How to Install Windows XP (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Windows XP is one of Microsoft's most famous operating systems and, despite starting to show signs of old age, there are still many users who continue to use it. Whether you want to bring an old computer back to life, or install Windows XP on a new machine, the installation process is very short.

Note: Microsoft no longer supports Windows XP, which means that corrective updates for issues and features are no longer available. It is therefore recommended that you switch to one of the more modern versions of Windows, such as Windows 7 or Windows 8.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Configuration

Step 1. First, check that your computer has the minimum hardware requirements to be able to run Windows XP

You can find information about the configuration of your computer directly in the manufacturer's manual or by running the DirectX diagnostic tool through the Windows operating system running on the machine.

• To run the DirectX diagnostic tool, access the Run dialog box (press the hotkey sequence "Windows + R") and type "dxdiag" in the Open field, then press the "OK" button.

• Minimum System Requirements

  • 300 MHz Intel or AMD CPU
  • 128 MB of RAM
  • 1.5 GB of free hard disk space
  • Super VGA video card (800x600) or higher
  • Optical CD / DVD player
  • Keyboard and mouse or other pointing device
  • Network card required for internet access and network connectivity
  • Sound card and loudspeakers or a pair of headphones

  

  Step 2. Find the Product Key of your copy of Windows XP

  You will find it indicated on the sticker located on the back of the Windows XP packaging or on the structure of the computer itself. It is an alphanumeric string, made up of 5 groups of 5 characters each, separated by a hyphen. In total it is made up of a sequence of 25 alphanumeric characters. In order to complete the installation of Windwos XP, you need to have this code available.

  

  Step 3. Configure your computer to boot from the CD / DVD drive

  Before inserting the installation CD into the drive, you need to configure your computer to boot from CD / DVD instead of hard drive. This will allow the Windows XP installation procedure to load from the CD-ROM when the computer starts. You can change your computer's boot sequence through the BIOS START / BOOT menu.

  • To access the computer's BIOS, normally, you need to press the "F9" or "DEL" key during the very first phase of the machine boot.
  • From the BIOS "START / BOOT" menu, set the boot sequence order so that the CD / DVD drive is the first device from which the operating system will load.
  • If you want to install Windows XP from a USB storage device, make sure this device is the first entry in the BIOS boot sequence. For this option to appear in the boot sequence menu, the USB device must be connected to the computer.

  Part 2 of 3: Installation

  

  Step 1. Launch the installation program

  After changing the BIOS boot sequence, insert the Windows XP installation CD into the optical drive of the computer, save the changes made to the BIOS and exit. The computer will automatically restart and the following message will be displayed on the screen:

  Press any key to boot from CD-ROM

  . Press any key on the keyboard to start the installation procedure.

  The program will load the files needed for installation from the CD, which may take a few seconds. When the installer has finished loading, the welcome screen will appear

  

  Step 2. Press the "Enter" key to begin the actual installation process

  When the initial upload is complete, you will be taken to the welcome screen. From here you will have several options, but if you want to proceed with the installation or reinstallation of Windows XP, simply press the Enter key on your keyboard.

  

  Step 3. Read carefully the terms of the license agreement for the program

  This agreement explains what you can and cannot do with Windows XP content and lists your consumer rights. When finished reading, press the F8 key to accept the terms of the agreement and proceed with the installation.

  

  Step 4. Select the disk partition on which to install the operating system

  You will have a list of all computer partitions available for installation. If you are installing Windows XP on a new hard drive, you will only see a partition labeled "Unpartitioned space". If you already have a Windows or Linux operating system installed on your computer, you will potentially have multiple partitions.

  • Windows XP installation will erase all data on the selected partition. Then choose an empty partition or one that contains unimportant data.
  • You can delete the partitions on the disk by pressing the "D" key. This will re-label the space occupied by the partitions as "Unpartitioned space". Any data on the partition will be lost once it is deleted.

  

  Step 5. Create a new partition

  Select the Unpartitioned Space and press the "C" key. This will take you to a new screen where you can determine the size of the new partition based on the available space. Type the size of the new partition in megabytes (MB), then press the Enter key.

  • By default, the size of the new partition will occupy all available disk space. Unless you plan to create multiple partitions, normally, the default will be the correct one.
  • At least 1.5GB (1536MB) of free disk space is required to install Windows XP, but take into account your data as well, which includes programs, documents, images, videos, music, and files downloaded from the web. Five gigabytes (5120MB) is a good amount of free space to accommodate the Windows XP installation, but reserve more space if you plan to install a lot of additional programs.
  • Within a single hard drive, you can create multiple partitions. This will give you the option to separate programs from music and video data or to install a second operating system. Windows XP can only be installed on a separate partition.

  

  Step 6. Select the newly created partition

  After you have created the partition for installation, you will be returned to the previous screen for selecting the partition to use. Select the newly created partition, normally labeled "C: Partition1 [New (Raw)]", and press the "Enter" key.

  

  Step 7. Select the "Format partition using NTFS file system" item and press Enter

  It is advisable to use an NTFS file system as it supports larger partitions than a FAT file system and is more secure for data integrity. An NTFS file system also includes features for file compression. There are practically no other scenarios in which choosing a FAT file system file is recommended.

  • If your partition is larger than 32GB, you don't have the option to choose a FAT file system.
  • It is highly advisable to avoid Quick Format, as choosing this option omits a very important step in which the physical state of the disk is analyzed for errors or bad sectors. This scan is the one that takes the longest during the formatting process. If there are any errors on the disk, it is best to find them now rather than in the future.

  

  Step 8. Wait for the formatting process to finish

  The installation program will proceed to format the partition. The duration of this operation depends on the speed of the hard drive and the size of the partition to be formatted. As a rule, the larger the partition size, the longer it takes to format.

  

  Step 9. Wait for the copy of the installation files to finish

  Windows will begin copying the installation files from the CD-ROM to your hard drive and then prompt you to reboot the system. At this point, press 'Enter' to restart the computer, or wait 15 seconds for the system to restart automatically.

  

  Step 10. Let the computer boot normally

  You will see again the message indicating to press any key on the keyboard to proceed to boot from the CD / DVD player. Do not press any key to allow the computer to boot from the hard drive. You will see the Windows logo appear on the screen while the configuration program is loaded.

  

  Step 11. Wait for the installation process to continue

  When the Windows logo disappears, you will see a screen appear on the left side of which will be a list of remaining steps to complete to finish the installation. On the right will scroll instead a series of tips on how to make the most of Windows features. The time remaining until the installation is complete will be displayed on the lower left of the screen.

  During this process, it is normal to see the screen flickering, resizing, or turning off and on again

  

  Step 12. Choose your language and regional and international configuration settings

  During installation, a Windows dialog box will appear asking you to provide information regarding regional and international settings. Select the correct settings based on the area you live in. At the end press the Next button to continue.

  If you wish, enter your full name. This information is used to indicate the "owner" of the Windows installation and related to other system information and processes, such as creating a document

  

  Step 13. Enter the Product Key. You will not be able to complete the installation if you do not provide a valid code. At the end of the insertion press the "Next" button to continue.

  Some versions of Windows require you to enter the Product Key only after the installation process is complete

  

  Step 14. Set your computer name

  This data represents the name of the computer within a local area network (LAN). Windows assigns a default name, but you can change it as you see fit if you wish. Additionally, you are given the option to set a login password for the system administrator account. This is an optional step, but is strongly recommended on public domain computers for security reasons.

  

  Step 15. Select the time zone of the area you live in and make sure the date and time are set correctly

  When finished, press the "Next" button to continue.

  

  Step 16. Configure the network settings

  Almost all users, who use Windows XP at home or on their personal computer, select the "Typical settings" configuration option. If you are installing Windows XP in a business or academic environment, contact your network administrator to provide you with the correct settings for configuring your network connection.

  • On the next screen, most users can choose the "No, this computer is not on the network, or it is on a network without a domain" option. If you are installing Windows XP in a work environment, contact your network administrator to give you the correct settings to select.
  • Normally you can leave the default workgroup name.

  

  Step 17. Wait for the installation to complete

  This step will only take a few minutes, after which your computer will restart after the installation is complete. The next time you start your computer you will be presented with the Windows XP desktop. At this point the installation is finished, but before you can use Windows normally you have to fix something else.

  Part 3 of 3: Final Setup

  

  Step 1. Configure the display settings

  When Windows has finished loading, a message will indicate that the operating system will automatically configure the display settings. Press the OK button to start the setup. The screen will flash a couple of times, after which you will be asked to make sure that you can read the text inside the panel that appeared.

  

  Step 2. Configure the network connection settings

  If your computer is connected to the internet, select the type of connection to use. When finished press the Next button to continue.

  

  Step 3. Activate your copy of Windows

  If you are connected to the internet, select "Activate now". The operating system will connect with the activation server and automatically authenticate your copy of Windows. If you haven't had to enter your product key yet, you'll be prompted to do so now.

  

  Step 4. Create the users

  After the activation process, you will have the option to provide the username with which to connect to the computer. Enter your username, and that of all other people who will use the computer. When you are ready, press the "Next" button to continue.

  

  Step 5. Start using Windows

  You should now be able to admire the default Windows XP desktop. Congratulations! Windows is now up and running, although most likely there are still a few things you need to get done:

  • Install all drivers required for the peripherals installed on the computer to function properly.
  • Install an antivirus program if your computer is connected to the internet.
  • Configure the BIOS to boot again from hard drive instead of CD / DVD drive.

  Advice

  • If you encounter any problems during the installation, the Windows installation procedure will be able to provide you with technical information relating to any errors, helping you to determine the cause. Find the solution to the most common problems encountered during the installation of Windows by consulting the Microsoft website, in the section dedicated to technical assistance.
  • The installation of Windows XP normally takes between 15 and 40 minutes, depending on the speed of the system. In any case, it would be better to be in front of the monitor during this operation, as you will need to customize the most common settings, such as date, time or network connection.
  • Don't forget to set the boot sequence in the BIOS. On older computers, the boot sequence first examines the floppy disk drive, then the hard drive, and finally the CD-ROM drive. In this case, you will need to change the boot priority, setting CD-ROM loading as the first option.

  Warnings

  • In the latest generation computers, while installing Windows XP Service Pack 2 or earlier versions, many users are faced with several serious problems, such as endless system restarts or blue error screens. This happens because the installation of SATA drivers is required to use the most modern hard drives, which is not possible with older versions of Windows XP. To solve this problem, you will need to create a custom copy of the Windows XP installation disk, including drivers for managing SATA hard drives. Alternatively, you will need to copy the drivers to a floppy disk, then manually load them during installation.
  • Do not install Windows on a system that does not have the minimum required hardware requirements.
  • Make sure to activate your copy of Windows within 30 days after installation, otherwise the system will not allow you to log in until fully activated.
  • You can install more than one instance of Windows on a single partition, although this is an operation that could cause system instability in the future. Use a software like "Partition Magic 8", to create a partition for each Windows installation, so as to have a stable system.