Summary

In this chapter, you learned how to install Windows XP Professional. We covered the following

topics:

_ The design goals of Windows XP Professional, which include taking the best features of

Windows 98, Windows Me, and Windows 2000 Professional, providing a wide range

of support for hardware, making the operating system easy to use, and lowering the cost of

ownership.

_ Installation preparation, which begins with making sure that your computer meets the minimum

system requirements and that all of your hardware is on the Hardware Compatibility

List (HCL). Then you need to decide whether you will perform a clean install or an upgrade.

Finally, you should plan which options you will select during installation. Options include

methods of partitioning your disk space, selecting a file system, whether the computer

will be installed as part of a workgroup or a domain, and your language and locale

settings.

_ The methods you can use for installation, which include using the distribution files on the

Windows XP Professional CD or using files that have been copied to a network share point.

_ How to install Windows XP Professional, which proceeds in four main installation phases:

information collection, installation preparation, Windows installation, and installation

finalization.

_ The post-installation update and product activation feature. Post-installation updates are

used to ensure that you have the latest files. Product activation is used to complete the

Windows XP licensing process.

_ How to troubleshoot installation problems. Common errors are caused by media problems,

lack of disk space or memory, and hardware problems. Other common errors include an

improperly configured Boot.ini file or using non-supported hard drives. You can view

Setup log files to check for problems that occurred during the installation.

_ Information about supporting dual-boot or multi-boot environments. Dual-booting and

multi-booting allow you to boot to a choice of two or more operating systems.

Getting Started with Windows XP Professional

Windows XP Professional combines the features of Windows 2000
Professional, Windows 98, and Windows Me. The main benefits
of using Windows XP Professional include its reliability, performance,
security, ease of use, support for remote users, networking and communication support,
management and deployment capabilities, and help and support features.
After you decide that Windows XP Professional is the operating system for you, your next
step is to install it. This process is fairly easy if you have prepared for the installation, know
what the requirements are, and have met the prerequisites for a successful installation.
Preparing for an installation involves making sure that your hardware meets the minimum
requirements and that Windows XP Professional supports your hardware. When you install
Windows XP Professional, you should also decide whether you are upgrading or installing
a clean copy on your computer. An upgrade preserves existing settings; a clean install puts a fresh
copy of the operating system on your computer. Installation preparation also involves making
choices about your system’s configuration, such as selecting a file system and a disk-partitioning
scheme.
Once you’ve completed all the planning, you are ready to install Windows XP Professional.
This is a straightforward process that is highly automated and user friendly.
To complete the Windows XP Professional installation, you will need to activate the product
through Product Activation. This process is used to reduce software piracy. After Windows XP
Professional is installed, you can keep the operating system up to date with post-installation
updates.
When you install Windows XP, you should also consider whether the computer will be used
for dual-boot or multi-boot purposes. Dual-booting or multi-booting allows you to have your
computer boot with operating systems other than Windows XP Professional.
The first section of this chapter covers the new features of Windows XP Professional.
Then you will learn how to prepare for Windows XP Professional installation, perform the
installation, and troubleshoot any installation problems.