Installing Windows xp on clean hard drive

  • Thread starter Thread starter Steve H.
  • Start date Start date
S

Steve H.

I have a completely blank hard drive on a pc purchased
from original owner. Also have windows xp discs. How do I
get this operating system installed. The pc won't go to
the cd rom. I need some kind of startup help.
 
HOW TO: Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=316941

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

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Michael Stevens]

Obtaining Windows XP Setup Boot Disks
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=http://support.microsoft.com:80/support/kb/articles

Make sure you download the correct set of disks. If SP1 is included with
your Windows XP CD, download the setup disks for use with SP1.

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

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

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


|I have a completely blank hard drive on a pc purchased
| from original owner. Also have windows xp discs. How do I
| get this operating system installed. The pc won't go to
| the cd rom. I need some kind of startup help.
 
Greetings --

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

However, if the PC is too old (pre-1996?) to boot from the CD,
it's very probably also too old to support WinXP.


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:




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having both at once. -- RAH
 
During the boot of the system you shoule see a msg that
indicates to press a key that will enter the CMOS or
Setup. Often the key is "DEL" or "F2". The msg will only
display for a short period. If your running a Compaq
computer after the word Compaq displays the cursor will
just to the upper right corner having started in the
upper left corner. While the cursor is in the upper right
corner, repeatedly tap the "F10" key (DO NOT press and
hold the F10 key, the computer will enter the CMOS. Some
other manufactures may have other keys. Gateway for
example, you have to press the TAB key to be able to see
the real msg to enter teh CMOS.

Once in the CMOS or Setup, navagate the menus looking for
an option titled similar to "BOOT ORDER". Once there you
will see the boot order of the system. Look at the screen
and see how to change to boot order. Often times the
arrow keys and page up/down will be used. You will want
the CD drive to be before the hard drive. After making
your changes select save and exit.

Depending on how old the system is booting from the CD
will require a boot disk (floppy) that boots with the CD
drives drivers. You can then run install from there.
 
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