgrade. You can Windows XP upgrade advisor from the following path.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/upgrading/advisor.mspx.
After you confirm that an upgrade is required, you should perform the following several tasks before update starts.
• Backup you critical data before upgrading. The easiest way to backup the data is to copy the data folders to another disk or computer.
• Check the available BIOS upgrades from BIOS manufacturer’s website and if upgrade is available for the BIOS, you should upgrade it before you continue upgrading to Windows XP.
• Next you should turn off the power management features from the Power options in the control panel.
• Your antivirus program should be upgraded to the latest versions and your computer should be virus free.
• Your computer’s hardware should be available in the Device Manager in Windows 2000 or XP.
• If Microsoft Upgrade Advisor has identified incompatible software, you should remove all these software before you continue upgrade process.
• Ensure that no unnecessary program is running during the upgrade process.
• Windows XP does not support stripe sets created in Windows NT 4.0 so if you are upgrading from Windows NT 4.0 that contains strips sets, you should back up their contact and delete them before upgrading process.
Generally you will have less compatibility problems when you are going to upgrade from Windows NT/2000 than upgrading to Windows 98/Me. Additionally, your keyboard, mouse should be updated with the latest drivers before upgrading.
Upgrading a Windows NT 4.0 or 2000 Computer
After you have make sure that your computer meets all the hardware and software requirements for the Windows XP Professional then you are ready to perform the actual upgrade.
Note: You cannot upgrade Windows NT or Windows 2000 to Windows XP home edition, rather you should upgrade to Windows XP Professional. Additionally, you cannot upgrade a computer that is running Windows 2000 Server.
To upgrade a Windows 2000 Professional computer to Windows XP Professional follow the following steps. Please note that if you want to upgrade from Windows NT, the steps are almost same.
1. Insert the Windows XP Professional CD with SP2 in the CD-ROM.
2. Double click the CD-ROM drive and then double click the setup icon. You can also get the installation files from the network computer by mapping the source drive to the distribution share.
3. On the Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP screen, click install Windows XP Professional.
4. The welcome screen provides the installation types. Now select the Upgrade (Recommended) to begin the upgrade and click next.
5. The License agreement screen appears, read the license and click I accept this agreement then click Next.
6. Next appears the Product Key screen, enter the 25-alpha-numeric product key and then click next.
7. Next Get Updated Setup Files dialog box appears. If you have internet connection then you should select Dynamic Update setup files option and download the updated files from the Microsoft website, otherwise click no, Next to continue.
8. Installation files are copied and the computer restarts. Copying of the files takes few minutes and it involves copying of the files to a separate folder.
9. Next Press Enter to accept the default of Windows XP Professional Setup from boot menu.
10. Insert the Microsoft Windows XP Professional CD and click next. Insert the Windows SP2 CD and press enter, if you are promoted that setup cannot copy a file during setup.
11. Next the Setup examines the system disks and text mode copying step takes 5 to 10 minutes and then computer restarts again.
12. Windows XP Setup obtains additional setup information from the older version. You are asked for the additional information is setup is unable to get the information. Here you will be prompted for the original CD-ROM as mentioned in the step # 10.
13. Once the installation is complete the computer reboots and displays the Welcome to Microsoft Windows screen.
14. Similar to the option presented during an original installation, enter your name and the name of any other person who will use this computer. Click next and then click finish. J
15. After reboot a logon screen will appear, enter your user name to start.
After upgrade process is completed and hardware and software upgrading is also completed with the latest versions/packs, you can perform the normal tasks such as installing new software applications, working in MS office applications, browsing the internet etc.