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General discussion

Help with one final reinstall of XP before support goes away

Feb 7, 2014 7:42AM PST
Question:

Need help with one final reinstall of XP before support goes away


Hello. Before Windows XP support totally goes away, I am thinking about wiping everything off of my laptop to do a fresh install with Service Packs 2 and 3, and all of the updates. I was wondering if your community members could post instructions on how to re-install XP one last time to rebuild an XP machine from scratch (essentially). Also, if you could kindly please let me know if there are any pointers for do's and don't's that I should be aware of before I proceed, that would be very helpful. Thank you.

-- Submitted by: Marie M.

Discussion is locked

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Un-adapted Windows XP
Feb 14, 2014 4:07PM PST

My IBM PC in the shed has a flip-top lid and eight expansion slots... SO... many of us have hardware configurations unsuited to "standard" Windows nor Windows "as it was supplied. Before starting, therefore, have your drivers ready as one thing Windows seems not very good at is finding them! I like XP and have found it reliable - even with a failing hard disk. After many MS years, I have recently chosen the "dark side" and installed Ubuntu. I have done this simply because I was sick and tired of the dishonest intrusive software and the time which I was taking to remove it.

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XP re-install
Feb 7, 2014 1:33PM PST

I can't see any advantage in doing a re-installation.
If your XP programme is working OK then as long as you get all the extras added - if you have not got them already - then re-installing will not be any help/
I myself am determined not to upgrade to 7 or 8 because if i do I shall lose a lot of my programmes that won't work on the new DOS.
I can't see any fun or use in losing dozens of set-ups and having to purchase aall over again. S[ecially as sacouple of the programmes date from back in windows 95 and 98 days.
One called Turbo Solve can't now be obtained and took about an hour to load the three 3.5 discs, even on XP. Fantastic programme that solves crosswords and many word puzzles and also helps me to write crosswords.
I can turn out a 13x13 puzzle in around an hour But the writing programmes that are about today are about twice as hard to use and not much cop.
Bill Gates has had enough of my cash already, ****** paying more for something I don't need or want.

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xp re-install
Feb 7, 2014 2:21PM PST

I too am sticking with XP. when I tried to update to W7 - after a couple weeks
I was upgrading my mobo - oopsy -- and ms said I had to cough up another
$200 to do over ! you know,, these disks make great clay pigeons !

Decided that my HD's were getting old so just used the last backup
onto the new HD and up and running in less than an hour.
been noticing that my games will need re-installing - guess backup doesnt do everything.
and... hahahaha if you ask why I didnt just do a mirror copy - tried but screwed up and
messed everything up hahahaha cant fix stupid I guess ;-p

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'Mirror copy'
Feb 14, 2014 11:17AM PST

Lot depends on the software you use for copying.
I got Western Digital drive but had to use serial number to get free Acronis for XP to clone to new drive.
Worked incredibly well. If your using a different drive, Acronis is probably the best software to use even if you have to buy it (I tried different free software, couldn't get any of them to work properly)

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Let me introduce you to;
Feb 10, 2014 1:13AM PST
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Some newbies like Cinnamon better..
Feb 14, 2014 12:16PM PST

as a Linux Mint variation; but then we'll both get flamed for that of course! Fact is my clients can't afford a hardware upgrade AT ALL and nothing newer in MS will run on their machines! What do folks expect? Harsh reality brings whatever you can drum up to restore functionality for folks! Plain

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Maybe
Feb 14, 2014 12:32PM PST

I've never had any luck with Mint though.
I tried it again on a new i3 haswell comp last week and the Cinnamon desktop crashed a few times so I went back to a straight Debian distro. No Ubuntu stuff for me.

Digger

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James is Right
Feb 14, 2014 12:21PM PST
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I wouldn't have either..
Feb 14, 2014 12:08PM PST

I didn't think a reinstall was necessary either, although many folks I knew were used to sluggish performance anyway. But after installing Microsoft's Baseline Security Analyzer, I had reason to fear many, if not all the service packs and/or hotfixes were not properly installed. I found out later someone had used a Microsoft mail order Service Pack 3 DVD to install the service packs after a wipe and reinstall sometime in the PC's history. Apparently they didn't do this right, or the CD had the wrong MSI file on board to correctly add the service pack. Sometimes they are so corrupted it is a wonder the PC even ran at all!

From then on I npw insisted on using the XP Update site for ALL updating. I can use the DVD if the PC has internet access to download the necessary prep files before using the DVD. However, with the bandwidth we have now, I've found the DVD is actually slower than the internet/Ethernet, and have totally stopped using service pack disks, unless there is no hope of connecting to the internet at all. I suspect a lot of this has to do with the average legacy device that is installed as optical drive hardware on many older XP machines. BeLarc advisor has many good pointers to this same subject, but may even offer more reasons the updates may be installed incorrectly!

One of the problems like this may also be that folks have used their install DVDs as a repair, and didn't account for the fact that a repair on XP will almost always fail to really solve these problems if the repair DVD does not match the same service pack level as the image on the hard drive. Usually this can be addressed by simply uninstalling the service pack back to a lower or equal level as the OEM install disk. Your mileage may vary of course - but for each of my clients the results were just like getting a new computer for them! Also installing an alternate browser besides the one provided for by XP can be an eye opener for many of them, and make the PC seem like new again, just from superior browser performance! In fact many of them don't need an re-install at all - just a tuneup with the typical tricks most techs know, and a new browser!!

On one PC, I found where the user had used XP Professional they borrowed from an neighbor to attempt a repair on a XP Home installation. This was the most messed up root directory I'd ever seen!!! Laugh

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Reinstall XP
Feb 7, 2014 2:44PM PST

From what I've found out, MS won't be supplying any new updates for XP after April. However, all service packs and other updates will still be automatically available with no searching for quite a while, perhaps several years. Furthermore, several anti-virus providers have pledged to supply updates to their programs for at least one year. That said, what you'll have to worry about are newly discovered vulnerabilities after April that won't be addressed by MS and software vendors. Keep that in mind; software vendors will also stop updating your third-party software for XP at some point around April. Your XP security will degrade, but the seriousness of that degradation depends solely on how many exploits are discovered after April and how serious each one will be.

Your best bet is to take your time and carefully pick an operating system that will be supported beyond XP's XPiration date and that your present hardware will also support. Once you have that worked out, and you need or just want XP for whatever reason, install XP in a virtual program as a virtual machine inside of the new OS. Installed within a virtual machine inside of a new, up-datable and secure host OS your XP will be insulated from the internet and attacks from that vector. Files and such that you share with XP from your host OS can be scanned by that host OS before sharing as can disks and USB devices before they're opened keeping your XP pristine. An advantage with most virtual machine programs is that you can both save snapshots of your XP, just like saving Restore Points and when you shut down, the virtual programs will ask you if you want to include all changes you've made during the last session or discard them. April is looming, but it's not the end of the world for XP. You've got plenty of time to experiment and find what will work best for you.

If you can upgrade with a fresh installation to Win-7 or 8 and that's what you're familiar with, then by all means do so. If your hardware won't allow you to upgrade, then seriously consider using a Linux variant as your host OS. Several distributions of Linux are very similar in appearance and operation to Microsoft and are just as easy to use, even for the computer illiterate. I'd recommend #1; Linux-Mint (for ease of use and hardware compability), #2; Ubuntu (also for ease of use and hardware compatibility), #3; Zorin (very easy to use but hardware support is not quite as universal as Mint or Ubuntu), #4 ElementaryOS (also very easy to use with good hardware support).

Virtual machine programs such as VMware and VirtualBox are included in the software repositories for each of the above distributions for easy installation, as easy as installing into MS. There is full documentation on the use of these programs as well as tutorials on YouTube and other sites. VirtualBox and VMware are also available for free for Microsoft. Speaking of free, all four of the Linux distributions mentioned above are also free. You only have to download the installation files of each one, have a DVD burner program that will properly burn ISO installation images and you're on your way to experimenting with Linux.

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One final reinstall of XP
Feb 7, 2014 3:38PM PST

I have one question - WHY?!

Best move on and not be left behind when support is withdrawn. Newer Windows 7 and 8 should be tried before settling on a final decision, but both improve on the XP experience and all data saved in the XP environment will b e recoverable in the newer formats. Any problems, come back ad get help here. Besides it's a great reason to upgrade your hardware - newer computers, even notebooks have much faster processors and more memory as well as larger hard drives. Worth considering!

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Well, Win7 has some really irritating features vs XP
Feb 14, 2014 11:01AM PST

I use them both, I still prefer XP for the most part.

Search? What the heck? It doesn't find files you can see quite often.

And what's with the new, inferior file system? The built in explorer is a nightmare to use compared to the simple folder system of XP. And they didn't include both BACK and UP in the file explorer. They weren't the same thing, people!!!

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re: "It doesn't find files you can see quite often."
Feb 14, 2014 1:04PM PST

Huh? What the heck? Win7's search capabilities are outstanding.

In terms of the Explorer interface, there are many 3rd-party fixes that make the Win7 GUI better than XP ever was.

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Why not?
Feb 14, 2014 11:19AM PST

Just keep drinking the Kool-aid and support Microsoft. They won't support you, you already paid to 'borrow' an OS for a couple of years Wink

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xp reinstall
Feb 15, 2014 5:57AM PST

I agree with you 1000% on trying to keep XP as long as possible
.
Im not sure if you have to be a nerd or have to take lessons to use Windows 8..But as far as IM concerned it is the worst OS Microsoft has come out with so far...And they have come out with alot of junk lately..

I would keep searching the posts here until someone answers your question...I know Im going to..

Theres alot of post but very few told how to reinstall...I would,but after trying reinstall myself I ended with problems that I think a few folks answered...Im going to try there suggestions before I do another reinstall..

Anyway good luck too you!!!

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A time-consuming nightmare
Feb 7, 2014 7:06PM PST

I decided to do the same thing because the XP machine would no longer boot without errors. I found some excellent step-by step instructions here: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/operatingsystems/ss/instxpclean1.htm
However, as I had no disks belonging to the PC, I used an installation disk from a different computer (DELL OEM). As I had the official windows security key from both computers, I though that activation would be simple.
To cut a long story short, after spending most of 3 days formatting/installing/rebooting/updating/searching for drivers etc etc, I found that I could not activate windows with either of the keys. The key matching the windows install was locked to another computer, and the key matching the PC wouldn't work. I even managed to speak to a human being at microsoft support, and all they could suggest was that I BUY a new copy of XP. I decided to invest the money in a brand-new computer instead.
Looking back, even if I had the correct installation disk, and had been able to activate, it was not worth the time and effort. Unless your PC desperately needs a re-install, don't even think about it. Get a new laptop, or if you want to avoid windows 8, get a refurnished laptop running windows 7

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time consumer
Feb 15, 2014 7:09AM PST

why not just install your last -OP systems/system state - backup before these problems happened ?

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I have done this a number of times.
Feb 7, 2014 10:56PM PST

I still have a more than ten year old laptop that is not suitable to a more modern O/S, and I have done this several times when it has gotten slow in a way that the usual utilities can't speed it up anymore, the "usual utilities" being an sfc /scannow, a virus scan, an adware/spyware scan, a "smart" defragmentation of the drive, a useless cleaning and compacting of my registry that I do even though it's never helped yet, and a reflash of the BIOS.

Note that this is an easy and straightforward but painstaking, repetitive and time-consuming procedure, and all the longer if your original Windows distribution (whether on disk or on your drive partition) from which you are refreshing your XP O/S.

Here are the steps:

Preliminary step: First, before you back anything up, delete all your restore points and scan for malware. A good suggestion is to do this in Safe Mode with Networking and download and perform a one-time run of some of the "stronger medicine" antivirus programs like Malwarebytes. This will ensure that you do not restore an infected file

1. The most important step is to back up all of your data. This includes your application data and not just your user data. Note that the appdata folder is by default hidden so you will have to "show hidden files" in the folder view to back these up. In fact, it is not a bad idea to do a complete backup of literally EVERYTHING to an external drive.

2. Get all your application distribution disks out. For those applications you have obtained online, download the most recent install files and get them together, perhaps on a CD.

3. For any paid-for applications you may wish to reinstall that have strict user licenses, take care that you have deactivated the licenses so you can reinstall and reactivate the applications later. The procedure varies by application -- some require you to go online, others can be done in the preferences.

4. Make sure you have your original Windows registration key handy. If you do not have this, you can usually locate it by following the instructions on this page: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/tipstricks/ht/findxpkey.htm

5. Note the names of the user account(s) and password(s). This isn't really critical unless you want the computer set up exactly the same afterwards.

5a. If you have the Windows O/S distribution disks (sometimes on a "Recovery Disk" branded by the manufacturer rather than Microsoft), insert the primary disk into the disk drive and reboot -- The disk will be labeled in a way that will allow you to identify it. follow the procedure to do a complete fresh reinstall. Here is a good page with detailed instructions: http://www.wikihow.com/Reinstall-Windows-XP

5b. If you have a laptop that was not supplied with a recovery disk, the install files will usually be in the form of .cab files that have been placed in a separate partition on your hard drive. To access these you will have to strike a key early in the bootup process similar to the way you access the BIOS settings -- sometimes this is the ESC key but it varies. It will give you a menu that will include Recovery or Reinstall or some such notation.

6. After this completes you will have your computer's setup just like it was when you bought it new. You will have to re-register and re-activate and recreate your user account(s) and set up everything (time zone, network settings and whatnot) again.

7. Now you will have your O/S at the update level it was when you first bought the computer and you will have to update your new old O/S to current. Depending on how old it is (and you indicate that it is at XP SP1, so you have a job ahead of you here), this will take an ENORMOUS amount of time and patience.

Run Windows Update. You will probably have to reinstall the Update application itself. Run it again. Then again. Then again. Then again. They yet again (etc.) until finally, probably sometime the next day, it comes up clean. Many updates require prerequisites that require prerequisites that... Well, you get it. The important thing is, keep running it until it doesn't find anything to update anymore. You will get SP2 and SP3 in this manner.

8. Reinstall the applications you want to continue to use.

9. Copy back your data, including the appdata for those applications you have reinstalled. This should restore such things as your email settings and saved emails, which are usually in appdata.

Now, the above is one option. A second, better option is, after the backup to an external drive is complete, to wipe everything with DBAN, give the computer to a charity, and go out and buy yourself a modern computer with a modern O/S and save yourself all this time and hassle at the expense of a few dollars.

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If the person is lucky...
Feb 14, 2014 12:57PM PST

and they have more than one computer with a large hard drive, you can do the backup with the old Microsoft files and settings transfer wizard. They would have to deposit the resultant file on the other computer and call it the "old" computer; then when done re-installing, run the wizard again, designating the refreshed target computer as the "new" computer. I've done this over Ethernet slicker than snot. It didn't use to work this well in the old days, but Microsoft improved and modernized it for the average newer hardware that exists on such legacy devices. The only backup method faster for XP, that I've found is restoring an image - but for the purposes of this discussion, we must assume a total reinstall is the only plan. Do pay careful attention to what you call the target and the source computer or media for this operation, and also the particular device you start each operation from. The instructions for this are provided in help files, but you may find doodling a flow chart easier to follow when planning for the operation.

I've not tried this in a way that leaves the file on a Vista or newer OS PC, and of course we assume the older device still has use for the network; - also of course, you can use a CD/DVD or external drive to save the same file, but I've found the transfer process slower than molasses. This can be attributed to older hardware capability in these drives; but Ethernet to PC internal hard drive has never failed me yet. This file can be more than 6 Gbs in size - on average, so make sure your target has the room. Don't use micro floppies unless you want a mountain of them as a nightmare. If you can get everything on one of them, you have to ask yourself why you need to backup in the 1st place! [a favorites export file can be important though] Speaking of which, one thing about this method that always slays me, is that browser favorites have never been successful. The folders transfer but not the links. It is better to export them to a safe file location, be that whatever may be the media you use.

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Keep Your Computer
Feb 15, 2014 1:59PM PST

A lot of new computers + a lot of laptops are not repairable (or extremely difficult to do so). If you need XP to run old hardware fine. Better than going to new Windows, Install Linux. It is now pretty mature. You will not need to be an expert to run it. I recommend Linux Mint, the most downloaded Linux distro. The installation is extremely easy compared to Windows. 99.9% of drivers are on the installation disk. Did I say it is free, as in you do not have to pay any money for it? If you need help getting a disk, google for a local Linux User Group. Somebody will be glad to get it to you.

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You bring up two good points we've all overlooked ...
Feb 15, 2014 3:44PM PST

Historically, up through XP, Windows had problems that no matter how much you pampered it it would eventually get slower and slower and the only solution was a fresh install.

I don't have much experience with Vista, but that is definitely not the case with Win 7 or Win 8. If a Win 7 machine is running slower and slower there is a problem such as malware, an incorrect or outdated driver, a poorly written program, or a horribly fragmented hard drive.

==========================
Microsoft does not keep a record of how many times a program is installed. Many other smaller (though still large) vendors do. If a program is not deactivated, it will refuse to activate on the new machine.

A similar problem is that many vendors only track the total number of installs. So whether you first uninstall or not doesn't matter. And if the vendor is out of business or no longer supports the product, they may not be able to reset the installs counter.

==========================
One more thing is "How much is your time worth?" Full-blown reinstall of Win XP, Adobe Reader, and the handful of other common programs takes at least 5 hours if you have a bunch of the disks, all the keys, a high speed Internet connection and a lot of the latest full-installers on disk.

I routinely have dozens of programs and suites (e.g., 3 office suites, about 8 graphics editing programs, 2 PDF editing programs). Because (unbeknownst to me) Nvidia's video drivers are not fully compatible with Windows 8 and can cause a major system crash, over the past year I had to do complete reinstalls several times. Each full reinstall takes a hundred hours. The last time I did a full XP install (because of slowdown problems) at work it took 40 hours.

Even if you wouldn't be paid for your time, if your personal time is worth $10 an hour, 25 hours is $250. And that doesn't cover the aggravation.

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XP re-install
Feb 7, 2014 11:06PM PST

As many others have said, if your computer is running well, no need to re-install (I have three XP machines that I built myself, love, and will keep till they die. I have one new Dell Win 7 to keep up to date with the technology). Uninstall no longer used programs, duplicate files, etc., defragment, run msconfig to stop unwanted startup files, and get an external hard drive if you need more storage.

The main reason that I posted a reply, should you go ahead and re-format and re-install XP from your legitimate XP disk, I read an article recently that suggested NOT installing SP3. I forget the reason, but I think it had to do with stability issues, and that SP3 really didn't add anything to XP. You might do a google search to find this.

Also, I'm sure you've found by now that recent Internet Explorer versions are not compatible with XP, so you won't be able to access sites that no longer recognize early IE versions, and will have to go to Chrome, Firefox, etc.

Good luck

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xp sp3
Feb 8, 2014 4:01AM PST

I havent searched for it but I think there were a lot of feebacks here on Cnet
on the sp3.. which is why I never installed it either.

I also have no use for MS updates over the last couple years. they always slip in stuff
that irritate me. MS is so self important that they just want to rule the world hahaha

I have 3 desktops that I used to have running all the time, one was set to just run
SETI search programs a few years back. but mostly due to the fact I enjoy
some of the really older games that were never remade for newer pc's. and the
ones that did - sucked. the newer games are all setup via that streaming... and since
my last move and haveing cable internet (about the only thing avail at my location) that
reeeaaaalllly sucks - it would be impossible to play anything, so have not purch one in
a few years - shame - loved COD and some of the others...

after my current projects are done (home remodel ) I am going to take one pc and
install Ubuntu... and play with that for a while to see just how it does.

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That was solved a long time ago..
Feb 14, 2014 1:11PM PST

With an improved update MSI.exe version. If you were having such problems, a total refresh may have advantages. Everyone of my XP machines on my network ran faster after SP3. Quite frankly, I'm sure at least one PC would have been hosed without SP3 by now. Operating system vulnerabilities make a criminal hackers job just that much easier in taking over you PC! If you have nothing to lose, that would understandably not be a priority.

Redmond has had to play with the Microsoft Update site many times to address such problems as you mention. This is why, after re-installing, you will notice several changes in the MSI (updater/installer) version as you progress through the service pack 3 and later hotfixes. I've found it wise to install all .NET last in the hotfix operation.

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XP re-install
Feb 15, 2014 6:29AM PST

For some reasons you might need to install, your SP1 will not work further on updates but it is best to save copy of SP1, SP2 and SP3 because you need to redo all things once you use our OEM disk. I am not very good in installing this but have been through a company "Supportrix who worked everything on their end."

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Many programs require XP SP3
Feb 15, 2014 3:56PM PST

SP3 fixed, changed and/or upgraded a lot of things, and a lot of software either won't work at all or won't work correctly on any version prior to SP3. So SP3 definitely does need to be installed.

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found article
Feb 20, 2014 11:29PM PST
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XP Reloaded
Feb 8, 2014 4:18AM PST

Before doing anything , Back-up all you personal files, either to the cloud, or USB/DVD for more secured info. and make a list of the software you may want to reinstall, (Saves on the "what was the name of that program?" problems.)

First and foremost check your license key sticker on the outside side of the computer, to make sure you can clearly read all digits of the key.(Smart phone users may want to take a picture of the sticker so you can zoom in and read it better) if not download a license crawler program to locate the windows XP key the system was activated with, and copy it down. you can't reinstall with out it.

Next go to computer manufacturer's web site, and locate the device driver's for your specific computer(Some sites do have an auto detect feature that makes this very simple with a working machine). Download ALL the device drivers listed since there is no way of knowing what drivers XP will be missing, and most often it's the network driver, making it difficult (if not imposable) to get these later. At the very least grab the Network, graphics/video, Audio Drivers, as well as the Chipset, and BIOS Installers.Save these on Disk or USB so you can use them later.( I save each one in separate folders since files names won't always tell you what they are.)

you will also need to download a bootable partitioning tool and burn it to disk (or bootable USB works if your BIOS allows USB boot). I like Parted magic, it can wipe, and reformat a drive in just couple minutes( around 40 seconds for an 80 Gig HDD).

I assume you already have your XP install disk( or disks if Media Center XP). If not these can be found and downloaded on-line. Make sure you have/download the proper version on your sticker,i.e... Home, Pro, Media Center.

once you have all three items,
1. bootable Partition editor
2. install disk w/ license key
3. Drivers saved to Disk/USB
you're ready to start.

reboot your computer using the bootable partition editor ( you may need to tell your BIOS to boot that drive first, default is usually CD, then HDD (now blank), So that some times USB (if available on the system) doesn't get a chance to boot unless told too.

Delete, and reformat the HDD ( I like NTFS format,but FAT32 works as well).
USE CAUTION!!!!
Some Programs offer (and default to) formats for Linux, or Unix, that window can not even see.

You may need to create a partition table if your software does not do this automatically.

then you can reboot to your install disk and let windows work it's magic. inserting the license key when asked for.

when the install is completed and you can see your desktop, right click on "My Computer" either on the desktop, or in the start menu, and select "Properties" at the very bottom of the list. then find the "Hardware" Tab, and select "Device Manager". This will tell you what drivers are missing, anything with a big yellow "?" is missing it's driver, anything red is a more serious matter, (like hardware failure). install the necessary drivers from the ones you downloaded earlier.( Hint: if you install in the order of; Chipset, Drivers, BIOS, you can select reboot later on every thing, the BIOS will force the reboot for every thing, saving you loads of time in restarts.)

connect to the internet, and activate windows, then install an antivirus program. (Microsoft's Security Essentials works well, and is offered to all windows user's for the low low price of free, and updates with Windows.)

Now your ready to do your updates, even with a good connection this can take some time, and multiple reboots, (sorry, can't help with that, Microsoft has updates for the updates.) always select custom on the update page, the other only gives the high priority, and may not help to update your firmware. continue to run updates until all sections of the left panel reads 0.

CONGRATULATIONS!! you now have a clean, activated, secured, and updated windows XP operating system, ( Providing all went well.) ready for whatever you want to throw at it.( I prefer a Brick Wink

Hope it Helps.

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Reinstalling Windows XP
Feb 8, 2014 7:37AM PST

Reinstalling Windows XP can be a real chore especially if you don't have installation disks that already contain service Pack 3. It would be real helpful if you would give us your exact make and model computer as well as what CD's you actually have because even though the step by step instructions provided by maumfin above at http://pcsupport.about.com/od/operatingsystems/ss/instxpclean1.htm are really excellent, there are some other steps and/or methods that may save you a lot of time and possible headaches.

For Example:
1. If your computer happens to have a recovery partition on the hard drive, restoring Windows can be much easier than starting from scratch with installation CD's.

2. Depending on your make and model, you may be able to order a recovery kit for your computer (usually less than $20) that will include all the drivers and original software that came with your computer.
3. If your computer contains an AMD processor, there is a specific update KB953356 that needs to be installed before you install Service Pack 3.

4. Some Computers may require that you unplug front panel memory card readers before installing Windows or you may end up with the operating system installed on the H: Drive instead of C:.

A few other recommendations before you start:

1. I would seriously consider just purchasing a new or refurbished Windows 7 Computer. You can often get one for less than $300.

2. If you are really going to go through all the effort to reinstall any operating system, I often suggest that you take into account the current age of your hard drive and consider replacing the hard drive at the same time, especially if the drive is older than 3 years. Not only will this give you the best possible performance out of your system but also doubles as a backup of your data just in case you make a mistake backing it up or find that you missed something important. You are also left with the bonus of having the original drive that could be put back in the computer if you run into trouble installing Windows.

3. Before you wipe your original hard drive:

a. Open the Device Manager and write down all the devices listed in the system. This can be very helpful if you later find you are missing some drivers.

b. Go to the manufacturer's website and download all the drivers for your computer.

c. Make a list of all the programs that you use and locate all the installation CD's or emails that contain downloading links, serial numbers and installation instructions.

d. Backup your data - Carefully plan your backup to make sure you do not miss anything important. Common things that people often forget to backup are: Internet favorites, Bookmarks if you are using Firefox or Google Chrome, Data in the Public Folders, Data in special programs that do not store their files in My Documents, Email data in hidden folders such as Outlook Express and Outlook, Address books and NK2 and suggested address history.

e. Take note of some computer Settings - It can be helpful to take note of Screen saver settings as well power settings and other things like Desktop background, homepage setting and email settings.
Good luck!

Dana
Wayland Computer

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Imminent hardware failure
Feb 8, 2014 10:23AM PST

I have heard many reasons for people wanting to hold on to XP, but can anyone argue that decade-old computers won't fail at some point? Discs won't rotate forever and bits rot. Why take that risk? You already got your money's worth. Buy a new computer and I promise you it will be an even better investment than your original XP machine. Buy a bare bones kit, download Solyd X for free and relax