How do I install Windows XP?

Note: Windows XP is no longer sold at Indiana University campus bookstores. If you've lost your XP recovery discs, contact your original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for your OEM XP recovery discs. These discs often include your drivers, as well as Windows XP.

Note: For security reasons, you should install Windows or rebuild your Windows computer offline (i.e., unplug your network cable), and then take certain measures to assure its security before putting it back on the network. For instructions, see In Windows, how do I safely rebuild my computer?

While it is possible to upgrade Windows 95, 98, Me, or 2000 to Windows XP, UITS strongly discourages it; computers with upgraded as opposed to cleanly installed Windows operating systems have a higher rate of software problems. Instead, you should back up your files and do a clean install using Windows XP Professional. For information on purchasing Windows XP Professional if you are an Indiana University student, faculty member, or staff member, see Software available through IU's agreement with Microsoft, and consult the "Acquiring the software" section.

Warning: Following the steps below will permanently delete all data and program files from your computer. Back up all data files and locate the installation disks for your programs before proceeding.

To do a clean install of Windows XP:

1. Insert the Windows XP Professional CD in your primary CD drive.
   
   
2. Reboot the computer. You should see a message that says "Press any key to boot from cd... ". If you see this message, press any key. If Windows starts normally, see On a PC, how do I boot from something other than the hard drive?
   
   
3. After you see the Windows setup screen, press Enter to set up Windows XP.
   
   
4. Press the F8 key to accept the end user license agreement.
   
   
5. If a version of Windows was previously installed, you will see a screen asking if you want to repair your installation. Press the ESC key to continue with a clean installation of XP.
   
   
6. On the next screen, you should see a list of partitions defined on your hard drive. If it is a new hard drive, you may only see one item labeled "Unpartitioned space".

   If the hard drive has been used before, this list may display previous installations of Windows or other operating systems. If you have backed up any important data from these partitions, you can delete them. By deleting these partitions, you will increase the free (unpartitioned) space that the hard drive has available. To delete these partitions, use the arrow keys to highlight them, and then press the D key. You will then be prompted to confirm the deletion.

   Note: You may see partitions labeled "Diagnostic", "Recovery", "Restore", "System", or "Utility." These partitions contain diagnostic software that came bundled with your computer. UITS does not recommend that you delete these partitions. If you are unsure about any partitions listed, consult with your computer's manufacturer.

7. To continue the installation, select "Unpartitioned Space", and then press the Enter key.
   
   
8. Windows will prompt you to choose a file system; you should choose NTFS. For more on NTFS and FAT32, see In Windows, what file system should I use?
   
   
9. After you choose the file system, Windows will format the drive and copy files. Your system will prompt you to restart. During the restart, you will once again see the prompt "Press any key to boot from cd... ". This time, do not press any key; allow the computer to boot from the hard drive.
   
   
10. The Windows installation should continue automatically. You will be prompted to enter settings such as your keyboard preferences, time zone, computer name, and an administrator password. This password is for the administrator account, and, for security purposes, should not be the account you will generally use. See On a computer, what are administrators and administrative rights?

    After setup has completed, the computer should restart and boot Windows XP normally.

Note: When the reinstall is complete, you may wish to check on whether you need to reinstall device drivers. For more information, see How do I obtain and update my device drivers?

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