Can you list the procedure for doing a completely clean install of XP on an existing PC please.

Felicity-Anne Quinn, Sydney, NSW

First thing to do, after you've done all the preparatory backing up of data and collecting together of the various bits ‘n' pieces you'll need set up your system again afterwards, is to reboot your system, go into BIOS setup and ensure that your system is set to Boot from CD-ROM as ‘1st Boot Device', and your primary Hard Drive as ‘2nd Boot device'. Make the change(s), if necessary, and then pop your Windows XP CD into the drive, save and exit from BIOS setup, and watch for the text message to pop up asking for you to ‘Press a key to boot from CD-ROM”. Make sure you do so!

You will be asked if you wish to install Windows XP. Press <ENTER> to begin the process. You will then be presented with an ‘End User License Agreement' . Read it if you wish (you really should, you know, but very few people actually do) and you should press <F8> to accept the terms and continue.

Because an existing Windows XP installation is detected, you will be presented with a screen asking if you wish to repair it. Press <Esc> to bypass the process (do not repair).

The next screen you are presented with is where most people have difficulty. You will be presented with a screen offering some choices of action, and a list of existing hard drive partitions which also indicate existing Windows installations. My suggestion for the best course of action is this:

• Remove existing partitions
• Create new NTFS partitions
• Install Windows XP on the first partition of your Primary hard drive

When you've finished, highlight the partition you wish to install Windows XP to (the first partition on your Primary Drive is the best) and press <ENTER>.

Follow onscreen prompts during the process of installation, and ensure you leave the Windows XP CD in the drive whenever your system reboots during the process. If you get another prompt to “Press any key to boot from CD” keep your hands in your pockets! You don't want to go back and start over again!

Note : If you are using an XP Upgrade CD, you will be asked for a qualifying product during installation. Pop the CD with your older version of Windows into the drive, press <ENTER> or click ‘OK' as prompted, and return your Windows XP CD to the drive when asked. You may be prompted to ‘Create a Startup disk' and you can safely ‘Cancel' from that step if you do not wish to create a Startup diskette.

Provide such local information as requested during installation, and also such details of existing Local Networks that the system is connected to. Provide details of User Accounts you wish to have on the system, and passwords if you choose to use them. When the process has completed, you will be prompted to ‘Activate' Windows XP. Opt out of Activation at this stage, because it's better to Activate after you got your system fully set up, and have confirmed that all is working as it should. You can also safely bypass the Product Registration, as it serves little practical purpose.

When all is completed, you will need to enter your password, if you've set one, to access the Windows XP Desktop.

Setting Up your System after Windows is Installed

Pop your Windows Security CD into the drive, and install Service Pack 1 if necessary, and the other updates included on it. If you have internet access at this stage via an Ethernet ADSL connection or similar, log onto Windows Update immediately you've done so, and download and Install all other available Security Updates. If you have to install a dial-up modem and configure your Internet access, leave the process until after you've installed your system components and other peripherals, and unsure you use Windows Update as soon as you've gained Internet access.

Note : If you have ADSL Internet access via a USB ADSL modem, I'd strongly suggest you replace your modem with an Ethernet one, and have it configured and connected before you start installing Windows! See “How can I assign IRQ's on an Albatross?” for fuller explanation of my reasons for saying so!

With Windows installed and your Security Updates attended to, it's time to install drivers and driver updates for your system. Do so in this sequence for best results:

• Motherboard chipset drivers
• Display drivers
• Soundcard drivers
• Other internal component drivers
• Other peripheral device drivers

• Don't be hasty with the ‘Installation CDs' which accompany your equipment. For things such as cameras, scanners and so on, try them first to see if Windows XP itself recognizes and uses them correctly. If you do need to install from a CD, try installing ‘Drivers only' as a first step. The included software will sometimes disrupt your system's operation, hiding data files in unlikely places such as deep within Program Install directories. Using mainstream applications programs for your computing tasks is always the best option.
• Say ‘No!' to those downloaded ‘freebies' that are designed simply to pretty up your Desktop, or add amusing little ‘toys' to your system. Almost all of them contain ‘Net Nasties' which will, at best, detract from system performance.
• Install your applications programs one by one, updating them via the internet as appropriate, and fully configuring and testing them before proceeding to the next program. Installing everything in one go will mean that any problems arising will be almost impossible to track down later.
• Avoid installing multiple instances of ‘burning software' as far as possible. Multiple instances can adversely impact on drive recognition and autoplay detection.
• Use inbuilt functions of Windows XP as far as possible, rather than utilities which replicate them.
• Avoid file-sharing software like the plague! It might be nice to have a world of ‘free' stuff available to you, but the ‘nasties' introduced to your system from infected or otherwise suspect stuff on the hard drives of PCs elsewhere aren't just a possibility, they're an inevitability! And finally
• You've almost certainly had problems of organizing and finding the various files and data you have stored on your system. Now is the time to look at, and make changes to, your system of Folder organization, before it gets any worse!

Bonus : And here's a ‘Bonus Extra'! For those people who wish to use ‘Imaging' software to protect themselves against the future need to start over again, here's a step by step outline of the process showing what to do, and when. (You'll notice that John's procedures follow a little different sequence to my own, but the principles are the same.

My Reinstall Process

Before Starting A Reinstall

1. Disconnect all external devices (printers, scanners etc)
2. Find all the driver disks for things that don't have standard drivers in XP. XP can find drivers for many devices on the Web. However there are a lot of devices for which drivers are not automatically found. Some that I have personally come across include a USB memory card reader, film scanner, and TV tuner cards (analogue and digital).
3. Backup important files, email, documents, financial, video, photo, and so on.

Reinstall Process

1. Backup important files (yes, I already mentioned it, but listen this time)
2. Partition drive (if required) and format drive C. Suggest at least two partitions - C for OS and programs, D for normal data files, E and higher (if used) for video files etc.
3. Install Windows XP. Don't activate immediately!!!
4. Install Zone Alarm
5. Install Norton Anti-Virus (NAV) or other anti-virus program that has frequent updates, and will constantly monitor inbound and outbound email and disk writes.
6. Connect to the 'Net
7. Live update NAV
8. Windows Update for Win XP
9. Update Zone Alarm
10. Image drive C with either Ghost or Drive Image (this is the baseline image). Temporarily this image can made be to another partition on local drive, later it should be archived to DVD or (multiple) CD
11. Plug in external peripherals. After drivers load, check that the relevant peripherals operate OK..
12. Install drivers for hardware and peripherals which XP did not automatically install drivers.
13. Load commercial software. After each program is installed, create a new image of drive C. Don't overwrite old images - you may need them if an install screws something.
14. Load shareware/freeware. After every two or three programs are installed, create a new image of drive C.
15. Restore data files (documents, emails and so on.) - preferably to drive D so that future images don't contain them, and restoring from an image does not overwrite them).
16. If the system is stable, activate Windows and application software
17. Create and archive a new image of C drive - this becomes the "standard" image used for most future restores. A copy should be in a separate location - at least a different room in the house, preferably in a separate building (such as in a desk drawer at work) so that it and the house will not be affected by the same disaster such as bushfire or flood.
18. Each time you add software, create a new image as soon as you are confident that the system is stable. This becomes the latest "working" image - but does not replace either the "standard" image or the "baseline" image . (Note: Make sure your system is scanned and declared safe for viruses, Trojans, spyware and other malware before you make the image – Terry)