Setting Up Windows XP


When setting up both edition of Windows XP, you need to first choose one of three installation strategies, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages:

● Clean install: As the name mean, this installation option placing up a fresh new copy of Windows XP, completely replacing any earlier version of Windows on the partition where it’s set up and removing all other files on that partition. Although you can start a clean install by running Setup from a previous version of Windows, it is much simpler to do so by booting directly from the CD. In this case, you can use an existing partition or define and format partitions during setup.

● Upgrade over an existing Windows version: You can upgrade to Windows XP Home Edition or Professional from Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, or Windows Me. You can also upgrade to Windows XP Professional from Windows NT Workstation 4 (Service Pack 6) or Windows 2000 Professional (with or without service packs). If you’re currently running Windows 3.1 or Windows 95, you cannot upgrade to any version of Windows XP and must perform a clean install. In all upgrade scenarios, Setup preserves most user settings and installed programs and attempts to upgrade device drivers to Windows XP–compatible versions.

● Side-by-side (multiboot) installation: Use this option (a variation of the clean install process) when you need to save a presented copy of Windows. When Setup is finished, you’ll be able to select your OS from a boot menu. You must install the new version on a separate partition; installing multiple Windows versions on a single partition is a recipe for disaster.

Choosing between a clean install and an upgrade is not a simple decision. Even on systems that meet the requirements for upgrading, a clean install offers the assurance that you’re wiping out all traces of any earlier Windows problems basis of installing and uninstalling programs, downloading Web-based components, and over-tweaking the computer’s settings. Starting with a clean registry and a solid base of Windows system files should give your computer an opportunity to get full performance, unburdened by the past.

On the other hand, an upgrade is sometimes the only one method to guarantee that a specific program or driver will work properly. We’ve seen software and hardware drivers that work well in Windows 2000 but reject to install properly after a clean Windows XP setup; in many cases, these programs and drivers will continue to work if you upgrade to Windows XP. If you’re experiencing this problem, the best choice can be a hybrid of the two approaches. Start with a clean install of Windows 2000 and add any necessary programs and drivers. After verifying that everything works properly, upgrade to Windows XP.