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Page 2 of 3 Setup Continued, w00t!
| A "quick format" takes a couple seconds, where normally it takes up to an hour. |
Following this step, you should have the option to either do a normal or quick format. If it works, try a quick format. This should save you some time. At this point, you can take a short break. Windows will work through the next few sections automatically. One of the steps is Scandisk, where Windows will scan the hard drive for errors. It may prompt you for action if an error is found, however if the disk was just formatted, it should not have any problems.
Windows will now install a few more components and reboot the PC. If your PC automatically booted from the CD before, you will need to again enter the BIOS setup utility to change the boot sequence. If your PC required you to press a key, then do not press a key this time. Let the hard drive boot up. If you have an error like "non-system disk", "no boot disk found" or "press a key to reboot", then enter your BIOS setup utility as before and be sure your hard drive is set to be your primary boot device. If all goes well, you should see a Windows XP splash screen and the installation process would continue.
 Nearly 20 years of Windows and this is our greeting. I am overwhelmed.
Assuming you encounter no errors, you should reach a blue installation screen with some Microsoft propaganda on the right. This is what you’ll see for the next 20 minutes or so as the installation continues.
 "Buy an X-Box, buy an X-Box!"
More Options
| With all this copying, it'd be wise to defragment your hard drive after installation. |
After some automatic copying, the setup program should ask you about regional and language options. These only apply if you’re outside the United States, do not use a standard keyboard, or do not speak English. If this does not relate to you, click Next to continue.
Here you have the option to enter a name and organization. This will be used for many Windows programs, but is not very important. You can enter your first name and leave organization blank for now.
At the next screen, you will be prompted to enter that oh-so-important CD-key, which is located on the back of the sleeve or it should be packed with the license agreement. Enter it carefully (if you make a typo it will not work, but you can return and correct it). The letters will automatically be capitalized. After you’ve entered this, it will ask for a name for your PC. Again, this is not very important and if you want, you can just click next. We generally use the same name we used for Windows, or if we’re on a network we’ll follow it with a number. Once this has completed, you can set the administrator password. If you do not want to do this now, you can do it later. Finally, you’ll set the time, date, and time zone.
Choose Your Own Networking Adventure
| XP does a surprisingly good job managing your twork automatically. |
Most users prefer typical network settings, but for the tweakers out there, "custom" is definitely the option you want. You’ll most likely want to remove QoS (choose "Uninstall"), because few programs take advantage of it, and you might want to install IPX if you play older network games. To do this, choose Install, Protocol, Add, NW Link IPX/SPX then click OK. If you have share files or printers over a LAN, you’ll want File and Printer sharing. Click next when you’re done here.
Now, choose a name for your workgroup or enter the known network workgroup to which this PC will belong. If you know the Domain you’ll be part of (if you don’t know what this means, skip it) enter it. Otherwise, choose Next. At this point you should have another short break, and when this is completed, your PC will reboot again.
Welcome to Windows
Windows XP will attempt to setup your desktop resolution automatically once it has rebooted. If it scrambles the screen or has an error, hit "Esc" on your keyboard immediately.
When you startup Windows XP, plug in your cable modem etc. and you should have Internet access automatically when available. Internet is needed for the next few steps, which can be repeated later if it’s not available now. You’ll be prompted to activate and register Windows. Activation is required to use Windows, but registration is not. Activation is very quick and easy, but if you need to skip it, Windows will notify you later.
The desktop should now come up you’ll quickly realize that Windows is fully functional. You can do what you want here, but we suggest you do a few more things before continuing.
 Kind of reminds me of Fruity Pebbles…mmm, what a great cereal.
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