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Question Title The Pro Way to Install XP Pro

The Pro Way to Install XP Pro

Unattended installation is the way to install Windows XP Professional. Not only do you not have to wait to answer the installation questions during the install, but you can have many settings set for when you first log on to your computer. Everything from certain network printers on your network, network configurations, internet explorer settings, to even user accounts and there is more! Doing an unattended installation is quick and easy. You must have a floppy drive and a floppy disk.

Before doing a clean install of XP, the very first thing you should do before installing XP is checking your system's hardware for compatibility. Insert the Windows XP CD into your CD-ROM, and in the first window select Check This System for Compatibility. Another way to do this is to go onto the Windows website and to search for the XP Hardware Compatibility List (HCL).

Next is to create the answer file itself. Select Browse the CD Contents. The directory to get to the answer file wizard is X:\Support\Tools\Deploy.rar\Setupmgr.exe. This wizard is self explanatory . Go through all the configuration options.
Once this is done, save the file as winnt.sif and save it to your floppy disk. And now you are ready to install XP!
Restart the computer and go into the system's BIOS. Make sure the CD-ROM is the first in the boot sequence. Save changes and restart the computer.

Here is where you set up your partitions and file system on your hard drive. Partitions are a logical grouping of sectors on the hard drive. The purpose of this is to allow a boot of multiple operating systems on a single hard drive, as well as organization options with data. Delete the partition with the current operating system, re-partition it, and install XP. It will ask what file system, do NTFS non-quick. From here on out, you do not have to sit by the computer for the installation process. Go do something else, and when you come back at the right time, your new XP machine once booted, will have all the settings that you created on your answer file!
Enjoy your new XP machine.

Jon Brengle
Senior Technology Analyst
Certified A+, N+ Technician
Authored by: Jon Brengle This question has been viewed 1641 times so far.
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Article Number: 92
Created: 2007-11-13 1:55 PM
Rating 5 Stars
 
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