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Name: XpUser
Hi folks,
I've been often asked by friends to come up with a step-by-step outline that will enable them to properly reformat the HD and reinstall XP. Your criticisms and suggestions are welcome. Here is my outline in the following order:
1. Ensure that you have a backup copy of all your essential files from the drive to be reformatted.
2. Ensure that you have saved every latest drivers to disk (CD, floppy or non-OS partitions). The drivers are needed for components like modem, NIC, video, etc.
3. Reformat HD.
4. Install XP.
5. Update all drivers you saved per step 1 above. You may have to reboot the computer after each driver update.
6. Immediately apply Security Update CD from Microsoft. (If you do not have it, go straight to Microsoft Update.)
7. Get and apply all subsequent Critical Updates and Service Packs from Microsoft Update.
8. Install applications one at a time then reboot.
Question:
The thing I'm not sure about is - should we unplug the cable to the Net to prevent getting Blaster worm, etc? If it's wise to do so, at what step should the cable be plugged back in?
Please let me know if I've overlooked something. Thanks ;-)
Hey you can avoid step 3 as Windows Xp installation does throw options of deleting and recreating a partition.
Network cable can be plugged back in after step 5.
Satya
satya_ramachandran@adp.com
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Satya,
Thanks for your suggestions. Here's the revised order:
1. Ensure that you have a backup copy of all your essential files from the drive to be reformatted.
2. Ensure that you have saved every latest drivers to disk (CD, floppy or non-OS partitions). The drivers are needed for components like modem, NIC, video, etc.
3. Unplug Net cable to prevent the possibility of getting blaster worm, etc
4. Power off computer.
5. Get into BIOS and change the order of boot to CDROM first.
6. Turn on computer and immediately put XP CD in CDROM drive.
7. Reformat HD.
8. Install XP.
9. Update all drivers you saved per step 1 above. You may have to reboot the computer after each driver update.
10. Plug net cable back in.
11. Immediately apply Security Update CD from Microsoft. (If you do not have it, go straight to Microsoft Update.)
12. Get and apply all subsequent Critical Updates and Service Packs from Microsoft Update.
13. Install applications one at a time then reboot.
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Add before step 10 in post 2 above a cautionary note:
DO NOT USE THE NET FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN DIRECTED.
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I've done XP reinstalls/upgrades - many of them.
My advice - don't update drivers for the heck of it.
Whenever possible, use native XP drivers for hardware.
Only download and update drivers for devices that aren't completely picked up by the OS.
Query Google for a cool utility called "Unknown device identifier." It gives you the chipset names for devices that Dev. Mgr cannot properly interrogate. If you have the chipset names, you can often find reference drivers.
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You can backup all the drivers with WINDRIVER BACKUP. Free. Google to it. All sounds good to me XpUser. Rgds.
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Hi awoodin, Hi per, Hi domass
Thxs for the feedback.
awoodin,
I thought the current norm is: Avoid any driver updates from Microsoft Updates. Get it instead from the manufacturer's site. Also thx for the Unknown device identifierdomass,
Thanks for step 9-1/2. I thought XP firewall is turned on by default during the installation process?Hey guys, anything else I've missed.
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I agree with XpUser in the do not use MS driver updates. They have caused me many problems in the past.
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Quote:
I thought XP firewall is turned on by default during the installation process?
Not anytime I've installed XP.
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you can add it when you came to install the network during XP installation if I remember. Long time since I installed XP Pro.:-/
Ben,
Pentium 4 1.7GHz, 512 LB Cache
512 DDR RAM PC2700
ATI Radeon 9200SE 128 DDR RAM
Western Digital 80GB 7200 RPM
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bsewell, thanks.
Another thing I left out.... ADD
9a. Configure Windows Services using blackviper's recommendations.
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Morning,
Another thing you might have to do as the third step! Make sure to set the CD-ROM as the first device in boot up in the BIOS.
You don't have to do this if the XP CD is bootable.
just my thought,
XDon
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Hi all,
I'm trying to install Win xp on Win 98 and I'm getting errors in copying some system files, so I found your steps here quite useful for me.
But I have 2 questions if you please:
1- How to format driver (step 7)?
2- Is it true never to update windows from MS website?
Many thanks
nadia
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... and I'm getting errors in copying some system files...
almost certainly means yiou have a problem with at least one stick of RAM.
If you have two sticks, remove one (leave a minimum of 128Meg installed) and try XP installation again. Try each stick in turn. One of them will almost certainly be a problem stick - which replace asap...
If you have three or more installed - perhaps leave two installed and see how things go. If problem persists remove a second stick and try again. If problem persists remove that remaining sick and try one of the others - and so on. Object of the exercise is to identify the faulty stick.
If you can, also beg/borrow/s...l a known good stick try that too.
(1) - how to format etc... the links/references below detail how to install XP (incl. formatting) - saves going thru' various aspects here...
http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/expertzone/columns/honeycutt/02october07.asp
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
(2) on-line updates:
Updating from the web-site? Personally I prefer to download updates and install them off-line. Some folks may prefer/advise otherwise - matter of personal preference?
But it would be prudent to deal with the possible RAM issue first?
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