Install Problem w/XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter Terry
  • Start date Start date
T

Terry

To me, these seem like pretty basic questions. I hope this is the right
place.

A few days ago, I bought and installed a retail version (not an upgrade) of
WinXP. The hard drive already had Win98se on it but I expected XP to
overwrite everything, wiping out 98se and everything else. That's not what
happened. Somehow, I now have a dual boot setup. Not the desired result.
I have not yet activated XP, if that's relevant. I intend to do that later,
after I've got everything tweaked to my satisfaction. I sort of assumed that
I might have to install it more than once if I didn't do it right the first
time, and it looks like that's what's happened. Right now, I'm working on
the XP machine, but I'm going to go back to my old computer, which has 98se,
get online with it again and see what assistance I can get or information I
can find on how to install XP correctly.

Second question: Since installing XP on this computer, I've been getting
these gray popup anouncements that say "Messenger Service" in the upper left
corner, there's the exit "X" in the upper right corner, and an "Okay" dialog
at the bottom. Prior to this installation, I've never seen them before. I've
been with my present ISP for nearly 2 years. Could they have anything to do
with Windows Messenger -- which I am not signed on to anyway...???

Thanks in advance. Any and all information/assistance or advice will be
appreciated.
 
Hi,

I suspect you installed an OEM full version, which is why you ended up with
the dual boot. OEM versions generally will not do upgrades.

The messenger service popups can be blocked by enabling the firewall on the
advanced tab of the network connection properties.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Windows
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone
 
Greetings --

Terry said:
To me, these seem like pretty basic questions. I hope this is the right
place.

A few days ago, I bought and installed a retail version (not an upgrade) of
WinXP. The hard drive already had Win98se on it but I expected XP to
overwrite everything, wiping out 98se and everything else. That's not what
happened. Somehow, I now have a dual boot setup. Not the desired result.
I have not yet activated XP, if that's relevant. I intend to do that later,
after I've got everything tweaked to my satisfaction. I sort of assumed that
I might have to install it more than once if I didn't do it right the first
time, and it looks like that's what's happened. Right now, I'm working on
the XP machine, but I'm going to go back to my old computer, which has 98se,
get online with it again and see what assistance I can get or information I
can find on how to install XP correctly.
Click to expand...

You apparently launched the WinXP setup from within Win98 and
selected a "new" installation. What you're seeing is the result of
accepting all of the default options, among which formatting the hard
drive is _not_ included, from this point on. Had you selected the
recommended "Upgrade" option, you'd have accomplished your goal of
replacing Win98. The Setup routine won't overwrite everything during
a "New" installation unless you explicitly tell it to do so. As you
haven't gotten too far, the quickest, cleanest solution would be to
start over.

Simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be offered the
opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of the
installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of boot
devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm
Second question: Since installing XP on this computer, I've been getting
these gray popup announcements that say "Messenger Service" in the upper left
corner, there's the exit "X" in the upper right corner, and an "Okay" dialog
at the bottom. Prior to this installation, I've never seen them before. I've
been with my present ISP for nearly 2 years. Could they have anything to do
with Windows Messenger -- which I am not signed on to anyway...???

Thanks in advance. Any and all information/assistance or advice will be
appreciated.
Click to expand...

This type of spam has become quite common over the past year or
so, and unintentionally serves as a valid security "alert." It
demonstrates that you haven't been taking sufficient precautions while
connected to the Internet. Your data probably hasn't been compromised
by these specific advertisements, but if you're open to this exploit,
you most definitely open to other threats, such as the Blaster,
Welchia, and Sasser Worms that still haunt the Internet. Install and
use a decent, properly configured firewall. (Merely disabling the
messenger service, as some people recommend, only hides the symptom,
and does little or nothing to truly secure your machine.) And
ignoring or just "putting up with" the security gap represented by
these messages is particularly foolish.

Messenger Service of Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;168893

Messenger Service Window That Contains an Internet Advertisement
Appears
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=330904

Stopping Advertisements with Messenger Service Titles
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/communicate/stopspam.asp

Blocking Ads, Parasites, and Hijackers with a Hosts File
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

If you're using AOL, you'll either need to find a 3rd party
firewall that is compatible with AOL, or switch to a real ISP that is
compatible with the real Internet. This is because AOL is an on-line
content provider that ignores international Internetworking standards
in favor of its own proprietary products, and has deliberately made
its connection software incompatible with both WinXP's built-in
firewall and WinXP's Internet Connection Sharing feature. AOL's
proprietary connection applet is deliberately designed to preclude
your setting/adjusting any of its properties, to include
enabling/disabling WinXP's ICF and ICS.

Whichever firewall you decide upon, be sure to ensure UDP ports
135, 137, and 138 and TCP ports 135, 139, and 445 are _all_ blocked.
You may also disable Inbound NetBIOS (NetBIOS over TCP/IP). You'll
have to follow the instructions from firewall's manufacturer for the
specific steps.

You can test your firewall at:

Symantec Security Check
http://security.symantec.com/ssc/vr_main.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym&plfid=23&pkj=GPVHGBYNCJEIMXQKCDT

Security Scan - Sygate Online Services
http://www.sygatetech.com/

Oh, and be especially wary of people who advise you to do nothing
more than disable the messenger service. Disabling the messenger
service, by itself, is a "head in the sand" approach to computer
security. The real problem is _not_ the messenger service pop-ups;
they're actually providing a useful, if annoying, service by acting as
a security alert. The true problem is the unsecured computer, and
you've been advised to merely turn off the warnings. How is this
helpful?



Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. - RAH
 
Bruce. . . Thanks much for your thoughtful response, and also for the many references. It's clear I've
got a bit of work yet to do.
 
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