How do I perform a clean install of Windows XP with Service Pack 2?

Answer

This question was answered on May 8, 2007. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

A clean installation refers to 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. You should back up all important information before you perform a clean installation of Windows XP.

After you have backed up all your important information, follow these steps to install Windows XP:

1. Start your computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM. To do this, insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into your CD drive or DVD drive, and then restart your computer.

2. When you see the "Press any key to boot from CD" message, press any key to start the computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM.

3. At the Welcome to Setup screen, press ENTER to start Windows XP Setup.

4. Read the End-User License Agreement, and then press F8.

5. Follow the instructions on the screen to select and format a partition where you want to install Windows XP.

6. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete

Windows XP Setup.

After Installing Windows XP, Follow the steps listed below to upgrade to Service Pack 2.

1. Visit the following Microsoft Web site:

>http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

2. Click Custom.

Windows Update scans your computer and displays a pre-selected list of critical updates, including security updates and service packs.

3. UnderSelect by Type, click High Priority.

Windows Update creates a list of the updates that are appropriate for your computer. Critical updates are selected for automatic download.

4. Click Review and install updates.

5. Verify that Windows XP SP2 is selected.

6. Click Install Updates.

The Installing Updates dialog box appears. Under Installation Status, Windows Update states the current status of the actions that are required for Windows XP SP2 installation. The Downloading bar informs you of the progress of the download. After the download is completed, the Installation bar replaces the Downloading bar. The Installation bar informs you of the progress of the installation, and the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup Wizard is launched.

7. Click Next.

The Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup Wizard displays a License Agreement dialog box that contains a licensing agreement. Read the licensing agreement. If you agree with the licensing agreement, click I Agree.

Note To continue with the installation, you must accept the agreement.

8. Click Next. The Select Options dialog box appears and displays the following message:

Setup creates a backup of system files so you can remove Windows XP SP2 if necessary. Click Browse to choose a location for these backup files, or click Next to accept the following location:

Uninstall folder

C:\Windows\$NtServicePackUninstall$

Note Select Options lets you set a custom location for saving uninstall (archive) information. We recommend that the default settings be accepted unless the installation is performed by an advanced user. Typically, Windows XP SP2 installation always creates an archive, and you cannot avoid this option.

9. Click Next. The Updating Your System dialog box displays the following message:

Please wait while setup inspects your current configuration, archives your current files and updates your files.

After the installation finishes, the Completing the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup Wizard dialog box displays the following message:

You have successfully completed the Service Pack 2 Setup Wizard.

To apply the changes, the wizard has to restart Windows. To restart Windows automatically, click Finish.

If you want to restart Windows later, select the Do not restart now check box, and then click Finish.

Do not restart now.

Note By default, the Do not restart now check box is selected.

10. Click Finish. The Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup Wizard closes, and the Installing Updates dialog box displays the following message:

Installing Windows XP Service Pack 2,...Done!

You have successfully updated your computer

You must restart your computer for the updates to take effect.

If you click Restart now, the computer restarts and finishes the installation. To prevent the restart, click Close.

Note Windows XP will not operate correctly until the computer is restarted.

11. Click Restart Now.

Note The computer will now restart. The first reboot after installation often takes much longer than usual as Windows XP Service Pack 2 copies files that could not be copied during the main installation phase. This is standard procedure and when this file copying is finished, the computer will boot in a normal fashion.

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