In this project, you install Windows XP Professional using the CD-ROM installation metho...

In this project, you install Windows XP Professional using the CD-ROM installation method. Before you start, you will need the Windows XP Professional CD-ROM. Please read the section on Installing Windows XP in this chapter for important hardware requirements. The installation of Windows XP will take approximately 60 to 90 minutes. The first part of the installation is in a textbased format and the second part is in a GUI-based format. (Ask your instructor for the name of a workgroup or domain to join. If you join a domain, you will need to obtain an account name and password from your instructor.) To start the first phase, the text-based installation:

1. Insert the Windows XP Professional CD-ROM and boot the computer from scratch so that it boots from the CD-ROM. (Refer to Hands-On Project 5-1 for booting via a CD-ROM). Windows XP Setup briefly inspects hardware components and then loads files onto the disk.

2. Press Enter if you see a Setup Notification screen (for evaluation copies).

3. Press Enter on the Welcome to Setup screen (see Figure 5-15).

4. Read the Windows XP Licensing Agreement and press F8 to accept the agreement.

5. Use the up and down arrows to select the disk space on which to install Windows XP Professional and press Enter. Note that if there is already an operating system on the computer, such as Windows 98 or 2000, you can create a dual boot system by placing Windows XP Professional on another partition. Figure 5-16 shows the Setup screen on a computer that has two disk drives, one with Windows 98 (drive C) and one with unpartitioned space (drive D). In this situation, you can (1) select to install Windows XP Professional on drive C, thus erasing Windows 98 or (2) install Windows XP on the unpartitioned space on drive D, resulting in a dual-boot system.

6. Use the up and down arrows to select Format the partition using the NTFS file system (which is selected by default). Press Enter. Setup takes a few minutes to format the partition and then it examines your disks.

Next, Setup copies files to the installation folders and then initializes the installation. Finally, Setup restarts the computer. If a floppy disk is loaded, remove it before the computer restarts.

To complete the GUI-based second phase of the installation:

1. Windows XP Professional restarts and immediately begins the installation. The first portion of the installation will take a few minutes. You will see an overview of Windows XP features in the right pane and the installation steps in the left pane. Also, the moving green square across the green dots in the bottom right side of the screen means that Setup is working.

2. Notice the bar that eventually appears in the bottom portion of the left pane that shows what is happening during the installation, such as installing devices.

3. When you see the Regional and Language Options dialog box, click Customize to review the regional options. Make sure that your format preferences are selected, such as English (United States). Also, select your present location, such as United States. Click OK.

4. Click Next.

5. Enter your name and the name of your organization. Click Next.

6. Enter the product key (look on the back of your Windows XP Professional CD-ROM’s jewel case) and click Next.

7. Enter the name of your computer, such as XP plus your last name (such as XPWalters, or ask your instructor for a naming convention). Also, enter the password for the Administrator account and then enter it again to confirm it. Click Next.

8. This step applies only if the installation program detects that there is a modem installed in or attached to the computer. If there is a modem already installed in the computer, enter the country/region in which you reside, the area or city code, and a number to access an outside line (if necessary). Also, click the option button for the type of phone system (tone or pulse dialing). Click Next.

9. Verify the date and time settings. For example, you may need to select the time zone (click the Time Zone list box down arrow). Click Next. Setup continues the installation, starting with the installation of the network configuration.

10. On the Network Settings dialog box for this project, select Typical settings (the default) to configure for a Microsoft-based network using the TCP/IP transport protocol. Click Next.

11. Select whether to make the computer a member of a workgroup or a domain (check with your instructor, or enter a workgroup name that consists of your initials plus “workgroup”). Click Next. (If you select to join a domain, another dialog box appears in which to provide the name of the account and password that you will use in the domain. Click OK after you enter the account and password.) The installation proceeds, such as copying files to the newly formatted partition.

12. A display settings dialog box appears stating “To improve the appearance of visual elements, Windows will automatically adjust your screen resolution.” Click OK to continue. Then a verification dialog box appears verifying that the new resolution is readable to the user. Click OK if you can read the information. When the installation is finished, Setup restarts the computer so that you can access Windows XP Professional.

13. After the computer restarts, click Next on the Welcome to Microsoft Windows screen.

14. If you are asked whether or not to turn on Automatic Updates, select to turn on the update feature.

15. Windows XP checks your Internet connectivity. Click the appropriate option button for how the computer will connect to the Internet. For this project, use the default option, Yes, this computer will connect through a local area network or home network. Click Next (or you can click Skip if you do not wish to configure Internet access at this time).

16. If your computer is connected to a network, the next dialog box that appears deals with IP and Domain Name System (DNS) information. Check with your instructor for the exact information you need to enter on these screens.

17. Select whether or not to activate Windows over the Internet or to wait until another time. For example, if you have Internet access, click Yes, activate Windows over the Internet now. Click Next.

18. Select whether or not to register online. For this project, click No, remind me every few days or click No, not at this time. Click Next.

19. Enter your name and click Next.

20. Click Finish.

21. Run Windows Update as described in this chapter.

Reference Hands-On Project 5-1

Your hardware system BIOS controls many basic functions of your computer. This chapter discusses the need for being able to boot from a DVD/CD-ROM. You can find out how your system BIOS handles DVD/CD-ROM booting by displaying the BIOS Setup or Configuration screen on your computer. To display your current booting options by looking at your BIOS:

1. Display your computer’s BIOS Setup or Configuration screen. How you do this varies with the machine, but common techniques are to press F1 or F2 during the system bootup process. Other keystrokes or combinations may be used, such as Del, Ctrl+Alt+Esc simultaneously, or F10. Another way is to hold down a key on the keyboard while booting. The BIOS often sees the error and gives you the option to go into Setup. If none of these works, study your computer’s documentation, or carefully read all screens during system boot.

2. Look for settings for boot order or boot sequence. This usually involves using the cursor keys to position the cursor over a field, then pressing the spacebar or Page Up/Page Down to step through the settings.

3. Step through the choices available on your machine.

4. If available (and with your instructor’s permission), choose a DVD/CD-ROM boot, and save and exit the Setup or Configuration screen.

5. Insert your operating system DVD/CD-ROM disk and reboot the computer. Did the DVD/CD-ROM boot your computer? What error messages did you see, if any? Can you reconfigure your system to boot from your hard disk drive?