Chapter 10. Installing Windows XP
Installing an operating system is not an especially pleasant
activity for most Windows users. Depending on your hardware, just booting up the
setup CD can be a headache. Then you have to type that ridiculous 25-digit CD
key, and then make a bunch of choices about your network (all of which really
could be made after setup, by the way). You then must sit and wait . . . and
wait . . . for Windows to copy all its thousands of files to your hard disk and
then go through the excruciating process of "configuring" your computer. When it
finally boots—assuming it even makes it this far — you then have the unenviable
task of having to download and install more than a hundred megabytes worth of
updates and fixes. And when all is said and done, you still will need to go
through and turn off all of the annoying "features" littered throughout the
interface. But the worst part, at least for those with experience in this
matter, is the anticipation of all of the things that won't work when setup is
complete, such as your hardware, software, and even features of the version of
Windows you're installing!
Since a significant percentage of Windows XP users will
obtain the OS pre-installed on their computers, many reading this will be
fortunate enough to not have had to endure the installation of an operating
system. That doesn't mean, however, that the task won't come back to haunt you
later on, such as when you need to reinstall Windows or upgrade to the next
version.
The solutions in this chapter will help with all aspects of
the installation process, both on a clean system and when upgrading from an
earlier release.
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