Top Five Tips for Installing Windows XP
Even with the advent of Vista, many people are still installing (and even re-installing) Windows XP. Normally, it’s a relatively easy and painless process. But, as with anything, something could always go wrong. Brandon sent in this top five list for installing XP for anyone who may find themselves needing to do so.
- Use a program called nLite to slipstream all of your drivers into your Windows XP installation. You can also add updates and service packs that can be downloaded from Microsoft. Doing this before installation prevents corruption that could occur from installing them after. If you accidentally get any viruses and don’t know about it, critical operating system files could be harmed from running the updates. Finally, nLite can remove all the programs and services that you don’t need to save disk and RAM space. Using nLite is helpful to make installation simpler, and saves time if you find yourself reinstalling Windows quite often. After you’re done processing your original Windows install CD, nLite will create an ISO file that can be burned to a blank disc. As long as you use your product key from your genuine COA, this is totally legal.
- Make sure you have your Anti-Virus software on a CD before hand, and that it’s the first thing you install after installing Windows. This means that you will not have to connect to the Internet to download your AV software, and it will be less possible to obtain a virus before the AV software is actually installed.
- Have all of your software discs in a pile ready to install, in the order you’re going to install them in. Personally, I always install Microsoft Office first, followed by all my other productivity software. I install games last. Try to find out what works best for you.
- Take time to customize your desktop. I’m sure most people don’t find the Luna (a.k.a. Playskool) interface very attractive, so feel free to change it right away. I actually recommend downloading the Royale theme from Microsoft, which is the visual style included with the Media Center and Tablet editions of Windows XP. It’s basically the same colors as Luna, but with better shading, and it’s glossy like the Windows Vista interface. It can make your desktop so much more elegant looking, and is more exciting then Windows Classic.
- Organize your Start menu. If you leave your Start menu the way that setup programs organize it, you’ll quickly have a cluttered mess on your hands that takes up your entire screen. Instead of having it organized by software vendor, organize it by categories such as “media”, “productivity”, and “games”. Not only does this leave you with a lot of screen space, but you’ll be able to find programs much faster.
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19 Comments
Bryan Price
August 1st, 2008
at 5:02am
Rename the .xaml file .theme?
I see no way to install the Royal theme on XP.
Tamal Anwar
August 1st, 2008
at 5:51am
Interesting and informative. Do you know I actually re install my OS every few weeks? Now it has became a regular thing in my life :)
Marcus Hamaker
August 1st, 2008
at 7:45am
Good tips. If this is a computer for myself I will also make a ghost image of the hard drive after installing all my normal applications. So after XP/Drivers/Office/Productivity Tools then it’s an image.
Being someone who tends to push the boundaries and play around with everything if something goes wrong then I am back up quickly.
Kent Bunn
August 1st, 2008
at 10:38am
Better yet, don’t have a stack of CD’s of stuff to install after the OS.
Using nLite you can create a DVD of XP, then before burning it to media you can create an “extras” folder and copy all the other stuff into that folder. Then from a single disc, you can rebuild your entire system.
What could be easier?
lockerhaxor
August 1st, 2008
at 11:55am
OMG THANK YOU! I have vista, but it keeps crashing! Finally some ways to switch! Thank you :D!
Bowler4Ever
August 1st, 2008
at 4:55pm
Note: NEVER use a Dell Reinstallation disk to install Windows on a non-Dell machine! VERY bad idea to do that, as you have no key to use and if it’s not registered, you don’t get to install stuff like DirectX. So, if you want XP on a Mac, for instance, NEVER use a Dell re-install disk on a non-Dell!
Jordan
August 1st, 2008
at 8:40pm
I agree with all of these tips and will definitely use them! One tip I have is that if Windows won’t load, don’t re-install the whole operating system, just press R when the disk is inserted to repair windows.
Aaron S
August 1st, 2008
at 8:43pm
I had to install xp many times on several different computers and must say I care more about having everything where I want it and making it look nice. That way when I need to use it I know where everything is and can fly to it in seconds! Being organized pays off.
Geeko
August 1st, 2008
at 8:57pm
That will help me a ton next time I install thanks!
WindowsObserver.com
August 2nd, 2008
at 2:27pm
The current operating system [Windows Vista] doesn’t run on that, so Microsoft has had to make allowances for crippled licenses of XP. … See all stories on this topic Google Blogs Alert for: windows vistaTop Five Tips for Installing Windows XPBy Chris It’s basically the same colors as Luna, but with better shading, and it’s glossy like the Windows Vista interface. It can make your desktop so much more elegant looking, and is more exciting then Windows Classic.
James83
August 2nd, 2008
at 7:10pm
I just wish I would of of known about nLite before I had to reinstall XP on my notebook. Oh well, I will know for next time. Thanks.
MountedWeb
August 2nd, 2008
at 7:48pm
Is virus software really needed for innocent computer use?
The Modern Geek
August 4th, 2008
at 2:06am
Chris Pirillo PayPal Denies $450 of Unauthorized ChargesTop Five Tips for Installing Windows XPMojave Experiment: If you have to trick people into using your product, what … How Much do You Usually Tip? Who Makes Your Digital Picture Frame?
Tips
August 4th, 2008
at 4:00am
Original post:Top Five Tips for Installing Windows XPby at tips - Google Blog Search Blog tag: Tips Technorati tag: Tips
Updates ~ Lockergnome
August 4th, 2008
at 4:21pm
[...] Top Five Tips for Installing Windows XP [...]
Nick
August 4th, 2008
at 9:31pm
@MountedWeb: Definitely. You never know when a virus could appear, or the path it could take to get to your computer- it could be via a compromised website, e-mail, an infected Word document…
Great tips for sure. One serious thing I’ve found from reinstalling once in a while is to make sure you have all your drivers on hand when you reinstall your OS. Disk imaging software is also a lifesaving tool, especially if you want to do work on your hard drive that would normally blow the OS away, or if your hard drive itself fails. I can pop a disk in, and restore from the last backup in less time than it takes to reinstall everything.
GrndnPnd
August 6th, 2008
at 3:18pm
“Is virus software really needed for innocent computer use?”
Uhm, Yea!
Do you think viruses are picky? They only attack guilty people or something?
Anytime, you are connected to the internet, or use software, files or etc. from a portable device, media or whatever, leaves you susceptible to a virus…..
Bryan Callahan
August 12th, 2008
at 1:02pm
To: Tamal Anwar
I am kind of addicted to reinstalling xp on my computer as well, but i’m trying to stop. I think i’m being paranoid that every little thing i do is slowing down the os permanently and the only way to fix it is to reinstall. I doubt there is any real reason to reinstall an os any more than once a year or so. anyone have any opinions on this?
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August 15th, 2008
at 2:49pm
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