How to install or upgrade to Windows XP

Before you start, you must have your Windows XP installation CD and the product key available.

If you cannot find your Windows XP CD or you cannot contact your computer manufacturer, you may have to purchase a new copy of Windows XP. Visit following link for more information:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/ (http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/)

Depending on the installation method that you select, you might need a boot CD or boot disks. If you do not have your Windows XP CD or boot disks, you must obtain them in order to install or upgrade to Windows XP by using certain methods. Review the methods to determine what media you will need. For more information about how to obtain the Windows XP Setup boot disks, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

310994 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310994/ ) How to obtain Windows XP Setup boot disks

You may have to troubleshoot product-key activation problems. For more information about how to troubleshoot installation problems, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

310637 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310637/ ) You receive an error message after you enter the product key when you try to install Windows XP

If the installation method that you select requires you to start your computer from the Windows XP CD, your CD or DVD drive must be configured to do this. For information about how to configure your computer to start from the CD or DVD drive, see the documentation that is included with your computer or contact the computer manufacturer. For more information about how to start Setup from MS-DOS or a Windows 98/Windows Millennium Edition startup disk, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

307848 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307848/ ) How to start the Setup program from MS-DOS in Windows XP.
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There are five methods for installing Windows XP. Review the following methods and select the method that is appropriate for your installation.

• Method 1: Perform a clean install of Windows XP
  Use this method for a clean installation of Windows XP. A clean installation removes all data from your hard disk by repartitioning and reformatting your hard disk and reinstalling the operating system and programs to an empty (clean) hard disk.
• Method 2: Upgrade to Windows XP
  Use this method if you are upgrading to Windows XP from Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, or Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional.
• Method 3: Install Windows XP to a new hard disk
  Use this method to install Windows XP to a new hard disk. This is typically done when a new hard disk is installed on your computer.
• Method 4: Install Windows XP to a new folder (parallel installation)
  Use this method to install Windows XP to a new folder (parallel installation) to either run two operating systems, or to access, repair, or retrieve data from a damaged disk.
• Method 5: Perform a multiple boot operation
  Use this method to install Windows XP as a separate operating system on your computer. This lets you install more than one operating system on your computer and select which operating system that you want to use every time that you start your computer.

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Method 1: Perform a clean install of Windows XP

A clean installation consists of removing all data from your hard disk by repartitioning and reformatting your hard disk and reinstalling the operating system and programs to an empty (clean) hard disk. For more information about important things to consider before you partition and format you hard disk and how to partition and format your hard disk by using the Windows XP Setup program, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

313348 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313348/ ) How to partition and format a hard disk in Windows XP

To perform a clean installation of Windows XP, follow these steps:

1. Back up all important information before you perform a clean installation of Windows XP. Save the backup to an external location, such as a CD or external hard disk.
2. Start your computer from the Windows XP CD. To do this, insert the Windows XP CD into your CD drive or DVD drive, and then restart your computer.
   
   Note To boot from your Windows XP CD, the BIOS settings on your computer must be configured to do this.
3. When you see the "Press any key to boot from CD" message, press any key to start the computer from the Windows XP CD.
4. At the Welcome to Setup screen, press ENTER to start Windows XP Setup.
5. Read the Microsoft Software License Terms, and then press F8.
6. Follow the instructions on the screen to select and format a partition where you want to install Windows XP.
7. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the Windows XP Setup.

If you have successfully installed Windows XP, you are finished. If these steps did not help you install Windows XP, go to the "Next Steps" section.