Installing XP - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

MahlerIsGod · 09-06-2003, 07:14 PM

I realize the level of stupidity of the question must rank higher than most but I am still going to ask it. I have never installed a OS before so I am not quite sure what to do. I upgraded to XP from ME and now I want to install, not upgrade, to the full version of XP. As I explained before in another thread I think there are some glitches. So I go to Office Max give them my $100 and then.......what? I came home and just put the CD in the drive and let it do its thing? Is there any prep work I need to do before hand? Suggestions, helpful hints, etc. Thanks

SecretMethod70 · 09-06-2003, 07:26 PM

well, first thing you need to consider is your data. Do you have everything backed up? Or is it on another drive?

If your data is taken care of, you should be fine just sticking the CD in, rebooting, and installing.

parafoil · 09-06-2003, 07:37 PM

I don't think you can buy the full version of XP for less than $150... Plus it's hard to format your c: drive... I format and reinstall about twice a year.........

poof · 09-06-2003, 08:17 PM

What both posts before said. Save your data because XP is going to format ntfs (or fat, your choice). Let it do its thing. As far as not being an upgrade, I don't think you can drop a hundred dollars at Office Max and get a full copy of XP. Sounds like an upgrade.

Lasereth · 09-06-2003, 08:26 PM

I'm pretty sure he got the Home Edition which is about $100.00.

There's a few problems you could run into with the XP CD. It's not as simple as putting it in and following the directions. Hell, it's not even possible unless you have your BIOS settings set correctly.

First off, you need to go into your computer's BIOS (usually by pressing delete, F5, or F8 when your computer turns on until it goes into it) and look at a section called "Boot Sequence." You need to have the CD-ROM as the first boot and your hard drive (usually named HDD-0 or simply HDD) set as second boot. Then reset the computer with the Windows XP CD in. It will tell you to press any key to boot from CD at one point. Press a key, then follow the directions. You want to format c: drive first with the NTFS file system (if this doesn't make sense, it's easier than it looks, it's all done by following directions). After it's formatted, the XP CD will then copy the setup files onto your hard drive that are needed for the XP installation. After that, your computer will reset. Make sure to NOT press a key to boot from CD when asked, just let the computer boot up normally. The Windows XP installation will then begin. Follow the directions; it's really easy.

That's all ya gotta do! It's much simpler than what it seems. Good luck!

-Lasereth

Flippy · 09-06-2003, 09:23 PM

Something that might save you money, is, if you already have an upgrade XP cd, you can still perform a full installation. When your drive is cleared, and the XP install can't find any evidence of previous windows installations on the hard drive, it will ask you for valid windows media. Pop in your ME cd, let it verify it, and you're good to go.

As for installation instructions, backup, format (fat32 or ntfs, your choice), install (if you can't boot off the CD, boot off a CD-capable boot floppy and then run winnt.exe in \i386 on the cdrom. Also, get smartdrv.exe on the floppy and run it before install - it speeds up the initial file copying drastically)

09-06-2003, 07:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
MahlerIsGod At The Globe Showing Will How Its Done Location: London/Elysium	Installing XP I realize the level of stupidity of the question must rank higher than most but I am still going to ask it. I have never installed a OS before so I am not quite sure what to do. I upgraded to XP from ME and now I want to install, not upgrade, to the full version of XP. As I explained before in another thread I think there are some glitches. So I go to Office Max give them my $100 and then.......what? I came home and just put the CD in the drive and let it do its thing? Is there any prep work I need to do before hand? Suggestions, helpful hints, etc. Thanks __________________ "But a work of art is a conscious human effort that has to do with communication. It is that or its nothing. When an accident is applauded as a work of art, when a cult grows up around the deliciousness of inadvertent beauty, we are in the presence of the greatest decadence the West has known in its history."

09-06-2003, 07:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	well, first thing you need to consider is your data. Do you have everything backed up? Or is it on another drive? If your data is taken care of, you should be fine just sticking the CD in, rebooting, and installing. __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

09-06-2003, 08:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lasereth Knight of the Old Republic Location: Winston-Salem, NC	I'm pretty sure he got the Home Edition which is about $100.00. There's a few problems you could run into with the XP CD. It's not as simple as putting it in and following the directions. Hell, it's not even possible unless you have your BIOS settings set correctly. First off, you need to go into your computer's BIOS (usually by pressing delete, F5, or F8 when your computer turns on until it goes into it) and look at a section called "Boot Sequence." You need to have the CD-ROM as the first boot and your hard drive (usually named HDD-0 or simply HDD) set as second boot. Then reset the computer with the Windows XP CD in. It will tell you to press any key to boot from CD at one point. Press a key, then follow the directions. You want to format c: drive first with the NTFS file system (if this doesn't make sense, it's easier than it looks, it's all done by following directions). After it's formatted, the XP CD will then copy the setup files onto your hard drive that are needed for the XP installation. After that, your computer will reset. Make sure to NOT press a key to boot from CD when asked, just let the computer boot up normally. The Windows XP installation will then begin. Follow the directions; it's really easy. That's all ya gotta do! It's much simpler than what it seems. Good luck! -Lasereth __________________ "A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert

09-06-2003, 07:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
parafoil Insane Location: Ohio	I don't think you can buy the full version of XP for less than $150... Plus it's hard to format your c: drive... I format and reinstall about twice a year.........

09-06-2003, 08:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
poof Psycho	What both posts before said. Save your data because XP is going to format ntfs (or fat, your choice). Let it do its thing. As far as not being an upgrade, I don't think you can drop a hundred dollars at Office Max and get a full copy of XP. Sounds like an upgrade.

09-06-2003, 09:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
Flippy Banned Location: Greater Vancouver	Something that might save you money, is, if you already have an upgrade XP cd, you can still perform a full installation. When your drive is cleared, and the XP install can't find any evidence of previous windows installations on the hard drive, it will ask you for valid windows media. Pop in your ME cd, let it verify it, and you're good to go. As for installation instructions, backup, format (fat32 or ntfs, your choice), install (if you can't boot off the CD, boot off a CD-capable boot floppy and then run winnt.exe in \i386 on the cdrom. Also, get smartdrv.exe on the floppy and run it before install - it speeds up the initial file copying drastically)