I had been maintaining my PC pretty much well and whenever I have problems I handle it myself. In a way I have managed to become a technician of my own PC and I sometimes help my friends to maintain their’s as well. Often I am out of reach and my friends phone me up asking to directions of how to install Windows XP. It is pretty much hard to direct them via phone or on the chat. So I thought of writing this topic so that my friends and everyone who wants to install Windows XP would install it on their own following the instructions. What better way then to write it with step-by-step visual tutorial by me.

Below are the instructions with pictures.

You need to have following things at first:
1. Windows XP Professional/Home CD
2. Computer with CD/DVD optical appliance

Before you start installation take following things in consideration:

1. If you are reinstalling your Windows, then create backup for all your important files (documents, pictures, music, etc), and if needed take down net configuration settings.
2. You need to have CD/DVDs or download the newest drivers from producers homepages for your hardware like video card, sound card, motherboard, etc; and if needed driver for SATA disks controller.
3. You should unplug your net cable
4. Make sure that CD/DVD appliance is set as First Boot Device.

You need do this in BIOS setup. You can read it in your motherboard’s manual for more information on how to do it. Usually to get to BIOS while system is starting you need to push one of the following buttons: “Del” (Delete), “F1”, “F2”, “F8” or “F10”. (My PC follows “Del” key)

After you done it save changes with [Save & Exit]

With newest models pressing “F10” you can choose the appliance which will be the first booting device.

There are two types of BIOS version I mostly encountered. Below are the separate images for both of the versions:

a. BIOS version

b. BIOS version

Let’s start with the installation process now…

To start Windows installation:
Put Windows XP CD and restart your computer.
You will see “Press any key to boot from CD …” so you must push any button on your keyboard to proceed.

Now Windows XP installation will start by itself.
Please pay attention to the lower part of the screen. Important commands will be displayed that you need to use in installation process.

If drivers for hard disk controller (SATA, SCSI) is needed, you must press “F6” and do three following steps:
1. Insert diskette and press “Enter”
2. Choose adequate driver and press “Enter”
3. Press “Enter” to continue installation process

In this windows press “Enter” to continue the installation or press “F3” to cancel the installation

Then follows Windows Xp license, and if you agree with these rules and want to continue installation press “F8”, but if you don’t agree and want to cancel installation press “F3”

If you install Windows XP in computer that already have installed Windows XP, then you will see window and I recommend press “Esc” (don’t repair) in it. If you choose to press “R” than only the windows files will be rewrited and viruses will stay in your computer. So press “Esc”

In this step we can divide disk in many pieces (partitions) if you need it.
1. If there is any partitions you can delete the with “D”
2. With “C” you can create new partitions
Choose partition where you want to install Windows XP and press “Enter”

Choose file system what you want format your disk. I usually advise to choose NTFS. If you don’t want to wait long time you can choose NTFS (Quick) and press “Enter”

Your hard disk will be formatted and after that files will be copied to your hard disk. When all files will be copied, computer will restart.

After restart don’t press any key when you see “Press any key to boot from CD …” Just wait and Windows installation will continue.

After some time a windows will appear “Regional and Language Options”. Click customize if needed, but if you don’t need to customize click “Next” to continue Windows XP installation. You can customize it later after installation if you want.

Fill the fields Name and Organization, when it is done click “Next”

Write in your Windows XP license number (serial) and click “Next”

Fill the computer’s name and administrator’s password if needed. Then click “Next”

Choose your time zone and make sure that clock is correct. Then click “Next” Windows XP installation will continue after that.

If you want to configure network’s configurations you can do it here, but you can do it after installation as well. So you can choose ‘Typical settings’ and click “Next”. In next window click “Next”

Windows XP installation will continue and after that computer will restart again.

After booting in follow short wizard that offer you to activate windows and create user accounts.

Then choose “skip” and about windows registering in their site you can answer “No”

So you finally have installed Windows XP in your hard drive by now.

Important things to do after installation:
Please install firewall and anti virus before you plug in your internet cable.
After the installation process of Windows XP you can continue installing drivers and any software you need.

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