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Installing XP Pro full version

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by shadowhawk, 2003/09/24.

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  1. 2003/09/24
    shadowhawk

    shadowhawk Inactive Thread Starter

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    If I get WinXP Pro full version, will the CD reformat and repartition my hard drive for me, or would I need to make some kind of boot diskette and do it beforehand?

    Would it be advisable to leave my USB and firewire things plugged in and let XP autodetect them, or unplug them, install the drivers and then plug them in? With some USB things, you're supposed to install the driver first, then plug in and with others it's the opposite.
     
    shadowhawk,
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  2. 2003/09/24
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Hi shadowhawk!

    The install CD will detect Your current harddrive setup and ask if You´d like to make any changes.
    The system partition on to which WinXP will be installed gets formated prior to installation.
    All other partitions get formated from within WinXP.
    You can choose either NTFS or FAT32 but always choose full format.

    If You like, You can use a WinME start disk and FDISK to partition and then let the install CD format.

    This is especially useful if You´d like FAT32 partitions larger than 32GB. Windows XP can´t format partitions larger than 32GB to FAT32 (only NTFS) but it can mount such partitions if they are created and formated using FDISK.

    I disconnected my scanner and printer when installing WinXP Pro.

    In my case, the scanner software should be installed before plugging in the scanner (Scanjet 4300C) but the printer (DeskJet 930C) should be plugged in first and when the install CD was asked for, it should be inserted.

    However, Windows beat me to it and installed its own printer software which I didn´t like.
    Therefore I unplugged the printer and uninstalled it. Next I started the installation with the HP-CD and when it told me that it couldn´t find the printer, I plugged it in.
    Before I had the time to hit the enter key, Windows detected the new hardware and tried to install its own software but this time the HP-CD beat Windows to it ...... :D ......

    Christer
     
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  4. 2003/09/24
    shadowhawk

    shadowhawk Inactive Thread Starter

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    I don't want to make any partitions. I just want XP to convert the disk to NTFS and use the whole disk. From what you say, I take it this will be done automatically by the CD with no action required on my part.

    As for XP installing its own drivers, will it also do this with sound and video cards?
     
    shadowhawk,
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  5. 2003/09/24
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    If the harddisk currently is unpartitioned (C: only) then You will only have to tell the installer to format to NTFS and again, full format, not quick format.

    If the devices are compatible with XP, it will. If they aren´t, it won´t and You´re in trouble.

    On Windows XP Upgrade Advisor You can check if Your hardware and software are compatible.

    You can update any driver that Windows or You Yourself has installed.

    The thing about the printer is that if I had kept the Windows software and also had installed the HP software, I would have ended up with two printers.
    I could have uninstalled the Windows software after having installed the HP software but since I didn´t know how they would be installed (separate folders or what) I chose to do it "my way" and trick the Windows hardware detection and auto installation.

    (I wonder if that automatic function can be disabled?)

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  6. 2003/09/24
    Johanna

    Johanna Inactive Alumni

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    I agree with everything Christer said- just want to throw in my own 2 cents about printers, scanners, etc. Unplug them and install them from within XP like Christer described. The less stuff Windows has to contend with while installing, the better. Then you can install the hardware one at a time, update any drivers or software and check to make sure there are no problems before moving on to the next piece. If you leave everything plugged in and you have problems, you have more steps to go through to troubleshoot.

    One more thing- even on a small hd, I would make a separate partition for the OS- you can get away with about 6-8 Gigs with XP Pro. I route anything I want to keep to the second partition, and also run every program that doesn't need to latch onto Windows from there. Chances are that second partition remains intact no matter what XP decides to do. At least, that has been my own experience.
    Johanna
    Who has crashed her comp many times, inadvertently and deliberately.
     
    Johanna,
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  7. 2003/09/24
    shadowhawk

    shadowhawk Inactive Thread Starter

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    My soundcard and video card both have WInXP drivers available for them on the makers' websites, so I assume that means they're compatible with XP.
     
    shadowhawk,
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  8. 2003/09/24
    Johanna

    Johanna Inactive Alumni

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    Make it easy on yourself. Download the new drivers and put them and anything else you'll be reinstalling on one cd. I make a cd like that periodically- call it my system starter. Then it's all in one place, nice and neat, and you don't have to hunt around.
     
    Johanna,
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  9. 2003/09/24
    shadowhawk

    shadowhawk Inactive Thread Starter

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    No CD burner. :(
     
    shadowhawk,
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  10. 2003/09/25
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    shadowhawk,
    if You´re not planning on getting one, then this is the best reason to partition Your harddrive to separate Your data from the operating system and applications.
    Without the possibility to backup Your data to CDs, if for whichever reason, Your system should crash and burn (serious ...... :eek: ......) then Your chances to recover Your data are much better if it is on a separate partition.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  11. 2003/09/25
    shadowhawk

    shadowhawk Inactive Thread Starter

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    I want to get a slave hard drive.
     
    shadowhawk,
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  12. 2003/09/25
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Even better ...... ;) ......
     
    Christer,
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