Installing Windows XP

What's Needed

• Windows XP CD (Home Edition, Professional Edition)

1. Windows Preparation

Preparation Task before Installation	Result
Prepare a list of Hardware Components
Check Windows Requirements
Partition harddrive? Which partition to use?
What file system should be used?
What is the name of the boot directory?
What is the CD Key?
What is the computer's name?
What is the administration password?
What software components do you want installed?
Is the computer directly wired to the network or via modem?
What NIC is installed?
Which network protocols should be installed?
Which network services should be installed?
Do you want to install IIS?
What are the NIC configuration settings?
What domain is the computer in?
Set date/time.
Set video settings.

2. List Server Hardware Components / Check BIOS / Check HAL

Minimum Requirements	2000 Professional	2000 Server	XP Professional	2003 Server
Computer/Processor	133 MHz or higher Pentium-compatible CPU		300 MHz or higher; 233 MHz minimum required	133 MHz; more the better
Memory	At least 64 MB RAM	At least 128 MB RAM; 256 MB recommended; 4 GB maximum	At least 128 MB RAM (64 MB supported)	At least 128 MB RAM
Hard Disk	2 GB with 650 MB free space	2 GB with 1 GB free space	1.5 GB of available space	1.5 GB of available space
CPU Support	Single or dual processor	Up to four processors	Dual processors	4, 8 or 32 depended on version
Optical Drive	CD-ROM or DVD drive
Display	VGA or better resolution		SVGA or higher
Keyboard/Mouse	required

3. Partition harddrive? Which partition to use?

Partitioning - process in which a section or a complete drive is set up for use by an operating system

Formatting - operation that divides a disk into small sections called sectors for storage of files

You don't need to partition the hard drive unless you want to install multiple operating systems or want to keep the OS separate from the data

4. What file system should be used?
• FAT (File Allocation Table) - originally developed for DOS-based computers; no security [supports file sizes up to 4 GB]
• NTFS (NT File System) - designed for NT server environment; built-in security, file compression, and logging of file system activity [supports file sizes up to 4 GB, 32 GB for 64-bit XP]; cannot recognize other file systems
5. What is the name of the Windows directory?
   default name is Windows (older versions it was WINNT )
6. What is the CD Key?
   25 character key found on the CD-ROM case
7. What licensing mode should be used?
• Per Server - # of concurrent connections allowed
• Per Seat - must have separate license for each workstation
8. What is the server's name?
   should be easy to remember and must be unique on the network
9. What is the server's type?
• PDC (Primary Domain Controller) - controls administration and security. Contains security accounts database (SAM); can only have one in a domain
• BDC (Backup Domain Controller) - has a copy of the security accounts database; can be upgraded to a PDC
• Stand-alone Server - does not handle logon or security validations
10. What is the administration password?
    must be 14 characters or less; should be easy to remember, but hard to guess; should be at least 8 characters and contain upper and lowercase letters, digits, and special characters
11. Do you want an Emergency Repair Disk?
    Often needed if server crashes and won't reboot.
12. What software components do you want installed?
    Select default and change later.
13. Is the computer directly wired to the network or via modem?
14. Do you want to install IIS?
    Internet Information Server supports Internet and intranet web servers as well as ftp
15. What NIC is installed?
16. Which network protocols should be installed?
• TCP/IP - needed if connecting to the Internet or an intranet.
• NWLink IPX/SPX - needed if Novell Netware clients are in network
• NetBEUI - needed for network shares
17. Which network services should be installed?
• Microsoft IIS - if you need a web or ftp server
• RPC Configuration - needed if remotely running jobs on UNIX systems
• NetBIOS Interface - needed for NetBEUI
• Workstation
• Server
18. What are the NIC configuration settings?
    May need to know IRQ, IO Port #, and transceiver type (BNC/TP)
19. What domain is the computer in?
    The domain is intended to simplify network management. It allows accounts, privileges, and user information to be managed in one place. Domain name should describe purpose of the domain.
20. Set date/time.
21. Set video settings.
22. Prepare Emergency Repair Disk.