Formatting, Multiple Installs under Windows XP Pro

  • Thread starter Thread starter Stephanie
  • Start date Start date
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Stephanie

Hi All,

Im finally upgrading to Windows XP Pro, but I have heard
some nightmare stories about formatting and reinstalling.
I format on a regular basis, once every 2 months at
least, and with Windows 98SE I have no problems. Is this
going to be a problem with Windows XP Pro? I've heard it
will only let me register the Serial number twice, even
though Im using it on the same computer? The Sys Restore
is a nice feature, but I would still need to format.

Do I stick with Win98SE or can I finally upgrade?

Thanks much!!
Stephanie...
 
You can reinstall and activate Windows XP using the same Product Key
as many times as you wish, as long as it is used on the same computer.
I don't know where you are hearing all those adverse stories, but
you are getting incorrect advice.

Reformatting your drive with Windows XP is much
simpler than with Windows 98. Just follow this procedure:

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:

1. It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except for you mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

2. Open your BIOS and set your CD Drive as the first bootable device.

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

3. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
4. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
5. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

6. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

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.


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

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


| Hi All,
|
| Im finally upgrading to Windows XP Pro, but I have heard
| some nightmare stories about formatting and reinstalling.
| I format on a regular basis, once every 2 months at
| least, and with Windows 98SE I have no problems. Is this
| going to be a problem with Windows XP Pro? I've heard it
| will only let me register the Serial number twice, even
| though Im using it on the same computer? The Sys Restore
| is a nice feature, but I would still need to format.
|
| Do I stick with Win98SE or can I finally upgrade?
|
| Thanks much!!
| Stephanie...
 
In
Stephanie said:
Im finally upgrading to Windows XP Pro, but I have heard
some nightmare stories about formatting and reinstalling.
I format on a regular basis, once every 2 months at
least,
Click to expand...


Each to his own, but as far as I'm concerned, that's poor
practice. If you maintain your computer properly, you should
*never* need to reformat and reinstall--certainly not
prophylactically. I've had every version of Windows since 3.0
installed, most for their full lifetimes, never reformatted and
reinstalled any of them, and never had a problem. That's on my
personal machine as well as several others I maintain.

and with Windows 98SE I have no problems. Is this
going to be a problem with Windows XP Pro? I've heard it
will only let me register the Serial number twice, even
though Im using it on the same computer?
Click to expand...


You've heard wrong. You can reinstall as often as you want.
You'll have to activate each time (activate, not register), but
that's not a problem.
 
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