Setting Up Windows Xp

8/8/2019 Setting Up Windows Xp

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Step by Step: Setting Up Microsoft Windows XP

Tip: If possible, print this document before starting Setup. Some steps might require you toshut down the computer, and it will be helpful to have a printed copy of this information.

This document will help you to install Microsoft Windows XP Professional or Windows XPHome Edition. This document also provides answers to other setup-related questions.

Click a link to go directly to that section:

Prepare for Setup

Upgrade to Windows XP

Perform a new installation of Windows XP

Transfer files and settings from another computer

Partition and format a hard drive

Perform other Setup-related tasks

Troubleshoot Setup

Create boot disks

Configure a computer to boot from CD

Set up a multiboot system

Repair or recover a system

Find a Microsoft Knowledge Base article

Additional resources

Installation overview

This release of Windows XP includes Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows XP. If you uninstallthis release of Windows XP, SP2 is automatically uninstalled too. Your computer will berunning the operating system that it was running before you installed Windows XP, or it willnot be running an operating system. You cannot uninstall SP2 only.

Important

y You can install Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2 or Windows XPProfessional with Service Pack 2 on computers that are running the followingoperating systems:

o Microsoft Windows 98

o Windows 98 Second Edition

o Windows NT 4.0 Workstation

o Windows Millennium Edition

o Windows 2000 Professional

o Windows XP Home Edition

o Windows XP Professional



y If you want to upgrade Microsoft Windows 95 to Windows XP Home Edition orWindows XP Professional, you must first uninstall Windows 95, and then perform anew installation.

y If you are installing Windows XP on an older computer, it¶s a good idea to check withyour computer manufacturer to see whether a BIOS upgrade is available before youproceed.

Prepare for SetupThere are four important steps you should take before you start Setup:

1. Run an upgrade report ± it only takes a few minutes to check system compatibility.

2. Disable virus protection software ± if you do not do this, installation might fail.

3. Back up your files either by using the Backup Wizard that is built into Windows, or byusing another backup program.

4. Decide which type of Setup you want ± an upgrade or a new installation.

Doing these four steps before starting Setup can save you time in the long run.

Ru n an upg rade re port An upgrade report tells you how your hardware and software will work with Windows XP.The upgrade report is a quick and easy program that you can run using the Windows XP CD.Here's how:

1. Insert the Windows XP CD into your CD-ROM drive.

2. When the Welcome menu appears, click Check system compatibility.

3. Then click Check my system automatically.

You can also find information about your computer's devices (such as printers, scanners,and so on) at the device manufacturer's Web site, in the Windows Catalog, and on theMicrosoft Hardware Compatibility List (HCL):

Text version of the HCL (for all operating systems) Text version of the HCL (for Windows XP only)

The Windows Catalog

You can get to all of the above from Windows Hardware and Driver Central

What do you do if something is incompatible with Windows XP? You can upgrade either thehardware or software in question, find a similar but compatible program or device, or youcan remove the program or device and stop using it. To upgrade, contact the manufacturer.To find compatible programs and devices, check the Windows Catalog. To remove aprogram, go to Control Panel and open Add or Remove Programs.

Disable vir u s protection (antivir u s) software

Virus protection software sometimes interferes with Setup, so make sure that you disable itbefore you begin installing Windows XP. For instructions about how to do this, refer to thedocumentation for your virus protection software.

After setting up Windows XP, remember to enable the virus protection program. In somecases you will need an updated version of the software, which you might be able todownload from the software manufacturer's Web site.



Back up you r files

Back up any files that you want to preserve, just in case something goes awry. Dependingon how many files you have, you can copy them to a floppy disk, removable drive, or CD, orto a network folder if you have a network. You can copy the files directly or use the BackupWizard included with most versions of Windows. This wizard is located in theAccessories\System Tools folder on the Start menu.

Note: You cannot restore a backup in Windows XP that you created by using theMsbackup tool in Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Millennium Edition. For moreinformation about this issue, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 305381, "CannotRestore Backups That You Create in Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me with theWindows XP NTBackup Tool."

Decide which ty pe of Set up you want

There are basically three different types of Setup: an upgrade, a new installation (alsoknown as a cl ean install ation or a full install ation), and a multiboot installation. Hint: wehighly rec ommend the first one!

Upgrade. This is the easiest method of installing Windows XP. We recommend you use this

method if you are running a previous version of Windows. When you upgrade, you replacethe existing operating system with Windows XP, but your data and most user settingsshould not be affected. (It's always a good idea to back up your files before starting, just incase.)

You can upgrade from Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows MillenniumEdition, Windows NT Workstation 4 (Service Pack 6), or Windows 2000 Professional.

Note: Windows 2000 can only be upgraded to Windows XP Professional. See MicrosoftKnowledge Base article 292607 for supported upgrade paths. Also see MicrosoftKnowledge Base article 316941 for an overview of the Windows XP Setup process.

Tip: To find a Microsoft Knowledge Base article, go to Microsoft Help and Support, typethe article number in the Search the Knowledge Base box, and press ENTER.

New installation. Also known as a full installation or a clean installation, this methodrequires a little more work than an upgrade. A new installation can install Windows XP onanother drive or partition without disturbing an existing installation, or you can choose towipe out everything on your hard drive so that you "start from scratch." You should def initely back up your f iles before doing a new installation!As part of a newinstallation, you can also partition and format your hard drive. It's best to do this as part of Setup, rather than doing it in advance (as you might have done with previous versions of Windows). We'll get to that.

Multiboot installation. The hardest of all three, this method is a variation of the newinstallation process that lets you run more than one operating system on your computer.For example, you can have both Windows XP and Windows 98 installed. To switch from oneto the other, you restart the computer and choose an operating system from a menu that

appears when the computer starts. Sounds cool, but don't attempt this unless you are anadvanced computer user.

Upgrade to Windows XPNote: Before installing Windows XP, you should disable your virus protection (antivirus)software, and you might want to run the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool to test yourcomputer's random access memory (RAM). To use the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool,



follow the instructions on the Windows Memory Diagnostic Web site. Be sure to enableyour virus protection software after installing Windows XP.

When you upgrade to Windows XP, you install Windows to the same folder where yourcurrent version of Windows is located, updating the earlier version. Here's how:

1. Start your computer. Also, make sure you have your product key handy.

2. Insert the Windows XP CD into your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.3. On the menu that appears, click Install Windows XP.

4. On the Welcome to Windows Setup page, click Upgrade (recommended) (if itis not already selected), and then click Next. (You should click Next on each screenfrom here on.)

5. On the License Agreement page, read the agreement, and follow the instructionsto accept or reject the agreement.

6. On the Your Product Key page, type the 25-character product key in theappropriate boxes.

7. On the Get Updated Setup Files page, select the option that you want. Hint: It's areally good idea to sel ec t Yes and get the updated fi l es, but y ou c an only do this if

y ou're abl e to c onnec t to the Internet. Note: Some of the problems addressed in the troubleshooting section of thisdocument are prevented by getting the updated Setup files.

8. During this phase of Setup, the computer will restart several times, and you'll seescreens telling you about new features in Windows XP. This part of Setup takes awhile. It's a good time to go have a cup of coffee or take a break.

9. Finally, the computer restarts one last time and Windows XP starts.

Do not forget to enable your virus protection software after Setup is finished.

Perform a new installation of Windows XPIf your computer does not have an operating system currently installed or you have decidedto install Windows from scratch, you can perform what is known as a new installation (alsoknown as a cl ean install ation, or a full install ation). This process is more complicated andtakes longer than an upgrade (about 20 steps as opposed to 9 for an upgrade). To performan upgrade, refer to the section titled "Upgrade to Windows XP."

Note: Before installing Windows XP, you should disable you virus protection (antivirus)software, and you might want to run the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool to test yourcomputer's random access memory (RAM). To use the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool,follow the instructions on the Windows Memory Diagnostic Web site. Be sure to enableyour virus protection software after installing Windows XP.

CAUTION: You can choose to delete everything that currently exists on the hard driveduring a new installation, so be sure to back up any data you want to keep before you

begin (make sure that the backup data is not stored on the drive you are going todelete).

Here's how to perform a new installation of Windows XP:

1. Insert the Windows XP CD into the CD-ROM drive.

Note: Make sure the computer can boot from a CD. If it can't, then follow theprocedures in the section titled "Configure a computer to boot from CD" or seethe "How do I install Windows from the command prompt?" section under"Perform other Setup-related tasks."



2. Restart the computer.

3. When the message to Press any key to boot f rom CD« is displayed, quickly pressany key (for example, the SPACEBAR). Setup begins.

Note: Pay close attention here, because it's very easy to miss this message. If your current operating system starts, you'll know that you missed the

opportunity to boot from CD. Restart your computer and try again.4. After Setup starts, several messages will flash across the bottom of the screen.

These messages are only important under special circumstances, such as installing aparticular hardware access layer (HAL), or loading a small computer system interface(SCSI) driver. Most people can ignore them. For more information about this subject,see Microsoft Knowledge Base articles 295116 and 220845.

5. Next, a screen appears that offers the following three options: Set up Windows XP, Repair a Windows XP installation, or Quit Setup. Press ENTER toselect the first option.

6. The End User License Agreement appears next. Read the license agreement andfollow the instructions to accept or reject the agreement. If your Windows CD is anupgrade CD, after accepting the agreement, you will be prompted to insert the CD of

your previous operating system to verify that the previous version qualifies forupgrade to Windows XP.

Important! If you use a recovery CD from an original equipment manufacturer(also called an OEM), it is possible that the CD will not be accepted. If you deletethe partition information or format the drive and the OEM recovery CD is notaccepted as valid media, you must use the OEM recovery CD to restore yourprevious version of Windows. For details about restoring your system using theOEM recovery media, please contact your computer manufacturer.

7. If a screen appears showing an existing installation of Windows XP, press ESC tocontinue installing a fresh copy of Windows XP.

8. At the next screen, you have the option of repartitioning your drive. It's a good ideato repartition if you want to merge several smaller partitions into one large one, or if you want to create several smaller partitions so that you can set up a multibootconfiguration. If you want to repartition, follow the instructions to delete existingpartitions, if needed, and then select unpartitioned space and press ENTER toproceed.

CAUTION: Deleting a partition will remove all data stored on that partition.Before you continue, make sure you have backed up everything you want tokeep.

9. Select the formatting method you would like to use, and then press ENTER. NTFSoffers both enhanced formatting capabilities and security technologies. If you need toaccess drives or DOS files (such as from a DOS-based boot disk) using WindowsMillennium Edition or earlier versions of Windows, you might need to select FAT32instead. Select either format method (quick or slow).

10. Setup will format the drive, copy initial Setup files, and restart the computer.

Note: After the computer restarts, you will again receive the message Press anykey to boot f rom CD but you should ignore it so that you do not interrupt thecurrent installation process.

11. After another restart, the next part of Setup will begin.

12. On the Regional and Language Options page, follow the instructions to addlanguage support or change language settings, if desired.



13. On the Personalize Your Software page, type your name and the name of yourcompany or organization (if applicable).

14. On the Your Product Key page, type the 25-character product key that came withyour copy of Windows XP.

15. On the Computer Name and Administrator Password page, make up a computer

name (if your network administrator gave you a name to use, type that). Then makeup a password for the Administrator account on your computer. Type it once, andthen confirm it by typing it again.

Important: Be sure to remember the Administrator password. You'll need thispassword when you want to make changes to your system in the future.

16. On the Date and Time Settings page, make any changes that are necessary.

17. On the Networking Settings page, if it appears, select Typical settings (unlessyou plan to manually configure your networking components).

18. On the Workgroup or Computer Domain page, click Next. If you want to addyour computer to a domain, select the second option and fill in the domain name. (If you do this, you will be prompted for a user name and password.)

Note: Connecting to a domain is only possible in Windows XP Professional, not inWindows XP Home Edition.

19. Next, while Setup copies files to your computer and completes a few other tasks,you'll see a series of screens that tell you about new features in Windows XP.

20. Finally, your computer will restart. Again, ignore the message to press any key. AfterSetup completes, eject the CD from the CD-ROM drive.

Do not forget to enable your virus protection software after Setup is finished.

Transfer files and settings from another computer Did you ever wish that you could easily transfer your files and settings from an oldcomputer to a new one? The Files and Settings Transfer Wizard available in Windows XP can

assist you in doing this. This wizard helps take the pain out of upgrading to a newcomputer.

Here's how to use this wizard:

On your new computer:

1. Click Start, and then click Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.

2. On the Welcome page of the wizard, click Next.

3. On the Which computer is this? page, select New computer.

4. On the Do you have a Windows XP CD? page, select I will use the wizard f romthe Windows XP CD, unless you don't have a Windows XP CD. If that is the case,you will need to make a Wizard Disk so that you can run the wizard on your oldcomputer. Select the first option and follow the instructions to make the Wizard Disk.

5. Now go to your old computer (or the computer that you're transferring files andsettings from).

On your old computer:

1. If you don't have a Windows XP CD, insert the Wizard Disk that you created into thefloppy drive. Click Start, click R un, and then clickBrowse. Browse to your floppydrive and then double-click the MigWiz.exe file. In the R un dialog box, click OK.



If you do have a Windows XP CD, insert it into the CD-ROM drive of the computeryou want to copy files and settings from and wait for the startup menu to appear. If the menu does not appear automatically, click Start, click R un, and thenclick Browse. Browse to your CD-ROM drive and then double-clickthe Setup.exe file. In the R un dialog box, click OK. Click Perform additionaltasks, and then clickTransfer f iles and settings.

2. On the Welcome page of the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard, click Next.

3. On the Which computer is this? page, select Old computer.

4. On the Select a transfer method page, choose a method that will work for bothcomputers. For example, you can place the files and settings on a network drive thatboth computers have access to, or you can use a removable drive. Whatever methodyou choose, bothcomputers must be able to use it.

5. On the What do you want to transfer? page, select one of the three options.Depending on the type of transfer method you choose, some options are better thanothers here. For instance, if you plan to transfer more than just a few files andsettings, choose a method other than floppy disks (since those have the loweststorage capacity). If you decide to change your transfer method, you can always

click Back.On this page, you can also select a check box that lets you choose a custom list of files and settings to be transferred. This option is for advanced users.

6. At this point, you might see a message telling you to install certain programs on yournew computer before continuing. This step is not required, but those programs mightnot work correctly without doing this.

7. The wizard now collects the files and settings you requested and prepares to transferthem to the new computer. Insert a disk or removable drive when prompted, if youare using one of those methods.

8. On the Completing the Collection Phase page, click Finish. Then go to your newcomputer, taking along any disk or CD you have used.

On your new computer: 1. Click Start, and then click Files and Settings Transfer Wizard.

2. On the Welcome page, click Next.

3. On the Which computer is this? page, select New computer.

4. If you placed your files and settings on a disk or CD, insert it now. On the Whereare the f iles and settings? page, tell the wizard where to find the files andsettings. The wizard transfers the files and settings to the new computer.

5. On the Completing the Files and Settings Transfer Wizard page, read anymessages about the status of your transfer, and then click Finish.

6. You might see a message telling you that you need to log off before the new settingswill appear on your new computer. You can just log off and log back on. There is no

need to restart the computer.

That's it! The transferred files and settings should now be on your new computer.

Partition and format a hard driveIf there are no partitions on your hard drive, you will need to create a partition and formatit. Alternatively, it's a good idea to repartition your hard drive if you want to merge severalsmaller partitions into one large one, or if you want to create several smaller partitions sothat you can set up a multiboot configuration.



If you want to partition or format your hard drive, we recommend that you use the diskpartitioning and formatting tools that are built into Windows XP Setup. These tools allow youto delete existing partitions and to create one or more new partitions.

IMPOR TANT: If you follow these steps on a hard disk that is not empty, all of the datastored on that hard disk will be permanently deleted.

To use the disk partitioning and formatting tools in Windows XP Setup:1. Insert the Windows XP CD into your CD/DVD drive (or insert the first Windows XP

Setup boot disk into the floppy disk drive), and then restart the computer.

Note: To start your computer from the Windows XP CD (or from the Setup bootdisk), your computer must be configured to start from the CD/DVD drive (or thefloppy disk drive). In some cases, you might have to modify your computer'sBIOS settings to do this. For more information, see "Configure a computer toboot from CD."

2. If you are starting the computer from the Windows XP CD, press a key to boot fromCD when you are prompted to do so. If you are starting from the Windows XP Setupboot disks, insert each of the additional disks when prompted, and then press ENTERto continue after inserting each disk.

3. At the Welcome to Setup page, press ENTER to continue.

4. On the License Agreement page, read the agreement, and then follow theinstructions for accepting or rejecting the agreement.

5. If an existing Windows XP installation is detected, you will be prompted to repair it.Press ESC (do not repair).

6. All existing partitions and unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard disk.Use the arrow keys to select the partition or unpartitioned space where you want tocreate a new partition, and then press D to delete an existing partition or press C tocreate a new partition using unpartitioned space.

If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must then press L (or pressENTER, and then press L if it is the System partition) to confirm that you want to

delete the partition. Repeat this process for each of the existing partitions that youwant to use for the new partition. When all the partitions are deleted, select theresulting unpartitioned space and press C to create a new partition.

Note: If you want to create a partition where one or more partitions alreadyexist, you must first delete the existing partition or partitions and then create thenew partition.

7. Type the size (in megabytes, or MB) that you want to use for the new partition, andthen press ENTER, or just press ENTER to create the partition using the maximumsize.

8. If you want to create additional partitions, repeat steps 6 and 7.

9. If you want to install Windows XP, use the arrow keys to select the partition you

want to install it on, and then press ENTER. If you do not want to format thepartition and install Windows XP, press F3 two times to quit Setup, and then do notcontinue with the following steps. In this case, you must use another program toformat the partition.

10. Select the format option that you want to use for the partition, and then pressENTER. The options are:

o Format the partition by using the NTFS file system (Quick)

o Format the partition by using the FAT file system (Quick)



o Format the partition by using the NTFS file system

o Format the partition by using the FAT file system

o Leave the current file system intact (no changes)

For most configurations, NTFS is a good choice for security and flexibility. If you planto install a multiboot configuration and access data on the drive using older

operating systems such as Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Millennium Edition,however, select FAT.

When you format a volume, files are removed from the volume and the hard disk isscanned for bad sectors. The majority of the time required to format a volume isdevoted to scanning the disk. If you choose the Quick format option, files areremoved from the partition, but the disk is not scanned for bad sectors. You shouldonly use this option if your hard disk has been previously formatted and you are surethat your hard disk is not damaged.

Note: During Windows XP Setup, the option to leave the current file systemintact is not available if the selected partition is a new partition. For partitions upto 2 gigabytes (GB) in size, Setup uses the FAT (also known as FAT16) filesystem. For partitions greater than 2 GB but less than 32 GB, Setup uses the

FAT32 file system. For partitions greater than 32 GB, Setup uses NTFS.Note: If you deleted and created a new System partition but you are installingWindows XP on another partition, you will be prompted to select a file system forboth the System and Boot partitions at this point.

11. After Setup formats the partition, follow the on-screen instructions to continueSetup. After Setup is complete, you can use the Disk Management tools inWindows XP to create or format additional partitions.

Perform other Setup-related tasks

H ow do I install Windows from the command prom pt?

If your computer will not boot from a CD, you can still use the Windows XP Setup floppydisks to start Setup. During Setup, you will be prompted to insert the Windows XP CD. Formore information, see "Create boot disks."

Otherwise, you can use a Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition Startup disk to startthe computer, and then run Winnt.exe from the i386 folder of your Windows XP CD.

1. The Smartdrv.exe tool will speed up the process of copying files from the CD to yourhard drive. To use the Smartdrv.exe tool, make sure the Smartdrv.exe file is presenton the startup disk.

If you do not have Smartdrv.exe, file copying will take much longer but it can still bedone successfully. Verify that the following entries exist in the following files on yourstartup disk; add the entries if they do not already exist:

In Autoexec.bat, add this line:smartdrv.exe

In Config.sys, add this line:

device=himem.sys

Note: For information about modifying the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files, seeMicrosoft Knowledge Base article 232558.

2. Insert the startup disk into your computer's floppy drive, and restart the computer.



3. When the DOS prompt appears (it looks like this: C:>), type the following lines,pressing ENTER after each one. Substitute the drive letter of your CD-ROM drive forthe letter D, if yours is different.

D:

cd \i386

winnt When Setup begins, follow the prompts on your screen.

H ow do I set the defau lt o perating system (when mu lti ple systems areinstalled)?

If you have more than one operating system installed, you can select the operating systemthat you want to use as the default:

1. In Windows XP, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.

2. On the Advanced tab, under Startup and Recovery, click Settings.

3. Under System startup, in the Def ault operating system list, click the operatingsystem that you want to start when you turn on or restart your computer.

4. Select the Time to display list of operating systems check box, and then selectthe number of seconds for which you want the list displayed before the defaultoperating system starts.

Warning: The boot options file (Boot.ini) controls the number and order of operatingsystems on your computer. To manually edit this file, click Edit on the Startup and Recovery tab. Use caution when modifying the boot options file. Doing so incorrectlymight make your computer unusable. For more information, see Microsoft KnowledgeBase article 289022.

H ow do I u ninstall Windows XP?

If you need to uninstall Windows XP and return to the operating system from which you

originally upgraded, follow these instructions.

Note: If you performed a new installation instead of upgrading, you cannot uninstallWindows XP. In this case, you need to perform a new installation of your previousoperating system.

Important Notes:

y If enough space is available, the Windows XP uninstallation files are automaticallysaved during the upgrade process. If space is not available, the files are not saved. If the files were not saved, you cannot use the uninstallation process that is describedin this section.

y Any programs that were installed prior to the Windows XP upgrade will be preserved.

However, any programs that were installed after the Windows XP upgrade will not beavailable after you uninstall Windows XP. You might need to reinstall theseprograms.

y To be able to successfully uninstall Windows XP SP2, you must have upgraded fromWindows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, or Windows Millennium Edition. If youupgraded from Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.0, or Windows 95, youcannot uninstall Windows XP SP2.



y If you converted your hard disk to the NTFS file system, you cannot revert back toan operating system that is incompatible with NTFS (for example, you cannot revertback to Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition).

To uninstall Windows XP:

1. Restart your computer in Safe Mode. To do so, restart your computer and press F8

while Windows is starting.

2. Log on using the Administrator account.

3. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add or Remove Programs.

4. In the list of installed programs, double-click Uninstall Windows XP.

Important: If Uninstall Windows XP is not in the list of installed programs, youmust manually reinstall the original operating system. If this is the case, be sureto back up all of your critical data before you proceed.

If you have upgraded to Windows XP from Windows 98 or Windows MillenniumEdition, it might be possible to manually uninstall Windows XP if the Undo folderis still available. For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article312569.

5. When you receive the "Are you sure you want to uninstall Windows XP and restoreyour previous operating system?" message, click Yesto start the Windows XPuninstallation process.

6. After the Windows XP uninstallation process is finished, your computer will shutdown and then restart using the previously installed operating system.

H ow do I remove Windows XP from one com pu ter and install it onanother?

Follow the instructions above for uninstalling Windows XP. Then, use the Windows XP CD toinstall Windows XP on the new computer.

For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 303661 and read the topicabout activation failures when moving Windows XP to another computer.

H ow do I deal with activation problems?

If you are prompted to activate your installation of Windows XP, defer activation until youhave completed planned upgrades or changes to your computer's fixed hardware andrelated device drivers. Otherwise, you may need to reactivate after making such changes.Fixed hardware/drivers include the first instance of devices such as video, network(excluding modems), SCSI, hard drives, CD-ROM/DVD, and system memory. USB or otherremovable devices (such as cameras and printers) do not affect activation.

If you uninstall Windows XP from one computer (Computer A) and then install it on asecond computer (Computer B), the following can occur:

y If fewer than 120 days have passed since the first installation of Windows XP onComputer A, you cannot activate Windows on Computer B over the Internet.Instead, when you are prompted to activate, you must call the phone number listedin the Activation Wizard, explain that you uninstalled and then reinstalled to adifferent computer, and be given a valid product key.

y If it has been more than 120 days since the first installation of Windows XP onComputer A, activation on Computer B should work normally.



For more information about troubleshooting activation problems, see Microsoft KnowledgeBase articles 293764, 293764, 312295, 314935, and 318702.

Troubleshoot SetupDid you run into problems during Setup? Unfortunately, it does sometimes happen. Some

problems can be solved by using the information in this section.Important: If you have virus protection software installed on your computer, disable it.Virus protection software can cause problems during setup. Be sure to enable your virusprotection software after installing Windows XP.

You can use the following troubleshooting steps if you have problems when you areupgrading to Windows XP from Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, or WindowsMillennium Edition.

G eneral trou bleshooting

If you encounter problems while running Setup, exit Setup and run the Upgrade Advisorfrom the Windows XP CD. Here's how:

1.

Insert the Windows XP CD into your CD-ROM drive.2. When the Welcome menu appears, click Check system compatibility.

3. Then click Check my system automatically.

Upgrade Advisor will check for hardware and software incompatibilities. These are often thecause of Setup problems. Remove or uninstall the incompatible hardware or software, andthen run Setup again.

If Upgrade Advisor does not find the problem, you can also clean boot your computer andrun Setup again. Clean-boot troubleshooting is simply a way of removing variables thatcould cause problems.

To perform clean boot troubleshooting in Windows Millennium Edition:

1. Click Start, click R un, in the Open box, type msconf ig and then click OK.2. On the General tab, click Selective startup.

3. Clear all the check boxes under Selective startup.

4. On the Startup tab, select the *StateMgr check box (Windows Millennium Editiononly), and then click OK.

5. When you are prompted to restart your computer, click Yes.

6. After the computer restarts, click Start, click R un, in the Open box, type msconf ig,and then click OK.

Important: Look closely at the General tab to make sure that the check boxesunder Selective startup are clear. Proceed to the next step if none of the checkboxes are selected. If you see a disabled or gray check box, your computer is not

truly clean-booted and you might need assistance from the manufacturer of theprogram that is affecting Msconfig.

7. After you verify that your computer is clean-booted, try running Windows XP Setupagain.

For more information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 267288.

To return from a clean boot state

1. Click Start, click R un, in the Open box, type msconf ig, and then click OK.



2. On the General tab, click Normal startup, and then click OK.

3. Click Yes when you are prompted to restart your computer.

To perform clean boot troubleshooting in Windows 98:

For information about performing a clean boot for troubleshooting purposes in Windows 98,

see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 192926.

F ile co py error d u ring Set up

Suppose Setup stops when copying files, and you see a message like this:

Setup cannot copy the f ile <f ile_name>. Press X to retry, Y to abort.

Here are some possible causes and solutions for this problem:

y Your Windows XP CD is scratched, smudged, or dirty. Clean the CD with a soft cloth,insert it into the CD drive, and then click OK.

y Your CD drive is not working properly or the CD might be vibrating too much for thelaser to accurately read the data. For more information about this problem, consultyour hardware documentation, or contact the CD drive manufacturer.

y If you are using multiple CD drives, your computer might be trying to locate files onthe wrong drive. If your hardware has a feature to disable CD drives that are notbeing used, disable the CD drives that you are not using.

Note: To disable a device in Windows 95, right-click My Computer,click Properties, open Device Manager, and then clearOriginal Conf iguration(Current). In Windows 98 and Windows Millennium Edition, select the Disablein this hardware prof ilecheck box in Device Manager.

If required, re-enable the device after upgrading to Windows XP. For moreinformation, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 283658.

y There is a virus on your computer. Run a virus-scanning program to check yoursystem and identify needed repairs.

Note: If you experience problems during installation, you can use the Windows MemoryDiagnostic tool to test your computer's random access memory (RAM). This tool helpsdetermine whether installation problems are caused by failing hardware, such as RAM orthe memory system of the motherboard. To use the tool, follow the instructions onthe Windows Memory Diagnostic Web site.

For information about several more technical issues that might be causing the problem, seeMicrosoft Knowledge Base article 310064: How to Troubleshoot Windows XP ProblemsDuring Installation.

If you can rule out all of the causes listed above, and you continue to receive the errormessage, copy the i386 folder from the CD drive to your local hard disk, and then try to runSetup from your hard disk. Here's how:

1. The Smartdrv.exe tool will speed up the process of copying files from the CD to yourhard drive. To use the Smartdrv.exe tool, make sure the Smartdrv.exe file is presenton the startup disk.

If you don't have Smartdrv.exe, file copying will take much longer but it can still bedone successfully. Verify that the following entries exist in the following files on yourstartup disk; add the entries if they do not already exist:

In Autoexec.bat, add this line:

smartdrv.exe



In Config.sys, add this line:

device=himem.sys

Note: For information about modifying the Config.sys and Autoexec.bat files, seeMicrosoft Knowledge Base article 232558.

2. Insert the startup disk into your computer's floppy drive, and restart the computer.

3. When the DOS prompt appears (it looks like this: C:>), type the following lines,pressing ENTER after each one. Substitute the drive letter of your CD-ROM drive forthe letter D, if yours is different.

D:

cd \i386

winnt

When Setup begins, follow the prompts on your screen.

Note: There is no option to boot to a command prompt on the initial startup menu inWindows Millennium Edition. However, you can boot to a startup floppy disk and thentype C: and press ENTER to access the hard drive, as long as the startup disk uses thesame file system as the hard disk.

Y ou r com pu ter hang s or sto ps res ponding and dis plays a black screen

When you try to upgrade to Windows XP, your computer might stop responding (hang) anda black screen might be displayed. This is usually caused by hardware or software that isincompatible with Windows XP.

Note: Before beginning Setup, you should compare your system's hardware to theHardware Compatibility List (HCL). You can also find information about each of yourcomputer's devices (such as printers, scanners, and so on) at the device manufacturer'sWeb site, in the Windows Catalog:

Text version of the HCL (for all operating systems)

Text version of the HCL (for Windows XP only)

The Windows Catalog

You can get to all of the above from Windows Hardware and Driver Central

If your computer stops responding and displays a black screen during Setup, follow thesesteps:

1. Wait at the black screen for 10 minutes to make sure that the computer does notcontinue with the Setup procedure. Watch the hard drive indicator to see if there isany disk activity. Setup might resolve the problem on its own.

2. Restart the computer to see if it stops again at the same place during Setup.Occasionally, Setup will proceed farther than the last time it stopped responding. If

this occurs, restart your computer several times so that Setup will finish.3. If steps 1 and 2 don't work, to revert back to Windows 98 or Windows Millennium

Edition, restart the computer and choose the option toCancel Windows XP Setup.If canceling Windows XP Setup is not an option when you restart your computer, seestep 5.

4. After you revert back to Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition, uninstall allvirus protection programs, uninstall all boot manager programs (such as GoBack),and then perform a clean boot of your computer.



5. If the upgrade fails again, there might be a hardware incompatibility issue. You cantry to disable ACPI functionality. To do this, when your computer restarts, watch foran option to press F6 to install SCSI drivers. On this screen, press F7 (not F6).

6. If Setup continues to stop responding, disable any unnecessary hardware. Removeany USB devices, remove or disable network cards, sound cards, and serial cards,and then restart Setup.

7. If you continue to receive this error message, you might need to flash (update) theBIOS on the motherboard. Please refer to the manufacturer of your computer or tothe motherboard Web site for information about how to flash the BIOS.

Warning: Do not attempt to flash the BIOS unless you are an advanced user.Doing this incorrectly can make your computer unusable.

8. If a BIOS update does not resolve the issue, or if you are unable to obtain anupdated BIOS version for the computer, you might want to install Windows XP with aStandard PC Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL). To do so, press F7 (not F6) whenyou are prompted to press F6 after Setup restarts the computer for the first time.For more information about how to force the Standard PC HAL, see MicrosoftKnowledge Base article 299340: How to Force a HAL During Windows XP Setup.

Y ou receive an error messag e or Sto p messag e d u ring Set up

If you receive one of the following error messages during Setup, refer to the appropriateMicrosoft Knowledge Base article:

311562: 'An Unexpected Error (768) Occurred at Line5118@ind:Xp\Client\Boot\Setup\Setup.c' Error Message During Windows XP Setup

311564: 'Stop 0x0000000A Irql_Not_Less_or_Equal' Error Message During Windows XPUpgrade

311442: Error Message: Setup Cannot Continue. Please Contact Microsoft TechnicalSupport. (Error: 3E6h)

Trou bleshooting other errors:Note: If you experience problems during installation, you can use the Windows MemoryDiagnostic tool to test your computer's random access memory (RAM). This tool helpsdetermine whether installation problems are caused by failing hardware, such as RAM orthe memory system of the motherboard. To use the tool, follow the instructions onthe Windows Memory Diagnostic Web site.

Problem Solution

A program or a devicedoesn't work after

upgrading toWindows XP.

First, try reinstalling the program or device. If that doesn't solve the

problem, check with the manufacturer for a newer version of the software or

hardware that is designed to work withWindows XP. If this is an older



program, search Windows Help and

Support for the word "compatibility" tosee instructions for running the Program

Compatibility Wizard.

Message: Incomplete file

copy

Refer to the file copy troubleshooting

section in Microsoft Knowledge Basearticle 310064.

Message: NTLDR is

missing

If you choose to update files at the

beginning of Setup, this will be fixedautomatically. See MicrosoftKnowledge Base article 322069. For

troubleshooting this error, see MicrosoftKnowledge Base article 314057.

Message: Error 127 or

error code fffffdf0 incatroot2 folder

Rename the Windows\System\Catroot2

folder and run Setup again. SeeMicrosoft Knowledge Base article307153. This has been fixed in

Dynamic Update 1.3. Run Setup againand download the updated Setup fileswhen prompted.

Message: "File not found:

ASMS"

For troubleshooting tips, see Microsoft

Knowledge Base article 311755.

Setup hangs during

"finalizing settings"

This error is usually caused by virus

protection software. Cancel Setup,

disable your virus protection software,



phase. and then start Setup again. (Or, if you

choose to update files at the beginningof Setup, this will be fixed

automatically.)

Create boot disksA boot disk is a floppy disk or set of disks that lets you start the computer without usingWindows. It can be useful to have this when doing certain types of troubleshooting andwhen performing a new installation of Windows.

You can download a program to create the six Windows XP Setup boot floppy disks thatcontain the files and drivers required to access the CD-ROM drive and begin the Setupprocess. To do this, go to Obtaining Windows XP Setup Boot Disks.

However, rather than creating boot disks, we recommend that you boot your computer from

the Windows XP CD to start Setup. If your computer is not already able to do this (mostnewer computers are), refer to the section titled "Configure a computer to boot from CD" formore information. If your computer does not support booting from CD, you can download afile that will help you create boot disks. See the list at the end of this section for downloadlocations.

C reating the Set up boot disks

1. When you download the Setup disks, the download contains only one large programfile. When you run the downloaded file, it extracts the files to individual floppy disks.You receive the following prompt:

This program creates the Setup boot disks for Microsoft Windows XP.

To create these disks, you need to provide 6 blank, formatted, high-density disks.

Please specify the floppy drive to copy the images to.

2. Type the drive letter for the floppy disk drive (this is typically drive A). After you typethe floppy disk drive letter, you see the following prompt:

Insert one of these disks into drive <drive letter>:. This disk will become theWindows XP Setup Boot Disk.

Press any key when you are ready.

3. When you press a key, the downloaded file starts extracting and copying the files.Continue inserting the blank disks as you are prompted to do so until all six disks arecreated. If the process is interrupted, you must run the downloaded program fileagain to create all six disks.

4. Label each disk with the number that is specified by the program. You must use thedisks in the correct order during the Setup process.

5. After you create all six disks, insert the first disk in the floppy disk drive, and thenrestart the computer. Note that the computer must be configured to boot from thefloppy disk drive. Most computers will do this automatically, but in some cases, youmight need to modify your computer's BIOS settings to do this. For informationabout modifying your computer's BIOS settings, refer to the section titled "Configurea computer to boot from CD."



6. When you restart the computer, the Setup process begins. Insert each floppy disk asyou are prompted to do so. You will then be prompted for the Windows XP CD tofinish Setup.

Configure a computer to boot from CD

Some computers might automatically offer the option to boot from CD if they detect abootable CD in the CD-ROM drive. If so, when you start the computer with a bootable CD inthe CD-ROM drive, you'll see the message "Press any key to boot from CD." Otherwise, youcan set your computer to boot from CD by using the setup program for your computer'sBIOS (basic input/output system). Here's how:

y When you first start the computer, look for a short message telling you which key topress for setup. For example, some computers will have this message: PressDELETE to enter setup.

If your computer doesn't give you such a message, try pressing these commonlyused keys during startup:

o DELETE

o F1

o F2

o F3, then F2

o F10

o CTRL+ALT+ESC

o CTRL+ALT+S

o ESC

If graphics appear during startup, pressing ESC often makes the graphics disappearso that you can see the correct key for entering BIOS setup.

y When you see the message, quickly press the indicated key. You will enter a DOS-like program that consists of one or more screens. You probably won't be able to usethe mouse while in this program. BIOS programs vary widely, but look for an optioncalled "Boot order" or something similar.

y Set the boot order to boot from CD before booting from the hard drive.

Some newer laptop computers have a Windows-based utility for configuring the BIOS. If your computer won't boot from a CD, refer to the section titled "Other Setup-related tasks"for information about starting Setup from the command prompt.

Set up a multiboot systemYou can install more than one operating system on your computer and choose whichoperating system you want to use every time you start your computer. This is called a dual-boot or multiboot configuration. This section explains how to set up Windows XP as amultiboot system with the following operating systems:

y Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.0, and Windows NT 3.51

y Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Millennium Edition

y MS-DOS or Windows 3. x



Precau tions

Before creating a multiboot configuration with Windows XP and another operating system,review the following precautions:

y Be sure to back up your current system and all data files.

y Each operating system must be installed on a separate volume. Microsoft does not

support installing multiple operating systems on the same volume.

y If you have only one volume on your computer, you have to reformat and repartitionyour hard disk to contain multiple volumes before you begin creating a multibootconfiguration, unless you are simply installing another copy of Windows XP.

y Do not install Windows XP on a compressed drive that was not compressed using theNTFS compression utility.

y Before installing Windows XP, you should disable antivirus software, and you mightwant to run the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool to test your computer's randomaccess memory (RAM). To use the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool, follow theinstructions on theWindows Memory Diagnostic Web site. Be sure to enable yourvirus protection software after installing Windows XP.

y You must use a different computer name for each operating system if the computeris on a Windows 2000 or Windows XP domain.

y The operating systems should be installed from oldest to newest. If possible, installoperating systems in the following order:

o MS-DOS

o Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition

Note: You cannot install Windows Millennium Edition over any version of Windows NT, but they can exist together on a single system. It isrecommended that you install each to a separate hard disk or partition. If Windows NT is already installed, Windows Millennium Edition Setup willadd itself to the Windows NT boot menu to allow you to multiboot between

Windows Millennium Edition and Windows NT. For more information, seeMicrosoft Knowledge Base article 271240.

o Windows NT

o Windows 2000

o Windows XP (Professional or Home Edition)

Partitioning the hard disk and selecting file systems

A partition is a logical section of a hard disk. Each partition normally has its own file system.For more information about partitions, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 313348.

You might need to reformat and repartition your hard disk if:

1. You have only one volume but you want to set up a multiboot configuration. You

have to install each operating system on a separate volume so that each installationcan retain its own files and configuration information.

2. The boot volume is not formatted with the correct file system:

1. If you want to create a multiboot system by using Windows 95, Windows 98or Windows Millennium Edition along with Microsoft Windows XP, you have toformat the boot volume by using FAT because Windows 95, Windows 98 andWindows Millennium Edition do not support the NTFS file system.



2. If you want to install Windows 95 (retail version 4.00.950), your boot volumemust be formatted as FAT. Windows 95 (OSR2.1 and above) can have aFAT32 boot volume and dual boot with Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Formore information, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 258662.

3. If you want to create a multiboot system using Windows 95 OSR2,Windows 98, or Windows Millennium Edition with Windows 2000 or

Windows XP, you can format the boot volume by using FAT32.

Note: If you format a Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, or Windows XP volume with anyfile system other than NTFS, you will lose all NTFS-specific features. This includesWindows XP features such as file system security, Encrypting File System (EFS) settings,disk quotas, and remote storage. Likewise, Windows 95, Windows 98, and WindowsMillennium Edition do not recognize an NTFS partition; they will identify it as unknown.Therefore, if you format a Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition partition as FAT,and a Windows XP partition as NTFS, any files on the NTFS partition will not be availableor visible if you try to access them while running Windows 98 or Windows MillenniumEdition.

S upported file systems

The following table lists the supported file systems for Microsoft operating systems:

Operating system Supported file systems

MS-DOS FAT

Windows 3.1 FAT

Windows NT FAT, NTFS

Windows 95 FAT

Windows 95 OSR2 FAT, FAT32

Windows 98 FAT, FAT32

Windows Millennium Edition FAT, FAT32



Windows 2000 FAT, FAT32, NTFS

Windows XP (both Professional andHome Edition) FAT, FAT32, NTFS

To create a mu ltiboot system with Windows XP and MS- DO S,Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Millenni u m Edition

You cannot install two or more of the following in a multiboot configuration: Windows 95,Windows 98, and Windows Millennium Edition.

These combinations work:

y MS-DOS, Windows 95, and Windows XP

y MS-DOS, Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition, and Windows XP

This combination does not work:

y Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Millennium Edition

You should install Windows XP only after installing MS-DOS, Windows 95, Windows 98, orWindows Millennium Edition. This will prevent these operating systems from overwriting theWindows XP boot sector and the Windows XP startup files.

Note: If you install the operating systems in the wrong order, you will need to use theRecovery Console or run Windows XP Setup again to get Windows XP back. For moreinformation, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 307654.

To create a multiboot system with Windows XP and MS-DOS, Windows 95,

Windows 98, or Windows Millennium Edition:1. Make sure that you have a separate partition or hard disk for each operating system

you plan to install, and that each partition or hard disk is formatted with the correctfile system.

2. Do one of the following:

o If you want a multiboot system with MS-DOS, Windows 95, Windows 98 orWindows Millennium Edition along with Windows XP, first install MS-DOS;followed by Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Millennium Edition; andthen install Windows XP.

o If you want a dual-boot system with only Windows 95, Windows 98 orWindows Millennium Edition, install either Windows 95, Windows 98 or

Windows Millennium Edition, and then install Windows XP.3. Install each operating system according to the standard installation procedure.

To create a mu ltiboot system with Windows NT 4.0 and Windows XP

Using a multiboot system with both Windows NT 4.0 and Windows XP is not recommendedas a long-term solution. The NTFS update in Service Pack 5 (SP5) for Windows NT 4.0 isprovided only to help you evaluate and upgrade to Windows XP.



To create a multiboot system with Windows NT 4.0 and Windows XP:

1. Make sure that your hard disk is formatted with the correct file system: either FAT32or NTFS.

2. Install Windows NT 4.0, download Windows NT Service Pack 5 from Microsoft, andinstall the service pack. Then install Windows XP to a separate volume.

3. Install each operating system according to the standard installation procedure.

Note: If you intend to install more than one operating system consisting of somecombination of Windows NT 4.0 with either Windows 2000 or Windows XP as the onlyinstalled operating systems, you must make sure that you have installed Service Pack 5or higher for Windows NT 4.0. You can download the latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Packhere: Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 6a.

Windows XP automatically upgrades any NTFS partitions that it finds on your system to theversion of NTFS that is used in Windows 2000 and Windows XP. However, Windows NT 4.0requires Service Pack 5 to read and write files on a volume that is formatted with theversion of NTFS used in Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

Installing prog rams on more than one o perating system

If you have more than one operating system, and you want certain programs or drivers towork on both systems, you must install those items on each system separately. Forexample, if you want to use Microsoft Word on a computer with both Windows 98 andWindows XP installed, you have to install Microsoft Word two times (once on Windows 98and once on Windows XP).

You can install the program to the same path for different operating systems, as long as thetarget location uses a file system both operating systems can read.

Note: Windows 95 or Windows 98 might reconfigure hardware settings the first timeyou use them, which might cause configuration problems when you start Windows XP.

S pecifying the defau lt o perating system for start up

If you have more than one operating system on your computer, you can set the operatingsystem that you want to use as the default when you start your computer:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click System.

2. On the Advanced tab, under Startup and Recovery, click Settings.

3. Under System startup, in the Def ault operating system list, click the operatingsystem that you want to start when you turn on your computer.

4. Select the Display list of operating systems for check box, and then type thenumber of seconds for which you want the list displayed before the default operatingsystem starts.

Warning: The boot options file (Boot.ini) controls the number and order of operatingsystems on your computer. To manually edit this file, click Edit on the Startup and Recovery tab. Use caution when modifying the boot options file. Doing so incorrectlymight render your computer unusable. For more information, see Microsoft KnowledgeBase article 289022.

Trou bleshooting problems with mu ltiboot systems

These additional troubleshooting ideas might help you resolve your issue without having tocall technical support:



Errors with Internet Explorer:

y When you start Microsoft Internet Explorer, the browser might quit and you mightreceive an error message that is similar to the following:

iexplore caused an Invalid Page Fault in module kernel32.dll

This error might occur if you install multiple operating systems on a single volume.

To resolve this issue, install each operating system on a separate volume.

You cannot configure your computer to start both Windows 95 andWindows 98 (or Windows Millennium Edition)

y You cannot configure a computer to multiboot Windows 95 and Windows 98 (orWindows Millennium Edition) because those platforms use the same boot file.Therefore, multibooting Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows Millennium Edition atthe same time is not supported.

The boot menu does not appear upon startup

y When you start your computer, the boot menu does not appear and you are unableto start Windows XP. This problem might occur if you install Windows 95,Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition after you install Windows XP. To resolvethis issue, repair or reinstall Windows XP.

For more information about multibooting with Windows 2000 and Windows XP,see Multibooting with Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

Also, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 205287.

Repair or recover a systemYou can repair or recover your system in several different ways. Instructions for eachmethod are below. Try the methods in this order:

1. Revert to the "Last Known Good" configuration.

2. Start the computer in Safe Mode and try to fix the problem.

3. Use the Windows XP Recovery Console.

4. Use System Restore.

5. Use Automated System Recovery (works for Windows XP Professional only, notWindows XP Home Edition).

To u se the Last KnownG ood confi gu ration:

If Windows XP will not start, you can restore your system to the Last Known Goodconfiguration ± in other words, your most recent settings that worked. Here's how:

1. Start the computer and then press the F8 key when Windows begins to start.The Windows Advanced Options menu appears.

2. Use the arrow keys to select Last Known Good Conf iguration (your most recentsettings that worked), and then press ENTER.

3. If a boot menu appears, use the arrow keys to select Microsoft Windows XP, andthen press ENTER. Windows XP restores the computer to the most recent restorepoint.



To u se the Windows XP R ecovery C onsole:

The Windows XP Recovery Console allows you to:

y Use, copy, rename, or replace operating system files and folders.

y Enable or disable service or device startup when you next start your computer.

y Repair the file system boot sector or the Master Boot Record (MBR).

y Create and format partitions on drives.

Here's how to use the Recovery Console:

y Insert the Windows XP CD into your CD-ROM drive, and then restart your computer.

y On the menu that appears, click Install Windows XP.

y Press R to repair the selected Windows installation.

When you use the Recovery Console, you will be prompted to enter the Administratoraccount password. If you enter an incorrect password three times, the Recovery Console willclose. If the database that contains user account information for your computer is missingor damaged, you will not be able to use the Recovery Console.

After you enter your password and the Recovery Console starts, type exit to restart the

computer. The Recovery Console has some other limitations. For details, see MicrosoftKnowledge Base article 314058: Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console.

To u se System R estore

The following section describes how to use the System Restore tool to return your computerto a previous working state. System Restore takes a "snapshot" of critical system files andsome program files and stores this information as restore points. You can use these restorepoints to return Windows XP to a previous state.

To create a restore point

Creating a restore point is useful any time you anticipate making changes to your computer

that are risky or that might make your computer unstable.1. To access the System Restore Wizard, click Start, and then click Help and Support.

Click Performance and Maintenance, clickUsing System Restore to undochanges, and then click R un the System Restore Wizard.

2. Click Create a restore point, and then click Next.

3. In the Restore point box, type a name to identify this restore point. SystemRestore automatically adds to this name the date and time that this restore point iscreated.

4. To finish creating this restore point, click Create.

Using System Restore to Restore Windows XP

If Windows XP will start, you can use System Restore to set your system back to an earlier,working point. Here's how:

1. Log on to Windows as Administrator.

2. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools,and then click System Restore. System Restore starts.

3. On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Restore my computer to anearlier time (if it is not already selected), and then click Next.



4. On the Select a Restore Point page, click the most recent system checkpoint inthe On this list, click a restore point list, and then click Next. A System Restoremessage might appear that lists configuration changes that System Restore willmake. Click OK.

5. On the Conf irm Restore Point Selection page, click Next. System Restorerestores the previous Windows XP configuration, and then restarts the computer.

6. Log on to the computer as Administrator. The System Restore RestorationComplete page appears. Click OK.

To u se Au tomated System R ecovery:

We recommend that you regularly create backups as part of an overall plan for systemrecovery.

Note: Restoring from backup should be a last resort for system recovery. Use thismethod only after you have exhausted other options. For example, you should first trystarting the computer in Safe Mode and reverting to the Last Known Good configuration.These steps are described earlier in this section.

Automated System Recovery (ASR) is a two-part system; it includes ASR backup and ASR

restore. The ASR Wizard, located on the Startmenu under Accessories\SystemTools\Backup, does the backup portion. The wizard backs up the system state, systemservices, and all the disks that are associated with the operating system components. ASRalso creates a file that contains information about the backup, the disk configurations(including basic and dynamic volumes), and how to perform a restore.

You can access the restore portion by pressing F2 when prompted in the text-mode portionof Setup. ASR reads the disk configurations from the file that it creates. It restores all thedisk signatures, volumes, and partitions on the disks that you need to start the computer.ASR will try to restore all the disk configurations, but under some circumstances it might notbe able to. ASR then installs a simple installation of Windows and automatically starts arestoration using the backup created by the ASR Wizard.

For more information about system recovery and repair, see the following Microsoft

Knowledge Base articles:

1. 818903: Automated System Recovery Overview in Windows XP

2. 322756: How to Back Up, Edit, and Restore the Registry in Windows XP

3. 306084: How to Restore the Operating System to a Previous State in Windows XP

4. 304449: How to Start the System Restore Tool from a Command Prompt inWindows XP

5. 302700: An Error Message Is Displayed When You Attempt to Use the AutomatedSystem Recovery Wizard in Windows XP Home Edition

Find a Microsoft Knowledge Base article

To find a Microsoft Knowledge Base article, go to Microsoft Help and Support, type thearticle number in the Search the Knowledge Basebox, and then press ENTER.

Additional resourcesVisit these Web sites for updates or late-breaking information about Windows XP.

y General information: Microsoft Windows XP Web site

y Product updates and fixes online: Microsoft Windows Update



y Products compatible with Windows XP: Microsoft Windows Catalog

y Articles about product support issues: Microsoft Knowledge Base

y Information about using a Tablet PC: Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition WebSite

y SP2 information for consumers: Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 Web site for

consumers y SP2 information for IT professionals: Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 Web site

for information technology professionals

Information in this document, including URL and other Internet Web site references, issubject to change without notice. Unless otherwise noted, the example companies,organizations, products, domain names, e-mail addresses, logos, people, places, and eventsdepicted herein are fictitious, and no association with any real company, organization,product, domain name, e-mail address, logo, person, place, or event is intended or shouldbe inferred. Complying with all applicable copyright laws is the responsibility of the user.Without limiting the rights under copyright, no part of this document may be reproduced,stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means(electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), or for any purpose, without

the express written permission of Microsoft Corporation.Microsoft may have patents, patent applications, trademarks, copyrights, or otherintellectual property rights covering subject matter in this document. Except as expresslyprovided in any written license agreement from Microsoft, the furnishing of this documentdoes not give you any license to these patents, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectualproperty.

Copyright 2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Microsoft, MS-DOS, Windows, Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows NT,Windows Server 2003, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 2000 Professional,Windows XP Home Edition, and Windows XP Professional are either registered trademarks ortrademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Documents

Setting Up Windows Xp