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Installing XP Pro? Ghosting/Reimaging?

Ok so here's the siuation: I'm getting a new Dell desktop with XP Home already installed on it... that's on the 40GB hard drive and I already have a 120GB HD that I'll put in there too.

I'm getting XP Pro from an OEM retailer, but I'm not exactly sure how to go about installing it. I mean, I've heard stuff about ghosting/reimaging hard drives, but I'm not exactly sure if I even have to do that.

My best guess is that I should be installing XP Pro on the smaller hard drive, just so my thousands of files on the 120GB HD won't be compromised. I'm also guessing that I shouldn't just straight up install XP Pro with XP Home still installed and running. But then is it ok to completely format the 40GB hard drive, then install XP Pro on it? Cause I mean once I format it, how could I install the OS without any existing OS running?

Cause yeah I'm pretty sure I won't be missing any of the Dell pre-installed programs that came with the desktop, and a fresh install of XP Pro would be nice, just that I don't know how to go about in doing it. Thanks.

You can just simple install it on a reformatted hard drive the way you just described in your best guess.

Ghosting/Reimaging harddrive is just talking about making a back up of your operating system or hard drive parition and then reimaging is simply restoring your backup operating system and overwrite the one that's already on the hard drive but it's fucked up for some reason.

Jeez, I'm stoned....

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperFLYboy12

But then is it ok to completely format the 40GB hard drive, then install XP Pro on it?

Yes

Quote:

Cause I mean once I format it, how could I install the OS without any existing OS running?

Put your install CD into the drive when you turn on the computer. It should automatically load. If it doesn't, you might have to change your BIOS so that your computer checks your CD drive.

Quote:

Cause yeah I'm pretty sure I won't be missing any of the Dell pre-installed programs that came with the desktop...

Oh, god, yes. It'll be so much faster without that crap on there.

If you put the XP Pro disc in there it will format the drive before it does an install so you shouldn't have to worry about it.

There should be an option that shows your partitions. Just delete the partition (on your 40GB) and then the option to format it will come up. Then the Windows CD will install XP.

Having a "clean" Xp Pro is a wonderful thing!